As it grows more difficult to stand out in an overcrowded marketplace, marketing leaders’ roles are harder than ever: Brands now face the dual task of not only personalizing content but also producing it at unprecedented scales.
Consumers are demanding more tailored experiences, and the volume of content required to satisfy these expectations is staggering. With fierce competition and an unrelenting pace of change, leaders’ challenge is twofold: They must keep up with the demand for high-volume content and simultaneously deliver highly personalized campaigns. This must often be accomplished on stricter deadlines, with tighter budgets and fewer resources available.
Insights From The Field
For a better perspective on leaders’ top issues, our recently released report — “How AI is Reshaping Marketing for CMOs” — surveyed more than 600 marketing professionals to help determine top trends and challenges. According to the respondents:
- 43% of CMOs felt overwhelmed by the volume of visual content their teams are expected to produce;
- 78% of CMOs said that budget limitations are preventing them from updating or pivoting their marketing tactics effectively; and
Those disconnects point to significant untapped potential in AI technologies that could change how brands manage content creation. The demand for tools that can automate and optimize content production is clear. However, nearly half of the CMOs also expressed difficulty in differentiating their brand in a saturated market, highlighting the need for AI solutions that increase output and enhance creative quality and uniqueness.
AI For Competitive Differentiation
AI tools offer a cost-effective solution to both enhance creative output and optimize marketing spend, but the competitive advantage provided by AI extends beyond mere content creation.
AI-driven analytics and consumer insights can help marketers better understand their audiences and tailor content more effectively, ultimately improving engagement and boosting ROI. This strategic use of AI fosters operational efficiency and a deeper customer connection through personalized marketing.
The AI Revolution In Marketing
Given these pressures, it’s no surprise that many CMOs are turning to AI to streamline workflows and empower their teams to produce, manage and distribute content at scale.
AI technologies offer the benefit of speeding up content creation processes while maintaining — or even improving — quality. However, as AI becomes more integrated into marketing practices, there is also a growing concern about maintaining ethical standards in AI-generated content.
Balancing Ethics With AI
As we adopt AI, the balance between efficiency, personalization and ethical considerations is becoming a central focus for industry leaders.
The integration of AI in content creation must be handled with care to avoid issues like the propagation of biases or the erosion of brand authenticity. Marketing leaders must set guidelines that ensure AI tools boost human creativity and insight rather than replace them. There are industry groups and committees, like the Content Authority Initiative, that help add a verifiable layer of transparency and trust to content online — something all marketers in the creative industries should consider.
Looking Forward
As we look to the future, the trajectory for AI in marketing is poised to reshape the industry. For leading brands, adopting a sophisticated digital asset management system that incorporates AI tools is pivotal. The role of these advanced tools are enabling marketing leaders to:
- Track key content KPIs and monitor content performance over time;
- Launch more effective campaigns faster with improved workflows; and
- Satisfy demand and deliver authentic content to your audience.
The path forward for marketing is marked by innovation and adaptability. Embracing AI will be key to transforming these challenges into tangible opportunities. We must lead with courage and insight, harnessing AI’s full potential to redefine the future of marketing.
By doing so, we can ensure that our brands survive and thrive in this dynamic environment, creating content that resonates deeply with our audiences and sets us apart from the competition.
Andrew Fingerman is the CEO of PhotoShelter, a digital asset management software for brand and creative teams. He is responsible for growing the PhotoShelter user base, ensuring members are getting the most from the service and hosting the annual company BBQ. He was previously a Sr. Product Manager with OPEN, the small business team at American Express. Earlier in his career, Fingerman held various marketing, public relations and consulting roles, starting with political campaign management. He holds an MBA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, a BA from University of Michigan and frequently photographs his two kids and anything he cooks.
