How to use AI for your marketing: A complete guide

Marketing can feel like a lot. There’s writing content, designing visuals, making sure everything sounds right, looks good, and actually connects with people. It’s a full-time job (or several). But lately, there are tools out there that can help you do it faster, and sometimes better if you’re not especially creative minded, without needing a big team or heaps of time. 

These tools are powered by artificial intelligence, but don’t let that term throw you off. You don’t need to be techy to use them. They’re just tools that help you write, design, and build smarter.  But what tools are good, and which ones should you skip over? How do you use them? And what should you be keeping in mind when creating AI content? We’re answering all of this and more, so get your notebooks ready and let’s get started! 

Which AI tools are actually helpful? 

With so many tools available, it’s a bit tricky to know where to start. Whilst new AI tools are constantly appearing, we’ve put together a few that are working right now: 

For writing and content ideas

ChatGPT and Claude:  

You just give them a prompt like “write a short email about our summer sale”, and they give you a draft. It’s super helpful for getting past writer’s block or coming up with ideas fast. 

Jasper and Content at Scale:  

These are more focused on marketing, and are good for writing blog posts, landing pages, and SEO content. You still need to tweak the output, but they give you a pretty strong starting point.  

For audio and voice

11 Labs 

You can turn written text into natural-sounding voiceovers, very handy for videos or product explainers. 

crisp.ai 

Cleans up background noise in recordings which is a lifesaver for podcasts or video calls when the sound isn’t great. 

For building websites 

Webflow 

This lets you build websites without needing to wrap your noggin around code. It has design tools baked in, so it’s good for landing pages, portfolios, or full sites. 

How you can use AI in real marketing work 

Now you know what marketing tools are worth your time, here’s how can you actually use them to improve your marketing! 

Writing content faster 

Need a blog post? Use ChatGPT to get a rough draft, then edit it in your voice. Stuck on a social caption? Ask it to give you five options. It’s not perfect, but it’s way faster than starting from scratch if you’re struggling with writer’s block. You can even copy your own social media posts that have worked well into ChatGPT and tell it to write in your style. 

Improving your audio 

Got a video with bad sound? Tools like crisp.ai can clean it up in seconds. If you need a voiceover but don’t want to record one, 11 Labs can generate a voice for you based on your script. 

Making content more personal 

Some tools can help you tweak emails or landing pages for different types of customers. For example, you might write one version for first-time visitors and another for repeat buyers. AI can help you quickly generate and test these versions. 

Getting started without getting overwhelmed 

If you’re new to AI, it can be easy to get completely lost in the sheer amount of information and tools out there. Here’s the best way to ease into it: 

  • Pick one task you want help with like writing, imagery, or cleaning up audio. 
  • Try one tool. ChatGPT is a good place to start if you write a lot. If you’re more visual, test Ideogram or DALL·E. 
  • Don’t aim for perfect. Use the tools to get a head start, then shape the output into something that fits your brand. 
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment. Some tools work better for certain industries or styles. Try a few, see what clicks. 

What are the pros and cons of using AI? 

Why it’s worth using 

  • It saves time. A task that used to take hours might take 20 minutes. 
  • You’ll get new ideas. These tools are great for sparking creativity when you’re stuck. 
  • You can do more with less. Even solo marketers can produce high-quality work.

But keep in mind… 

  • You still need a human touch. AI tools don’t really understand your tone, your audience, or your brand, so they need plenty of guidance. 
  • Not every tool is right for every job. Some images might look weird. Some writing might feel off. It’s okay, just treat the results like a first draft. 
  • Costs can add up. Many tools start free but charge for heavy use or extra features. 

Final thoughts 

If you’re doing everything manually right now, give one of these tools a shot. Not because “AI is the future,” but because these are just smarter ways to get work done. You can write faster, design quicker, and stay focused on the creative parts of marketing that actually need your voice. 

 

Need help fine tuning your brand so you can market it better? Come have a friendly chat with our team and let’s see how we can work together! 

Branding clarifies your message and makes it go further

Nowadays, markets are crowded, competition is fierce, and customers are bombarded with messages from pretty much every direction. Every business is trying to get attention, win trust, and stand out, and most are doing it by shouting into the void. The thing is, shouting louder doesn’t help if your message isn’t clear. 

So how do you stand out and actually connect? Well, in our opinion you’ve gotta get clear. And clarity starts with branding, not just a logo or tagline, but a strategy that shapes everything from how you sound to how your team behaves. When your brand is well-defined, your messaging becomes sharper, your marketing gets easier, and your business moves with purpose. 

Strong branding and a clear message give you a foundation that supports growth, guides decisions, and makes every word you put out into the world work that much harder. But how can you achieve this?  

It starts with clarity at the core 

Before you can communicate anything well, you have to actually know what you stand for. That means being clear on your vision, mission, values, and purpose, not just as some corporate jargon, but as useful, working tools. When those things are nailed down, suddenly everything starts to make sense. Decisions get easier, messaging feels much more focused, and you’re not just making things up as you go. 

Your marketing gets easier 

If you’re trying to write an email or a social post and your brain is just stalling, the chances are that your branding isn’t clear enough yet. A well-defined brand is basically a cheat sheet. You know your tone, you know who you’re talking to, and you know what they care about. So instead of second-guessing everything, you can just get on with it. 

Even better, when your brand values are clear, they start to shape more than just marketing, they shape your team. Some businesses even recruit based on brand fit. It means everyone’s rowing in the same direction, which makes communicating with the outside world way easier. 

A rebrand can be a total reset 

Rebrands often get written off as being purely cosmetic. For example, change the logo, tweak the colours, and call it a day. But the good rebrands go much deeper than that. They give you the chance to rethink who you are, how you work, and how you show up in the world. 

If your business is shifting (maybe you’re growing, entering a new market, or shedding an old reputation) a brand refresh can help you realign everything, both internally and externally. And sometimes, it’s a chance to clean house and build something stronger. New brand, new mindset, new momentum. 

Scaling without losing the plot 

It’s easy to stay aligned when your team is five people sitting around the same table. But as you grow, things can get a tad more chaotic. Without a clear brand strategy, departments start doing their own thing, which means messaging gets inconsistent and culture starts to drift. 

Branding solves that. When your brand is documented everyone has clear guidelines and know what they’re working towards. Your sales team, your customer service team, your hiring team; they all know what you’re about and how to show up. It brings consistency without having to micromanage everything. And that’s what makes scaling actually doable. 

If you don’t stand out, you blend in 

Most businesses sound pretty similar. In fact, with some brands you could swap their names out and no one would notice. Branding forces you to dig deeper. What actually makes you different? What do you really believe in? What’s your personality, your edge? 

When you figure that out and commit to it, your messaging stops feeling generic and starts feeling memorable. People can finally tell why you’re the right choice, not just a choice. 

Simple, clear, consistent wins the day 

We’re all drowning in content. Everywhere we look now, there’s stuff to consume. That means if your message is long-winded, complicated, or all over the place, chances are no one is going to take the time to read it. 

Branding works much better when you keep your messaging simple. When you know your core message, you don’t need to over-explain. You can say less but say it better. People remember businesses that feel clear and confident. Not the ones trying to be everything to everyone. A strong brand brings it all together (voice, visuals, values) so that every time someone comes across your business, they get the same feeling: this makes sense. 

Keep It fresh 

One last thing, branding isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. Your business evolves, so should your brand. We recommend take time once a year to check in. Are your values still aligned with how you operate? Has your audience shifted? Are your visuals and tone still working for you? It’s unlikely you’ll need a full rebrand, but it’s a great opportunity to make sure your brand is still working and connecting with the right audience.  

Final thoughts 

Branding isn’t just about looking polished. It’s also about being understood. If your messaging feels messy or your marketing feels like a grind, it might be time to go back to the foundation. That’s exactly what we help with at BeSmart! We work with businesses to help them tell that story clearly, confidently, and consistently.  

 

If you’re ready to bring some clarity (and a little spark) back into your brand, let’s talk.