Is AI Coming for Our Jobs? The Future of AI and Marketing
First, a note about AI in our client work: we use AI tools from time-to-time in our ideation and early phase content creation (work harder, not smarter!). However, any AI-generated content ALWAYS passes through human hands (and heads) for review and edits before it is shared with clients. We are forever focused on strategy and human-to-human connection.
Let’s face it: we were never meant to be this busy! With technology at our fingertips, our lives have become non-stop whirlwinds.
Remember when making plans involved actually picking up the phone, chatting with a friend, setting a date, and sticking to it? Nowadays, you can reach anyone, anytime, anywhere. Even if you do not have their direct contact information, there’s a good chance you can find them on social media. Never again will you have to go down the alphabet in the yellow pages! In under a minute, you can become an armchair sleuth and learn just about anything about anyone. Who needs detective training, anyway? (Just kidding—I’ll leave the heavy lifting to Olivia Benson! IYKYK)
While it’s amazing to have so much information right at our fingertips, it definitely comes with its own set of issues. We’ve all grown used to constant stimulation and an endless flood of notifications and info. In fact, an article from Forbes reports that people spend an average of 6.5 hours online every day. No wonder we’re feeling a bit overwhelmed and overly-connected!
As our attention spans shrink, we’ve developed an insatiable appetite for quick results. The expectation for instant gratification is the norm, and it seems like we have to be on top of everything 24/7. But you know it, and I know it: humans weren’t designed for this level of constant stimulation, and with new tech popping up every day, it’s only getting more intense.
I recently picked up a book called Busy: How to Thrive in a World of Too Much by Tony Crabbe, which explores the challenges of constant noise and offers unique thoughts on finding balance and reducing overwhelm. As someone who often feels like I’m spinning too many plates all at once, always afraid to let one drop, this book was a real eye-opener for me.
Lately, I’ve been exploring ways to gently set those plates down so I can channel my energy into the areas that truly need my attention. That’s when I started experimenting with AI, particularly ChatGPT, to see how I could use it strategically to tackle some of the low-hanging fruit in my marketing tasks - basically, like an assistant. This is where AI becomes a game-changer, especially in my professional world. As our expectations continue to rise, we must discover new ways to keep up, and with only so much time in the day, finding ways to save both time and mental energy is essential for maintaining your sanity in today’s digital world!
Here are a few ways I recommend incorporating AI into your workflow to help lighten the load:
Brainstorming and Outlining: AI is a great tool for generating ideas and organizing your thoughts.We have all faced the dreaded writer's block and the terrible feeling of staring at your blinking cursor in an empty doc. Sometimes, all you need is a bit of support organizing your thoughts and generating a new idea for your next piece of content.
Editing with ChatGPT: Between social media posts, emails, and blog content, I churn thousands and thousands of words a month! That’s a lot of writing, and oftentimes I am so focused on the bigger picture that the small details can slip past me. Mistakes happen to the best of us, and running my work through ChatGPT helps catch those glaring errors that can sneak in when you’re too close to the text. Of course, I still do a final review to make sure everything flows smoothly and stays true to the client’s voice, but having a second set of eyes (figuratively speaking 😉) on my work before I send it off for editorial and then client review always gives me peace of mind.
Data Analysis and Reporting: As a creative, I’ll admit that the analytical side of things doesn’t always come naturally. It can be tricky to shift gears and focus on numbers when I’m in the zone of design and strategy. That’s where AI comes in—it helps analyze data from a different angle, making sure I don’t miss any important trends or patterns. With AI helping organize the numbers, it allows me to focus on being creative while still making data-driven decisions. It’s like having an extra set of eyes on the analytics, ensuring no opportunities slip through the cracks.
Remember, just about anyone can access AI, but not everyone knows how to use it effectively. AI isn’t magic—it needs a human touch and some clever prompting to get the outputs you want. As we say around the office, “garbage in = garbage out”.
Learning how to craft meaningful prompts can give you a leg up on the competition, helping you produce better work in less time. Always (always, always, ALWAYS) take a moment to tweak the output to sound more like you. It’s those unique touches that make your content stand out and resonate with your audience. People connect with authenticity and humanity, so don’t skip this part!
Of course, this article was drafted first with the assistance of our friend ChatGPT. It’s all my ideas; Chat just polished it up and helped me organize our thoughts! Then I edited it, before a team member reviewed and edited it even further.
About The Author
Callie Ward is the Digital Marketing Manager for Kwedar & Co. After graduating from Tarleton State University with a degree in Communications and a minor in Technical Writing in 2019, she has dedicated her career to marketing, focusing on digital media and creative design. She has worked with clients across various industries, including retail, real estate, and service providers, gaining a wealth of experience. Callie excels at designing marketing strategies that help business owners and leaders stand out in a crowded marketplace.
To connect with Callie, please send her an email, or book a consultation.