When AI first came about, the knee-jerk reaction was one of fear. It was a scene from a Sci-Fi movie where robots take over the world. Fortunately, the resistance to AI was short-lived. Fast forward to 2023, and artificial intelligence has become so integrated into people's lives that most find it impossible to exist without them.
Businesses, of course, have found creative ways to use AI in their marketing efforts, particularly in content marketing. By using Machine Learning (ML), a subfield of AI, companies can extract consumer data and use it to improve the performance of their products based on how people respond to their content.
These are just a few applications of AI and ML in content marketing:
Content Creation and Optimization
Businesses can enjoy increased efficiency and save time and resources by automating repetitive tasks. AI-powered content generators such as Jasper, Chat GPT4, Copy.AI, and Frase, have made creating blog posts, news articles, scripts, social media captions and everything in between really quick and easy. Besides being able to write fast, AI tools can also optimize content with the best keywords for search engines and user engagement.
Personalization
For digital marketers, content needs to convert to sales. Using AI, businesses can personalize content recommendations based on individual preferences and needs. This helps generate more sales and is essential in maintaining a loyal customer base. It also allows them to improve user engagement and enhance the buyer's customer experience journey.
Collecting Data
One of the most powerful advantages of using AI in content marketing is data collection and analysis. When businesses use customer relationship management (CRM) systems and Google and social media analytics, they get access to information on their customers' behaviors, engagement, and preferences. This allows companies to identify the most effective content and marketing strategies, leading to a better return on investment.
Chatbots
Responding to customer inquiries and concerns in real time is required for client-facing businesses. AI-powered chatbots can provide customer support, answer inquiries, and collect feedback 24/7. In some companies, chatbots are fielded to answer frequently asked questions, freeing time for human customer support staff to focus on complex issues. Chatbots are also helpful in qualifying leads.
Predictive Analytics
Marketing tests are time-consuming and expensive. AI tools are used to predict content performance and identify trends for future campaigns and marketing strategies. Predictive analytics tools analyze collected information and offer data-driven suggestions which save businesses time, money, and effort. However, it is important to note that AI and machine learning depend on high-quality data for their recommendations. If the data collected is incomplete or inaccurate, the insights may not be reliable.
For all its advantages, there are also downsides to using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
The first limiting factor is the cost. Small businesses with limited resources may find implementing AI and ML technologies challenging. While free versions of AI content generators are available, paid account holders can only access the full suite of features.
There's also a learning curve before a marketing team can use AI-powered tools. Some of the concepts may be new and difficult to understand for the layperson, and companies may need to shell out money for training. In some cases, businesses may need someone who knows how to use these AI and ML tools to facilitate seamless integration with existing systems or software.
Lastly, there's a concern about privacy and security. AI and ML collect and analyze user data, so information must always be sourced ethically and with the customer's consent.
Who's Using AI?
AI and ML are being used widely for content marketing, and you'll be surprised to see some familiar brands.
Netflix, for one, has tapped AI to personalize their recommendation to users. The streaming service uses viewing history to make suggestions to some 208 million users in 190 countries.
Beverage giant Coca-Cola leverages AI to analyze social media engagement and identify content creation trends and marketing campaign trends. This allows the $265 billion company to understand better how customers feel about the brand, its products, and its campaigns. This insight helps Coca-Cola identify improvement areas and lock in on emerging trends.
Top CRM Platform Hubspot, for its part, uses machine learning for website data analysis. The company uses this to make recommendations on optimizing content for search engines and better user engagement.
Even a well-respected newspaper like The Washington Post has acknowledged the advantages of using AI. In 2016, The Post began using its in-house AI tool, Heliograf, to generate news stories. The AI was able to publish 850 articles in one year. The American publication said that letting an AI work on smaller articles and news updates freed reporters to focus on more complex investigative pieces.
So how do you start using AI in your content marketing strategies?
The best advice is to test the waters. Start with simple AI tools such as chatbots or free content generators to understand what it's like. Once you've adapted, you can move on to more complex instruments and integrate them more and more into your content marketing plans.
Remember that you'll need to train your team members and keep them in the loop. Using AI allows you to speed up campaigns and scale faster than before, so ensure everyone else can keep up. Otherwise, people will feel that AI has taken over their roles.
AI and ML are not perfect, so continue to test and experiment. It's also essential to validate the data you have collected.
Finally, use AI and ML responsibly and ethically. There is little restriction or regulation on AIs, so it's best to stay prudent and follow corporate ethics. This way, you can enjoy the advantages of AI and ML without them becoming a detriment.
Comments