How to prepare your business for AI-assisted sales and marketing

Examples of AI tools for marketing

AI-powered tools can help your marketing team perform a range of functions. Here are the most common types of AI tools used in marketing.

AI for digital marketing

The best way for SMEs to use AI in digital marketing is through the tools in major ad platforms, like Google and Meta.

Girolami said, “A few years ago, small businesses had to allocate their ad money manually. They did this by analyzing click-through rates and engagement metrics. Now, with AI, these platforms will automatically optimize ad targeting, bidding and ad placement.”

As a result, your ads are more likely to reach your target audience. This maximizes their impact and your ad spending’s return. 

AI for content generation

AI tools are a major game changer for content creation, says Girolami. You can use many of them right now at no cost. These tools can generate images, write text and create videos. As a result, they can simplify creative processes and boost productivity. This helps marketers create high-quality content at a lower cost.

But there is one important thing to keep in mind when using these tools, Girolami insists. “This content can be generic. If you pack your platforms with it, search engines like Google will penalize you. They will downgrade your authority, hurting your visibility and marketing performance.”

He advises small businesses to use this content sparingly. You should personalize the images and text you publish online. 

AI for customer segmentation

Segmentation is an important aspect of marketing success. AI can now help you analyze vast customer data to find precise segments.

Segmentation tools can help you group your customers into the right categories. They do this by analyzing behaviors, preferences, demographics, and more.

“These tools can help small businesses improve engagement. They can also help you create better, personalized campaigns,” says Girolami. “Gaining these insights used to be costly, requiring complex analysis. With AI, it is now much simpler and more efficient.”

AI for customer service

Chatbots are one of the primary applications of AI in customer service.

Every year, these tools get smarter. They are understanding customers’ queries and needs more accurately. Also, AI chatbots do more than answer common questions. They guide users through the sales funnel.

“Not long ago, people programmed chatbots manually,” says Girolami. “They were if-then machines. But now, these apps need little input. They can free your teams to deal only with the most complex questions and scenarios.”

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using AI for sales and marketing?

Using AI for sales and marketing comes with a range of advantages and disadvantages. Here is a breakdown of the most important ones.