My Blog My Blog

11 Artificial Intelligence Examples from Real Brands in 2023

Artificial Intelligence
December 23, 2023/by
11 Artificial Intelligence Examples from Real Brands in 2023 2023 was the year AI became mainstream. What was once a sci-fi fantasy is now a staple in day-to-day business operations. AI’s in your smartphone, shopping experiences, and maybe even your morning coffee routine. Mom-and-pop shops, e-commerce stores, tech giants — everyone’s using AI. They’re using it to streamline operations, predict market trends, and create more engaging customer experiences. This guide will explore 11 examples of real brands using AI in 2023 and beyond. How Teams Use AI Today 6 Artificial Intelligence Examples 5 Generative AI Examples Best Practices for Using AI in Everyday Life The Best of Both Worlds: Merging AI with Human Insight How Teams Use AI Today Marketers know the actual value of their work lies in separating high-impact tasks, like creative brainstorming and strategy, from the low-impact, tedious work. And here's the kicker: our report on AI Trends for Marketers highlights that 90% of marketers say these tools free them from those mind-numbing tasks. So, how exactly are teams using AI today? Let's find out. Content Creation Generative AI tools, like Jasper for text generation and Midjourney for image creation, support content creation by producing text, crafting images, and even generating music or code, depending on your input and requirements. It's not just hype — 48% of marketers in our survey already use these tools to craft content. AI connects the dots, fills in the blanks, and turns ideas into something tangible. Suppose you're...
Read Full Story

Bad Marketing Advice in Action (and What We Can Learn)

Inbound Marketing
December 23, 2023/by
Bad Marketing Advice in Action (and What We Can Learn) Bad marketing advice can make or break a brand. If marketers sidestep well-meaning but counterproductive suggestions, they’re better positioned to capture consumer interest. What happens if they take this marketing advice to heart? Spoiler alert: It’s not great. Here are 11 examples of bad marketing advice in action — and what we can learn from these customer-facing failures. 11 Examples of Marketing Advice Gone Wrong Read on for our list of 11 bad marketing moments, or use the jump links to find your favorite example. The KFC Calendar Clash The Gap Logo Lesson The Pepsi Protest Problem The Burger King Tweet Trainwreck The Dove Double-Take The Bing Brand Debacle The Huggies Hard Sell The EA Criminal Catastrophe The Kenneth Cole Cairo Crash The Heineken Beer Breakdown The Audi Audacity 1. The KFC Calendar Clash On November 9th, 2022, KFC sent a mobile notification to its app users that encouraged them to “treat themselves” some great fried chicken and commemorate Kristallnacht. The problem? This isn’t a fun German holiday — it’s known as the Night of Broken Glass and is associated with a wave of Nazi attacks against Jewish German populations. Whoops. For KFC, the problem stemmed from semi-automated content creation. Put simply, a content creation bot saw that Kristallnacht was listed on the German calendar and assumed it was important. It was —...
Read Full Story

Long Tail in Marketing: Apply That Ish to Content Strategy

Blog Optimization
December 23, 2023/by
Long Tail in Marketing: Apply That Ish to Content Strategy Somewhat like the vastness of interstellar space, it’s hard for me to fathom just how much stuff there is for sale in the world — it’s staggering. Yet even with so many sellers already providing the most popular products, one strategy that still breaks through is to take advantage of the “long tail” in marketing, monetizing the realm of the deeply niche. Similarly, there is a ton of value beyond popular content keywords, and savvy marketers know that the best optimization brings in the right customers — qualified leads primed for conversion. Thoughtfully chosen long-tail keywords deliver choosy shoppers like me past the flashy and popular front-page products because we’re looking for something more precise. I know I’ll be excited to buy it immediately — when I find it.Let’s dive into this strategy, look at some long tail marketing examples, and then explore how this idea applies beautifully to content marketing. The term “long tail” was coined by Chris Anderson to describe the graph below. It illustrates the difference between selling a high volume of popular items (the head portion in the graph, in red) versus a low volume of many more items that aren’t as popular (the longer, mustard-colored tail of the graph.) According to Anderson’s long tail blog, this theory more specifically focuses on the tail portion of the graph over time, hence the tagline of his book: Why the Future of Business is...
Read Full Story

PPC Keyword Research: The Complete Guide

PPC
December 22, 2023/by
PPC Keyword Research: The Complete Guide Pay-per-click (or PPC) marketing can feel like a daunting task. From creating ads to monitoring performance and understanding bidding strategies, there’s a lot to take in. But PPC keyword research is an often under-appreciated, yet necessary, component of search engine marketing. With proper keyword research, you can more accurately build ads and landing pages that encourage clicks from users. Completing PPC keyword research can ultimately lead to more conversions on your website and a positive return on your ad spend, which is why it’s worthwhile. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about PPC keyword research — from why it matters to how to begin researching and beyond. Table of Contents What is PPC keyword research? Why does PPC keyword research matter? How to Research PPC Keywords Best PPC Keyword Research Tools What is PPC keyword research? PPC keyword research refers to the process of identifying keywords to include in pay-per-click advertising campaigns, usually through Google Ads or other search engine marketing platforms. The goal is to identify keywords you want to bid on as part of your PPC campaigns. Then, your ads will display when users search for those keywords. Here’s how keywords are categorized: Average Monthly Searches: The number of times the keyword is searched per month on the search engine. Cost-per-Click: An estimate of how much you’ll pay each time a user clicks...
Read Full Story

Our Favorite Marketing Campaigns of 2023

Marketing News
December 21, 2023/by
Our Favorite Marketing Campaigns of 2023 It was an interesting year to be a marketer. Expectations were high, budgets were low, content moved at the speed of light, and marketers had to make magic happen through it all. As 2023 comes to a close, I polled the HubSpot Media Team to see what their favorite marketing campaigns of the year were. Check out the full run-down below. HubSpot Media’s Favorite Marketing Campaigns of 2023 The Barbie Movie Let’s start with the obvious: Barbie owned the first half of 2023. To promote the summer blockbuster, Warner Bros. and Mattel teamed up to execute one of the most robust, well-rounded marketing campaigns we’ve ever seen. The “Barbie” movie’s marketing engine, from experiential activations to product collaborations, had it all. Some of the highlights include: Ken’s Malibu Dreamhouse that was listed on Airbnb Barbie-themed co-branded products with brands like Crocks, XBOX, BEIS, and Homesick Candles An experiential Barbie-themed boat cruise in Boston The Barbie meme generator However, Warner Bros. and Mattel can’t take all the credit — “Barbie” also had a ton of organic marketing support. Opening the same weekend as “Oppenheimer” led movie fans to create the “Barbenheimer” double feature trend on social media, giving both films a marketing boost. Also, anytime we saw the color pink this year, we couldn’t help but think of Barbie. Snoop Dogg and Solo Stove In the fall, Snoop Dogg shared a cryptic social media post implying that he...
Read Full Story

7 Expert & Data-Backed Trend Predictions for 2024

Entrepreneurship
December 20, 2023/by
7 Expert & Data-Backed Trend Predictions for 2024 It’s that time of the year… We asked a few badass colleagues and expert Trendsters what they think will be huge in 2024. Here’s what they said: 1. Niche Sports  Sara Friedman, Senior Writer of The Hustle Pickleball has grown into a national craze, with courts and other related businesses popping up everywhere. In 2024, more niche sports will follow. Source: Google Trends, six-month rolling average Games like badminton, racquetball, croquet, and spikeball will see increased popularity through activity bars, facilities, and clubs. These sports will be used to fill vacant shopping malls and offices that are too difficult to flip into residential space. Badminton, where players use racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net, might be the next big hit among Gen Z and Millennials, per Pinterest. 2. The Menopause Market Arlene Battishill, E-commerce maverick, Shark Tank trailblazer The market is finally recognizing women ages 50 and older as a huge demographic with a lot of disposable income. One way this trend will manifest is through the continued growth of the ~$17B menopause market. Globally, menopause causes $150B in lost productivity. It’s a big pain point for half the population, and a huge opportunity for businesses. There’s already been an influx of products created for perimenopause and menopause care, with celebrities and influencers in the mix. But the market is still ripe for disruption.   3. Leaner Tech Startups Dan Layfield, Subscription business expert, ex-Uber, ex-Codecademy This year, many tech companies course-corrected their...
Read Full Story

The Complete Guide to AI for Amazon Sellers in 2024

Artificial Intelligence
December 20, 2023/by
The Complete Guide to AI for Amazon Sellers in 2024 Over 60% of Amazon sales are made by independent sellers, with most running small to medium-sized businesses. AI for Amazon sellers has the potential to help smaller sellers close the distance between themselves and more prominent brands even more. But here's the catch: You must know how to use AI effectively. For this guide, I share my first-hand experiences as a content manager for a large e-commerce marketplace. I also share insights from Amazon sellers who use AI in multiple business areas. AI and the Amazon Marketplace How AI Has Helped Amazon Sellers Building an AI strategy for Amazon AI Tools for Amazon Sellers AI for Amazon Sellers: Levelling the Playing Field AI and the Amazon Marketplace In 2021, I was a content manager for a large e-commerce marketplace with over three million customers. Open AI had yet to open up the floodgates with ChatGPT back then. But let me tell you, AI was already top of mind on the content front. Only a few years later, the potential for AI in e-commerce seems endless. As we speak, Amazon sellers generate optimized product listings at scale and automate mundane tasks. That's not to mention use cases like customer service, product research, price optimization, marketing, and inventory management. Simply put, AI has the potential to help you in all areas of the Amazon Marketplace. How AI Has Helped Amazon Sellers I spoke with six Amazon Sellers who...
Read Full Story

What’s Holding AI Adoption Back in Marketing? [New Data]

Artificial Intelligence
December 19, 2023/by
What's Holding AI Adoption Back in Marketing? Adoption of any new technology can take time, and this is especially true when the technology is complex. The rapid explosion of artificial intelligence tools has already changed how most marketing teams operate — but there are still some factors that are holding marketers back from fully embracing AI. In our 2023 State of AI Report, we dove deep to understand how marketers are already using AI, and what barriers are causing hesitation for marketers who have been reticent to adopt this advanced technology. We’ll review statistics and predictions for the future of AI in the marketing sector. AI Use Today: By the Numbers Across all industries, the AI revolution is set to continue expanding and growing, with experts predicting that nearly 100% of all organizations will use AI to some degree by the year 2025 — less than two years away. Meanwhile, the market impact of AI software is, according to some predictions, on track to reach between $13 and $150 trillion by the same year. That’s a staggering figure that reveals just how pervasive AI technology will soon become. With far-reaching impacts across every industry, one of the key sectors affected by AI is the field of marketing. According to our recent survey data, 68% of leaders in the marketing field predict that their business will experience astounding levels of growth once AI and automation tools are completely integrated into their operations. Over half of marketing leaders...
Read Full Story

How to Plan a Seasonal Marketing Campaign: A 5-Step Guide

Marketing Trends
December 19, 2023/by
How to Plan a Seasonal Marketing Campaign: A 5-Step Guide Every year has built-in opportunities to boost sales, increase brand recognition, and bolster customer relationships. Seasonal marketing is the key to aligning your outreach with special times of the year, like holidays and events, to capitalize on increased consumer enthusiasm. A well-executed seasonal marketing campaign will increase sales and strengthen the emotional connection between your brand and your audience, which is a recipe for dedicated, lifelong customers. Pulling off a standout seasonal marketing campaign requires hard work, creativity, and a little know-how — but don't fret, I’m here to help. Read on to learn all about seasonal marketing, check out our step-by-step campaign guide, and get inspired with top-tier seasonal marketing examples. Table of Contents What is seasonal marketing? How to Plan a Seasonal Marketing Campaign (in 5 Steps) Seasonal Marketing Examples The holidays are associated with strong emotions such as joy, love, and hope. Businesses can create a more meaningful and memorable connection with their customers by marketing products and services that appeal to these emotions. Seasonal marketing isn’t just about holidays, though. Special events like the Super Bowl and seasonal opportunities like Back-to-School shopping and Black Friday are further examples of chances to flex the seasonal marketing muscle. Seasonal marketing aims to drive sales and foster an emotional connection with your target audience. Read on for a step-by-step guide to jumpstart your next seasonal campaign. ...
Read Full Story