If you’re into creating content, freelancing, or running a business, chances are, you’ve been hit with the tidal wave of AI talk this year. In a world where innovation is the ticket to success, the sweet spot where entrepreneurship meets artificial intelligence (AI) is like a gold mine for incredible opportunities.
But let’s talk about AI in marketing – it’s got folks both excited and a bit on edge. So, let’s get straight to the point: what does it mean for us? How is it going to change my profession, my company, and my marketing strategies in the coming year?
In this blog, we’re diving into how AI is mixing up the marketing game and what to watch out for in 2024.
Trends for 2024
Content Creation
No doubt about it, AI apps are a super cool field that’s set to bring innovation, streamline processes, and boost results. These tools can save a bunch of time and effort on daily tasks while keeping your campaign metrics looking sharp.
When it comes to content creation, these tools are becoming more and more essential. From content idea apps like Taskade to image generators like Adobe Firefly, and even copywriting tools like Copy.ai, these kinds of software are huge time-savers and can spark some really great ideas for marketers. In 2024, we’re likely to see a bunch of new apps and tools popping up for content creation.
Source: Taskade
Customer Experience
Customer service remains a crucial trend for success. Consumers expect quality support and service. In this context, companies that offer personalized service not only have a better chance of winning customer preference but also of retaining them in the long term. And how to use AI for this?
It’s All About Personalization!
AI is also ramping up the personalization game in advertising. We’re talking about AI-created ads that are tailor-made for each user, with content and visuals that align with their individual interests, offering personalized advertising experiences that really speak to each consumer.
BCG’c founder, Silvio Palumbo, expected that the second wave of GenAI will be about helping consumers in novel ways, like thinking a couple of steps beyond the shopping cart, helping with assisted search, tailoring imagery to individual preferences during real-time interactions, and simply surfacing a product to the usage, fit, or relevance of the product for that customer1.
Predictive AI
According to Harvard Business School, Predictive analytics is the use of data to predict future trends and events. It can be applied in marketing to forecast sales trends at various times of the year and plan campaigns accordingly2.
In 2024, predictive AI is set to change the game for marketers, helping them identify key trends and high-value customers, and even when someone is most likely to make a purchase. This means they can send precisely timed incentives or unlock progressively appealing offers based on their data.
With predictive AI, marketers are getting a clearer picture than ever before.
Generative AI in Search
The big guys in online search, Google and Bing, are already playing with generative search features. Google’s got this Generative Search Experience (SGE), and Bing’s has a chatbot named Copilot.
The idea’s great – making web searches more like having a chat, especially with the rise of voice search through smart speakers becoming a household norm. However, this could be a headache for inbound marketing, as these searches may yield fewer links and more direct answers, potentially reducing traffic to your pages. To adapt, marketers will need to focus on optimizing content for voice search, reshaping SEO strategies, and exploring new engagement avenues.
Will AI replace me?
According to research made by Neil Patel3, 55.5% of people believe AI will replace human marketers in the near future. Sure, they’re super smart and handy for crunching numbers or scheduling posts, but replace us? Nah, not happening!
See, AI is super smart with data, numbers, and even churning out some basic content. But when it comes to the full scope of marketing and social media management, it’s not quite there yet. Why? Because at the heart of marketing and social media is something AI just can’t replicate – that human touch, creativity, and the knack for understanding emotions. These human elements are key in crafting stories and strategies that truly connect with audiences.
For example, the perfectly timed joke, the empathetic response to a customer’s complaint, or the ability to ride the wave of a viral trend. That’s the human touch, something AI just can’t replicate (yet, at least). What we often see is that AI tools tend to produce more generic content.
To illustrate, we’ve asked ChatGPT to write this blog post, check this out:
When you compare it to this blog to the AI-generated blog, you’ll notice it lacks depth and feels too generic. So, while AI is an excellent tool and sidekick in the marketing world, the real magic happens thanks to the people behind the screens, blending creativity with strategy to really connect with the audience.
AI Tools to Integrate Into Your Marketing
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, designed to generate human-like text based on the prompts given. It is widely used for content creation, customer service automation, and even coding.
What we like about it:
- Excellent at creating detailed, conversational content
- Can assist with a wide range of tasks from writing to coding
- Useful for automating customer interactions
What we don’t like about it:
- May generate responses that lack context or accuracy
- Limitations in the free version
- Can occasionally produce repetitive or generic content
Google Bard
Google Bard is Google’s answer to ChatGPT, an AI-driven tool for information retrieval and content generation, leveraging Google’s extensive data and search capabilities.
What we like about it:
- Can generate ideas for your content strategy
- Can compare webpages (useful for competitor analysis)
- Has access to all of the current information on the web
What we don’t like about it:
- Only available in a few countries
- It omits citations for its sources
- Its functionality is more restricted when compared to ChatGPT
Canva Magic
Canva Magic, part of Canva, is an AI-powered feature that simplifies graphic design with smart resizing, layout suggestions, and image editing.
What we like about it:
- Simplifies design processes with AI-enhanced features
- User-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels
- Integrates well with Canva’s extensive library of templates and assets
What we don’t like about it:
- Designs may lack a unique, creative touch (you might end up getting weird AI-generated images too)
- Some limitations in advanced design customization
- Dependent on Canva’s premium subscription for full access
Adobe Firefly
Adobe Firefly is an AI-driven tool (assuming a hypothetical tool, as Adobe’s current AI platform is Adobe Sensei) that enhances Adobe’s suite of products with features like smart image editing, automated design tasks, and content suggestions.
Source: Adobe
What we like about it:
- Advanced AI capabilities for professional-grade design and editing
- Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud
- Potential time-saving benefits for complex design tasks
What we don’t like about it:
- Likely to have a steep learning curve
- Dependence on Adobe’s ecosystem and subscription model
- Some features might still require manual fine-tuning
Wordtune
Wordtune is an AI writing assistant that helps refine and improve the quality of written content. It suggests different ways to phrase and structure sentences.
Source: Wordtune
What we like about it:
- You can easily change your tone of voice
- Offers real-time suggestions for rewriting and rephrasing
- Helpful for enhancing writing quality & proofreading
What we don’t like about it:
- Suggestions may not always fit the intended tone or context
- Can sometimes produce awkward or unnatural phrasing
- Limited free plan
Copy.ai
Copy.ai is an AI-powered tool focused on generating marketing and advertising copy, including content for social media, emails, and websites.
Source: Copy.ai
What we like about it:
- Quick generation of diverse types of marketing copy
- Useful for brainstorming & SEO
- Easy-to-use interface requiring minimal input
What we don’t like about it:
- Generated copy may require significant editing for personalization
- Highly random content sometimes appears
- Might not capture nuanced or complex content requirements
Wrapping It All Up
In the dynamic scene of 2024, AI-powered marketing isn’t just an option; it’s a must. Think of it as the Robin to your Batman, or better yet, the Edgar to your social media scheduling. AI tools can totally take the grind out of tasks like research, writing, editing, and even throwing out some neat content ideas. But it’s not about to take over our creative brains – the real magic happens when we use AI to boost our own skills and ideas, not replace them.
With some smart planning and using tools like Edgar for social media scheduling, AI can be a powerful buddy in our quest for awesome content.
