6 Free APIs for Marketers That You Should Check Out

Application Programming Interface (API) enables different software systems to communicate. Free APIs for marketers are definitely something that your team will be interested in.

This article will tell you why marketers are so interested in this software application, what free marketing APIs are available, and why this is so important in [current-year].

Jump to one of the free APIs for marketers

1. Mapbox
2. Colormind
3. QRcode Monkey
4. Soundcloud
5. Hunter API
6. Facebook Conversion API
7. Bonus! Just for fun

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What is an API?

An API is a set of rules and protocols that allows one software application to interact with another. It acts as a bridge between different software applications so that they can communicate with each other. It defines the methods and data formats that applications can use to request and exchange information.

In marketing, APIs take client applications and send them to a server, usually in a structured format. Common languages it uses are JSON or XML.

Different types of APIs

There are a couple types of APIs, all with different purposes:

1. Database APIs: These facilitate communication between an application and a database management system. The functions are usually data retrieval, insertion, and manipulation.
2. Operating system APIs: These allow different applications to interact with an operating system. Functions include file management, memory allocation, and process control.
3. Library APIs: These specific programming languages give developers functions to use pre-written code for common tasks.
4. Web APIs: The most common APIs are web types. They provide interactions between web servers and web browsers.

What do you look for in open API’s for marketers?

Marketing APIs should provide some type of function that is usable to you and your responsibilities. They must add value and offer features that you need. They also need to align with your existing tools and platforms. Here are some other considerations:

• Accuracy: APIs need to deliver accurate and reliable data. Check the credibility of the data source and verify the developer. If you have a time-sensitive campaign, look into whether it also uses real-time data.
• Documentation: APIs should have comprehensive, well-organized documentation, including how the API functions and how you should implement it.
• Scalability: Understand the API’s limits, such as the number of requests you can make. Compare this to your own estimation or goals.
• Security: Ensure the API complies with data protection regulations, especially when handling personal customer data.

6 Free APIs for marketers

I don’t know about you, but when I see the heading “free” and the writer recommends programs with “free trials,” I get disappointed. So you can be sure that when I say “free,” I mean exactly that—a comprehensive deal, a decent program you don’t have to pay for.

Here are our top 6 open APIs for marketers.

1. Mapbox API

Mapbox API is an open API for marketers that provides navigation and maps to showcase your store’s location. Other features include real-time weather information and detailed trials and navigation for outdoor or logistics.

Mapbox allows users to be free until your project scales up to medium-sized, where you will be then asked to move to a paid option. Several features within the API include:

• Map matching allows for clean paths to be displayed on a map from inaccurate traces on a GPT unit.
• Multi-stop driving or walking routes can be optimized.
• Generate static map images that can displayed on web or mobile devices.
• Create interactive search experiences.

2. Colormind

Colormind is a color scheme generator that uses AI deep learning to extract color styles from photographs, movies, and popular art. It can be useful for the marketing department’s design and personalization campaigns.

The design team can also use it to determine complementary colors for branding and website design, which they can then recommend to the marketing team.

3. QRcode Monkey

The QRcode Monkey is a free Quick Response (QR) generator marketing APIs that can give marketers a quick and easy way to give customers access to online resources, tools, or signups on physical products. The API also allows users to set colors or create a QR code within a logo image to allow for personalized branding.

4. Soundcloud

Soundcloud allows marketers to create audio files and playlists that are accessible to their audience through an open API’s for marketers. You can add audio files to your content marketing strategy in the form of podcasts or music, or give instructions about your products and services.

You can also use the API within your app to stream tracks. Instead of just visual or visual interact content, you can now include audio options as well.

5. Hunter API

This API will change the way you handle our email database. There are paid options available that allow for bigger packages, but if you are a small company, the free option will cover you until you establish a budget.

So what can it do?

You can use the Hunter API to conduct domain searches and fetch all email addresses. You can also use the “email finder” option, which will give additional information about the returned email address, or use the verifier to validate them.

6. Facebook Conversion API

Facebook CAPI allows marketers and advertisers to track customer actions. With a small code that you have to implement on your site, called the Facebook Pixel, users can serve personalized ads on their Facebook feed. Facebook Pixel and Facebook CAPI work together on this one, to give marketers customer data and a better user experience.

Just for fun: PlaceKitten API and  HTTP Status Dogs

I don’t know what marketing department or company out there needs this, but the truth is cats drive 15% of internet traffic. 35% of cat and dog owners worldwide have set up a social media account for their furry pet. During the pandemic, over 23 million households in the US alone, adopted a pet.

There’s a lot of furry happiness out there that might inspire a campaign where a well-placed randomized kitten or dog might be useful. Here are two great, and free, APIs that might be useful.

Place kitten can let you place a random cute kitten picture in your code anywhere as a placeholder. You simply add in your image dimensions, and you are ready to go.

HTTP Status Dogs gives you a way to deliver bad or good news — hypertext transfer protocol response status codes (HTTP) with a dog dressed up as a lion. All news is good news when it comes to a furry friend.

Get integrated with APIs and WebFX

Part of our services is improving your functionality and getting more value from your data using API integration services. With our MarketingCloudFX digital platform, you will get several customized API integrations connecting you to different application types.

Boost your digital marketing performance across channels by using MarketingCloudFX.

Call to chat with a specialist directly, or contact us online for more information on how we can streamline your systems.