Here’s how marketing agencies use AI, how you can tell, and if you should care.

Marketing Agencies use AI, they have to. But how can you tell and are they using it in the right ways? 

Information from a Digital Agency specializing in Mental Health.

In the ever-evolving realm of marketing, staying at the forefront of technology is often a strategic move for all marketing agencies. That’s just common knowledge. Marketing agencies aren’t handing out flyers at the traffic lights anymore, are they?

They gotta keep up with the times. 

Adapt or die (or so they say).

While flyers have now taken a backseat for the foreseeable future, many marketing agencies are now making use of Artificial intelligence (AI), including tools like ChatGPT. 

Why? 

Well, AI can significantly improve the efficiency of work in various ways across different industries and tasks – which is becoming a no-brainer for agencies looking to expand at a rapid rate. 

But how can you tell if your marketing agency is employing ChatGPT or similar AI-powered tools in their work? 

Although they can be super subtle, there are some telltale signs:

Blazing Speed in Content Production:

One of the clearest indicators of AI-powered content generation is an unprecedented increase in the speed at which your agency produces content. If they’re churning out articles, blog posts, or social media updates far quicker than they used to, it’s a strong signal that AI assistance might be in play.

Keep an eye out. Unless you’re happy with the content they’re producing and the speed it’s being produced at… then that’s kind of a win-win, right? Unless they’re producing…

Suspiciously Uniform and Consistent Content:

AI tools like ChatGPT have a remarkable ability to maintain consistency across content pieces. If your agency’s work suddenly starts to look unrealistically similar and overly consistent, perhaps even bordering on bland and boring where the original tone of voice has been lost, there’s a good chance they’re using AI tools to maintain that uniformity.

Once your tone of voice gets lost, so does your brand. So keep an eye on that. 

Extensive Topic Coverage:

AI-powered tools are not limited by subject matter expertise. They can generate content on a wide range of topics. If your agency appears to have an expansive knowledge base that extends beyond their typical expertise, AI-generated content may be filling the gaps.

Is this an issue, though? Sounds like your agency is just utilizing the technology that’s available to them… Adapt or die, remember? 

But it may be an issue because the big question at the moment is: can AI be fully trusted yet?

A Sudden Deluge of Marketing Campaigns:

AI-powered tools can streamline campaign management. If your agency suddenly launches and manages multiple large-scale marketing campaigns concurrently, they may be leveraging AI for campaign optimization and automation.

Unless they just hired a badass team who’s working day and night to ensure the success of your brand (like LMR 🙂).

Automated Data-Driven Insights:

AI tools provide detailed analytics and data-driven insights. If your agency is delivering in-depth reports, recommendations, and campaign optimizations with remarkable speed and accuracy, AI is likely assisting in data analysis.

Again, take note of the speed in which they’re producing work for you. If it’s rapidly increased, there’s a good chance AI tools have lent a friendly hand. But again, is this really problematic for you? 

Someone’s gotta do it… 

Rapid Adaptation to Trends:

AI tools can swiftly adapt to market trends and changing consumer behaviors. If your agency consistently responds promptly to emerging trends with relevant and up-to-date content, AI may be helping them stay agile.

Unless they are just good at what they do. I mean, that’s also a possibility, isn’t it? 

One more thing to keep an eye out for:

AI-generated content may exhibit patterns of overly generic and repetitive phrasing. If you notice recurring phrases or a lack of creativity in your agency’s work, AI-generated content might be the culprit.

Just boring, plain text that lacks life and a human touch. Or – they could just be terrible at what they do.

Look. At the end of the day, there are some effective ways agencies should use AI. But if you have concerns over the way your agency is using AI, talk to them about what tools they use, how they use them, and how they’re ensuring their content still stands out with the best possible quality.

How much of a problem is it causing – and is it even noticeable? Well, I guess that’s up to you to decide. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

How is AI used for advertising?
AI is used in advertising to optimize campaigns, personalize content, and enhance customer targeting. It analyzes large amounts of data to identify consumer behavior, preferences, and trends. AI can automate ad creation, placement, and bidding strategies, ensuring that the right ads reach the right audience at the right time. Additionally, AI-powered tools can generate dynamic creative content and improve user experience with chatbots or personalized recommendations.

What is the future of AI in advertising?
The future of AI in advertising looks promising, with continued advancements in automation, personalization, and predictive analytics. AI is expected to further enhance targeted advertising by understanding consumer behavior in real-time and predicting future trends. We can also expect more integration of AI in content creation, allowing for highly personalized and interactive ads. As AI technology evolves, advertising will become more efficient, effective, and customized to individual preferences.

Is it ethical to use AI in advertising?
The ethics of using AI in advertising largely depend on transparency, data privacy, and the intent behind its use. AI can raise concerns regarding data misuse, surveillance, and manipulation of vulnerable audiences. Ethical use requires advertisers to be transparent about how they collect and use data, ensure user consent, and avoid exploiting sensitive consumer information. The industry is continuously developing guidelines to ensure that AI is used responsibly and equitably.

Will AI replace advertisers?
While AI can automate certain tasks and enhance efficiency in advertising, it is unlikely to completely replace human advertisers. AI excels at data analysis, automation, and optimizing strategies, but human creativity, intuition, and strategic thinking are still crucial for crafting compelling campaigns. Advertisers will likely work alongside AI, using it as a tool to enhance their work and improve decision-making, rather than being replaced by it.