AI Archives - Direct Online Marketing https://www.directom.com/category/ai/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 20:34:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.directom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/favicon.png AI Archives - Direct Online Marketing https://www.directom.com/category/ai/ 32 32 We Can Make Your Brand Show Up In AI: How Direct Online Marketing helps businesses appear more in ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and more https://www.directom.com/digital-marketing-services-for-ai/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 20:19:04 +0000 https://www.directom.com/?p=44924 We built Direct Online Marketing on the idea that digital success comes from meeting people where they are—and being found when they’re ready to buy. That principle still applies, but the search landscape isn’t just shifting anymore—it’s accelerating into new territory. And we’re expanding right alongside it. As large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and

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We built Direct Online Marketing on the idea that digital success comes from meeting people where they are—and being found when they’re ready to buy. That principle still applies, but the search landscape isn’t just shifting anymore—it’s accelerating into new territory. And we’re expanding right alongside it.

As large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini gain traction as information gatekeepers, brands can’t afford to ignore how they’re represented in AI-powered search. So we’ve added a new layer to our SEO services: Optimization for AI Search and Generative Engines.

This isn’t SEO as usual. AI-driven search engines don’t return a page of blue links—they generate synthesized answers. That means the strategies we’ve used over the past 19 years to get our clients ranked on Google need to adapt to how AI models understand, evaluate, and source information.

We now help clients position their brands as reliable, consistent sources for AI-generated responses. That includes:

  • Structuring content to increase citation in AI-generated answers
  • Strengthening brand authority and relevance in training datasets
  • Monitoring LLM responses to key brand queries
  • Collaborating with internal teams on strategic content placement for AI visibility
  • Optimizing for queries favored by AI users

The same core SEO principles still apply—quality content, strong technical foundation, clear site architecture—but the targets have expanded. With apologies to our friends at Bing, DuckDuckGo, and regional players, search doesn’t stop at Google anymore. It extends into the prompt box of every user asking questions through a language model.

Businesses want and need to show up at the spot where decisions are made. That includes Google and Bing. And now it includes AI platforms shaping user behavior before they ever see a traditional search result (or SERP for fellow search engine nerds).

As a Premier Google Partner in the top 3% of agencies globally and a strategic IGAP partner, we’ve always moved where the data tells us to. Now it’s telling us to go where AI gets its answers—and make sure our clients are part of them.

AI Is The Future Of Digital Marketing

We’re not waiting around for the industry to settle down. We’re out front, doing the work, helping brands stay ahead of the curve. And we’re doing it with the same transparency, precision, and month-to-month accountability that built DOM in the first place.

If you’re interested in leaving your competitors in a cloud of your AI dust, contact us today for a free consultation and take a look at our AI Marketing Services.

Want to learn how you can game AI to show your website? Read our guide on How To Do SEO For ChatGPT.

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How to Start Using AI In Digital Advertising (and When To Stop) https://www.directom.com/ai-digital-advertising/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:32:17 +0000 https://www.directom.com/?p=39777 Everybody’s talking about AI. When ChatGPT dropped into our laps, it didn’t take long for marketers to start using it to do everything from planning their vacations to writing their legal briefs (please don’t do either of those things).  Table of Contents And yes, it’s 2024 and we’re still all talking about AI.  You might

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Everybody’s talking about AI. When ChatGPT dropped into our laps, it didn’t take long for marketers to start using it to do everything from planning their vacations to writing their legal briefs (please don’t do either of those things). 

Table of Contents

And yes, it’s 2024 and we’re still all talking about AI. 

You might even say we’re talking about AI even more than we were before. Pretty soon after you’ve started using these AI tools to do things for you, you start to bump against the limitations. The ad headlines it writes start feeling very samey, or the grammar it uses in the descriptions starts to sound robotic. 

Even if you haven’t tried ChatGPT, chances are AI is already part of your digital advertising toolkit. Platforms like Google Ads use it behind the scenes for tasks like:

  • Smart Bidding: AI can analyze real-time data to automatically fine-tune your bids, aiming for maximum conversions within your budget.
  • Audience Targeting: AI helps pinpoint the exact demographics and interests most likely to engage with your ads.
  • Responsive Ads: Using machine learning, AI can mix and match different headlines and descriptions to find the combos that resonate most with potential customers.

AI can do a lot, but it can’t do everything. Let’s get into it:

Where to Find Quick AI Wins

Let’s start with what you can do pretty much right away. Here are a couple of areas where it can start paying off fast:

Hyper-Personalized Ads

Think of AI as your customer data detective, piecing together a detailed profile of your ideal buyer. It digs into everything from purchase history to browsing patterns, figuring out what makes each individual tick. Using that intel, you can tailor your ads so they feel less like generic marketing and more like a personal recommendation. 

This precision targeting leads to higher engagement and a much better return on your ad spend.

Chatbots that Convert

Chatbots are a 24/7 sales assistant who never gets tired and always knows the right thing to say. AI-powered chatbots can offer tireless support, answering customer questions instantly and guiding them through the decision-making process. 

These bots can learn from each interaction, qualify leads, and even gently nudge potential buyers towards that checkout page. 

AI for the Creative Spark

AI can be a powerful spark plug for your advertising creativity, but it’s important to remember: it’s a tool, not a substitute for your marketing team. AI might replace everybody eventually, but not today (or tomorrow). Even so, there are ethical and smart ways to use AI when creating ads. 

Content Creation that Doesn’t Feel Robotic

Need a batch of punchy headlines? Stuck on a captivating product description? 

AI can brainstorm ideas, suggest variations, and even draft whole ad campaigns. This can be a fantastic way to break through writer’s block and get fresh perspectives flowing. The key is to use AI output as a starting point, then layer on your human touch to refine, polish, and give it that special something that only your brand can provide.

Stunning Visuals in a Snap

AI image generators can create eye-catching graphics, design layouts, and produce variations on your existing images. If you’re short on designers or need quick visuals for social media ads, this can be a lifesaver. 

Remember, human review is essential. Use your judgment to choose the images that align best with your brand messaging and resonate with your audience. 

It bears repeating: use AI in creative endeavors sparingly, if at all, and never without significant human intervention. Savvy users can smell AI from a mile away. 

AI-Powered Ad Optimization

AI can tirelessly analyze mountains of campaign data, from ad performance to audience behavior. This unlocks insights that might take a human weeks to uncover. 

Here’s how AI can help your advertising dollars work harder.

Let the Data Drive You

AI can monitor your campaigns in real-time and identify what’s working (and what’s not). This allows you to make continuous micro-adjustments to your budgets, targeting, and bidding strategies. You’ll squeeze the most efficiency out of every campaign instead of relying on broad-stroke guesswork.

Bid Smarter, Not Harder

AI-powered bidding tools can analyze patterns and predict the best bids for each individual ad placement. This takes the headache out of manual bidding and helps you win more ad auctions without overspending.

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

AI is a powerful addition to your marketing repertoire, but you can’t ignore its limitations. There are areas where human judgment, creativity, and intuition still reign supreme:

The Essential Human Touch

Building trust and forging genuine connections with your audience requires an understanding of emotion and nuance that AI still struggles to fully replicate. The heart of your brand strategy, the sensitive handling of complex topics, and the overall voice of your messaging are best left to your expert marketing team.

Danger of Bias

AI learns from the data it’s fed. If that data contains hidden biases, the AI can perpetuate those biases in its output. Careful monitoring, ethical considerations, and an awareness of potential blind spots are absolutely essential to avoid unintentionally discriminatory or harmful content. This seems like an obvious concern, but it shouldn’t go unaddressed.

Ethical Considerations

The use of AI in advertising raises questions about transparency and consumer privacy. Being open about your use of AI and offering customers choices helps build trust. 

You Gotta Know When To Hold ‘Em

Kenny Rogers wasn’t singing about using AI to make or manage your digital ads, but the basic lessons remain: you have to know when to use the tools and when not to. 

If somebody is telling you they can replace everything you do to create, run, and optimize your ads with a single tool, they’re going to try selling you a bridge next. Don’t be a sucker. AI isn’t there yet. 

The key to success lies in strategic use – knowing when to harness the power of AI and when to lean into the irreplaceable human element.

At DOM, we know all about when to use AI (hold ‘em) and when not to (fold ‘em). We’ve been helping businesses just like yours for a long time with their ads, and we don’t take a penny of your ad spend for ourselves. 

Get started with the DOM difference today with a free consultation. 

Key Takeaways

  • AI is already integrated into many advertising platforms. Even if you’re not actively using AI tools, it’s influencing how your ads are served and optimized.
  • AI excels at streamlining tasks and data analysis. Use it for hyper-personalized targeting, chatbot interactions, and finding the best times and ways to bid to maximize your ROI.
  • AI can kickstart your creative process but shouldn’t replace it. AI-generated headlines, copy, and visuals are great for inspiration, but the human touch is needed to add finesse, brand voice, and emotional resonance.
  • Be aware of potential bias in AI output. Always review AI-generated content before publishing it to ensure your ads are fair, inclusive, and align with your ethical standards.
  • Strategic use is key. AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not a silver bullet. Combine AI’s strengths with your marketing team’s expertise and judgment to drive the best results.

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Should I Use an AI to Make My Next Website? https://www.directom.com/ai-make-website/ Thu, 14 Mar 2024 17:13:15 +0000 https://www.directom.com/?p=39737 Table of Contents Should you use an AI to make your next website instead of hiring a web designer? It’s a good question for any marketing pro to ask. The promise of AI is that it will do the things we don’t want to do ourselves, either because we don’t know how, or because we

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Table of Contents

Should you use an AI to make your next website instead of hiring a web designer? It’s a good question for any marketing pro to ask. The promise of AI is that it will do the things we don’t want to do ourselves, either because we don’t know how, or because we don’t want to spend the time. 

You can’t paint like Vermeer, but if you could, would you ever recreate The Girl With a Pearl Earring with a pug instead of a person? 

Of course not, but ChatGPT can make it in 10 seconds. 

AI for Website Creation | Creating Website with AI | Pug Vermeer Painting

Making a website is a much bigger project than an image, obviously, but it’s perfectly reasonable to think that an AI tool exists that can make a website. 

We will tell you how you can use AI to make your website, but we’ll also answer a larger question… 

Should you? 

AI’s Potential Benefits

Platforms like Wix have tools that claim to generate entire websites for you with minimal input. These tools can provide a starting point, especially if you have limited web development experience, but it’s important to remember the limitations (and there are many). 

First, let’s talk about the benefits.

Speed and Efficiency

Building a website can be a tedious process. From wrangling with lines of code to meticulously aligning images, some tasks eat up time and energy. 

AI can be a lifesaver in this regard. 

Tools exist that automatically generate basic layouts and that could save hours spent on wireframing. Images are always hard to source if you don’t have a professional photographer on retainer, and AI-powered image libraries can tap into collections, finding photos and illustrations that feel fresh and relevant.

These automated functions save you from the more mundane aspects of web design. This frees up your time and mental bandwidth to focus on the big picture like honing your messaging, defining your brand voice, and making those strategic decisions that set your website apart.

Content Generation

We’ve all stared at a blank page, the blinking cursor mocking us as writer’s block sets in. AI isn’t a replacement for skilled copywriters, but it can be a helpful thought-starter. 

Tools like Copy.ai or Unbounce Smart Copy generate rough drafts, offer alternative phrasings, and they can help with translations for multilingual sites.  

Think of these AI helpers as tireless brainstorming partners. They may churn out some nonsensical phrases, but they also might throw out gems that inspire your own unique approach. It’s a way to supercharge the ideation process without sacrificing your brand’s authentic tone.

Data-Driven Insights

Your website isn’t a fixed object, a living document. AI thrives in data analysis, uncovering patterns and behaviors that a human eye might overlook. By tracking how visitors click on your site, where they linger, and where they drop off, AI can identify potential chokepoints or missed conversion opportunities.

AI acts as a tireless analyst, constantly poring over data. Its recommendations can lead to subtle website tweaks that dramatically improve user experience. Think better button placement, more intuitive navigation, or compelling calls to action – optimizations that translate directly into results.

Why the Human Touch is Essential

Creativity and Nuance

AI can mimic, but it struggles with true originality. It analyzes existing patterns and learns from them, but your business is unique. 

Can AI truly grasp the nuances of your brand voice or the subtleties of your industry? Your website needs to stand out, not blend in, and that requires a human understanding of messaging and differentiation. An AI might write passable copy, but it won’t capture that spark that makes your brand memorable.

Your website is the digital face of your business. Would you trust an AI to choose a spokesperson for your brand, or write an inspiring mission statement that resonates with your customers? 

Of course not. 

Genuine human connection relies on subtle communication cues and empathy – things that AI still doesn’t really do.

Ethical Considerations

Unchecked AI has the potential to cause real-world harm. 

Because every AI needs to be trained on existing material, the biases and prejudices (even good ones!) can sneak into its output. AI tools trained on massive datasets can end up regurgitating existing material without proper attribution, essentially leading to plagiarism.  

You need to keep a human in the loop to make sure your website content is original, ethical, and reflects your company’s values.

Companies have been rightfully criticized for content that promotes stereotypes or spreads misinformation. While some of this can be malicious, AI tools, without careful guidance, can amplify those issues unwittingly. A human editor needs to identify potential pitfalls and ensure that the output aligns with ethical standards and brand messaging.

Also, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the ethical implications of recreating an artist’s unique style without giving them credit. 

There has been significant blowback from creatives when brands use unexamined AI images instead of the work of a graphic designer or artist. You can avoid that by, again, keeping a human in the loop.

Strategic Alignment

AI doesn’t understand your target audience, business goals, or your overall marketing strategy. It can offer suggestions and analyze data, but it can’t make those high-level decisions about how your website should function, what it should prioritize, and how it should integrate into your larger marketing efforts. 

This kind of strategic vision is uniquely human.

Your website exists within the larger context of your marketing efforts and overall business strategy.  AI can spot bottlenecks and suggest improvements based on data, but it won’t understand the nuances of customer journeys, the competitive landscape, or long-term branding goals. 

Humans must interpret the data and align the website’s design and functionality with those objectives.

How to Use AI Responsibly in Website Creation

AI as an Assistant, Not a Replacement

Think of AI tools as powerful helpers, not as a substitute for a web team. Use them to speed up repetitive tasks like generating code snippets or finding suitable images. Leverage their data-crunching abilities to pinpoint areas where user experience could be improved. 

AI is a means to enhance productivity, not to outsource your core responsibilities.

It’s important to set the right expectations. AI can automate certain tasks, but it can’t replace the critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and strategic expertise that a human web developer brings. See AI as a tool that can augment your team’s abilities, not eliminate the need for human input.

Transparent Editing and Fact-Checking

Never take AI-generated output at face value. Rigorously edit any text for accuracy, tone, and originality. Fact-check against reliable sources, especially if AI is providing information or statistics. 

Be mindful of possible bias in the output, and be prepared to make significant revisions to ensure your content aligns with your brand and values.

Remember, AI models are trained on massive datasets, and those datasets can inadvertently contain misinformation or reflect social biases. 

It’s your responsibility to ensure that the final content on your website is factually correct, free from any harmful stereotypes, and aligns with your company’s values.

Staying Up-to-Date

AI is a relatively new industry and it’s changing really fast. 

You’ll need to continuously learn about the ethical considerations surrounding AI tools and the best practices for using them responsibly. Read industry blogs, follow relevant thought leaders, and stay informed about the latest tools and their capabilities. 

As the technology advances, so should your approach to using it wisely.

Staying informed is extremely important because ethical standards and legal regulations around AI usage are still being established. By proactively learning about these developments, you can keep your web development practices ahead of the curve.

Okay, I Can Do It, But Should I?

This is a question only you can answer. You know your business, your capabilities, your resources, your needs. A blog isn’t going to be able to tell you whether an AI can make your website, or be able to know whether or not you should use an AI. Every situation and every business is different. 

But to answer the question, you probably should not use an AI to design your website. It’s too fraught with danger to recommend anybody use an AI website generator. 

As we’ve demonstrated, you can use the tools out there to help you or your web team make a website. Every web designer is going to use some form of automation to help them make a website, even if they’re designing it themselves and creating it from the ground up. 

We already use AI in tons of different applications but we don’t think of them as traditional AI. 

The autocorrect that fixes your text messages? 

The spell check and grammar check that Word does on the documents you make? 

The SEO tools that give you insight into keywords? 

These are all using some form of artificial intelligence. 

So while you shouldn’t use AI to create a website, you can definitely use it to help you make a website, if you don’t really know how. An even better solution is to get your pals at DOM to help you make a website. 

We have designers, developers, SEO experts and writers who can make your vision of a website a reality. Contact us to schedule a consultation. 

Key Takeaways

  • AI can assist in the website creation process, but not fully replace human expertise. AI excels at automating tasks, generating initial content, and analyzing website data. However, originality, strategic understanding, and ethical oversight remain vital human contributions.
  • Websites must be unique and ethical. AI can sometimes replicate existing styles or perpetuate biases. Your website needs to stand out for its authentic messaging while ensuring content is original, bias-free, and aligned with your values.
  • AI offers both speed and insight. Leverage AI to accelerate mundane design tasks or gain data-driven insights into user behavior. This frees up time for focusing on the big picture and strategy that differentiates your brand.
  • Always maintain human oversight. Rigorously edit, fact-check, and refine any AI-generated output. Humans are responsible for ensuring the final website is accurate, aligns with branding, and reflects ethical principles.
  • Stay informed about AI developments. As AI technology and regulations surrounding it evolve, continuous learning and proactive adaptation are essential for responsible use.
  • The right approach depends on your unique circumstances. While it’s not recommended to solely rely on AI for website creation, thoughtful integration of AI tools can offer valuable assistance within your larger website development strategy.

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AI in Marketing: Where Machine Intelligence Meets Human Creativity https://www.directom.com/ai-in-marketing/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:48:16 +0000 https://www.directom.com/?p=39636 Table of Contents AI is not a buzzword or a distant future concept. Although the launch of ChatGPT in early 2023 put AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) into the mainstream, marketers have used AI tools for many years. You could even argue that the entire industry of search engine optimization is really just a

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Table of Contents

AI is not a buzzword or a distant future concept. Although the launch of ChatGPT in early 2023 put AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) into the mainstream, marketers have used AI tools for many years. You could even argue that the entire industry of search engine optimization is really just a way to figure out how to make a website rank highly with the extremely active and very busy artificial intelligence that has powered Google’s search for decades: PageRank

Regardless of how we got here, we’re in the midst of an AI revolution. It’s a natural impulse of curious creatives everywhere to ask what AI can do for them. We’ve got some old favorites, some new ideas, and some mistakes to avoid.

Understanding AI and LLMs

Artificial intelligence broadly refers to machines or software mimicking cognitive functions that humans associate with the human mind, like learning and problem-solving. In digital marketing, AI powers tools and systems that analyze data, predict trends, automate tasks, and personalize interactions, among other things.

LLMs are a subset of AI technologies that understand, generate, and interpret human language. Think of LLMs as the English majors of the AI family, trained on vast amounts of text data to recognize patterns, nuances, and contexts in language. 

While AI encompasses a wide range of technologies, including machine learning, neural networks, and robotics, LLMs are specifically designed for tasks involving natural language processing (NLP), such as content creation, language translation, and customer service automation.

The difference between AI and LLMs is like to comparing a Swiss Army knife to a specialized carving knife. Both are valuable tools in their own right, designed for different tasks but under the same umbrella of technology. In digital marketing, using both AI’s broad capabilities and LLMs’ language proficiency can offer a competitive edge that lets marketers craft strategies that are data-driven and also resonant with their target audience.

Content Creation on Autopilot (Almost)

Here’s something that a lot of eager content marketers figured out about ChatGPT: it can churn out blog posts, product descriptions, and social media captions without writer’s block. LLMs generate content based on very specific specifications, saving its users time and resources. 

But we forget about the human in the loop at our peril. An LLM can mimic styles and generate ideas, but it lacks the critical thinking and emotional intelligence to craft the kind of content that really resonates with an audience. Consider them brainstorming partners, not replacements for your creative team.

Personalization at Scale

Personalization is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. AI can analyze vast amounts of customer data to predict preferences and deliver tailored experiences. Email campaigns can speak directly to each recipient’s interests, and websites can make recommendations that anticipate their needs. This level of personalization fosters deeper connections and boosts engagement.

But remember, respect for privacy is paramount. Be transparent about data collection and usage, and prioritize ethical practices to build trust with your audience. In some cases, and in some locations, you might not even have a choice–the local laws made that decision for you, and you’d better be compliant.

Chatbots Turn Frustration into Frictionless Service

AI-powered chatbots can handle basic customer inquiries, freeing up your team for complex issues. But poorly designed bots lead to frustration. Ensure your bots understand natural language, offer clear solutions, and escalate seamlessly to human representatives when needed. Remember, chatbots are tools to enhance, not replace, human interaction.

The Future is Now, But Use It Wisely

AI and LLMs are powerful tools, but they’re not magic bullets. Integration requires careful planning, ethical considerations, and human oversight. Use them to augment your creativity, personalize experiences, and streamline tasks. But always remember the human touch is irreplaceable. 

Google Ads and AI and You

Google’s Performance Max campaigns leverage AI to optimize ad placements across Google’s platforms, including Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Maps. This innovation builds on the foundations of Smart Bidding. Smart Bidding, a feature that uses machine learning for auction-time bidding to optimize for conversions, paved the way for Performance Max by demonstrating the effectiveness of AI in enhancing advertising outcomes.

Performance Max utilizes AI to automate ad format, placement, and targeting decisions, aiming to achieve the advertisers’ specified goals by analyzing vast amounts of data. Smart Bidding is integral to Performance Max, adjusting bids in real-time based on predictive analytics to maximize conversion potential.

Advertisers utilizing Performance Max have reported significant improvements in campaign performance, with some seeing over a 30% increase in conversions at a comparable cost per action. 

“Make it simple for the bots to understand!”

Billy Wright, Lead SEO Strategist, Direct Online Marketing

SEO For AI

Whether you’re trying to do SEO for ChatGPT or you’re looking to optimize your Amazon listings and do SEO for Amazon so that the A9 AI will showcase your products to the right people, SEO for AI is blossoming right now in 2024. Some of the things you need to keep in mind when attempting to optimize for AI are:

  • Optimize Deliberately and Explicitly – When you’re writing SEO content for AI, you need to be as verbatim as possible. Imagine that the AI is a young child – it has a hard time understanding things, so you need to give it as much info as possible and as simply as possible, or it cannot connect the dots. If you are selling Red Widgets, you need to refer to yourself as a Seller Of Red Widgets and a Red Widgets Company. Make it simple for the bots to understand!
  • Get Off-Site – You want to do sample searches on ChatGPT and other AI systems and determine where you are showing and what sites are being scraped by the bots to form their answers – then you want to appear on those sites. If a bot uses a particular website to determine the best companies in your field – get on that site – then also list yourself, verbatim, as The Best.

Avoiding AI Pitfalls in Digital Marketing

While LLMs offer exciting possibilities for content creation, automation, and personalization, neglecting key considerations can lead to costly mistakes. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

  1. Blind Faith in Fact-Checking: LLMs are adept at mimicking human language, but they’re not fact-checkers. While grammatically correct and engaging, the text they generate can contain factual inaccuracies or biases in their training data. Always fact-check and edit LLM-generated content before publishing. Remember, AI amplifies, not replaces, human expertise.
  2. The “Set-It-and-Forget-It” Fallacy: AI automates tasks, but it isn’t magic. Every AI implementation needs human oversight and guidance. Define clear goals, monitor performance, and adjust strategies as needed. Don’t expect AI to solve problems without your active involvement.
  3. Black Box Blindness: Many AI tools function like black boxes, making it difficult to understand their decision-making processes. This lack of transparency can lead to biased outputs or unintended consequences. Choose AI solutions with explainable AI features or consult experts to understand how they work.
  4. Ignoring Ethical Considerations: AI raises ethical concerns, particularly around data privacy and potential biases. Ensure your AI usage complies with regulations and aligns with your brand’s values. Be transparent about data collection and usage, and avoid discriminatory practices.
  5. Neglecting the Human Touch: While AI excels at automation and data analysis, it lacks the creativity, empathy, and emotional intelligence inherent in human communication. Don’t replace human interaction with AI entirely. Use AI to enhance campaigns, but let human creativity and understanding guide your overall strategy.
  6. Overhyping Results: The AI hype machine can be tempting, but avoid making exaggerated claims about AI’s capabilities. Focus on realistic outcomes and be transparent about limitations. Overpromising risks damaging trust and credibility.

By understanding these pitfalls and using AI thoughtfully, you can use its true potential to personalize experiences, streamline workflows, and enhance your digital marketing efforts. Remember, AI is a valuable tool, but it’s humans who define its purpose and impact.

Experience the DOM Difference

Don’t let AI become your marketing monster. By keeping these pitfalls in mind, you can harness its power responsibly, avoiding ethical hiccups and maximizing results. Remember, AI is a tool, not a replacement for your marketing savvy. Use it wisely, inject your human touch, and watch your campaigns soar – without getting lost in the algorithm.

If you’re still not sure about how all these AI tools and tricks can help you with your own digital marketing endeavors, DOM is here to help. We’ve been doing this since 2006 and we’ve seen every single trend come and go. We know how and why to use AI and machine learning in digital marketing. We know the pitfalls because we’ve stepped in some of them already. Get in touch with us today for a free digital marketing checkup. 

Key Takeaways

  • AI’s Deep Roots in Marketing: AI and LLMs have been integral to digital marketing long before their mainstream attention, with SEO being an early form of AI optimization.
  • Defining AI and LLMs: Artificial intelligence encompasses a broad range of technologies aimed at emulating human cognitive functions, while LLMs specialize in processing and generating human language, offering unique advantages for content creation and customer interaction in digital marketing.
  • Strategic Application of AI: Leveraging AI and LLMs offers a competitive edge by enabling data-driven strategies and language proficiency that resonate deeply with target audiences.
  • Content Creation: LLMs can efficiently produce various forms of content but require human oversight to ensure relevance, creativity, and emotional connection.
  • Personalization at Scale: AI facilitates unprecedented levels of personalization in marketing, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty through tailored experiences.
  • Enhancing Customer Service: Chatbots and AI-driven tools can improve customer service efficiency, but they must be designed to complement, not replace, human interaction.
  • Performance Max and Smart Bidding: Google Ads’ innovations, such as Performance Max and Smart Bidding, showcase AI’s role in optimizing advertising campaigns for better performance and ROI.
  • Navigating AI Pitfalls: Marketers must be cautious of over-reliance on AI for fact-checking, maintaining human oversight, addressing ethical concerns, and ensuring transparency and fairness in AI applications.
  • Continuous Learning and Adaptation: The dynamic nature of AI in digital marketing requires ongoing education and adjustment to leverage new technologies effectively and ethically.
  • The Human Element Remains Crucial: Despite AI’s advancements, the human touch in creativity, empathy, and strategic decision-making remains irreplaceable in digital marketing.

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Google SGE: What Is It And Should You Be Afraid? https://www.directom.com/google-sge-what-is-it-and-should-you-be-afraid/ Mon, 27 Nov 2023 20:30:57 +0000 https://www.directom.com/?p=39565 Updated 5/14/2024 EDIT: Google SGE is finally here! Today, May 14th, 2024, Google announced that Google SGE, AKA Google AI Answers, will be rolling out to all United States users by the end of the week. But what are these new Google AI Answers, and what do they mean for the future of the search

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Updated 5/14/2024

EDIT: Google SGE is finally here! Today, May 14th, 2024, Google announced that Google SGE, AKA Google AI Answers, will be rolling out to all United States users by the end of the week. But what are these new Google AI Answers, and what do they mean for the future of the search engine and your website’s traffic? Read on to learn more!

Everything changes all of the time. Especially in the world of SEO.

Google Search Results could likely be unrecognizably different by this time next year. With the growth of AI and Google SGE (Search Generative Experience), the world of SEO will get considerably more exciting and challenging moving forward. 

But what do we expect to happen when Google launches the SGE version of Search? How will optimizing your website change because of Google SGE? How will Google SGE impact how users interact with the search engine and your website?

We’ve asked our in-house SEO experts here at Direct Online Marketing for their opinions and we have compiled a guide of best practices we expect to help your website thrive, as you optimize for Google SGE.

What Do We Know About Google SGE AKA Google AI Answers?

What Are Google AI Answers?

Google AI Answers are the generated content you see at the top of search results within the United States as of May 14, 2024. Google AI Answers are pulled by the new system known as Google SGE.

What is Google SGE?

  • Google’s Search Generative Experience – AKA Google SGE – is an innovation to its search engine, powered by its generative AI. 
  • This new experimental feature aims to transform search engine experiences from being passive, as they were historically, to more interactive, personalized and dynamic. SGE uses AI to generate quick, concise overviews of search topics, enhancing user experience (sure, Google…) and providing new ways to interact with search results​​​​​​. 
  • It also means there could be a significant shift in strategies previously employed towards gaining visibility in search results.

Will Google SGE Replace Rich Results?

  • As of this writing, no explicit information suggests that Google SGE will entirely replace rich results, but it is very likely to have an impact. Rich results, which provide additional data in the SERPs, differ from SGE’s AI-powered overviews and interactive content. 
  • As SGE is still experimental and not live out in the wild, its exact impact on existing features like rich results remains to be fully understood.

While I anticipate seeing organic traffic drop for many sites, thorough and well-written content can enhance click-through rate to mitigate this decline by becoming the source of information that SGE quotes from, with the best, most relevant content available on the subject in question providing Google’s AI with all the information it needs on the query in an easily digestible way.”
– Brian Slonka, Digital Marketing Account Manager

When is Google SGE Coming?

  • Google SGE is already available as an experimental feature in 120 countries (excluding Europe), supporting multiple languages. Its full implementation and potential expansion remain under development, with access to the Google Labs experiments open until the end of December 2023​​. There is much speculation that it will launch much sooner than many users originally anticipated. 

Will My Site Lose Traffic Because of Google SGE?

  • There are concerns that SGE could lead to reduced visibility for organic search results. The AI-generated overviews at the top of search results might reduce the need for users to click on individual websites, potentially lowering click-through rates (CTR) and organic traffic. 
  • This shift may require websites to adapt their SEO strategies​​. Images that accompany your top-ranking results on Google may become much more important as they can help guide users to click into your website since the URL of the site itself may be more obscured.

Are There Certain Types Of Sites That Google SGE Will Impact More?

Short answer: Possibly.

Google SGE may impact certain types of websites more than others. Particularly, sites that produce content tailored for Google Rich Results, such as recipe blogs and video game walkthrough sites, could see a decrease in search engine visibility. This is because their content might be incorporated directly into Google’s SGE results section, potentially reducing the need for users to visit the original websites for information.

This advancement will likely enhance user experience by providing more intuitive, context-aware, and interactive search results. For website owners and content creators, this means adapting to a more AI-driven approach in content presentation and SEO strategies, focusing on quality, relevance, and structured data to align with how AI interprets and ranks content.”
– Alicia Cleary, Digital Marketing Strategist

Will Google SGE Mean More Ads in Search Results?

There is no direct company-issued information that Google SGE will lead to an increase in ads within search results, as Google says the focus of Google SGE is on enhancing the user experience through AI-generated content and interactive features. 

There is some speculation, however, that there will be more screen real estate taken up by Google SGE content in addition to ads, but this remains to be seen outside of what appear to be tests and experiments.

How Will Google SGE Impact My Analytics?

Analyzing and optimizing for user experience is going to be more and more critical in the SGE world. Additionally, segmenting your organic data is going to be an absolute necessity for drawing insightful conclusions about the impact of SGE.

“Looking at your data by content grouping, funnel stage, device type, keyword intent breakouts, etc. will help you better mitigate and optimize for the new SGE landscape.

– Dana Schumacher, Sr. Digital Analyst

Prepare For A New Search Engine Experience

In summary, Google SGE represents a significant evolution in search engine technology, focusing on AI-driven interactivity and personalized experiences. While its full impact on SEO, organic traffic, and ad integration is still unfolding, dynamically adapting to this rollout will be crucial for website owners and content creators.

SGE provides a unique opportunity for businesses to revisit how well their websites define their customers’ unique problems and how clearly they present solutions at a high and granular level.

“The depth, clarity, and formatting of website content is more crucial than ever. Website content that prioritizes these fundamentals will be in the best position to be present within SGE results and, most importantly, to convert traffic.

– Gary Kramer, Sr. Digital Strategist

How Can I Try Google SGE Today?

Update: As of today, May 14th, 2024 Google SGE AKA Google AI Answers has begun rolling out to all Google users within the United States. Google SGE should be live for all US users by the end of week, but if you are outside of the US the following instructions may still be available for you.

If you want to try out the experimental version of Google SGE before it rolls out to the wider world, you can do so simply using Google Labs. Here is a short guide on how to use Google SGE today.

How To Try The Beta Of Google SGE

Log into Your Google Account:

  • Open Chrome on your desktop or laptop.
Google profile
  • Click the profile icon in the upper right corner and select “Turn on sync”.
Google account turn on sync
  • Enter your Google account email and password.
  • If you’re already logged in with Sync enabled, skip this step.

How To Access Google Labs:

  • Open a new tab in Chrome.
  • Click the small beaker icon to the left of your profile icon to open Google Labs.
click on beaker icon

How To Enable Google SGE:

  • In Google Labs, find the SGE card.
  • Click the On/Off slider on the SGE card to the On position.
Google SGE AI in search
  • Close the Google Labs tab.

How To Try Google SGE:

  • In the Google search field, type a query.
  • On the Google search results page, click the “Generate” button above the standard results to activate an AI response.
Get an AI Powered overview
  • Google will return results personalized to your search using AI.
Google results for best pizza places near me

SGE is going to impact user behavior away from visiting some websites entirely – particularly those sites that solely exist to answer questions Google can easily steal an answer and showcase in their SERP. I like to think of SGE’s impact being similar to the impact felt by the wide release of People Also Ask answer boxes and Featured Snippets, but on a much larger scale.

“Because of that, companies need to make sure they connect their top-performing webpages to keywords where Google users are more likely to need to take action, not just research something to get a surface-level understanding.

“Industry-leading sites have already been strategically growing with Google this way, but now every business that wants to grow using SEO will need to follow suit.

– Jonathan Bentz, Sr. Digital Marketing Strategist

How To Optimize Your Website For Google SGE

Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) represents a significant shift in how search engines function, leveraging generative AI to enhance user search experiences. This article explores key strategies for optimizing your website for the upcoming Google SGE.

Content Quality & Google SGE

  • User Focus: Consider what makes your website valuable to users. Why should someone choose your content over others? Ensuring your content serves the user’s needs is crucial.
  • Google’s Perspective: Reflect on why Google should prioritize your content. It’s essential to align your content with what search engines consider valuable.
  • AI-Generated Content: If you use AI to generate content, ensure it’s carefully edited and refined before publishing. Authenticity and quality remain paramount.

A good content approach will be unfazed by SGE or, really, any Google algorithm changes. Since the beginning of the web, the mandate for content creators has always been to write the best stuff we can that informs the reader and answers the questions they have.

“We aren’t just writing for robots; we’re writing for people. The better we do our jobs, the better the search results get, and the better Google will get at recognizing (and delivering) the content we write.

– Jim Foreman, Sr. Content Specialist

Authority & Google SGE

  • E-E-A-T Framework: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Google values these traits extremely highly when deciding whether or not to show content currently, and it will only get more important as Google SGE rolls out in the wild. To build authority, focus on creating high-quality, expert content.
  • Establishing Authority: Develop your website’s authority by showcasing expertise and providing valuable, well-researched content.
  • Author Persona: Having content written by individuals with verifiable expertise is beneficial. This adds a layer of credibility to your website.

“User Experience is one of the most under-optimized parts of SEO, and it will only become more important as we move into the world of Google SGE. If a user has a bad time on your website, they’re unlikely to return, make a purchase, or recommend your content to a friend. Why would an AI version of Google continue to show your website if it doesn’t delight users?”
– Billy Wright, Lead Digital Marketing Strategist

User Experience & Google SGE

  • Accessibility: Ensure users can easily find what they’re looking for on your site. Navigation should be intuitive and straightforward.
  • Website Speed: A fast-loading website enhances user experience, which is a critical factor in SEO.
  • E-commerce Optimization: For e-commerce sites, streamline the purchasing process to be as quick and user-friendly as possible.

Images & Google SGE

  • Click-Through Rate (CTR): With SGE, images will play a more significant role in influencing CTR. Optimize images to be engaging and relevant to your content.

Video & Google SGE

  • Growing Importance: Videos are likely to gain more importance in search results. Incorporating unique video content on your site can enhance user engagement and SEO.

SGE’s focus on interactive, AI-generated content emphasizes the importance of quality, authority, and user experience in website optimization. By adapting to these evolving standards, websites can enhance their visibility and effectiveness in Google’s AI-driven search landscape

April 2024 Google SGE Update

Beginning at the end of March 2024 Google began testing the Google SGE AI results directly within the normal Google search results for some users within the United States. This caused lots of controversy as some users noted that they could not opt-out of getting the Google SGE results, and that it was taking up so much search real estate that it became problematic for their user experience. Whether this test is reflective of an upcoming roll-out of Google SGE in 2024 is yet to be seen.

May 14, 2024 Google SGE Update

At Google I/O today, May 14th, 2024, Google announced that Google SGE AKA Google Ai Answers was rolling out live for all United States users, and would be fully available across the US by end of week. Their language also focused mainly on calling it AI Answers, which reflects the most recent change to the text surrounding the generated content within the search results.

SEO will keep changing, as it always has–Google SGE is just the latest development to shake things up. At Direct Online Marketing, we’re all about helping you adapt and thrive in this new search era, no matter what happens. Got questions about how your site will work with Google SGE? Looking for smart strategies? We’ve got you covered. Drop us a line for a free SEO chat, and let’s team up to make your online presence shine in the world of Google SGE.

Note: This article has been updated to include the end of March 2024 / April 2024 Google SGE updates where it was tested among users who were not white-listed for Google SGE in Google Labs.

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Revolutionizing Creativity: How AI is Transforming the Landscape of Creative Services https://www.directom.com/ai-creative/ Fri, 07 Apr 2023 17:33:54 +0000 https://www.directom.com/?p=39169 While the AI trend continues to take over the marketing world in 2023, there are clear concerns about what it could mean for the future of the creative field. Artificial intelligence has come a long way in recent years, and one of the most interesting developments has been the use of AI to generate images. 

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While the AI trend continues to take over the marketing world in 2023, there are clear concerns about what it could mean for the future of the creative field. Artificial intelligence has come a long way in recent years, and one of the most interesting developments has been the use of AI to generate images. 

Could creatives soon be competing with machines for jobs? 

It’s certainly possible, but before any (more) fear is elicited, let’s break down what exactly AI-generated images are and how they are made. 

What Exactly are AI-generated Images?

Put simply, AI-generated images are images that are created entirely by an algorithm, without any input from a human artist. The possibilities for this technology are vast, and it has the potential to revolutionize creative services completely. 

This algorithm is trained on a dataset of images, and then it uses that training to generate new images that are similar in style and content to the images in the dataset. 

The algorithm can generate anything from realistic photographs to abstract designs, and it can even create entirely new images that have never been seen before.

The more detailed and specific the original prompt, the more likely the algorithm will be able to successfully generate a slew of images based on the information.

How Quickly are AI-generated Images Created?

One of the most interesting things about AI-generated images is that they can be produced at a speed and scale that would be impossible for a human artist. With traditional art, it can take hours, days, or even weeks to create a single piece. 

With AI-generated images, however, an entire collection of images can be produced in a matter of seconds. This speed and scalability have the potential to completely transform the creative services industry.

How quickly are AI generated Images created?

Common Concerns Surrounding AI Creative Services

Much like other industries currently being impacted by AI trends, the creative field is no different. Graphic designers, developers, and artists of all kinds have concerns about the impact that AI-generated images will have on the industry. 

Putting Artists Out Of Work

One of the biggest concerns is that it will put traditional artists out of work. After all, if a machine can create images faster and more efficiently than a human artist, why would anyone hire a human artist in the first place?

While it’s true that AI-generated images have the potential to replace some types of artistic work, it’s important to remember that there are some things that machines simply can’t do. 

For example, machines don’t have emotions or life experiences, and they can’t create art that is deeply personal or reflective of the human condition. There’s real power in passion, which leads to the notion that there will always be a place for human artists in the industry, even as AI-generated images become more prevalent.

Copyright Infringement

There is also a general cause for concern when it comes to copyright infringement. It may be impossible to tell where inspiration or reference is coming from with AI-generated images being pulled from every edge of the web, which could make usage guidelines rather hazy going forward.

This directly plays into the looming issue of information interpretation. How AI algorithms interpret an image prompt is almost certainly going to be different from what the human mind can envision. 

With a few general searches, there seems to be a clear lack of realism in many of the AI-generated options. Many have clear imperfections or unrealistic styles that folks working in the creative field can easily spot, further emphasizing the battle between quantity and efficiency against quality. 

Lack of Diversity

This also leads to the concern that AI-generated images could make the industry less diverse. If the majority of images are generated by machines, there’s a risk that all images will start to look the same. This could result in a lack of diversity in the industry, as well as a loss of creativity and innovation.

Common concerns surrounding AI-generated creative

The Positive Outlook on AI Creative Services

On the contrary, there’s also the potential for AI-generated images to make the industry more diverse. For example, AI could be used to create images that are more inclusive and representative of different cultures, races, and backgrounds. 

Additionally, AI-generated images could be used to create images that are more accessible to people with disabilities, such as images with audio descriptions or images that are designed to be viewed by people with color blindness. 

Many of these image styles are currently lacking when it comes to widely available stock assets that already dominate the web. 

Think about all of the off-the-wall requests that would have taken hours to manipulate different stock photos to get the request just right that could now be at the disposal of AI. It’s true that these could become an extension to stock assets and give creatives an endless library to play with, but at what cost?

Are AI-generated Images Free?

While many companies offer a few free credits for AI-generated images, once these credits run out many companies will attempt to capitalize on subscription-based services. 

OpenAI’s AI-generated image platform, DALL•E, includes 15 free credits upon account creation. This system is still not perfect and oftentimes crashes mid-search due to server errors, but produces some decent options in the grand scheme.

Adobe is also Beta-testing its new AI-generation platform, Adobe Firefly. The Firefly Beta is currently only accessible to approved creatives with active Adobe subscriptions.

The Future for AI Creative Services is Now

Adobe plans to take its AI capabilities to even bigger heights as well, with ideas in place that could transform the efficiency and overall framework of the creative field.

Adobe is exploring the following capabilities with Adobe Firefly:

  • Text to image (AI-image generation)*
  • Text effects*
  • Recoloring vectors
  • Inpainting
  • Personalized images
  • Text to vector
  • Extending image aspect ratios
  • 3D to image
  • Text to pattern
  • Text to brush
  • Text to template
  • Sketch to Image

* available with the Beta version

Fortunately for us, our team has already been approved to test Adobe Firefly (Beta) and is actively exploring its capabilities and offerings. 

As a matter of fact, the images featured throughout this post were all generated with Adobe Firefly… with some human manipulation, of course.

Adobe Firefly (Beta) example AI image generation prompt

Overall, it’s clear that AI-generated images have the potential to completely transform the creative services industry. The concerns about the impact that this technology could have on traditional artists and the creative process are very real, but it’s important to remember that no matter how advanced the technology becomes, there will always be a place for human creativity and imagination.

It’s important to note that the AI trend is not limited to creative services. Direct Online Marketing provides AI Marketing Services as Ai continues to change what the Internet looks like and how we interact with it.

Read more about how AI is impacting other industries below.

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Will AI Replace Copywriters? (Our Review Of Unbounce Smart Copy) https://www.directom.com/ai-copywriting/ Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:54:00 +0000 https://www.directom.com/?p=13597 Editor’s Note: In May 2021, landing page builder and platform software company Unbounce acquired Snazzy.ai to add AI copy generator technology to its platform. Since that acquisition, Unbounce has rebranded the tool as “Unbounce Smart Copy.” In the world of artificial intelligence, the “singularity” is when the AI becomes indistinguishable from human thinking. There have

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Editor’s Note: In May 2021, landing page builder and platform software company Unbounce acquired Snazzy.ai to add AI copy generator technology to its platform. Since that acquisition, Unbounce has rebranded the tool as “Unbounce Smart Copy.”

In the world of artificial intelligence, the “singularity” is when the AI becomes indistinguishable from human thinking. There have been countless science fiction books and movies written about this premise.

The Matrix, Terminator, Bladerunner.

Side note re: Bladerunner – the good one, NOT that one with Ryan Gosling. How did that movie even get made?

All these movies captured the imagination by positing the idea that A.I. might one day overtake us in the very cognitive abilities that make us human. 

So it’s not too much of a surprise that the news of Unbounce’s acquisition of Snazzy.ai in 2021 caused a ripple throughout our offices. Our content people in particular could be seen wiping sweat from their brows when they thought nobody was looking. 

When asked about it, they responded with platitudes about the human mind’s irreplaceable capacity for creative thought and so on. However, privately they worried at their desks and imagined a future where all writing was automatically generated by an electronic super mind that was totally incapable of making errors. 

For a lot of businesses and marketing professionals, such a thing would be the most welcome innovation since on-page SEO tools. Imagine having an endless source of instantly generated content to drive your marketing efforts!

Let’s take a look at this leading AI copy generator and get to the bottom of just how worried our flesh and blood content writers need to be in the face of this new technology. 

Unbounce Smart Copy: The AI Copy Generator Formerly Known As “Snazzy AI”

Unbounce Snazzy AI Acquisition - Snazzy Is Now Unbounce Smart Copy

Snazzy.ai was a name that was heavily featured in marketing news circuits for a while, and with good reason. The AI copy generator had been used extensively by marketing professionals for things like email copy, Google Ad copy, social media posts, etc. The acquisition by Unbounce in 2021 simply elevated the buzz around its capabilities. 

Today, Unbounce Smart Copy gives users an extensive array of options for content types. Having trouble coming up with a blog idea? Unbounce Smart Copy can do that.

Need a mission statement for your brand? No problemo.

Running into a wall generating meta descriptions for your pages? Unbounce Smart Copy has you covered. 

Unbounce Smart Copy In Action

Unbounce Smart Copy Login Page

For this exercise, we’ve invented a fake company called Binko’s Space Robots. Binko’s specializes in creating hulking, gigantic Gundam-style space robots for everything from asteroid mining to intergalactic combat. 

We’re planning on running a Google Ads campaign for Binko’s, but our team is busy and doesn’t have the bandwidth to devote to writing the copy, so we’ll have to rely on Snazzy.ai’s expertise to whip something up. 

So right off the bat, we have to make a new Snazzy account. When you create an account, you fill in your company’s information. Everything you do with the tool from there is based on this initial information, so it’s not really possible to use an account to generate content for other businesses (in the free version, at least). 

For instance, upon account setup you’re asked to fill in your company description, the audience, and some brand keywords. 

For Binko’s Space Robots, we entered the description as worded above, “creating hulking, gigantic space robots etc.” For our audience, we entered space pirates, asteroid miners, space heroes and villains, and starship pilots. 

Our brand keywords are “asteroid mining,” “giant robots,” “space robots,” and “giant robot battles in space.” 

After a popup with introductory information, we’re given the full array of content creation options. Our goal was to create a Google Ads campaign, so let’s start with that. 

Here are the top three Google Ads that were generated for Binko’s Space Robots:

Binko’s Space Robots – All Hands On Deck – Join Our Space Combat League – Locally-owned Giant RobotsAsteroid Mining. Planetary Domination. Intergalactic Combat. Massive Robots. Huge Giant Robots for Sale. Our Robots Can Do It All. Grab An Asteroid and Mine it to Smithereens. Crush Your Enemies! The only company to mine for gold in space. Asteroid Mining Giant Robots

Binko’s Space Robots – Giant Robotic Mining Platforms – Asteroid Mining Robots – Welcome to the FutureSpace Robots. Giant Robots. Giant Robot Battles in Space. The Best Space Robots Available. Huge selection of space robots. Fully Modular, Customizable Robots. Battles and Mining in Deep Space. The Ultimate Asteroid Mining Game. Blast, Hover & Boost Your Way to Riches.

Binko’s Space Robots – Taming the Galaxy – Battle Intergalactic Villains – Binko’s Space RobotsOne Giant Robot, Two Giant Robots, Three Giant Robots, Four Asteroid Mining Robots. Giant Robot Battles. Planet Destroying Weapons. Binko’s Space Robots – Massive, Hulking Robots for Asteroid Mining. The Leader in Space Robot Technology.

As you can see, Smart Copy by Unbounce filled in some blanks beyond the information that we fed it. For instance, we never said anything about planetary domination, but there it is in the copy of the first ad. 

Also, each of the three ads is focusing on a different audience. The first ad seems to use language that would appeal to villains. The second is more mining focused, and the third is focused on the space hero demographic. 

Are these great ads? We think they’re pretty good. However there is the question of accuracy. In the second ad, the copy mentions that the robots are fully modular and customizable. We did not mention anything about those features, but the AI just included them. 

This is a cautionary example that shows you can’t simply plug and play with Smart Copy’s generator. Some of the results may contain inaccurate or misleading information, so they have to be studied before use. Not only can they lead to unhappy potential customers, but they can get your ads disapproved

In general, though, we’re really impressed by these ads. The power to generate copy in the blink of an eye is something to behold. 

The pricing structure is, well, maybe a little less impressive. 

Unbounce Smart Copy’s Pricing

Unbounce Smart Copy Pricing

Unbounce Smart Copy has a free option. The way this works is you’re given 40 credits upon account creation. Every time you generate content, you’re using a credit. Every week that you log into the account, you’re given 10 credits. 

For the most part, this freemium model is going to get you what you need without a lot of hassle, assuming you’re okay with what you get on the first or second round of content generation. 

In the Google Ads example from above, it generated 5 total ads the first time we ran it. We could run it as many times as we wanted, but every time we click that “create” button, it burns another credit. 

Additionally, the “Customize” option is locked behind the paid subscription. What this means is your topic for any generated content is going to be related to your initial profile information by default. If you want to make content focused on a related topic that isn’t exactly what you’ve filled in for your profile, you have to pay up. 

Paying up here isn’t anything to sneeze at either. By default, membership costs about $19 per month. There is an option to pay annually for only $96 a year, which works out to be $8 a month. However, if you want to take advantage of the 14-day free trial offer, it seems you’re then forced to pay the more expensive $50 monthly rate. 

Is it worth it? That depends. As a business expense, the cost is relatively light. In return, you’re saving your marketing people a lot of potential hours by letting the platform do the heavy lifting. 

If you’re an individual, however, that’s a large chunk of change any way you slice it. $300 could be anywhere from 20 to 30 pizzas you’re giving up for a more convenient content solution. More if you pay the monthly rate. 

Should You Be Worried About Unbounce Smart Copy?

Should Humans Worry About AI Copy Generators?

We’re going to answer this one without any suspense. No, human writers shouldn’t be afraid of AI copywriting. In fact, they should be ecstatic. 

That singularity we talked about at the beginning of this article has yet to be reached. There are no cybernetic organisms from the future that are assimilating into our society on the hunt for the future leader of the human rebellion. AI is still artificial, a bare facsimile of humanity. 

What AI can provide is suggestions for long-form content based on data that can then be used to whip up amazing blog copy and product descriptions. This makes the job of a content writer easier rather than obsolete. 

We asked one of our writers and contributor to this blog, to add his thoughts, which he did:

jim-foreman-headshot

“Chris is absolutely right. Automation is coming for all of us, eventually. The PPC side already knows what it’s like to compete with algorithms that claim to do their jobs better than they do. I think what we’ll start seeing in content marketing is a more personalized stamp, like the old days of blogging, when we would do it for fun, not SEO. Also, would an AI just randomly insert a fun Star Wars reference if you didn’t tell it to? Never tell me the odds, but I don’t think it’s very likely.”

Jim Foreman, Senior Content Specialist

While short-form copy like Google Ads and social media ads can be generated to hit on all the relevant keywords, there’s still nothing that can replace the skills of a great writer when it comes to creating engaging content that people will read. 

If you’re looking for great content for humans to give your business a boost, Direct Online Marketing has the tools to get the job done. Our experienced team of SEO and PPC professionals will help you reach your goals. Contact us today for a free consultation.  

As a bonus, here are some Unbounce Smart Copy auto-generated DOM taglines.

DOM. We cause things to happen. 

DOM. Break the rules. Be different. 

DOM. Dominate everywhere you go.  

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