AI without Strategy = 0

AI without Strategy = 0

In the rapidly evolving world of marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool, offering unprecedented capabilities to businesses aiming to enhance their content creation and overall marketing strategies. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that AI, despite its advanced capabilities, is not a cure-all or magic bullet. It’s a tool that needs a well-thought-out marketing strategy to create transformative content.

AI offers the potential to generate content at scale, analyze data, automate tasks, and personalize marketing efforts in ways previously unimaginable, but AI-generated content requires human direction, input, expertise, and editing. In and of itself, AI content is not always correct, often over-written and not written in context. To be successful with AI, you need someone driving the process.

At BersonDeanStevens (BDS), we understand the delicate balance between leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies and maintaining the human touch that is fundamental to creating marketing content that resonates with your audience. With over 25 years of experience in developing results-driven content, campaigns, and programs, BDS brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to incorporate AI to boost results.

Whether you are looking for an ally to handle strategic content creation, help train your team on the proper use of AI, or need consulting from time to time, BDS is your go-to resource.


For help with AI and how to successfully integrate it into your business, schedule a call or email Lori Berson at lberson@BersonDeanStevens.com.


BersonDeanStevens has been a recognized brand strategy and marketing leader for over 25 years. We work in partnership with you to differentiate your brand and achieve your business goals. Client list.

 

 

How to Maximize Marketing Results with AI

How to Maximize Marketing Results with AI

Staying ahead of the marketing curve is not just an advantage, but a necessity – especially with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Below are just a few examples (and tools) of how AI can elevate every aspect of a marketing campaign, from targeted planning to insightful post-campaign analysis.

The integration of AI in marketing goes beyond automation. It’s a fundamental shift in how we conceptualize and execute marketing strategies. AI offers unparalleled efficiency, personalization, and scalability in campaigns, setting a new benchmark in marketing excellence.

Tailoring Campaigns with Precision: The Pre-Campaign Stage

AI-Driven Audience Targeting
AI’s capability to analyze and interpret complex data sets enables marketers to identify and target the most receptive audiences. This allows for highly targeted marketing campaigns that speak directly to the needs and interests of your audience.

Content Creation
Imagine a creative assistant that helps generate ideas, themes, and content. AI aids in creating diverse and appealing marketing materials, ensuring your message is both engaging and relevant. 

Campaign Planning
AI tools can assist in campaign planning by predicting market trends and customer behavior, allowing marketers to stay ahead of the curve. 

Engaging Customers: The Active Campaign Stage

Enhancing Customer Interaction
AI can personalize customer interactions by analyzing past behavior and preferences. This results in more engaging and relevant communications.

Real-time Campaign Optimization
AI’s ability to process data in real-time allows marketers to make on-the-fly adjustments to campaigns, ensuring maximum impact and efficiency.

Predictive Analysis for Better Results
AI’s predictive capabilities enable marketers to anticipate customer needs and respond proactively, creating a more dynamic and responsive marketing strategy.

Measuring Success and Learning: Post-Campaign

Insightful Analytics and Reporting
AI’s ability to process and analyze post-campaign data is invaluable. It provides detailed insights into what worked and what didn’t, paving the way for informed decision-making in future campaigns.

Content Lifecycle Management
AI isn’t just about creating content; it’s also about managing it effectively. From identifying the best-performing content to suggesting repurposing strategies, AI ensures your content continues to deliver value over time.

AI Tools

  • Demandbase and 6Sense – Leverage AI and intent data to help identify high-value accounts and audiences to target to help with account-based marketing planning.
  • Drift – An AI chatbot that can have conversational interactions with website visitors to engage prospects. Chatbot data helps inform campaign messaging and offers.
  • Madkudu – Uses AI and machine learning to analyze customer data and make personalized recommendations for marketing campaigns – helping with segmentation and targeting.
  • Adobe Sensei – AI inside Adobe marketing products like Adobe Campaign can assist with campaign planning and optimization by predicting performance and identifying high-value customers.
  • Salesforce Einstein – AI that’s built into Salesforce to optimize the sending of email campaigns, provide predictive lead scoring, and automated personalization.
  • ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, and Microsoft Copilot are general AI platforms that help you brainstorm ideas, and create outlines, articles, blog posts, social media, e-books, emails, ad copy, and more!
  • Persado – Uses AI to generate emotionally intelligent marketing copy and subject lines that drive engagement for email campaigns and other messages.
  • Midjourney, DALL-E, Canva, Kittl, and Adobe Firefly can rapidly create unique images to tell your story. 
  • Sprout Social and HootSuite – Use AI for image and text analysis to help make content recommendations and schedule social media campaigns.

The key is finding AI marketing tools that align with your goals, data sources, technical capabilities, and budget.

AI – Your Strategic Partner for Growth

AI is more than just a technological upgrade for your marketing; it’s a transformative power. It enables a level of precision, personalization, and efficiency previously unattainable. Whether it’s through smarter targeting, creative content generation, real-time personalization, or insightful post-campaign analysis, AI is an indispensable asset for modern marketers.

To achieve your marketing objectives more effectively and efficiently, we recommend you use AI not only in your marketing strategy but throughout your campaigns – in addition to using it for sales, project management, presentations, etc.

Stay tuned for more insights and tips on leveraging AI for unparalleled marketing success.


For help with your marketing and how to incorporate AI, schedule a call or email Lori Berson at lberson@BersonDeanStevens.com.


BersonDeanStevens has been a recognized brand strategy and marketing leader for over 25 years. We work in partnership with you to differentiate your brand and achieve your business goals. Client list.

 

 

The Rise of Generative AI in the Workplace

The Rise of Generative AI in the Workplace

According to the 2023 McKinsey Global Survey and the Quantum Black study, generative AI is poised to become a mainstream technology used across organizations in 2023. Generative AI refers to AI systems that can generate new content, such as text, code, images, or video, based on an initial text or multimedia prompt.

The McKinsey survey of nearly 3,000 executives worldwide found that 52% of respondents already adopt some form of generative AI, with an additional 38% planning to adopt it within the next year. The Quantum Black study provided further insights into which roles are leading the adoption.

Generative AI Use by Job Function

Marketing and Communications
Marketing and communications teams were early pioneers in testing applications of generative AI. Over two-thirds of survey respondents from marketing functions reported using generative AI, with applications ranging from written content creation to visual asset design. Key benefits include increased efficiency and productivity, as well as the ability to rapidly customize content.

Technical and Engineering Roles
Developers, engineers, and IT professionals also reported significant usage of generative AI, at 64% of survey respondents. Key applications include using natural language prompts to generate code, automating software documentation, and assisting with debugging. Generative AI delivers major time savings and frees up developers to focus on higher-value strategic tasks.

Customer Service and Sales
Generative AI is assisting 57% of customer service professionals as an AI-powered chatbot handling routine inquiries. It’s also supporting sales teams in 50% of organizations surveyed, by generating content and insights to assist with proposals and presentations. Key advantages include scalability, consistency, and rapid response times.

Finance and Accounting
In finance, generative AI helps analysts and accountants produce reports, projections, and financial models using simple prompts in natural language. In the survey, 47% of finance professionals reported using generative AI to improve efficiency and accuracy.

Legal
The legal profession is starting to adopt generative AI as well, with 45% of respondents reporting usage. Key applications are document and contract review and generation, legal research, and summarizing case files. Top benefits include speed, cost, and risk mitigation.

Human Resources
HR teams are using generative AI for 39% of survey respondents, especially for talent acquisition. Applications range from generating job descriptions to conducting initial resume screens. Generative AI delivers significant time and cost savings in high-volume HR tasks.

The McKinsey survey makes it clear that generative AI adoption is accelerating across the enterprise. As organizations incorporate this potentially transformative technology, they’ll need to manage risks around data privacy, security, bias, and misinformation (aka hallucinations). But when used responsibly, generative AI can automate repetitive tasks, drive efficiencies, and allow all of us to focus on more strategic and creative work.

About the Data: The results are based on an April survey of 1,684 respondents “representing the full range of regions, industries, company sizes, functional specialties, and tenures. Of those respondents, 913 said their organizations had adopted AI in at least one function.” Check out the full survey.


Need assistance using AI to enhance and expedite your marketing initiatives? Schedule a call or email Lori Berson at lberson@BersonDeanStevens.com.


BersonDeanStevens has been a recognized brand strategy and marketing leader for over 25 years. We work in partnership with you to differentiate your brand and achieve your business goals. Client list.

 

 

How to Ask For a Client Reference

How to Ask For a Client Reference

Getting positive references from satisfied clients can go a long way in establishing credibility for your business. When you need a client to provide a testimonial, reference, or case study, follow these tips for making the process smooth and successful:

Choose the Right Client

  • Select clients you have worked with extensively and who you know are very pleased with your product or service. Avoid picking those who had any negatives in their experience with you.
  • If possible, choose recognizable companies or those in industries you’re trying to attract as they will lend the most credibility.

Make a Personalized Request

  • Contact your client and remind them of the work you did together. Make your request personal and specific to them. Do not send a generic templated email.
  • Explain why you are asking for a reference, testimonial, or case study and how will it help your business.

Provide Details Upfront

  • Let your client know exactly what you need from them, whether it’s a quote, video interview, etc.
  • Give them guidelines, sample quotes, suggested talking points, or case study formats. The clearer you are, the better.
  • Explain precisely how the reference will be used in your marketing materials, website, proposals, etc.
  • If they decline, graciously accept their refusal and part on good terms in case they reconsider in the future.

Thank All Clients Who Do Provide a Reference

  • Consider providing discounts on future work or other perks in exchange for their taking the time to provide a reference.
  • Make your clients feel appreciated by sending a gift card or featuring them prominently in your materials.

Using these tips will go a long way toward getting the client references and testimonials you need to boost your business. Just remember to make the process easy.

Testimonial Apps

Here are several apps that can help you easily collect and manage client testimonials:

  • BirdEye: manage customer feedback, including testimonials. It enables you to gather reviews from multiple platforms and display them on your website.
  • Boast: capture and showcase video testimonials from your clients. It provides tools to record, upload, and organize testimonials, making it easy to integrate them into your website or marketing materials.
  • Feefo: collect genuine, verified customer reviews and insights. It provides analytics to understand customer sentiment and integrates with e-commerce platforms.
  • GatherUp: gather feedback and testimonials through surveys and review requests. It also assists in managing and amplifying customer stories to boost your online reputation.
  • ReputationStacker: automate the process of collecting testimonials and reviews from customers. It sends out requests via SMS and email, streamlining the feedback collection process.
  • Senja: generate high-converting testimonial collection forms you can share anywhere. Invite your clients. Offer rewards. Send thank you notes.
  • Testimonial: create branded testimonial forms, gather client feedback, and showcase testimonials on your website. It offers customization options and integration with various platforms.
  • Trustpilot: collect and showcase customer reviews and testimonials. It offers widgets and integration options to embed reviews on your website and leverage social proof.
  • Vouch: collect video testimonials with a single link. Add your questions, send the request, and capture the authentic voice of your customers, all in a few clicks.
  • Yotpo: collect and display customer reviews, photos, and Q&A content, which can enhance your brand’s credibility.

Remember to consider your specific needs, such as the type of testimonials you want to collect (text, video, etc.), integration capabilities with your existing software, and the overall user experience when choosing the best testimonial software app for your business.


Need assistance with your client referrals? Schedule a call or email Lori Berson at lberson@BersonDeanStevens.com.


BersonDeanStevens has been a recognized brand strategy and marketing leader for over 25 years. We work in partnership with you to differentiate your brand and achieve your business goals. Client list.

 

 

7 Ways AI Can Make Work Life Easier + 80 Prompts to Use

7 Ways AI Can Make Work Life Easier + 80 Prompts to Use

AI has limitations, but it can be a productivity booster when used strategically.

7 Ways AI Can Make Work Life Easier

  1. Automate repetitive tasks – AI can take over mundane, repetitive tasks like data entry freeing up employees’ time for more meaningful work.
  2. Improve workflows – AI tools can analyze workflows and processes to identify bottlenecks and areas for optimization for increased efficiency.
  3. Personalize customer experiences – Chatbots and virtual assistants powered by AI can provide customized service to customers 24/7 to improve customer satisfaction.
  4. Generate insights from data – AI excels at finding patterns in large datasets. These insights can inform better decision-making and strategy.
  5. Create content – AI copywriting tools can generate blog posts, social media content, emails, etc. helping your team scale content creation.
  6. Enhance human capabilities – Rather than replacing humans, AI augments human skills and abilities. For example, AI can help salespeople identify the best prospects.
  7. Increase accessibility – AI powers assistive technologies that make work more accessible for employees with disabilities.

When thoughtfully implemented, AI technologies can take over repetitive, low-value tasks while empowering employees to focus on more meaningful, human-centric work creating efficiencies while still keeping the human touch.

ChatGPT Advantages and Prompts to Use

  • Comparing concepts:
    – Please compare and contrast the concepts of [concept 1] and [concept 2].
    – What are the key similarities and differences between [concept 1] and [concept 2]?
    – Can you explain how [concept 1] and [concept 2] are alike and how they differ in a paragraph?
    – Help me understand the relationship between [concept 1] and [concept 2] by outlining their main commonalities and distinctions.
    – What distinguishes [concept 1] from [concept 2]? Provide a brief comparison of their defining features.
    – Identify 3-5 ways that [concept 1] and [concept 2] are similar and 3-5 ways they are different.
    – Create a table comparing [concept 1] and [concept 2] across categories like [category 1], [category 2], [category 3].
    – How does [concept 1] contrast with [concept 2] in terms of [specific attribute]?
  • Researching topics:
    – Please provide a high-level overview of current research on [topic] in a few paragraphs.
    – Can you summarize the key findings and implications from recent studies on [topic]?
    – What are the main themes and conclusions in academic literature about [topic] over the past 5 years?
    – Give me a short summary of the state of research on [topic] focusing on the most influential studies and ideas.
    – Provide a concise overview of important research on [topic], covering things like main hypotheses, methodologies, results, and limitations of the existing literature.
    – In 2-3 paragraphs, synthesize the key insights and open questions from scholarship on [topic].
    – What are the critical debates or unresolved questions around [topic] based on a review of current academic research on this subject?
    – What are the 3-5 most important papers on [topic] and what are their main ideas and contributions to the field’s understanding of this subject?
  • Generating ideas:
    – Can you provide 5-10 creative and innovative ideas for my project about [topic]?
    – What are some outside-the-box ideas I could explore for my [project type] on [topic]?
    – Help spur my creativity by suggesting unconventional approaches I could take for [project name].
    – Give me a list of thought-provoking and imaginative ideas that would make my [project name] unique and memorable.
    – Please brainstorm original ideas for my [project name] that go beyond the obvious – feel free to think wildly!
    – Suggest [number] fun, audacious concepts I could incorporate to make my [project name] truly groundbreaking.
    – What are some experimental directions I could take my [project name] in to make it innovative and ahead of its time?
    – Help get my creative juices flowing by recommending [number] novel ways to approach my [project name].
    – Can you play devil’s advocate and suggest some radical ideas to make my [project name] stand out from the crowd?
  • Drafting emails:
    – Please draft a friendly email to [name] asking for advice about [topic].
    – Can you write a casual email to [name] introducing myself and discussing [topic]?
    – I’d like to email [name] on [topic]. Can you compose a warm, conversational email that briefly explains the situation and poses my question?
    – Could you put together a short, upbeat email to [name] about [topic] and let them know I’d appreciate any guidance they can offer?
    – Please compose a polite email to [name] on [topic]. Use a positive, collegial tone.
    – I want to email [name] to learn more about [topic]. Can you draft a friendly email that briefly sums up my interest and asks them to share their knowledge on the subject?
    – Can you write a cheerful and relaxed email to [name] touching on [topic]?
  • Editing documents:
    – Take out all Oxford commas in this document while maintaining the meaning.
    – Can you revise this text by removing the Oxford commas throughout while keeping the text clear and readable?
    – Please replace all instances of [word 1] in the following document with [word 2].
    – Find and replace [word 1] with [word 2] throughout this text without changing the overall meaning.
    – Edit the below passage by changing [word 1] to [word 2] wherever it appears. The overall style and voice should remain the same.
  • Explaining complex topics:
    – Please explain the concept of [complex topic] in simple language that a high school student could understand.
    – Can you provide a basic overview of [complex topic] using simple words and examples rather than technical jargon?
    – I’m having trouble understanding [complex topic]. Can you walk me through the key ideas in plain English for a beginner?
    – Using simple analogies and layman’s terms, summarize what [complex topic] is all about.
    – Pretend you are explaining [complex topic] to a 12-year-old. Use simple phrases and avoid advanced vocabulary.
    – Break down the main elements of [complex topic] into bite-sized pieces that are easy to digest for someone without subject matter expertise.
    – Help me understand the fundamentals of [complex topic] by using straightforward language a child could comprehend.
  • Taking meeting notes:
    – Can you summarize the key points from my meeting with [name]?
    – I recently had a meeting with [name] about [topic]. Can you briefly outline the key takeaways and next steps we agreed on?
    – I met with [name] to talk about [topic]. In 3-4 bullet points, can you highlight the most important conclusions we came to and actions we decided on?
    – Please review my notes from my meeting with [name] and provide a concise summary of the essential decisions made, open questions remaining, and next steps.
    – I had a meeting with [name] and need help recapping our main agenda items, conclusions reached, and who is responsible for any follow-up tasks. Can you summarize this briefly for me?
    – Here are some high level points from my discussion with [name] earlier. Can you distill this down into a short paragraph covering the main takeaways and what we are each going to work on going forward?
  • Automating tasks:
    – How can I automate [task] step-by-step?
    – Please provide detailed instructions for setting up automation for [task].
    – What is the process for automating [task], breaking down each step clearly from start to finish?
    – I want to automate [task] in my workflow. Can you outline the specific steps I would need to take to set this up?
    – Could you provide a simple tutorial explaining how to configure automation for [task], including any software or tools needed?
    – To streamline [task], can you provide sequential, straightforward instructions on automating it that explain what needs to be done at a basic level?
    – Please walk me through how to automate [task] as if you were explaining to someone without any technical knowledge or experience.
  • Proofreading writing:
    – Please proofread the following document for any spelling, grammar, or syntax errors.
    – Can you review this report for typos, grammatical mistakes, and overall clarity? Let me know if you have any suggested improvements.
    – I need this [document/email/report/etc] checked for spelling and grammar errors. Can you read through it carefully and correct any issues you find?
    – Please thoroughly proofread the below text and fix any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors you come across to make it read clearly.
    – Could you edit the following passage to ensure the spelling, grammar, and sentence structure is correct? Flag any problematic areas.
    – I want this to be error-free. Can you proofread this [document/transcript/article] and make sure the spelling, grammar, and punctuation are right?
    – Please polish up this [document] by correcting any typographical, spelling, grammar, or syntax errors to get it presentation-ready. Focus on precision.
  • Summarizing documents:
    – Please summarize the key takeaways from this long article in 2-3 sentences.
    – Can you summarize this [document] in 3 short bullet points?
    – Please provide a concise 150-word summary of the key points in this [document/article].
    – I don’t have time to read this entire 10-page article. Can you provide a short summary highlighting the most important information and takeaways?
    – What are the critical themes and implications in this dense, lengthy article? Please concisely summarize them for me.
    – Please extract and summarize the core findings and arguments made in this very long journal article in no more than 150 words.
    – I need help identifying the most significant points in this very detailed, extensive report. Can you summarize the main takeaways in a few bullet points?
    – Could you read through this full research paper and highlight the fundamental concepts, conclusions, and insights in a short synopsis?
    – Please distill this lengthy analysis into a concise summary covering the overall purpose, methods, key results, and implications in 2-3 paragraphs.
  • Analyzing reviews:
    – Please review these customer comments and identify the overall sentiment as positive, negative or neutral.
    – Based on these user reviews of our [product/service], would you say the feedback is generally positive, negative, or mixed? Please explain your analysis.
    – Can you read through these survey responses and summarize whether customers are satisfied or dissatisfied with their experience? Include relevant examples.
    – What is the overall sentiment from customers in these social media posts about our brand? Are they praising, complaining or providing suggestions? Please categorize.
    – I want to understand how customers feel about this new feature based on their feedback. Can you analyze these quotes and tell me if reactions are positive or negative overall?
    – Please go through these app reviews and tell me if the common themes suggest users are happy or unhappy with our recent updates. Justify your conclusions with evidence.
    – “Could you review our latest customer service transcripts and identify any common pain points or frustrations? I want to improve the areas generating the most negative sentiment.

For complex marketing tasks like strategic planning, creative campaigns, analytics, and SEO, AI has limits. Since everyone is using the same tools and getting similar suggestions, the results won’t help you stand out from your competition. For customized strategies that help you beat your competitors, it’s best to partner with an expert marketing agency. Their tailored approach focuses on your specific business goals.

AI is best used for routine drafting and editing tasks. But humans provide the high-value strategies, creative, and marketing insights that can boost your business.


Need assistance using AI to enhance your marketing initiatives? Schedule a call or email Lori Berson at lberson@BersonDeanStevens.com.


BersonDeanStevens has been a recognized brand strategy and marketing leader for over 25 years. We work in partnership with you to differentiate your brand and achieve your business goals. Client list.

 

 

How Marketers are Thinking About Generative AI

How Marketers are Thinking About Generative AI

Generative AI has witnessed tremendous hype in recent years, capturing the imagination of marketers worldwide. However, as the initial excitement subsides, marketers are now adopting a more pragmatic and nuanced approach to this transformative technology. The five charts below shed light on how marketers are currently embracing Generative AI in their strategies.

1. Generative AI’s Evolutionary Journey

AI Adoption

The first chart illustrates the evolutionary journey of Generative AI in the eyes of marketers. Initially, there was an overwhelming surge of interest, with 87% of marketers expressing excitement about the potential of this innovative technology. As the hype subsided, a sense of realism emerged, leading to a decline in enthusiasm. However, the good news is that 62% of marketers are still optimistic about Generative AI’s long-term value and are committed to exploring its practical applications.

2. Challenges and Barriers

AI Challenges and Barriers

Chart two highlights the primary challenges faced by marketers in adopting Generative AI. It is evident that concerns around data privacy and security continue to be significant barriers to widespread adoption. In addition, 56% of marketers are grappling with a lack of understanding about how to effectively integrate Generative AI into their existing strategies. However, with evolving best practices and a greater focus on data protection, these hurdles are expected to be surmountable in the near future.

3. Incorporating Generative AI Into Content Creation

Incorporating AI Into Content Creation

The third chart showcases how marketers are leveraging Generative AI in content creation. From automating personalized product recommendations to generating engaging social media posts, 74% of marketers have successfully integrated Generative AI into their content creation process. This not only streamlines workflows but also improves customer engagement and conversion rates, reinforcing the technology’s value in driving marketing success.

4. Improving Customer Experience

Improving Customer Experience

Chart four highlights Generative AI’s impact on customer experience. By harnessing this technology, 68% of marketers report significant improvements in tailoring their offerings to individual customer preferences. Furthermore, 79% of marketers believe that Generative AI plays a pivotal role in enhancing overall customer satisfaction, leading to increased brand loyalty and advocacy.

5. ROI and Future Investments

Future AI Investment Plans

The final chart illustrates marketers’ perceptions of Generative AI’s return on investment (ROI) and future investment plans. 82% of marketers who have implemented Generative AI report positive ROI, with an impressive 47% seeing a substantial return. Consequently, 65% of respondents are planning to increase their investments in Generative AI tools and technologies over the next year.

As the hype around generative AI fades, marketers are adopting a more realistic and pragmatic outlook on its applications. They now possess a deeper understanding of the technology’s capabilities and limitations. Although challenges remain in terms of implementation and consumer perception, the industry is optimistic about the potential benefits of generative AI in enhancing creativity and optimizing marketing efforts. With a majority of marketers planning to increase their investments in the technology, the future of generative AI in marketing looks promising, provided a careful and thoughtful approach is adopted.


Need assistance with your content marketing? Schedule a call or email Lori Berson at lberson@BersonDeanStevens.com.


BersonDeanStevens has been a recognized brand strategy and marketing leader for over 25 years. We work in partnership with you to differentiate your brand and achieve your business goals. Client list.