How To Build an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Brand (Beyond Pride Month Promotions)

Another Pride month just wrapped, and plenty of brands celebrated along with the LGBTQ+ community. Many of those brands have already officially gone back to business as usual.

However, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is more than just showing up for them during one month of the year. Doing that is like celebrating someone’s birthday with them and then ghosting them for the rest of the year.

To make the LGBTQ+ community really feel like they belong with your company, it’s important to build an inclusive brand that makes them feel seen and supported every time they interact with your brand.

Let’s walk through how to do that.

Move Beyond Being LGBTQ+ Friendly

Most brands that have customers who are LGBTQ+ would consider themselves to be friendly to the community. However, ‘friendly’ isn’t the marker brands should strive for. Hank Paul is a non-binary Queer Inclusion Strategist whom I chatted with on the Inclusion & Marketing podcast.

Paul says that “To be LGBTQ+ friendly is to say, ‘You are welcome here. You can come here, that’s fine. We’ll put up with you; we’ll take your money, we’ll take your business, we’re not going to make things hard for you.’ It’s a level of acceptance, but it doesn’t really extend much further beyond that.”

Paul further defines LGBTQ+ inclusive businesses as those that take a “proactive approach to creating safe spaces and safe environments” for people who are part of the community for every touchpoint throughout the customer experience your brand delivers.

Examples of what creating safe spaces look like in practice include things like:

Ensuring that everyone places their pronouns in their screen names for virtual meetings or on name tags for staff in physical stores
Being a representative of the community in your marketing and visual imagery
Getting involved in and or/supporting organizations that do work to uplift and tackle important issues the community is facing

Once you’ve made this mindset shift, it will be easier for you to take the next step, which will support you in becoming an LGBTQ+ inclusive brand.

Lean Into Allyship

Being inclusive isn’t just getting people from a specific marginalized community to buy more of your stuff. There’s a lot more involved in winning the loyalty of consumers that are already skeptical of brands after having been excluded and ignored by them for so long.

Taking the time to care about the communities you serve beyond just your product offering will demonstrate that your brand is one they can be loyal to. According to Hank Paul, there are three steps to embracing your brand’s role as an ally.

1. Awareness

This is about educating yourself, your team, and even in some instances, your existing customers about the LGBTQ+ community. This could be as simple as understanding the various identities within the community, learning terminology, and, most importantly, developing a deep degree of empathy for the community and its plight.

Don’t think of awareness as something you can check off with simple training. It is an ongoing learning process, much like you continue to learn and grow with the friends in your life.

2. Amplification

This component is all about lifting up the voices, experiences, and perspectives of people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. You can do this by sharing your platform with others.

Some brands do this by featuring experts in areas that are relevant to your customers, such as in a podcast or conference. Others do it by co-creating with people within the community on relevant projects and products. And other brands do it by sharing the content and work of those who are part of the community you want to elevate.

3. Action

This is where your brand is making adjustments within your business that will demonstrate that you support the LGBTQ+ community. That could mean incorporating policies that prove the community belongs with you.

For instance, since 2002, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has used its Corporate Equality Index (CEI) as a benchmarking tool to track and evaluate how well employers do with policies, practices, and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees.

As of their 2022 benchmarking, they’ve identified 662 major businesses that have adopted transition guidelines, and 91 percent of CEI-rated companies offer at least one transgender-inclusive healthcare plan option.

Other actions brands are taking include adding gender-neutral restrooms, hiring people in the community, degendering their language, and focusing on being more representative of LGBTQ+ people in their marketing.

Paul also recommends that brands re-evaluate how they’ve defined who their ideal customer is. Their advice is to “Go back and evaluate your ideal market or you know, your ideal customer avatar…however, you’ve kind of structured that and defined that in your brand. And how much are you relying on someone being a default gender or sexuality? Are you assuming, or have you made it explicit?”

Once you’ve clarified your ideal customer to be specifically inclusive of people who identify as LGBTQ+, then you will be better equipped to engage in the next phase that demonstrates to the community that they do belong with you.

Incorporate Gender Neutrality

There are specific tactics you can take that support being a gender-inclusive brand. However, moving beyond just tactics to having the right mindset and policies around this approach will enable you to have the biggest impact. As a result, you’ll be equipped to infuse this philosophy into how your organization thinks and, ultimately, into the products, services, and experiences you deliver.

Gender creeps into brand experiences in many ways, including in bathrooms, language, surveys and questionnaires, clothing labels, and more.

I’ll bet that if you were to even look at how you’ve defined your customer base, one of the ways the data is broken down is by gender. Paul suggests that brands take the time to think specifically about why data capture is needed at the gender level.

They say, “I think it‘s really important to know why you’re asking that question and whether that piece of segmentation is relevant…if someone is capturing my email address to put onto a list and to, you know, do some email marketing to me and they ask me my gender and the option is male or female, well, I‘m assigned male at birth. And if I’m given that binary choice, which is an uncomfortable question for me to get asked a lot of the time, I‘ll select male. ‘Cause I’ve only been given one choice. That’s not my gender, but that is the sex that I was assigned at birth.”

Asking gendered questions can put some of the customers you serve in an uncomfortable position that makes them not feel like they belong with you. Paul adds that a better way is to ask questions that will better help you serve the customers who’ve entered your ecosystem.

In addition, Paul explains that asking gendered questions in a marketing context often means the brand has chosen from a segmentation standpoint that there are certain items they market to men and others to women, which is limiting and not always the best experience.

Paul offers up a better option for brands, “I would rather you ask me much more intentional questions that are more relevant to the thing you‘re trying to sell me. Are you interested in dresses? Are you interested in suits? Are you interested in skirts? Are you interested in handbags? Ask me those sorts of questions. They are not gendered, they’re gender-neutral questions, but you get more insightful information that can then help you segment to send me email marketing that is relevant to things that I might actually buy.”

Start Here to Build an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Brand

By following these recommendations, you will build a brand where the LGBTQ+ community, along with those who love and support them, feel like they belong with you. As a result, they will reward you with both their attention and their loyalty.

There is one additional simple yet powerful step Paul recommends every brand who wants to attract LGBTQ+ consumers. They also suggest it is the first thing brands should do when embarking on the journey to make consumers from the LGBTQ+ community feel like they belong with you. Find out what that simple first step is in this Inclusion & Marketing podcast episode.

Listen here to get additional insights, stories, and recommendations that will change the way you approach building an LGBTQ+ brand.

How to Cite Sources

The best content marketers aren’t afraid to share. Share content. Share links. Share ideas. Share data.

That said, you’re also supposed to give credit where credit is due. Learning how to properly cite sources will avoid any confusion and ensure you (and anyone you do business with) is following generally accepted internet sharing etiquette.

Below is a quick guide to help you navigate citing sources in essays and across the internet.

Skip to:

Citing Sources in Essays
Citing Sources in Blog Posts
Citing Sources in Social Media
Citing Images & Visual Content

Commonly Used Citation Styles

If you’re already working within a marketing team or educational institution, it’s possible they already have designated formats they’d like you to use for citing sources. Otherwise, you’ll need to choose one and stick with it consistently throughout the materials you’re publishing. Below are some of the types of citation styles you’ll find.

MLA: Created by the Modern Language Association, MLA style is a set of writing standards and guidelines primarily used for citations in the humanities field and academic writing.
APA: This format is based on the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. The style is meant for professionals and academics in behavioral and social sciences.
Chicago Style: Chicago style citations have two methods — One for notes and bibliography, which is often used by those in the humanities. The other for author-date citations which is the preferred method for those in the sciences.

How to Cite Sources in an Essay

When tasked with writing an essay, you’ll likely be using one of the citation styles above. Let’s look at a few examples to show you just how to do it. For simplicity, we’ll stick to formatting for in-text citations.

MLA

For citing sources in-text, MLA style is marked by using parentheses containing either the author of the quote or reference and the page number the reference is pulled from.

This example is pulled from an essay featured on MLA’s website.

Image Source

If the author is mentioned in-text, you can omit it in the citation and just use the page number like in this example below.

Image Source

APA

For in-text APA citations, use the author’s last name and publish date of the material you are referencing. If pulling a direct quote, include the page number as well.

Image Source

Chicago Style

Since we’re sticking with in-text citations, we’ll cover the author-date format of chicago style citations. These citations included the author (or authors), publish date, and page number the reference is pulled from. Take this example from Murdoch University:

Image Source

In addition to citing sources in-text, essays also commonly require a separate works cited page with a full list of the sources you used. It’s important to note that different types of publications will have different guidelines for each citation style, so check the specifics of each before publishing your essay. 

How to Cite Sources in Blog Posts & Long-Form Content Assets

Blogs are hotbeds of source attribution issues, probably just due to the sheer volume of content the format offers. Gated and long-form content assets are prone to the same attribution issues, too, but perhaps to a lesser extent since the volume is typically lower, and turnaround times longer. So let’s walk through a couple common scenarios bloggers come across and figure out how to address them — but bear in mind you can apply these attribution methods to your long-form content assets, too.

Citation Scenario #1:

Let‘s say you’re quoting another blogger in your post — hey, sometimes you literally couldn’t have said it better yourself. First of all, you have to actually quote them. Don’t just take their words and adopt them as your own; they took time to think of that explanation.

But there‘s still some internet etiquette that goes along with quoting someone other than just throwing some quotation marks around their statement. Here’s an internet-friendly way to quote someone in your content (taken from a blog post of ours):

 

Not only does Natasha Pierre get credit for her quote, but her company is mentioned with hyperlinked text to her website. As an added bonus, you can opt to link to the person‘s social media handle — by no means necessary, but certainly a nice gesture. Aside from mentioning the person’s name, it’s also nice to provide them with an inbound link — either to the page from which you drew your quote, or to another meaningful page on their site.

One thing to keep in mind when quoting text from someone else’s website is that many companies have content usage guidelines that will let you know how, or if, they want you to use their content. Take a look at HubSpot’s content usage guidelinesto get an idea what these might look like,but in a nutshell, they‘re the guidelines laid out to try to ensure you use the right stuff in the right way. For example, oneof the notable parts of our content usage guidelines is that you can quote our content on your website, but only up to 75 words; this is to prevent duplicate content issues that would impact both our own organic search rankings, and the other website’s. So when quoting content from another source, do a quick check to see whether they have similar guidelines to which you should adhere.

Citation Scenario #2:

Now let‘s say you have data you’d like to cite in a blog post. What do you do? This:

 

The copy around the statistic not only gives credit to the company that published the data, but Wordstream also receives a link back to their site. That link, however, should not just go to their homepage. Point that link to the actual page on which that data lives. This is for the benefit of the reader, too, so they can dig into the research more if they’re so inclined.

Citation Scenario #3:

There‘s one final caveat to your blog post/long-form citations that is just a matter of proper internet etiquette. If you found a quote, article, or data point via another website, it’s nice to indicate that in the copy. For example, if you’re newsjacking and you found the story via another website, give them a nod that they‘re the ones who broke the story originally. Or, if you’re reading a blog post and there‘s a particularly compelling quote contained therein from an industry influencer, it’s nice to give credit to the blogger that called that out. You might phrase it like this:

“Today we learned via the <link>New York Times</link> that <link>Twitter</link> is hiring a new type of CTO — their first ever Chief Tweeting Officer.”

The NYT link should head to the article they published on the subject, and the Twitter link should head to their blog post or press release announcing the news.

Make sense? Alright, on to social media.

How to Cite Sourcesin Social Media

When you‘re sharing someone else’s content in social media, the approach you take to give proper credit changes depending on the social network. Here’s the breakdown:

To Cite Someone’s Content on X (Formerly Twitter):

Simply include a “via @username” somewhere in the post. If you‘re reposting someone’s content but you edit their original, be sure to change “RT” to “MT,” which stands for “modified tweet.”

To Cite Someone’s Content on Facebook:

Facebook makes it pretty easy to give credit when you‘re sharing someone else’s content right from their own timeline — they have a ‘Share’ button ready and waiting for you, and they make it easy to see the originating URL, originating sharer, as well as the names of people who shared it.

If you‘re citing content from elsewhere on the web, but want to give attribution to another person or company, you can find that person/company on Facebook and link to their Facebook Timeline in the status update. It’ll look like this (note the WordStream hyperlink in the image below).

If you‘re sharing content from another source and they don’t have a Facebook page, then the link to their piece of content will suffice.

To Cite Sourceson LinkedIn:

Proper source attribution on LinkedIn is simple. Just include the link to the content you’re citing in the update, and mention the person or company name.

To Cite SourcesContent on Pinterest:

Pinterest is all about content sharing, so it‘s no wonder proper source attribution is built right into the platform with their “Repin” button. When you go to repin content, however, sometimes the original creator has included a URL, hashtag, or other indicator of authorship. Don’t edit that link out — it’s poor form.

And marketers, beware. If you include your link in the “Description” section of your pin, you may get flagged as a spammer.

How to Give Credit to Guest Authorsand Ghost Writers

Maintaining a blog takes help, sometimes from guest authors orghost writers. If you‘re using a ghost writer, you don’t have to give credit to that author. That‘s the whole point. They’re ghosts. You can’t see them.

But if you‘re publishing a post from a guest blogger, you certainly should be giving them credit for their efforts. In a few ways, actually. Here’s what you should be doing to give an e-nod to those writers:

Provide space somewhere for the guest blogger to get not just their name mentioned (as a byline, ideally), but also the company they work for.
Give them space to include a short bio that describes what their company does — this usually accompanies their byline or a separate author profile page. Many sites allow guest authors to include an inbound link to their website within that byline, too.
Let them include at least one contextual link within the body of their blog content, too. Some sites allow more than one link within the body of the content, but the minimum should certainly be one.

Some companies also outline very detailed guest blogging policies. If you’re concerned about mitigating the differences of opinion on some of these issues, make sure you write out your own detailed guest blogging policies for your website so expectations are set up front.

How to Cite Images and Visual Content

If you‘re a regular reader of this blog, you know we’re behind sharing the wealth when it comes to visual content marketing — and we love it even more if you can give credit to the original artist properly. Here‘s when you need to give credit, when you don’t, and how to do it.

To Cite Visualizations, SlideShares, and Infographics:

If you‘ve found an infographic or visualization on another site that you’d like to feature on your website, you should treat it similar to how you‘d treat citing any other content on your website. Simply include a link to the original source’s website where that visual lives, and include their name in the text.

 

You should also try your best to uphold image quality when republishing their visual content — if the website has embed code for that visual, use that code. This is why we try to make a point of creating embed code when we create visuals (and why we love that YouTube and SlideShare make it easy to grab embed code). It makes sharing easier for those that choose to republish the visual, and helps them maintain the quality and resolution in the process. If embed code isn’t provided, you can also include instructions like “click to enlarge” for static images — this helps ensure the visual fits the width of your website, but still provides a good reader experience.

To Cite SourcesWithin a SlideShare, Infographic, or Visualization:

And what happens if you hired a designer to create something for your site — how do you give credit to the designer? Well, it depends on the terms you‘ve worked out together. You could hire a ghost designer (kind of like ghost writers) so that the content looks like it was designed in-house by your company. In that case, you don’t have to worry about attributing the design work to anyone. If, however, you‘ve agreed to give credit to a designer, there should be some space in the visual (not a lot, but some) that gives them credit for their work. Here’s an example of how we gave credit to the designer in one of our infographics — check out the bottom left:

And what happens if you cite content from other sources in your infographic? Use that bottom section for that, too. Here’s an example:

If the list of source URLs is getting too unwieldy, you can also set up a URL to send people to for the sources:

And remember, if you‘re creating a SlideShare, you have the benefit of being able to make links clickable within the SlideShare. If you’d like instructions for doing that, check out this blog post — but this means that you can treat source content in a SlideShare with the same level of respect you treat source content in a blog post or elsewhere on your website.

How to Cite Photographs and Other Images:

Much like your infographics and visualizations, how you cite photos and images featured on your website depends on where you sourced them. When you buy stock imagery, it’s license free. You bought it, you own it, and you can do what you want with it.

But many marketers are trying to find images for content such as blog posts, and don‘t wantto pay for a stock photo every single time. Some people go to Google Images and simply find an image they like … thing is, all those images have varying levels of permissions. So while it may be okay that some of them are used on your blog or website, that’s not universally true of all of them.

Some marketers have started to useCreative Commons to deal with this issue because they have filters that let you select images you can “use for commercial purposes” and/or “modify, adapt, or build upon.” Unfortunately, you can’t always trust those filters — users have been known to upload photos and images that perhaps they have the license to use, but you do not. So if you want to be totally safe, I recommend purchasing a license to a stock photo site. There are also some free stock photo sources, like HubSpot’s free stock photosandDeath to the Stock Photo, that you can check out if you’re on a tight budget.

The Caveat (There‘s Always a Caveat, Isn’t There?)

Of course, some people who have content online, including some marketers, don’t want to share content at all and will get very upset if you do so — even if you give them full and generous credit for it, links and all. What happens when you share content from them? Well, it‘s possible they’ll contact you to take it down. Or, if they have the resources, they‘ll send a lawyer to do so. If that happens to you, I recommend respecting the fact that they don’t want to share data, quotes, visualization, etc. — it’s probably not worth the headache to fight it.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2012and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

The 80+ Best Chrome Extensions for 2023

Google Chrome browser extensions allow you to increase productivity, reduce distractions, and source content — all in the comfort of your internet browser.

The best part is that you have plenty of options. The Google Chrome web store offers a variety of different tools that help you become safer, smarter, and more productive with just one click. We’ve curated the best ones here.

We can‘t guarantee that these extensions will make puppy YouTube videos less tempting to watch, but we recommend them for busy marketers who want to make their time online more efficient. We’ve broken them down into different categories if you want to jump ahead:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Productivity
Security
Social Media
SEO
New Tab
Content Sourcing
Blogging

Please note: All of these are free tools, but some of the services that they work with may have paid features or subscriptions.

1. Compose AI

Users: 400k+

Compose AI is an AI-powered Chrome extension that helps you write better and faster. It provides real-time writing assistance, offering suggestions for sentence rephrasing, grammar corrections, and vocabulary enhancements.

Trusted by thousands of users, Compose AI has received positive feedback for its ability to improve writing productivity and quality.

This tool is ideal for marketing professionals who need to create compelling content, emails, social media posts, and more.

Pros:

AI-powered assistance for writing efficiency
Enhances grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary
Real-time suggestions for better writing

Cons:

Limited functionality compared to a comprehensive writing tool
Requires an internet connection for AI suggestions

2. Conch AI

Users: 100k+

Conch AI is a Chrome extension that summarizes books, articles, and PDFs. It can serve as your personal editor to review and rewrite your content to make it more concise and appealing to the reader.

With nearly a perfect 5 star rating from more than 300 users, Conch AI is a Chrome companion for marketers and copywriters worth checking out.

Pros:

AI-powered Q&A for any article you’re reading
Summarizes books, articles, and PDFs
Generates templates for intros, conclusions, and more

Cons:

May not produce content that sounds human-written
Reports of keyboard shortcuts not being intuitive to use

3. Natural Reader – AI Text to Speech

Users: 400k+

NaturalReader is a Chrome extension that turns text on web pages into high-quality audio. You get to control the speed, voice, and language to suit your preference.

Marketing professionals who want to improve their productivity by multitasking, consuming content on-the-go, or making content more accessible.

Pros:

Text-to-speech conversion for easier content consumption
Natural-sounding voice and customizable settings
Helps with multitasking and accessibility

Cons:

Limited to text-to-speech functionality
Works best with well-structured web pages

4. Otter.ai: Record and transcribe meetings

Users: 100k+

Otter.ai is praised for its accuracy and ease of use directly within the Chrome web browser. It can automatically transcribe meetings, interviews, and other audio recordings. It allows you to search, edit, and share transcriptions so you don’t have to dig through hours of meeting audio yourself.

If you participate in frequent meetings, interviews, or need accurate transcription for note-taking purposes, Otter.ai can do it all.

Pros:

Automatic transcription of audio recordings
Searchable and editable transcriptions
Facilitates collaboration and note-taking

Cons:

May have limitations with background noise and multiple speakers
Free version has limitations on transcription time

5. Pronounce: English Pronunciation AI Coach

Users: 30k+

Pronounce is a Chrome extension that helps you improve your English pronunciation. It provides real-time feedback on pronunciation and offers suggestions for better pronunciation by listening to your voice and analyzing it.

Pros:

Real-time feedback on English pronunciation
Works on Zoom, Google Meet, Facetime, and Teams
Verification options for names, places, and unique words

Cons:

Limited to English language pronunciation
May not cover all accents or dialects

6. Vetted AI – GPT for Shopping

Users: 70k+

Vetted AI is a Chrome extension that provides AI-powered recommendations for online shopping. It suggests similar products, displays product details, and helps you make informed purchase decisions.

This chrome extension is praised for its ability to save time in the online shopping experience while offering valuable insights on product comparisons. Frequent online shopping, product research, and the decision-making process is made a little bit easier with the Vetted AI chrome extension.

Pros:

AI-powered product recommendations and comparisons
Saves time shopping online
Compare items and retailers

Cons:

Limited functionality for online shopping recommendations

7. AI Excel Bot: ChatGPT Excel Assistant

Users: 30k+

AI Excel Bot is a ChatGPT-powered Chrome extension that provides assistance with Excel tasks. It helps you automate processes, perform calculations, and generate insights using natural language input.

Excel users find AI Excel Bot helpful in improving their productivity and reducing manual effort, especially when dealing with complex calculations and data analysis.

Pros:

ChatGPT-powered assistance for Excel tasks
Automates processes and calculations in Excel
Helps generate insights from data

Cons:

Limited to Excel functionality and assistance
Requires familiarity with natural language commands in Excel

8. Scribe: AI Documentation, SOPs & Screenshots

Users: 500k+

Scribe AI is a Chrome extension that uses AI to convert video recordings into step-by-step process documents. Rather than creating multiple formats for a process, simply record your screen and let Scribe do the rest.

Pros:

Redact private information from the process before sharing with others
Export into many file format options including PDF and HTML
Save time creating tutorials for different learning styles

Cons:

May not capture all nuances of complex processes

9. Saima: AI based video speed controller

Users: 6k+

SAIMA is a Chrome extension that intelligently adjusts video playback speed. It enables you to watch videos at a faster or slower pace without distorting the audio. You get 4.5 hours of free video speed control per month with no awkward silences or missed words.

Users appreciate SAIMA for its ability to save time by allowing them to watch videos at an accelerated pace, enabling quicker learning and content consumption.

Pros:

AI-based video speed adjustment
Saves time in consuming video content
Does not distort audio quality

Cons:

Limited functionality beyond video speed adjustment
Works best with videos that support playback speed control

10. Careerflow AI LinkedIn Optimization and more

Users: 100k+

CareerFlow AI is a Chrome extension that utilizes AI to optimize your LinkedIn profile. It instantly scores your profile against a set of predetermined criteria, then provides expert recommendations to improve it.

The LinkedIn optimizer is free to use, but there are premium features available for job application tracking, cover letters, and more.

Pros:

AI-powered LinkedIn optimization
Personalized profile recommendations based on skills
Simplifies the process of tracking job applications

Cons:

Still requires time to review and edit the recommendations

1. HubSpot Sales

Users: 1M+

HubSpot’s Sales tool connects your email inbox with your CRM. Instead of having to navigate back and forth between the two products, this extension allows you to transfer contact information from your email directly into your CRM. This saves employees time in their day-to-day workflow and retains valuable information about customers.

Another cool feature that HubSpot Sales provides is the tracking and logging of emails. Users can send emails and receive alerts when their message is delivered, opened, and clicked on. The email thread can then be logged continuously into the CRM throughout the entire correspondence.

Pros:

Saves time by allowing users to transfer contact information from email directly into CRM.
Tracks and logs emails, providing valuable information for customer correspondence.
Seamless integration with HubSpot’s CRM.

Cons:

Can be overwhelming for users who prefer separate email and CRM platforms.

2. Todoist

Image Source

Users: 700K+

Todoist is a project management tool that lets you create highly organized and visually appealing to-do lists across all of your devices. What’s neat about the Chrome extension is that you can see your to-do list, or your team’s shared lists, and add tasks to it without having to open a separate tab, app, or device.

Pros:

Highly organized and visually appealing to-do lists.
Seamless integration across devices.
Collaborative features for team task management.

Cons:

Advanced features require a premium subscription.

3. Reply

Users: 10K+

Reply’s Chrome extension helps you research and engage with your potential prospects on LinkedIn. This is a fast and easy way to find and verify anyone’s email address — both one by one or in bulk using LinkedIn Sales Navigator.

Once you get the contacts, you can sync them to your CRM — including HubSpot — or connect with the prospects right away.

Pros:

Helps research and engage with potential prospects on LinkedIn
User-friendly interface and bulk email verification option.
Offers integration with various CRMs, including HubSpot.

Cons:

Limited LinkedIn functionalities beyond finding and verifying email addresses.
Potential reliability issues with email verification accuracy.

4. StayFocusd

Users: 500K+

StayFocusd lets you budget your time on specific websites so you can eliminate distractions when you need to buckle down and work. It’s highly customizable — you could set your time limit to 20 minutes on Twitter and only five minutes on Facebook, for example. It also has neat features like the Require Challenge: Once you set time limits on sites, if you want to go back and change your settings, you have to complete a challenge (think: retyping a piece of text without typos or answering questions).

Pros:

Helps eliminate distractions on specific websites.
Highly customizable time limits for different sites.
Provides a “Require Challenge” feature for added self-control.

Cons:

May be too strict for users who prefer more flexible time management.
Limited features compared to other productivity apps.
Potential for users to find workarounds and bypass time limits.

5. ClickUp

Users: 200K+

ClickUp is the all-in-one productivity platform designed to consolidate your work into one centralized hub and manage everything from daily to-dos to complex projects. It’s trusted by teams of all sizes, including enterprise companies, agencies, and educators alike for its rich set of customizable features to streamline your processes, plan projects, and work together from anywhere.

ClickUp packs six of its most powerful work management tools into a handy Chrome Extension that automatically updates your ClickUp Workspace in real time without having to open, close, or refresh any tabs. With this extension, you can easily create a new task, save websites, track time, take screenshots, access your Notepad, and more, directly in your Chrome browser.

Pros:

All-in-one productivity platform with customizable features
Real-time updates in Chrome browser
Simplifies task management and collaboration

Cons:

May be overwhelming for users who prefer simpler task management tools

6. Chatsonic

Users: 80K+

Undoubtedly, AI has made things easier and has become a part of life now, especially at work. ChatSonic and ChatGPT help you easily write emails, find information, and create social media strategies and content. However, it can be unpleasant to switch between Gmail and ChatSonic when drafting a single email.
To solve this and make you extra productive, ChatSonic has developed the ChatSonic Chrome extension, where you can access all the features of ChatSonic without leaving your browser, making your workflow much smoother.

Pros:

Generate summarized answers to Google queries
Effortlessly compose and reply to emails.
Do quick recaps of lengthy email threads through native Gmail integration.

Cons:

Limited functionality compared to standalone AI tools.

7. LastPass

Users: 10M+

LastPass is a password manager that autofills in passwords for all of the accounts you save with this extension. You only have to remember one password: your LastPass password. This saves you time and headaches and increases the security of your personal data.

Pros:

Autofills passwords, increasing security and saving time.
Centralized password management.
Multi-factor authentication options for enhanced security.

Cons:

Requires users to remember their LastPass password.
Free version has limitations on device access.
Potential concerns regarding storing all passwords in one place.

8. Add to Trello

Users: 10K+

If you use Trello for project management, team collaboration, your content calendar, or just a personal to-do list, this extension lets you easily add links as cards to your Trello boards.

Pros:

Easily add links as cards to Trello boards
Simplifies organization and collaboration
Seamless integration with Trello’s project management features

Cons:

Limited usage for those who don’t use Trello for project management
Limited features beyond adding links as cards

9. Extensions Manager

Users: 100K+

We couldn‘t give you 50+ different extensions to try out without also suggesting Extensions Manager. Try this tool to organize all of your extensions so they don’t take up half of your browser’s screen. It shows you what extensions you have operating on Google Chrome and gives you the option to hide some of the icons to keep your browser better organized.

Pros:

Organizes extensions to keep browser interface clear
Provides control over which extensions are displayed
Helps improve browser performance by reducing clutter

Cons:

May require time investment initially to set up and organize extensions.

10. Toggl Track

Users: 400K+

If you often find yourself spending too much time on one task — to the point that you no longer have time to complete other tasks — consider using the Toggl Track Chrome extension. It initiates a timer right within the comfort of the browser. There’s no need to start a timer on your phone. Simply open up the extension and begin tracking the time you spend on tasks.

Pros:

Convenient time tracking within the browser
Helps manage time spent on tasks
Easy to use with a simple interface for tracking time

Cons:

Lack of advanced reporting features in the Chrome extension

11. Print Friendly & PDF

Users: 900K+

If you ever need to save a page in a print-friendly format or as a PDF, you can easily do so with the Print Friendly & PDF Chrome extension. The extension removes ads and other cluttering elements from the web page to turn it into a pleasant reading experience. You can also delete images and change the text size.

Pros:

Saves web pages in print-friendly format or as PDFs.
Removes clutter and enhances readability.
Customizable options including text size and image deletion.

Cons:

Limited usage for those who don’t regularly need to save web pages.
Potential formatting issues with complex web pages.

12. Email Finder

Users: 400K+

Whether you’re carrying out sales outreach, seeking guest blogging opportunities, or looking for the owner of a small website, Email Finder will automatically give you a list of verified emails associated with that domain. It’s an absolutely brilliant tool for sales reps and marketers who want to save time when looking for potential contacts at a company.

Pros:

Provides verified emails associated with a domain
Saves time when searching for potential contacts
Offers convenience with batch email finding and integration with CRMs

Cons:

Reliance on external databases for email data accuracy
Potential for incomplete or outdated email information

 

1. Click&Clean

Users: 1M+

If you‘re constantly searching and downloading work material during the day, it can be a tedious task to clear your browser history. You just don’t have the time to keep pulling up your history page and manually clearing your cache or download log.

The Click&Clean extension for Chrome allows you to clear your cache, URL searches, website cookies, and download history with a single click of a button on your browser toolbar. The extension can also scan your computer for viruses and clean up your hard drive of unused applications — helping your computer run faster as a result.

Pros:

Easy one-click clearing of browser cache, URL searches, cookies, and download history
Ability to scan for viruses and clean up the computer’s hard drive
Helps improve computer performance by clearing unused applications

Cons:

Limited features beyond browser cleaning and virus scanning
Potential for accidental deletion of important browsing data

2. J2TEAM Security

Users: 300K+

J2TEAM Security isn’t your average firewall. This Chrome extension starts with basic virus protection. It also allows you to customize your website block list and ensures your Chrome browser uses the “HTTPS” security tag on blogging sites — preventing you from visiting user blogs that are deemed unsafe.

The extension also offers a variety of Facebook-specific privacy settings, such as blocking the “seen” tag after you read certain private messages and hiding how long you’ve been active in Facebook Messenger.

Pros:

Offers basic virus protection and customizable website block list
Enhances security by enforcing HTTPS on blogging sites
Provides Facebook-specific privacy settings to control messaging and activity visibility

Cons:

Limited features beyond virus protection and Facebook privacy settings

3. Ghostery

Users: 2M+

Ghostery is a sophisticated ad-blocking extension designed to remove ads that distract or interrupt you while you‘re viewing specific website content. It also disguises your browsing data so ad-tracking tools are unable to collect personal information that you’d prefer to keep private. These features help to speed up webpages’ load time and ultimately improve your browsing experience.

Pros:

Sophisticated ad-blocking to improve browsing experience
Protects privacy by disguising browsing data from ad-tracking tools
Helps speed up webpage loading by removing distracting ads

Cons:

May block some non-intrusive ads that users may find useful

5. Checkbot

Users: 70K+

Checkbot combines technical SEO with modern security to help you analyze both how safe and how optimized a website is for search engines. Because search engines like Google prioritize website security in addition to content quality in their rankings, this Chrome extension is a handy one-two punch for content creators and web developers.

Checkbot can test the page speed, SEO, and overall security of more than 250 URLs per domain for free — and help you improve in these three categories to protect you and your website visitors from unsafe material.

Pros:

Combines technical SEO and security analysis for websites
Helps optimize websites for search engines and improve security
Offers free testing and improvement recommendations for page speed, SEO, and security

Cons:

Potential for false positives or recommendations that may not apply to all websites
May require technical knowledge to understand and implement recommended improvements

6. Avast Online Security

Users: 9M+

Avast Online Security is known as a “web reputation plugin,” examining each individual website you visit for suspicious information. The extension also warns you if the site you’re visiting simply has a bad reputation. In turn, you can rate the websites you visit to help Avast get better at flagging potentially unsafe webpages while on Chrome.

Pros:

Examines websites for suspicious information and warns about potentially unsafe sites
Allows rating websites to improve accuracy of flagging unsafe webpages
Offers additional security features for Avast users on Chrome

Cons:

Potential for false positives or inaccurate ratings
Limited features beyond website reputation checking

7. FlowCrypt

Users: 80K+

This security extension is specific to emails, allowing you to send and receive encrypted emails (and attachments) to and from your colleagues. It’s one of the best ways to be sure your emails are kept private and secure while in transit to the recipient.

FlowCrypt uses PGP encryption, which stands for “Pretty Good Privacy” — the standard for encryption in most email clients. The tool integrates perfectly with Gmail, adding a “Secure Compose” button to your inbox.

Pros:

Provides PGP encryption for sending and receiving encrypted emails
Integrates seamlessly with Gmail, adding a “Secure Compose” button
Enhances email privacy and security during transit

Cons:

May require setup and exchange of encryption keys with recipients

8. Fair AdBlocker

Users: 130k+

Fair AdBlocker offers both malware and adware in one browser extension. The tool protects you from malware as well as distracting ads and pop-ups. Once installed, you can configure your blocking settings to hide the types of ads you’re least interested in seeing — especially those that carry dangerous information that can infect your computer.

Pros:

Protects against malware and distracting ads and pop-ups
Allows custom blocking settings to hide unwanted types of ads
Enhances browsing experience by reducing distractions

Cons:

May not offer advanced filtering capabilities compared to dedicated ad blockers.

9. Speedtest by Ookla

Users: 2M+

Find out how fast your internet connection is and learn how quickly websites are loading. Knowing this information can help you move to another internet connection if needed, and you’ll also get to see performance metrics for your own site.

Pros:

Accurate speed measurements
Insights for troubleshooting
Performance metrics for your own website

Cons:

Limited functionality
Lack of detailed diagnostics

10. Hola Free VPN

Users: 5M+

Whether you need to cloak your identity online or browse content from another country, Hola Free VPN allows you to do that for free. The tool can help you browse the internet safely and anonymously without needing to pay for an external VPN service.

Pros:

Free to use
Geolocation flexibility

Cons:

The strength of the privacy protection may vary

1. Bitly

Users: 500K+

This extension lets marketers quickly and easily shorten links and share them on social media directly from their browser. This is particularly useful for social media marketers and allows for personalization with an Enterprise plan.

Pros:

Quick and easy link shortening
Direct sharing on social media from the browser
Personalization features with the Enterprise plan

Cons:

Limited functionality beyond link shortening and sharing

2. Pinterest

Users: 6M+

This extension allows you to easily save items onto your Pinterest boards without navigating away from what you‘re doing. What’s neat about this tool is that it shows you multiple pinnable items available on each website so you can save more than one item to your board at a time. (Normally, you would have to click into each blog post or image in order to separately pin each to your boards individually.)

Pros:

Easily save items to Pinterest boards without leaving the current page
Ability to save multiple items from a website simultaneously

Cons:

Limited use cases if you aren’t using Pinterest for content curation or inspiration

3. Save to Facebook

Users: 1M+

Facebook‘s “Save” feature lets users aggregate links, images, and videos they find on Facebook in one location in their account. This extension allows you to do the same from anywhere on the web, making Facebook a centralized place to save content you’re interested in checking out later.

Pros:

Centralized location for saving interesting web content
Ability to save content from anywhere on the web to Facebook’s “Save” feature

Cons:

Relies on active use of Facebook‘s Save feature, which may not be everyone’s preferred method of content aggregation

4. RiteTag

Users: 40K+

RiteTag shows you how hashtags are performing on Twitter and Facebook before you post content. Once you log in to RiteTag using your Twitter or Facebook credentials, it checks the hashtags you begin typing in real time and color codes them:

If your hashtag is green, it means the hashtag will help your content be seen now.
If your hashtag is blue, it means the hashtag will help your content be seen over time.
If your hashtag is gray, you should select a new hashtag because it has low levels of engagement.
If your hashtag is red, you should select a new hashtag because it’s so popular, your content will disappear into the crowd.

Pros:

Real-time analysis of hashtag performance on Twitter and Facebook
Color-coded hashtags for quick assessment and selection

Cons:

Limited to hashtag analysis and not a comprehensive social media management tool

5. Buffer

Users: 200K+

Buffer allows you to easily share content from any website to your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles. If you’re a Buffer customer, you can also use the extension to schedule posts from your browser without needing to access the Buffer website. You can also queue posts for future publication.

Pros:

Easily share content to Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Ability to schedule and queue posts directly from the browser

Cons:

Requires a Buffer account for full functionality

6. Reddit Enhancement Suite

Users: 1M+

Do you regularly use Reddit in your personal life or in your marketing efforts? And are you specifically a fan of the old version of Reddit? Download the Reddit Enhancement Suite Chrome extension to enhance your experience on the website and browse posts much more easily than you did before. This extension is only compatible with the original version of Reddit.

Pros:

Enhanced browsing experience for the old version of Reddit
Improved post navigation and browsing features

Cons:

Not compatible with the newer version of Reddit

7. SocialAnalyzer

Users: 8k+

SocialAnalyzer is a social media monitoring tool that allows you to keep up with trending posts in one of your target markets or industries. See the most recently published posts and videos on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, and see whether people are interacting with the content that people are already publishing. You can use this tool to further refine your social media marketing efforts and track brand sentiment.

Pros:

Social media monitoring tool for tracking trending posts in target markets
Insights into content interactions and brand sentiment

Cons:

Limited functionality compared to more robust social media monitoring tools

8. HubSpot Social

Users: 20K+

Are you a current HubSpot customer? HubSpot Social allows you to post on your social media profiles straight from your browser. You can schedule posts in advance, share a quote from an external article directly to your social feed, and share webpages, too. No need to access your HubSpot portal in another tab. Do it straight from your current webpage.

Pros:

Seamless social media posting for HubSpot customers
Ability to schedule posts, share quotes, and share webpages directly from the browser

Cons:

Limited to HubSpot users and may not be relevant for non-HubSpot customers

1. SEOQuake

Users: 1M+

SEOQuake is a Chrome extension that allows SEO marketers to easily get insights about different websites without leaving their web browser. With one click, you can find search ranking and backlink information about the search results on a Google results page. It also provides details about the amount of backlinks the website has (according to SEMRush), shows you the keyword density of a page, and lists external and internal links.

Pros:

Quick access to website insights and search ranking information
Provides backlink details and keyword density analysis
Displays external and internal links for a webpage

Cons:

User interface can be overwhelming for beginners
Limited functionality beyond basic website insights

2. Check My Links

Users: 200K+

Check My Links does what it says it will: It quickly scans web pages and shows you which links are working properly and which are broken. With this extension, marketers can ensure that their own websites are functioning properly for their visitors. Additionally, marketers can check for broken backlinks to their content on other websites. That way, they can build backlinks to their content and increase their domain authority.

Pros:

Quick scanning of web pages to identify broken links
Helps ensure the proper functioning of own websites
Ability to check for broken backlinks to content on other websites

Cons:

Limited usefulness if not actively managing websites or optimizing backlink profiles

3. NoFollow

Users: 100K+

NoFollow quickly indexes web pages and identifies links that are coded with the no-follow metatag. No-follow links aren‘t crawled by search engines and don’t contribute to search engine authority, so SEOs can use this extension to determine if external sites are backlinking to them with followed, or indexed, links.

Additionally, you might use no-follow links on webpages you don‘t want crawled, such as a landing page or thank you page, and this extension can easily double-check if you’ve coded links correctly. In the example screenshot below, no-follow links are highlighted in red.

Pros:

Indexes web pages and identifies links with the no-follow metatag
Helps determine if external sites are backlinking with followed links
Useful for checking correct coding of no-follow links on webpages

Cons:

Limited functionality beyond identifying no-follow links

4. Ahrefs SEO Toolbar

Users: 100K+

Ahrefs SEO Toolbar is an SEO tool that’s great for beginners and experts alike. Ahrefs SEO Toolbar is a Google Chrome plugin that lives in the search engine results page (SERP), so you can get SEO insights for every website and keyword, all while you Google search.

Discover thousands of the best performing keywords to target for SEO & PPC. Spy on your competitor’s Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram ads, and find the best backlink opportunities.

Pros:

Provides SEO insights for websites and keywords within Google search results
Helps discover high-performing keywords and analyze competitor ads
Identifies backlink opportunities

Cons:

Requires an Ahrefs subscription for full functionality
Limited usefulness for those who don’t require in-depth SEO analysis

5. Keyword Surfer

Users: 500K+

Keyword Surfer is just like the Arel=“noopener” target=“_blank” hrefs Chrome extension in that it gives you related keywords for your industry-related searches. You can see the monthly search volume for the keyword and generate an article outline that could potentially help you rank for the keyword. The tool also allows you to see the word count of competing pages and articles.

Pros:

Generates related keywords for industry-related searches
Displays monthly search volume and offers article outline suggestions
Provides word count analysis of competing pages

Cons:

Limited functionality beyond keyword analysis and article outlining

6. Link Research SEO Toolbar

Users: 10K+

Link Research SEO Toolbar allows you to see the core metrics of a website and understand how well it performs against the competition. The Chrome extension is best paired with an active Link Research Tools subscription to get the most out of it.

Pros:

Allows users to see core metrics of a website and compare against competition
Best used with an active Link Research Tools subscription

Cons:

Limited usefulness without an accompanying Link Research Tools subscription
May require familiarity with advanced SEO metrics and analysis

7. SEO META in 1 CLICK

Users: 500K+

SEO META in 1 CLICK is a fantastic tool for seeing a website’s meta information in — you guessed it — a single click! No need to right-click, hit “View Page Source,” and read through line after line of code to see a website’s meta description. You can use this as a competitive research tool to see what your top-ranked competitors are putting in their meta descriptions.

You can also use it to double-check that your website is optimized across the board. It even offers shortcuts to check the mobile friendliness of your website and analyze the keyword density of the page.

Pros:

Provides quick access to a website’s meta information in a single click
Helps with competitor research and optimizing meta descriptions
Offers shortcuts to check mobile friendliness and analyze keyword density

Cons:

Limited functionality beyond meta information analysis
May not provide comprehensive insights for more complex SEO strategies

8. Serpstat Website SEO Checker

Users: 30K+

Analyze your competitors’ performance with the Serpstat Website SEO Checker extension. Depending on your competitors’ website security, you’ll be able to detect their CMS, sitemap status, structured data, and more. When you sign up for a Serpstat account, you can also see the page’s top keywords and traffic.

Pros:

Analyzes competitors’ website performance and provides insights
Includes information on CMS, sitemap status, and structured data
Shows top keywords and traffic data with a Serpstat account

Cons:

Requires a Serpstat account for full functionality
Limited usefulness without actively monitoring competitors’ websites

9. SEO Minion

Users: 300K+

SEO Minion allows you to carry out in-depth competitor research by giving you access to your competitor’s website metrics and data. You can also check for broken links, highlight all links, and preview how the page appears in the SERPs — all handy tools for examining your own webpages and articles and ensuring they’re in tip-top shape.

Pros:

Offers competitor research capabilities and access to website metrics
Provides tools to check for broken links and preview SERP appearance
Helps analyze and optimize own web pages and articles

Cons:

May not be necessary for users already utilizing comprehensive SEO tools

 

1. OneTab

Users: 2M+

When you conduct research for a piece of content, it‘s easy to get swamped in multiple open tabs with great resources you want to cite. The trouble is, once it comes time to write and refer back to the sources, it’s hard to navigate between all of the tabs. Luckily, OneTab lets you put multiple different URLs into a single tab for easy reference.

Pros:

Helps to organize and consolidate multiple open tabs into a single tab, reducing clutter and improving productivity
Saves memory and reduces browser overload by suspending unused tabs
Easy to use and navigate through saved tabs

Cons:

No ability to categorize or add notes to saved tabs
Limited customization options for organizing tabs
May experience occasional syncing issues across devices

2. Momentum

Users: 3M+

Momentum is a simple Chrome extension that replaces blank new tabs with beautiful photography, inspiring quotes, weather reports, and a space for you to write down a priority for the day when you open up your browser for the first time. (Don‘t worry — the temperature is in Celsius, it’s not that cold in Boston.)

Pros:

Provides a visually appealing and inspiring start to each new tab
Offers weather updates and allows you to set daily priorities
Simple and clean interface with minimal distractions

Cons:

Limited customization options for background photos and quotes
Lacks advanced productivity features
Some users may prefer a more functional and informative start page

3. Infinity New Tab

Users: 400K+

Infinity New Tab includes a feature known as Speed Dial on every new tab you open in Chrome. This feature produces large icon-based shortcuts to your most frequently visited websites, as shown in the screenshot above. You can customize these icons with new websites as needed, and add productivity widgets like to-do lists to each new tab as well.

Pros:

Speed Dial feature allows quick access to frequently visited websites
Customizable icons and productivity widgets enhance personalization
Clean and visually pleasing user interface

Cons:

Some users may find the large icons overwhelming

4. Start.me

Users: 90K+

With Start.me, you turn each new tab you open in Chrome into a personal dashboard. You can populate this dashboard with web page bookmarks, productivity widgets, news feeds from specific websites, and various photos and videos. If you prefer to keep your daily schedule online, rather than in print or on your desktop, you might find this extension useful.

Pros:

Turns each new tab into a customizable personal dashboard
Offers a wide range of widgets, bookmarks, and news feeds for organizing information
Allows easy access to frequently used websites and resources

Cons:

Requires more effort to set up and customize compared to other extensions
May slow down performance if too many widgets or feeds are added

5. Earth View

Users: 700K+

This Chrome extension might not make your browsing experience easier, but it will make it prettier. Broaden your geography skills while surfing the internet at the same time with Earth View by Google. Each time you open a new tab, the first thing you’ll see is a satellite image of a beautiful location somewhere on Earth. See some of the images that pop up on new tabs in the screenshot above.

Pros:

Provides beautiful and captivating satellite images of different locations on Earth
Enhances browsing experience with visually stunning backgrounds
Can be educational and increase geographic awareness

Cons:

Limited customization options or settings

6. Infinite New Tab

Users: 200K+

Not to be confused with “Infinity New Tab” (the fourth new tab extension on this list), this browser accessory turns your new tab into a canvas. Choose from more than 100 wallpapers to customize your new tab background, as well as a reminder list and note pad for staying on task.

Pros:

Provides a canvas-like experience with customizable wallpapers for a visually pleasing new tab page.
Includes a reminder list and notepad for task management.
Offers a variety of wallpapers to choose from.

Cons:

Limited customization options beyond wallpapers, such as widget or bookmark options.

7. Homey

Users: 50K+

Homey is a relaxing and uncluttered new tab Chrome extension that turns your new tab page into a dashboard. You can see your city’s weather, access your bookmarks, or create a grid with your most-frequented websites. Alternatively, you can keep the dashboard clean and mess-free for a less overwhelming experience. Like most new tab Chrome extensions, it also gives you access to the search engine of your choice.

Pros:

Offers a relaxing and uncluttered new tab page with customizable grids and weather updates
Provides quick access to bookmarks and search engine of choice
Allows users to choose between a clean and minimalistic layout or a more feature-rich dashboard

Cons:

Limited customization options beyond grids and weather updates

9. New Tab Redirect

Users: 700K+

Got a website you always need to have open? This Chrome extension automatically opens a page of your choice when clicking on a new tab. The tool can even redirect to a specific file you have saved in Google Drive or elsewhere online.

Pros:

Allows users to set a specific webpage or file to open automatically in a new tab
Provides access to frequently visited or important websites
Offers flexibility to redirect to a file stored in Google Drive or elsewhere.

Cons:

No additional features or customization options

10. Speed Dial

Users: 500K+

Speed Dial is a charmingly old-school Chrome extension that turns your new tab into a 3D dashboard. Access your bookmarks and more frequented sites in a dashboard that might just remind you of your MySpace days. Don’t let its design fool you: The extension is constantly updated for performance and user-friendliness.

Pros:

Turns the new tab page into a 3D dashboard with quick access to bookmarks and frequently visited sites
Provides a nostalgic user interface reminiscent of older website design
Regular updates ensure performance and user-friendliness

Cons:

Limited customization options beyond arranging bookmarks and lacks advanced features

Sometimes you just need a good content curation tool to help you save important information while you’re researching or writing a blog post.

1. OneNote Web Clipper

Users: 1M+

Are you a OneNote user? Whether you’re conducting research for a project or simply reading different articles online, you most likely come across resources that you want to save and return to for later use.

That’s where OneNote Web Clipper comes in. Instead of saving content to another application or document, you can save it directly to your existing OneNote notebooks for easy reference when you sit down to write a blog post or web page. The best part? Everything will be available on any device where you use OneNote.

Pros:

Seamlessly saves content directly to existing OneNote notebooks for easy reference and organization
Works across multiple devices, ensuring access to saved content anywhere
Allows for capturing and saving different types of content, including articles, web pages, and images

Cons:

May occasionally encounter syncing or compatibility issues
Limited customization options for saving and organizing clipped content

2. AwesomeScreenshot

Users: 2M+

AwesomeScreenshot is a screen capture extension with capabilities for annotation and photo editing while staying in your browser. Once you take a screenshot of a selected area of your screen or an entire web page, you can crop, highlight, draw shapes, and blur sensitive information.

Pros:

Provides comprehensive screen capture capabilities with annotation and photo editing features
Allows for capturing selected areas or entire web pages
Conveniently stays within the browser, saving time and minimizing workflow disruptions

Cons:

Some features may require a paid upgrade
May experience occasional performance issues with larger or complex captures

3. Evernote Web Clipper

Users: 2M+

Evernote is a note-taking and organization app that can be shared across teams for content collaboration. With the Evernote Web Clipper extension, users can save links onto a clipboard within their Evernote app for later reading and reference.

Pros:

Integrates seamlessly with Evernote for easy saving and organization of web content.
Offers options for clipping entire web pages, articles, or selected sections.
Provides additional features like highlighting, adding annotations, and selecting notebooks and tags.

Cons:

Interface can be overwhelming for new users.

4. Giphy for Chrome

Users: 200K+

Everyone loves animated GIFs. They make emails, blogs, and social media posts engaging and funny, and with this extension, you can easily grab a GIF from Giphy‘s huge database for whatever content you’re working on without navigating away.

Pros:

Offers quick and easy access to a vast library of GIFs from Giphy
Streamlines the process of finding and inserting GIFs into emails, blogs, and social media posts
Provides search functionality for specific GIFs

Cons:

May experience occasional search or loading issues
Limited customization options for resizing or editing GIFs

5. Sidebar

Users: 100K+

Manually bookmarking websites can sometimes be a tedious process. Sidebar allows you to organize websites you want to save without having to open a new tab. Save websites to bookmarks, create folders, and add notes for later reference.

Pros:

Provides a convenient way to save and organize websites without opening a new tab
Allows for creating folders and adding notes for easy reference
Streamlines the process of bookmarking and navigating between frequently visited websites

Cons:

Limited to organizing websites, may not have additional features like annotation or syncing

6. Distill Web Monitor

Users: 200K+

Distill Web Monitor allows you to keep track of changes to websites or articles that you’ve cited in your own work. That way, you can ensure that you’re providing the most up-to-date information to your readers and website visitors. You can also use it to simply track pages that you’re interested in citing in the future.

Pros:

Enables tracking changes to websites or articles for up-to-date information
Helps ensure accurate sourcing and citation in your own work
Provides options for customizable monitoring and notifications

Cons:

Requires manual setup and configuration for each website to monitor
May have limitations on the number of websites or pages that can be monitored
Not suitable for real-time monitoring or highly dynamic websites

7. Nimbus Screenshot

Users: 1M+

Nimbus Screenshot is another screenshotting extension that will live within your browser, making it easier than ever to capture a partial or entire page. It will automatically save your screenshots to the cloud, ensuring that you don’t lose them.

Pros:

Offers a convenient and easy-to-use screenshotting tool
Automatically saves screenshots to the cloud for easy access and backup
Provides options for capturing partial or entire pages

Cons:

May encounter occasional performance issues, particularly with larger screenshots
Requires cloud storage for saving and accessing screenshots

8. LibKey Nomad

Users: 600K+

For marketers and bloggers who work in technical or research-based industries, LibKey Nomad can be an extremely useful Chrome extension to have in your arsenal. The extension allows you to find, access, and source millions of scholarly articles based on the library that you primarily use.

Pros:

Provides easy access to millions of scholarly articles based on your preferred library
Streamlines the process of finding and accessing research materials
Eliminates the need for manual searching on different platforms

Cons:

Limited to users who work in technical or research-based industries
Requires authentication and access to specific libraries
May not cover all research databases or sources

9. Google Scholar Button

Users: 3M+

Google Scholar is another tool you can use if you write content in a technical, scientific, or otherwise research-heavy industry. You can find articles and books straight from the comfort of your browser. The tool sometimes links to the article’s landing page on a research website, and sometimes it links directly to the PDF. Either way, it’s a great way to streamline research so you don’t have to manually search for books and articles online.

Pros:

Offers quick access to scholarly articles and books directly from the browser
Provides options for searching and accessing research materials
Allows for easy discovery and citation of relevant sources

Cons:

Limited to users who require research-heavy content

10. Tailwind AI Marketing Content Assistant

Users: 100K+

AI content generation is the biggest productivity booster for marketers to help create engaging copy and content. Tailwind’s AI marketing content assistant gives you access to engaging copy for YouTube video descriptions, blog posts, image captions, and more.

Create Shopify and Etsy product descriptions without opening a new tab. After you install the extension, you’ll see a Ghostwriter AI icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. Clicking it will open various tools to help you craft the perfect copy quickly. There are specialized tools for blogging, social media platforms, SEO, and more.

Pros:

Utilizes AI to generate engaging copy and content quickly
Offers specialized tools for various types of content, including blog posts and social media
Provides convenience and efficiency in creating marketing materials

Cons:

Limited to users who require copy generation and marketing content assistance
AI-generated content may lack originality or human nuance
May require additional fine-tuning and editing for specific brand or voice requirements

1. Grammarly

Users: 10M+

Grammarly is my go-to app for reviewing blog posts for proper spelling, grammar, and word use. You can drop large pieces of text into the desktop application for review, or you can use the handy Chrome extension to call out any grammar errors you’re making while typing on the web.

Pros:

Offers reliable spell-checking and grammar correction
Provides suggestions for improvement in writing style and clarity
Works seamlessly in the background while typing on the web
Can handle large pieces of text for review in the desktop application

Cons:

Some features are locked behind a paid subscription
Sometimes provides inaccurate suggestions or conflicts with certain writing styles
May slow down browser performance when used extensively

2. Google Dictionary

Users: 2M+

Have you ever come across a word you’re not familiar with while doing research online? Instead of Googling it in a separate tab, quickly highlight the word and click on the Google Dictionary extension to get the definition.

Pros:

Provides quick access to word definitions without leaving the current web page
Can be activated by highlighting a word, making it convenient for researching online
Works offline, handy for users with limited or no internet access

Cons:

Definitions may not always be thorough or detailed

3. Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides

Users: 3M+

For those times when you and your coworkers are working on computers with different operating systems, or want to collaborate on a live document together, check out Office Editing. This extension lets you easily drop Microsoft Office files into Google Drive to view and edit them without needing the software installed on your hard drive.

Pros:

Allows easy collaboration and editing of Microsoft Office files in Google Drive
Eliminates the need for Microsoft Office software on all computers
Provides an efficient way to view and edit documents across different operating systems

Cons:

Some advanced features of Office documents may not be fully supported
Formatting inconsistencies may occur when converting files

4. Difree

Users: 900+

Sometimes it‘s hard to free yourself of distractions to write productively, especially if you’re writing online. This new extension quickly opens a new tab for a clean and neutral text editor that auto-saves while you’re working if you need a break from where you normally write.

Pros:

Provides a distraction-free writing environment with a clean and neutral text editor
Auto-saves work, ensuring no lost progress during breaks
Can help increase productivity by removing unnecessary distractions

Cons:

May not offer advanced features required by professional writers
Lack of customization options for the text editor interface

5. LanguageTool

Users: 2M+

LanguageTool is a useful Chrome extension for checking the existing text on a website and checking the grammar of your work as you write. It works in Google Docs and any website where there’s an active text box. It also works for different languages, so if you’re aiming to write for different markets and regions, you’ll most definitely want to add this tool to your arsenal.

Pros:

Offers grammar checking across various languages and different websites
Provides real-time suggestions for better writing
Can be used in Google Docs and other text input fields

Cons:

Some languages may have limited grammar checking capabilities
Certain mistakes or stylistic choices may be flagged incorrectly
Advanced features may require a premium subscription

6. Wordtune

Users: 2M+

Wordtune is an AI-powered Chrome extension that provides several alternatives to what’s currently on the page. No matter what tool you’re using — whether it’s Google Docs, Outlook, or another text editor — you can highlight the sentence or phrase you’d like to rewrite, and Wordtune will provide several alternatives. After that, you only have to choose the one you like best.

Pros:

AI-powered tool that provides alternative sentence suggestions
Works with various text editors, including Google Docs and Outlook
Can help improve the quality and readability of written content
Simplifies the process of rewriting sentences or phrases

Cons:

Accuracy of alternative suggestions may vary
Some advanced features may be locked behind a paid subscription

7. ProWritingAid

Users: 200K+

ProWritingAid is another smart Chrome extension for checking the grammar, spelling, and clarity of your blog posts, web pages, and articles. Like the other tools on this list, it works with Google Docs and any text editor in your browser. It will catch any errors you make as you write and suggest corrections.

Pros:

Offers comprehensive grammar, spelling, and clarity checking
Integrates with popular text editors and Google Docs
Provides real-time suggestions and corrections during the writing process

Cons:

Some advanced features may require a premium subscription
Suggestions may not always align with the writer’s style or intention
Resource-intensive and may slow down browser performance

8. Readme

Users: 300K+

Readme is a text-to-speech reader that works right within your Chrome browser to increase accessibility as you write or read articles. It can also help you listen to your drafts out loud for proofreading purposes. Listening to your writing can be an excellent way to catch errors.

Pros:

Provides text-to-speech functionality to enhance accessibility
Helps writers proofread by listening to their drafts out loud
Can identify errors or inconsistencies that might be missed visually
Cons:

Limited functionality compared to dedicated proofreading tools
Voice quality may not always be optimal
May not work well with certain accents or pronunciation variations

9. Helperbird

Users: 40K+

Helperbird is an accessibility Chrome extension that can help writers with dyslexia, blindness, or other disabilities work more efficiently. You can change the font of the page, change the font sizes, use a magnifier, and turn text into speech. You can also turn pages and articles into a plain-text “Reader Mode” for easier reading and scanning.

Pros:

Enhances accessibility for writers with different disabilities
Offers customizable features like font size, magnifier, and text-to-speech
Provides a plain-text “Reader Mode” for easier reading and scanning

Cons:

May not fully replace specialized assistive technology for specific disabilities

10. MyBib

Users: 1M+

Do you list citations in your blog posts and articles? Use the MyBib Chrome extension to create citations right within the browser. Simply travel to the page, Tweet, article, or video you’d like to cite, select the format you’d like to cite it in, and then copy and paste. Alternatively, if you’re collecting various sources, save it to a “Project.” You’ll then be able to download all of your works cited in any format you prefer.

Bonus: It gives you an in-text citation, too. Absolutely brilliant.

Pros:

Simplifies the process of creating citations within the browser
Supports various citation formats
Allows for easy organization of sources within projects

Cons:

Accuracy of citations may vary, requiring users to double-check
Limited in functionality compared to dedicated citation management tools

More Chrome Extensions Equals More Productivity

Now that your browser is loaded with extensions to make marketing easier on a day-to-day basis, test them out to see what time and efficiencies you‘re able to save. When you’re ready to work on your next piece of content, try all of the tools listed above to make the process less painful and time-intensive. Your team will thank you for it.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in November 2016 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Popeyes Girl Dinner: How Social Media Trends Shape Restaurant Menus

Admittedly, I’m all too familiar with girl dinners. Sometimes (often) after a long day at work during a hot summer, the last thing you want to do is cook an elaborate meal — and that’s where girl dinners come in.

Is it a charcuterie board? A snack plate? A random assortment of whatever can be found in the kitchen to make a haphazard meal? The answer is yes to all of the above.

The term girl dinner took off on TikTok earlier this summer after creator Olivia Maher used the term in a video. Since then, girl dinner has since racked up over 1.3B views for its relatability.

Fast food chain Popeye’s was quick to jump on the trend. In July, at the height of girl dinner’s popularity on TikTok, Popeye’s launched a limited-edition “Girl Dinner” menu.

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The “Girl Dinner” menu itself was definitely tongue in cheek, as it featured all of the fast food chain’s side dishes like coleslaw, biscuits, and mashed potatoes and gravy that could be ordered separately to create a makeshift meal.

Social media users were amused by the offering:

trying to order popeyes and they have a “girl dinner” section i’m cryingggg LMAO pic.twitter.com/6nmTcG456y

— katie (@kaatieisabella)
July 19, 2023

Social Media’s Influence on Food Menus

This certainly wasn’t the first time social media influenced a food chain.

Popeyes is no stranger to social media moments. In 2019, the company’s newly released chicken sandwich went viral, igniting a chicken sandwich war with rival Chick-Fil-A all stemming from a tweet.

Earlier this year, TikTok creators Alexis Frost and Keith Lee shared a hack for ordering fajita quesadillas at Chipotle, which were previously a custom creation. After their videos went viral, Chipotle added fajita quesadillas to the official menu to accommodate the influx of orders.

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Similarly, upscale LA grocery chain Erewhon has teamed up with popular creators to launch custom smoothie recipes that have repeatedly gone viral on social media.

In some ways, social media has assisted major brands that have the resources to implement viral trends with research and development support. Down the line, this could create some hairy scenarios if IP ownership ever comes into question.

In the meantime, I’ll let the legal experts worry about that while I finish my girl dinner.