Artificial Intelligence (AI), while not an entirely new concept, is starting to make its way into the mainstream. It’s in smartphones, cameras, and even cars. Over 72% of business owners worldwide say that AI is a fundamental advantage for companies, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers US’ survey about the technology’s role in consumer enterprises.
AI is all about making machines intelligent enough to think and respond as humans do. It’s currently being used by big brands like Spotify, Starbucks, and even Nike for their workflow and marketing strategies. Motorcycle industry giant Harley-Davidson even employed an artificial intelligence-powered marketing platform that overwhelmingly increased its sales leads in New York by 2,930% in 2017. With results like these, it’s tempting to jump in and explore the possibilities of AI for your business. Here’s what you need to know to make the most out of it.
Use it for Engagement
One of the most obvious uses of AI in your business is improving your digital marketing strategy. Personalization is one of the most important trends in the industry right now. However, companies still struggle to create content their audience resonates with. AI can help you personalize your brand messages according to your audience’s interests. Multinational consulting company Deloitte and software magnate Adobe have AI-powered social intelligence platforms (Blab and Adobe Target) that help businesses know their market’s interests and use them to deliver curated content.
Adjust Your Search Marketing Strategy
Artificial Intelligence will also change the way search engine optimization (SEO) works, as AI-powered voice assistants like Alexa and Siri are changing the way people search online. The voice assistant speaker market grew by 187% in the 2nd quarter of 2018, with Google Home and Amazon Echo leading the charge. It doesn’t stop at home devices either, as most smartphones come with Google Assistant (Android) and Siri (iOS). Some experts even believe that over 50% of the global population will predominantly use voice search by 2020. SEO strategies should focus on more conversational and localized keywords, as users will have more conversational searches like “What are the best barbecue places in Virginia?” This is a far cry from the typed searches people usually do on their computers and smart devices.
Bot-Powered Customer Service
Whether you’re browsing a competitor’s website or just scrolling through a brand’s Facebook page, you’ve probably seen a chatbox suddenly popping up, asking if you need help. If you’ve tried asking them a question, you were likely surprised at how quick they addressed it. You suddenly realize that you’re not actually talking to an actual person, you’re interacting with a chatbot.
While they can’t replace humans just yet, AI-powered chatbots can help your business provide round-the-clock customer service. This is especially helpful for simple questions like price, size availability, shipping information, and more. These bots can also be used to send instant messages to customers about the latest deals and offers from your company.
Using artificial intelligence is a no-brainer in this fast-paced digital era. There are AI platforms that can handle simple tasks like talking to customers or more complex ones like sifting through data to find relevant insights. Sites like Wordsmith and Quill are even showcasing AI writers that can create full-fledged content in a matter of minutes.
Try to automate one of your business processes with this technology. You’ll be surprised at how it improves your workflow and your bottom line.
