Artificial intelligence has been the talk of the town for quite some time now. A few years ago, AI isn’t as widely used by marketers, but many tools were already readily available then. Now, with ChatGPT’s popularity, many digital marketers have been using this tool, along with other AI software/tools to make their work easier. But still, the biggest question is… is it a smart move to use AI for your marketing efforts?
The short answer is, it depends on how you’ll use it. We’ll discuss more about that below, but first, we want you to understand what AI really is and how it is being used in the marketing field right now.
What Is AI?
AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to the development of systems that can mimic human intelligence. These systems can learn and adapt over time, which allows them to perform tasks that traditionally required human input. In the field of marketing, AI takes advantage of the available data to automate different processes, gain customer insights, and even create content to be used on social media, search engine, and so much more.
A great example would be targeting online advertisements for fast internet services. Traditionally, marketers might place ads on general websites hoping to reach someone interested in upgrading their internet. However, with AI, marketers can analyze massive amounts of data, including browsing history and online behavior. Being able to do this without manual work allows them to target their ads with laser focus without spending a lot of money for manpower.
Then, someone who has recently searched for information about internet speeds or compared different internet service providers (ISPs) would be much more likely to be interested in an ad for fast internet services. By using AI, marketers can target these specific users, increasing the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns.
How Is AI Used for Marketing?
Since a lot of AI tools and software were developed in the past years, which is why many people have been using it for a lot of things. This list is just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the most common marketing tasks performed by AI include:
- Content Creation
- Customer Support
- Data Analysis
- Photo/Video Editing
- Ad Targeting
- And many more
Should You Use AI for Your Marketing Efforts?
Yes, if it means making your business more efficient. But if you’re going to abuse this technology and not put in any work at all, it might be best to avoid using it. AI is a powerful tool that can be used for a lot of things, but they require human intervention. After all, every great technology out there was developed by humans.
If you’re on a tight budget or just starting out, you can still do great marketing without it. Here’s an example: imagine you’re a small business offering fiber internet. Without AI, targeting the right audience can be tricky if you don’t have the right knowledge. You might place ads online, hoping to reach people interested in faster internet. But with AI, you can analyze data to pinpoint exactly who needs fiber – people who stream a lot of movies, gamers with high-bandwidth needs, or businesses that rely on fast uploads and downloads.
This targeted approach saves you money and ensures your ads reach the people most likely to switch to your fiber internet service. So, AI can be a great tool for making your marketing more efficient, but remember, it’s still an assistant. You’ll need to set goals, track results, and use your human creativity to develop and execute a marketing strategy that works.
Things You Need to Know Before You Use AI for Marketing
Many people immediately starts using AI without actually understanding how it works or how it should be used to perform a specific task. If you’re one of the few people who have been thinking to use AI for your marketing efforts, there’s no shame in that. But there’s a few things to keep in mind:
- AI isn’t a magic solution to all your marketing efforts.
As we’ve been mentioning above, AI isn’t something that can do everything for you. Yes, it can help you finish tasks faster and help you create marketing materials but the quality of those materials depends on the data you feed it. Just like you wouldn’t ask your assistant to single-handedly close a business deal, you shouldn’t expect AI to solve all your marketing problems on its own.
- Feed quality data.
Data is what makes AI powerful. That’s why when you feed it quality data, it will give you the results you’re looking for (well, most of the time). By providing relevant, accurate data about your target audience and marketing goals, you can make AI a partner in achieving all your business goals. Just keep in mind – the better the data, the better the results.
- Your input is still needed.
Don’t be fooled by AI’s abilities – it’s still a tool, not a replacement for human knowledge. ou’ll need to provide clear instructions and goals for your AI assistant. For example, if you’re using AI to create social media content, you’ll need to specify your target audience, brand voice, and desired outcome. And after that, you still need to edit it and make sure that it doesn’t look robotic and generic.
- Don’t abuse the technology.
Technology is here to make our lives easier, but it doesn’t mean you should abuse it. Many marketers nowadays abuse AI, especially with content creation. With ChatGPT for instance, they just generate content, copy and paste it, and that’s it. It fills the web with spammy/senseless information which can be frustrating for internet users.
Final Thoughts
Using AI for marketing is a smart move if you know how to use it. It’s not something to be afraid of, but it’s also something that you should use responsibly. Once you know how to use it properly, you’ll be able to make your marketing campaign more efficient. Best of luck!