How AI has already changed the world for creatives & small businesses

It was only in November 2022 that the launch of ChatGPT brought artificial intelligence into mainstream news. Within 5 days the app had a million users. It hit 100 million users after two months. But ChatGPT is only one of many AI initiatives that have been in development or, for some, in use for many years.

We’ve reached a point now, barely a year later, where generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) can do any task that a creative can do – save for coming up with original ideas. And when you bring in the argument that none of our ideas are truly original, but just a new way of presenting things we have learned elsewhere, then we can start a whole new argument….

In the ten short months since ChatGPT was launched, the AI race has surged forward faster than the speed of light, with over 2,000 new apps reportedly being released every month this year.

We have AI apps that are writing books, creating videos, building websites, developing advertising campaigns, writing sales copy, drawing cartoons, and creating photo-realistic images, among many other applications.

In the digital marketing landscape, AI has transformed the way businesses reach and engage with their target audience. Small business owners and creative entrepreneurs, in particular, can benefit from leveraging AI technologies to optimize their marketing strategies, enhance customer outreach, and streamline their service fulfillment.

In our previous post for the Ultimate SEO Makeover (#180DaysOfSEO, #UltimateSEOMakeover), we talked about different effective marketing campaign strategies, utilizing the power of user-generated content in marketing campaigns, and the art of storytelling in marketing.

Today, we’re looking at the impact of AI. Get ready for some eye-opening insights that will be especially valuable for all creative entrepreneurs out there and that will help you shape your business in a way that leverages AI to the full extent possible.

To start, here are fourteen reasons why AI is disrupting digital marketing:

Providing a personalized experience to customers

One of the significant benefits of AI in digital marketing is the ability to provide personalized experiences to customers.

By collecting and analyzing customer data, AI-powered tools can create customized content and offers, catering to individual preferences.

For example, Alibaba leverages AI algorithms to deliver highly relevant product recommendations to their users, increasing conversion rates and overall satisfaction. Another example is Wayfair, an online furniture and home goods retailer based in Copley Place, Boston, which has been known to use AI to personalize customer experiences. They use AI algorithms to recommend products based on customer browsing and even invite customers to decorate their spaces to give them a better view of what they need to purchase,  creating a more tailored shopping experience.

Responding to email queries using chatbots

Another critical area where AI is changing the digital marketing landscape is chatbots. This technology enables companies to provide instant customer support, answer FAQs, and even help with product selection. For instance, if your customer is having a friendly and engaging conversation with the bot, this is enough to send all the data to MailChimp and not just to your account but to a specific mailing list! If you are working with a rule-based bot, you can set a chatbot Mailchimp integration for each segment of your audience.

In conclusion, small businesses can integrate AI-powered chatbots into their websites and social media profiles to streamline customer interactions and promptly address their needs.

Using AI to identify the target audience accurately

AI has also made a significant impact on advertising. By employing machine learning algorithms, businesses can identify ideal ad placements and target their audience more accurately. This results in improved return on investment (ROI). Platforms like Google Ads integrate AI to optimize ad performance and continuously refine campaigns based on user behavior and preferences.

Natural language processing (NLP)

AI is enhancing content marketing through natural language processing (NLP) that can analyze audience preferences and predict the content that will resonate best with users. In simpler terms, NLP can be used to generate text-based content, such as product descriptions, news articles, blog posts, and social media posts.

Earlier in 2023, The Boston Globe ran an article about people in the city who are using AI in their work. One of the people they mentioned is Beth Bailey, who teaches Pottery classes from her home studio in Whitman MA, and at several art institutions. Bailey now uses AI to help her formulate her syllabi.

She used to create detailed curricula and student syllabi from scratch. However, her approach has evolved, and she now inputs class information into tools like Bard or ChatGPT.

These AI tools then condense and format the content according to her requirements. They also simplify complex terminology, removing words like “underglaze” and “sgraffito” to make it more accessible to a broader audience.

According to Bailey, she sometimes requests changes like making a sentence less awkward, and the AI canble to achieve these adjustments. For Bailey, this shift represents a significant transformation in her efforts to develop her small business as both an artist and an educator.

In summary, the emergence of AI in digital marketing has brought about innovative solutions that help small businesses and creative entrepreneurs optimize their marketing efforts.

AI-driven advertising

AI has significantly impacted the advertising industry by allowing small businesses to target customers with more precision and efficiency. Machine learning algorithms analyze user behavior and demographic data to optimize ad placements and enhance the effectiveness of campaigns. For example, platforms like Google Ads use AI to improve ad targeting and performance, enabling small business owners to reach their desired audience without breaking the bank.

Social media automation

AI enables small businesses and creative entrepreneurs to automate their social media management, freeing up valuable time for other tasks. At Artist Dynamix, we use tools like ManyChat to keep everyone up to date with the latest insights by automating messages and sending personalized links to the guide. These tools help small businesses maintain a consistent presence on social media platforms, increase engagement, and ultimately drive traffic and conversions.

By leveraging AI algorithms, they can gain insights into audience preferences and tailor their marketing messages accordingly. For example, some small businesses might use AI-based tools, like PromoRepublic, to help them create tailored content for their audiences to increase engagement.

AI can also help with scheduling and posting content on social media platforms, ensuring optimal visibility and results. This allows small business owners to focus on other important aspects of their business while maintaining an active social media presence.

Data analytics & customer insights

One of the most significant advantages of AI in digital marketing is its ability to collect, analyze, and interpret massive amounts of data quickly. AI-driven tools can help small businesses better understand their customers, identify patterns and trends, and make data-driven decisions.

For instance, machine learning algorithms can analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, content performance, and social media engagement, allowing businesses to adjust their strategies accordingly. Tools like Google Analytics can provide small businesses with valuable insights into their target audience, helping them make more informed marketing decisions.

Toast, a restaurant management platform, is a business based in Boston Seaport. They have used AI to help restaurants personalize their guest experiences, manage orders, and improve customer engagement

This shows that AI has already changed the landscape of digital marketing by introducing powerful tools and applications that have enabled small businesses to streamline their marketing efforts, automate repetitive tasks, create engaging content, and gain valuable insights from data. As technology continues to advance, AI’s role in digital marketing will only continue to grow, providing even more opportunities for businesses of all sizes to leverage this transformative technology.

Personalization and product recommendations

AI-driven personalization enables businesses to deliver tailored content, offers, and product recommendations to individual customers. By analyzing customer data, such as browsing history, purchase history, and preferences, AI can identify trends and deliver relevant experiences in real-time. Small businesses can use platforms like CleverTap to implement AI-driven personalization strategies that increase user engagement, retention, and conversions.

For example, Nonprofit organizations can use CleverTap to engage donors and supporters by sending updates on their work, fundraising campaigns, and event invitations. It can segment donors based on their giving history and preferences, allowing organizations to send targeted communications that resonate with each donor group.

Streamlined email marketing

AI in email marketing allows small businesses to improve the efficiency of their campaigns by automating repetitive tasks such as personalizing subject lines and content based on user behavior.

Furthermore, AI-powered email marketing tools like MailChimp can automatically segment subscribers based on their interests to deliver targeted content, increasing engagement and relevance. Streamlined email marketing using AI enables small businesses to optimize their communication strategy and save time.

Customer journey analysis

Understanding the customer journey is crucial for businesses to optimize their marketing strategies and improve customer satisfaction. AI-powered customer journey analysis tools help businesses identify patterns and trends, pinpoint areas for improvement, and predict customer behavior.

By using AI-driven insights, small business owners and creative entrepreneurs can tailor marketing efforts, allocate resources efficiently, and better serve their customers. Berkeley’s California Management Review emphasizes the importance of overcoming challenges in AI-driven customer experience to capitalize on growth opportunities.

In conclusion, AI is already disrupting the digital marketing landscape by offering various applications to enhance customer engagement and experience. Small businesses and creative entrepreneurs can leverage these AI-driven tools to deliver personalized content, improve customer service through chatbots, and gain valuable insights into the customer journey. By embracing AI technology, businesses can stay competitive and provide a superior customer experience.

Video editing

Video content is a great way for your next storytelling campaign, and AI can make video creation more accessible than ever. Lumen5 and Magisto use AI algorithms to transform your written content into engaging video presentations. Simply input your text, and these tools generate visuals and animations, saving you the hassle of complex video editing.

Market research

Understanding your audience and market trends is crucial for any business. AI-powered social listening tools like Brandwatch and Talkwalker can analyze vast amounts of data from social media and other online sources to provide insights into consumer sentiment and market trends. This information can guide your marketing strategy and product development.

E-commerce optimization

For e-commerce entrepreneurs, AI can be a game-changer. Tools like RepricerExpress use AI to adjust your product prices in real-time to stay competitive on platforms like Amazon. Additionally, AI-driven chatbots, like ChatGPT, can handle customer inquiries, freeing up your time for more strategic tasks.

Search engine optimization

AI now makes it easier for businesses to optimize their websites for search engines and human traffic.

An example is Artist Dynamix SEO Actionz, a super-charged, AI-powered arsenal of search engine optimization tools and resources tailored to empower you and your team to conquer SEO  with ease.

The SEO Actionz dashboard gives access to cutting-edge research, analysis, and reporting tools that show you how to implement those actions so that you are never left scratching your head and wondering what things mean. This includes The Jack Checker, an easy-to-use SEO audit tool.

We leverage this tool for creative entrepreneurs and small businesses to help them rank better on search engines, understand what their competition is doing on the marketing front, and find the right keywords to build content around.

Conclusion

In summary, AI is disrupting digital marketing by offering new opportunities for small businesses to improve social media marketing, email marketing, and customer support.

Someone recently said, there will be those businesses that use AI and those that bite the dust. So if you want to get started on your AI journey, it’s best to do it NOW by checking out some of the free courses you can take.

By leveraging AI technologies in these areas, small businesses can streamline their marketing efforts, save time, increase their competitiveness in the market, and help ensure continued sustainability.

Remember-don’t be afraid of AI; Whether you ignore it or not, it’s here and its influence will only continue to grow.