The Rise of AI in Marketing Plans: A Review of Chatbots and Generators
In today’s digital age, the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) has many marketers concerned about job security. AI writing, AI images, AI videos — while the final products are far from perfect, they raise the question of what jobs AI could eventually replace, even if we don’t want them to. But, heck, if AI can create a marketing plan for me, I say, “Welcome to the team!”
The Role of AI in Creating Marketing Plans
A marketing plan is a foundational piece of any marketing strategy. It keeps businesses organized and focused on their goals. However, with all the details it should consider and capture, it can be extremely time-consuming and tedious to put together. This is where AI can be a game-changer.
After years of researching and compiling documents by hand, I recently used AI to create a marketing plan to see what it could deliver. Let’s break down the steps I took, how the plans turned out, and how you can replicate them.
Why Use AI to Create a Marketing Plan?
AI can help marketers work smarter, not harder. Although concerns like plagiarism, bias, and data insecurity exist, when it comes to planning and research, AI tools can save massive amounts of time and money. Marketers report getting 12.5 hours back weekly by using AI for tasks like research and optimization.
AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, and HubSpot’s Breeze perform research and optimization in real time, pulling information from multiple data sources at a speed that isn’t humanly possible. By using AI to create, or at least draft, your marketing plan, you can spend less time planning and more time executing.
Creating a Marketing Plan with a Chatbot
I tested two AI tools and approaches for creating a marketing plan: a chatbot and a generator. The chatbot approach involved providing detailed information in a conversational prompt and refining the results until they met my needs.
While the initial results were fairly generic, with follow-up requests, I could have uncovered unique strategies. ChatGPT is suitable for small-to-medium-sized marketing teams that need help brainstorming strategies but don’t necessarily need cutting-edge solutions.
Marketing Plan Generator
HubSpot’s AI-powered Marketing Plan Generator simplified the compilation process by delivering a one-page document with a yearly marketing plan based on the information provided. The tool eliminates the stress of knowing how to write a good prompt and makes it easy to share the plan with teammates and stakeholders.
Before using the generator, it’s essential to have a clear marketing mission statement, strategy, marketing initiatives, target goals, and metrics. The quality of the document generated by the tool depends on the information provided, so thorough preparation is key.
Final Thoughts: Treat AI as a Running Start
No matter which AI tool you choose to create your marketing plan, it’s crucial to treat the results as a first draft. AI can provide valuable insights and suggestions based on the information provided, but it doesn’t replace the expertise and knowledge of your team.
Artificial intelligence can give you a running start, but it’s up to you to refine and elaborate on the suggestions to create a comprehensive and effective marketing plan. Embrace the power of AI in streamlining your planning process and use it as a tool to enhance creativity and strategy in your marketing efforts.