Exploring the Impact of Generative AI on Marketing Creativity

With the rise of generative AI, the marketing industry is at a turning point, where AI has the potential to speed up creativity, provide new inspiration, and generate unique ideas. However, the industry must also be aware of the limitations and risks associated with using generative AI. My latest article on Forbes, "Is Marketing Creativity at Risk? Ask Generative AI," discusses the benefits and pitfalls of AI for marketers, offering insights into how to leverage AI tools effectively while mitigating risks.

Getting (re)started

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

— Maria Robinson

Preferred methods Of communicating with the media

Effective communication with the media is crucial for businesses and organizations.

Many businesses struggle with this task, but 10 members of Forbes Communications Council, including myself, share preferred methods of communicating with the media and why these strategies are important for successful media relations.

The Expert Panel, '10 Comms Pros’ Preferred Methods Of Communicating With The Media', is one Forbes.com here.

Guidelines for convincing sales content

Establishing an emotional connection is crucial to creating engaging sales content. Personalization is key, so research is necessary to address pain points or share testimonials. In this expert panel I share one of my effective strategies for creating engaging content for sales teams.

THe post, '13 Guidelines For Convincing (And Never Generic) Sales Content' is avaiable on Forbes.com here.

The vital role of team managers in harnessing the power of Microsoft 365

In today's fast-paced digital era, effective collaboration and streamlined workflows are vital to achieving success in any organisation.

As businesses increasingly rely on technology to drive productivity and innovation, team managers play a pivotal role in harnessing the power of software tools to foster a culture of excellence, support their team members, and deliver high-quality work.

Among the myriad productivity suites available, Microsoft 365, the default platform for Office applications for many organisations, is a comprehensive solution that empowers managers to lead their teams to new heights.

It has become even more important for team managers to know how to use the Microsoft 365 software suite well and execute work with the highest quality, with a focus on corporate culture and their team members.

Ensuring Quality Work Delivery

The pursuit of quality work should be a cornerstone of any successful organisation. Microsoft 365 provides an array of tools that can enhance the quality of deliverables. Previously this may have meant of focus on professional documents in Word or PowerPoint. However, today's tools like Power Automate, Flow, and Power BI can help make processes efficient and automated with transparent reporting to both leadership and teams. By mastering these tools, team managers can set high standards, guide their team members in producing polished outputs, and ensure the high quality of work delivered to clients, stakeholders, and colleagues.

Cultivating a Culture of Collaboration

Effective collaboration lies at the heart of a successful team. Microsoft 365 offers tools like Outlook, Teams, OneNote, SharePoint, and Yammer, enabling seamless communication, document sharing, and project management. By becoming proficient in these tools, team managers can create a collaborative culture where information flows freely, ideas are easy to share, and the team harnesses collective intelligence. This approach to collaboration fosters innovation, boosts creativity, and enhances problem-solving capabilities within the team.

Promoting Seamless Communication and Connectivity

Clear and effective communication is vital for a team's success. Microsoft 365 equips team managers with communication tools such as Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. These tools enable real-time messaging, video conferencing, email integration, and the managed sharing of information, fostering seamless communication among team members, regardless of location. By leveraging these tools proficiently, managers can ensure everyone is on the same page, address concerns promptly, and build strong relationships within the team.

Streamlining Workflows for Efficiency

Delivering work efficiently and on time is a hallmark of successful teams. Microsoft 365 offers many tools that streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance productivity. For instance, traditional tools like Excel help managers analyse data, make informed decisions, and track progress. Other apps like Planner or Project enable efficient project planning and resource allocation. By mastering these tools, team managers can optimise processes, identify bottlenecks, and allocate resources effectively, improving work efficiency and timely deliverables.

Empowering and Supporting Team Members

A team manager's role extends beyond assigning tasks and monitoring progress. Ensuring your team members are trained and confident to use the powerful new parts of Microsoft 365 supports efficiency, process, reporting, and quality gains in day-to-day work. Powerful tools like Power Automate, Flow, Planner, Power BI, and Microsoft Forms can help to remove the drudgery of repeated manual process work. By utilising these tools effectively, managers can work with team members to provide personalised support, mentorship and identify growth opportunities. This approach to empowering and supporting your team members, in turn, enhances employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention.

Conclusion

As technology evolves, team managers must adapt and embrace the tools to drive collaboration, support their team members, and deliver high-quality work. Microsoft 365 offers an all-encompassing software suite that empowers managers to cultivate a culture of cooperation and partnership, execute work excellently, and respect and support team members.

By becoming proficient in the complete Microsoft 365 suite, team managers can unlock the full potential of their teams, foster innovation, and drive success in today's digital landscape.

Tips to improve your email list

A well-managed email list can convert at a multiple that greatly exceeds other mediums. That's why managing your list well and providing valuable content to list members is essential. The most recent expert panel from the Forbes Communications Council has 11 tips to improve your email list, and my advice on relevant content is at number 11.

You can read the article at Forbes here: 11 Tips To Improve Your Email List And Get The 'Right' People.

Writing effective communications plans for the holiday period

Approaching year-end many of us are focused on the upcoming holiday period for our audiences and communities. This period is a time when many like to rejoice and relax. Executing your communications plan is an essential part of the strategy to serve our customers and community.

I am pleased to have been selected to participate in another expert panel, this one discussing 13 tips to write an effective communications plan for holiday marketing. You can read this online at Forbes.

Smart ways to leverage user-generated content

User-generated content such as customer reviews, comments, and other feedback is an important resource that can positively impact your SEO and conversion rates.

Featuring and re-using this user-generated content across multiple channels can help your audiences solve their problems and bring more brand awareness.

I was selected to participate in an expert panel discussing 11 Smart Ways Marketers Can Leverage User-Generated Content. You can read this online at Forbes.

Communications strategies creators can use to market their brand

Marketers and creators use different strategies to reach our target audiences to market our brands. 

As a member of the Forbes Communications Council, I was invited to contribute to the most recent Forbes Communications Council Expert Panel on communications strategy. Along with fellow industry leaders, I discuss how important emotion in our storytelling can be to expand our audiences and increase brand awareness.

Some of my colleagues discuss behind-the-scenes stories, influencers, and brand ambassadors. It’s a good read, and the article is online here: 12 Communications Strategies Creators Can Use To Market Their Brand

Revolutionising how CMOs conduct campaigns

I am delighted to share my latest contribution to @Forbes Communications Council. In recent years, I’ve witnessed the uptake of AI and ML in almost all aspects of our everyday lives. However, marketing has thus far been slow to the uptake due to the supposed threat it poses to the creative process.

In my article, I explore how these technologies have the potential to transform the way we as communications professionals operate; they offer customers bespoke kinds of experiences across different channels, provide vital insights into business, and facilitate creativity. AI needs to be viewed as a peer to marketers, not a threat.

Read the full article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2022/09/21/ai-and-ml-have-the-potential-to-revolutionize-how-cmos-conduct-campaigns/?sh=17b3f25b1800