The world is becoming increasingly digital. As of 2017, there were an estimated 3.9 billion internet users worldwide – that’s nearly half the global population. The internet is transforming every area of our lives, and it’s having a huge impact on how businesses operate.
The progression of artificial intelligence has been one of the biggest changes. As AI continues to develop, it is becoming commonplace in our daily lives. Siri and Alexa have become household names, and AI is now being accepted as a normal part of society. Most of us now interact with some form of artificial intelligence every day without even noticing!
So, what does this mean for digital marketing companies? Well, a recent report by McKinsey found that, although AI is now being applied to almost every industry, marketing and sales were two of the most affected. When used correctly, it can be a valuable tool for digital marketing and SEO services, but it’s not without challenges. Here’s everything you need to know.
Although it’s nowhere near capable of thinking like a human, AI can provide human-like interaction and support in making decisions on some types of tasks. It can analyze information and solve problems very effectively, even with extremely large amounts of data. It can also use algorithms to learn from patterns in data and apply them to future processes.
For an SEO company, this can mean automating processes like keyword research and analysis, enhanced link-building strategies, more advanced tracking and reporting, and improvements in content optimization like automated recommendations for keywords and title tags. AI can also help to optimize content to make sure it’s engaging for users.
You can automate repetitive tasks
One of the biggest benefits businesses can take advantage of by using AI is that it can automate many repetitive tasks by learning and discovering through data. AI can perform high volumes of computerized tasks with incredible accuracy and without fatigue. This can be very helpful if you have a heavy workload.
With AI tools, there’s no need to waste any more time on simple admin tasks. Instead, you can use AI to streamline workflows and take over the more tedious tasks on your to-do list, freeing up time for you to spend on more creative activities that actually grow the business.
Some tasks that can be automated include sending out email campaigns, social media scheduling, task tracking, setting up meetings, and performance tracking. You can also use AI chatbots to answer simple queries, so human agents can focus on more complex questions. This can drastically speed up the time it takes for customers to get a response.
It allows for data-driven decision making
When compared to the systems businesses were using five or ten years ago, AI has allowed for deeper data analysis and networks. For example, interactions with Google Drive or Alexa are based on deep learning and this means that they become more accurate as you use them.
AI can analyze huge amounts of data very accurately and it’s constantly updating the results in real time, which means you get much clearer insights. Using AI in this way can help you make decisions for things like SEO services, as it takes away a lot of the guesswork.
This can benefit businesses with an array of tasks, including personalized marketing campaigns and customer segmentation. Companies can now use databases to get clear insights into patterns and trends with no need to manually sift through all the data.
3. It can make your business more competitive
The cost savings involved with AI tools is pretty impressive. And it’s now reached the point where it can give your business a massive competitive advantage.
There are several ways it can do this. One example would be that having better data will mean your keywords are effective, which helps your business a lot. As an example, imagine you’re a business specializing in SEO in Chicago. Having access to more relevant data could mean that if a company looking for SEO services searched for “SEO Chicago,” you would rank highly in the search results.
With the role of data now being more important than ever, having self-learning algorithms is becoming increasingly necessary. You can learn so much about customer behavior, and how to target campaigns and drive sales by using data properly, and this will give you an edge over your competitors.
Despite there being benefits to AI, there are also some challenges. Here are some of them.
The first possible problem with AI is whether it’s ethical to collect vast amounts of data on people, including their online activity, location, and personal information. Many online users feel that AI could be used to invade their privacy, and they might have a point.
Companies often use the data that AI collects to create detailed profiles, which are used for advertising and other purposes. However, this raises important questions about privacy.
Another ethical dilemma is about the impact of AI on employment. A recent study found that 37% of digital marketers are concerned about how AI technology could affect job security, as it could have the potential to replace human workers in many industries.
The introduction of new technology has, historically, led to a decrease in workforce numbers. However, the result of this could just be a shift in the type of work humans do, not the quantity.
One thing to consider with AI is that you still need humans to operate it. You can get AI tools to do some tasks for you, but human experts are still needed to intervene quite often. For example, an SEO company could use it to generate keywords, but a human still needs to check them.
2. Dependence on technology and potential for errors
Another challenge for companies using AI could be that they become too dependent on technology, or that the AI algorithms start producing too many errors.
As AI systems become more advanced and are integrated more and more into business operations, it could lead to a growing reliance on them for the business to function. Herein lies the risk: What happens if the system fails or is hacked? It could mean a huge amount of disruption for the business, even to the point where they are unable to run basic operations.
Then there’s the potential for errors to consider. Although AI is normally accurate, it has the potential for flaws. AI is nowhere near as good as human intelligence, so companies need to be aware of the risks, including the possibility that it could get things wrong sometimes.
3. Integration with existing systems and processes
Lastly, companies could face difficulties when it comes to integrating AI with their existing processes. It can be a complex and time-consuming process that requires careful planning and coordination, and the company may need to make some adjustments for a smooth transition.
Among other things, businesses that start using AI systems may need to adapt their current systems to meet the new requirements, like investing in new software. Additionally, they might have to invest in more training to support employees in the transition process.
For businesses, AI has an incredibly wide range of uses. These range from mundane, everyday functions, to breathtaking advances in some industries. And as technology continues to progress, it’s becoming an essential tool for businesses wanting to stay competitive.
AI is undoubtedly due to revolutionize the future of SEO and digital marketing. From advancements in keyword research and optimization to AI-powered search algorithms, businesses in the industry are already benefiting from developments in technology.
But it’s also important to stay ahead of the curve. To do this, businesses need to embrace the changes and adapt their SEO strategies so they can remain competitive. The integration of SEO is becoming increasingly important, so it’s often a necessary transition.