How to use AI to market your business

Social media marketing may be a no-brainer, but getting it right and standing out in a highly competitive digital landscape is not as simple as posting content regularly.

As with all types of marketing, social media marketing is about knowing what audiences want to see and how they want to see it – vital information trends provide.

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So, what are the top social media trends businesses need to get on board with?

Short-form video is king

Thanks to the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts (plus our diminishing attention spans), the way we consume media has shifted dramatically.

These days, consumers want bite-sized, engaging snippets of content that entertain, educate and connect them to brands.

Think you don’t really need to get in on the video marketing action?

Consider these numbers*:

• 80% of online traffic comes from video views
• 87% of marketers report a direct increase in sales through video
• 50% of TikTok users buy something after watching TikTok LIVE
• Videos shorter than 60 seconds make up 57% of total YouTube views
• 73% of consumers prefer to watch a short-form video to learn about a product or service
• Short-form video has the highest ROI compared to other marketing trends, with 67% of social media marketers planning to invest more in this content type than any other format

*Find out more in The Messy Middle report.

AI tools to help you market your business

Now that you know you need to be producing more video content, you’re probably wondering how to find the time or budget for it – or whether you have to star in the videos yourself.

Hello, AI. In a nutshell, generative AI uses existing content like audio, video and text to generate original video content, automating many labour-intensive stages – like ideation, scriptwriting, editing, transcription – of the video production process.

According to Synthesia, a leading AI video communications platform, AI can slash video production time by as much as 62%.

Platforms like Synthesia also provide AI voices and avatars – so, no more excuses about being camera-shy or not having the right people to star in your brand videos.

Video aside, AI is playing a central role in creating and curating content for social media.

Marketers are using AI tools to quickly generate content, optimise captions, suggest hashtags, create visuals, and more.

Plus, with AI’s ability to analyse user behaviour, brands can tailor their messaging to specific audience segments, resulting in more relevant and engaging content.

Here are five beginner-friendly AI video editing tools to try:

1. Descript
2. Wondershare Filmora
3. Vimeo (formerly Magisto)
4. OpusClip
5. Peech

For more AI insights and tips on how to build a more financially stable, adaptable and resilient business, download The Messy Middle report, created by Genfin Business Finance, for free.

Genfin is a proudly South African lender providing flexible, unsecured business funding tailored to meet the unique needs of small and medium-sized businesses.

As a credible and trusted partner, we focus on responsible and sustainable lending, empowering businesses to achieve lasting growth and success.

Click here to learn more about Genfin.