Ep 19: Michael Stelzner on How AI is Shaping the Future of Marketing

In this episode, Kate vanderVoort, founder and CEO of Social Mediology and the AI Success Lab speaks with Michael Stelzner, the CEO and founder of Social Media Examiner and host of the AI Explored Podcast. Michael is a pioneer in social media marketing and a leading voice in the integration of AI in marketing. Together, they discuss how AI is transforming marketing strategies, reshaping content creation, and addressing some of the challenges marketers are facing in adopting AI. Michael shares actionable insights into leveraging AI tools, enhancing creativity, and staying ahead in the rapidly changing digital marketing landscape. Key Highlights: Michael’s Background and Journey Michael shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting with his early career in writing and creative agency work, leading to the founding of Social Media Examiner in 2009. Social Media Examiner’s evolution from a blog to a leading marketing resource, conference, and podcast platform. His recent pivot into AI, launching the AI Explored Podcast and the AI Business Society in 2024. Leading the AI Transformation at Social Media Examiner Why Michael hesitated to jump into AI after his experience with crypto and blockchain. The creation of an internal AI committee and a company-wide AI policy to guide ethical and productive use of AI tools. Mandatory AI training and how every team member reports on their AI usage weekly to integrate it into their workflow. AI’s Impact on Marketing and Content Creation AI as a strategic advisor: Training AI tools to reflect company values and assist with decision-making. Examples of AI enhancing creativity: Custom-trained models that generate on-brand emails, match customer testimonials, and produce innovative marketing campaigns. The role of AI in personalizing content and hyper-segmenting audiences. Challenges and Future of AI in Marketing Overcoming fears of synthetic content and maintaining authenticity in marketing. Addressing marketer overwhelm with practical, incremental approaches to adopting AI. Predictions for the future: AI agents in customer service, hyper-personalization, and how AI will redefine consumer engagement on social media. Michael’s Perspective on Social Media’s Future with AI The risk of synthetic content tuning out audiences and how marketers can combat it with authenticity and storytelling. The balance between leveraging AI for efficiency and maintaining a human touch in marketing. Exciting Innovations to Watch AI-generated video and audio agents for customer service and sales. Tools like Opus Clip and Riverside for creating short-form video content from long-form recordings. Advanced AI tools for analyzing open-ended data and crafting data-driven strategies. Links and Resources Mentioned: Social Media Examiner: www.socialmediaexaminer.com  AI Explored Podcast on YouTube Kate's interview on the AI Explored Podcast: View here 2024 Generative AI Marketing Industry Report: Download here Connect with Michael on: LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Facebook If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to The AI Grapple on your favourite podcast platform and leave a review. We would love to see you in the AI Success Lab Facebook group too!