Tag Archive for: digital marketing

Why Customer Experience Is the New Marketing Strategy

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In today’s saturated market, traditional marketing methods are no longer enough to capture and retain customer attention. Modern consumers expect more than catchy slogans or one-size-fits-all campaigns—they crave personalized, seamless, and memorable experiences across every touchpoint. That’s why forward-thinking brands are shifting their focus from messaging to experience. In other words: customer experience (CX) has become the new marketing strategy.

Consumers today are more empowered than ever. With instant access to information, reviews, and competitive options, they expect brands to understand their needs and anticipate their preferences. A disconnected or generic interaction can quickly send them elsewhere. As a result, companies must think beyond individual campaigns and consider how every interaction contributes to the overall brand perception.

This shift requires a strategic mindset—one that integrates marketing, technology, service, and operations into a cohesive experience. At Stevens & Tate, this holistic approach is central to building marketing strategies that don’t just attract attention, but sustain engagement and loyalty over time.

From Product to Experience

Not long ago, marketing was primarily about showcasing product features and outshouting the competition. But as Oracle explains, customer experience encompasses every interaction a consumer has with a brand—before, during, and after a purchase. It’s not just about making a sale; it’s about creating value at every step of the journey. (Oracle, What is CX?)

Today, that journey is rarely linear. Customers may discover a brand through social media, research on a mobile device, compare options online, and complete a purchase in-store—or vice versa. Each touchpoint shapes expectations and influences decision-making. Brands that focus solely on product messaging risk overlooking the broader journey that ultimately determines loyalty.

This shift is especially critical in industries where competitors offer similar products or services. In such cases, CX becomes a key differentiator. A faster checkout process, a helpful chatbot, or a personalized follow-up email can be the reason a customer returns—or walks away.

Beyond convenience, emotional resonance plays a powerful role. Customers remember how easy an experience felt, how quickly their concerns were addressed, and whether a brand demonstrated genuine understanding. Stevens & Tate works with brands to align creative storytelling with operational excellence—ensuring that the promise made in marketing is consistently delivered in practice.

When experience becomes the priority, marketing evolves from a promotional function into a relationship-building engine.

Why CX Drives Growth

Customer experience isn’t just about delight—it’s about driving measurable business results. According to the Forbes Communications Council, brands that embed CX into their marketing strategies see improved customer loyalty, increased retention, and stronger word-of-mouth. With customer acquisition costs rising, those outcomes are more important than ever.

A seamless experience reduces friction, shortens sales cycles, and increases conversion rates. It encourages repeat purchases and strengthens brand trust. Over time, these improvements compound—resulting in stronger lifetime value and more predictable revenue streams.

In fact, satisfied customers are 5x more likely to repurchase and 4x more likely to refer a friend. A well-crafted experience not only retains customers but also turns them into advocates, amplifying your marketing efforts organically.

Retention has become one of the most valuable growth drivers in modern marketing. Acquiring new customers requires significant investment, but nurturing existing relationships delivers sustained returns. By embedding CX into strategy and execution, agencies like Stevens & Tate help brands connect performance metrics directly to customer satisfaction and loyalty outcomes.

Strong CX also builds resilience. In competitive markets or uncertain economic conditions, brands that consistently deliver value and reliability maintain customer trust—an asset that cannot be easily replicated by competitors.

Integrating CX Into Your Marketing Strategy

To effectively make CX the backbone of your marketing, consider the following steps:

  • Map the Customer Journey: Understand your audience’s experience from the first touchpoint to post-purchase interactions. Identify pain points and opportunities to improve.
  • Use Data to Personalize: Leverage customer data to tailor messages, content, and offers. Personalization creates relevance, and relevance builds trust.
  • Break Down Silos: Align marketing with customer service, sales, and operations. A seamless experience requires internal collaboration.
  • Listen and Adapt: Use customer feedback to refine messaging and improve products or services. CX is not static—it evolves with expectations.

By combining strategy, creativity, and data-driven insights, Stevens & Tate helps organizations transform CX from an abstract concept into a measurable, scalable growth framework.

Read More: How to Create Cohesive Customer Jouneys 

CX Is the Future of Marketing

Customer experience isn’t a buzzword or a trend—it’s a strategic imperative. As brands strive to stay relevant and competitive, those that prioritize CX will be the ones that thrive. In a world where consumers have endless choices, the experience you deliver might just be your most powerful marketing asset.

As expectations continue to rise, the brands that succeed will be those that treat every interaction as an opportunity to build trust. Experience-led marketing fosters deeper relationships, stronger advocacy, and sustainable growth.

Ultimately, marketing is no longer just about communicating value—it’s about consistently delivering it. When CX becomes central to strategy, organizations move beyond transactional thinking and toward long-term relationship building. With the right expertise and integrated approach, brands can turn customer experience into their most meaningful competitive advantage.

Read More: How to Create A Seamless, Omnichannel CX 

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Using HubSpot Lead Flows To Improve Conversion Rates

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There’s a common misconception in some businesses that pop-ups are always a bad idea.  It’s true that pop-up ads can be annoying, especially if they are disrupting the visitor’s website experience. However, they can also be very effective if you know how to implement them properly. For example, you’ll want to refrain from having pop-ups on every page of your site as this will probably annoy your visitors.

However, a strategically placed pop-up can actually make it easier to convert your leads. In fact, a recent study showed that pop-ups convert 1375 percent better than traditional opt-in forms. If you do decide to use pop-ups in an attempt to convert leads, be sure to use HubSpot’s Lead Flow feature.

What Is Lead Flow?

Lead Flows are HubSpot’s version of pop-up ads. Lead Flows can be accessed in both free and premium versions of HubSpot. They allow you to create custom pop-ups that will help you to engage visitors, increase web leads, and reconvert returning visitors. Not to mention that through the use of Lead Flows, you’ll also be able to collect contact insights and analytics. This makes it easier to nurture the leads that you’ve captured.

What Types Of Lead Flows Are There?

There is more than one type of pop-up. Lead Flows offers a variety of different types that you can customize to fit your needs. This includes the following:

  • Traditional Pop-Up Boxes – Traditional pop-ups are the best way to immediately get the attention of your visitors and are a good way to promote new content offers, grow your email list, highlight specific pieces of content on your site, and to promote your social presence.
  • Drop-Down Banners – Drop-down banners appear as thin, full-width bars near the top of your page. Although direct, they aren’t as disruptive as pop-up ads. They’re great for sales and special offers, growing your blog subscribers list, and promoting upcoming events or webinars.
  • Side-In-Boxes – Side-in boxes are ads that slide in at the bottom left or right side of your page. They’re more subtle than other types of Lead Flows and are effective for promoting content offers or growing your blog subscribers list.

What Are The Benefits Of Using HubSpot Marketing Automation Tools?

What Are The Lead Flow Triggers?

Instead of just having ads pop-up on every page, you can trigger your Lead Flows to appear based on certain actions that the visitor takes. This allows you to pinpoint what actions are more likely to result in a conversion. Thereby, allowing you to strategically present the visitor with a Lead Flow at an appropriate time. The following are the three types of triggers that you can set for your Lead Flows:website redesign process

  • Browser Exit Trigger – You can trigger the execution of a pop-up Lead Flow when a visitor exits their browser window. This gives you a last chance to capture leads who haven’t converted as they leave your site.
  • Elapsed Time Trigger – You can also set certain Lead Flows to trigger based on how much time the visitor has been on a certain page. The minimum amount of time you can set a Lead Flow trigger to is seven seconds.
  • 50 Percent Page Scroll – Last of all, you can trigger your Lead Flows when a visitor has scrolled past the halfway mark of a page (which shows that they are interested in the content of that page and are more likely to convert as a result).

There are plenty of other customization options available. For example, while pop-ups may be effective for website visitors, they may hurt the experience of mobile users. As a result, you can disable your Lead Flows for mobile visitors. By using HubSpot’s Lead Flows, you’ll also be able to track the leads who have filled out your Lead Flows. This makes it easy to follow up and to develop your strategy to ensure that your leads are being nurtured.

Contrary to popular belief, pop-ups can be effective if they are used appropriately and strategically. The best way to leverage pop-ups is through the use of HubSpot’s Lead Flows feature, which provides a variety of customization options to ensure that you can reach your leads without disrupting their website experience.

Inbound marketing will help you grow your business by attracting website visitors, converting them into leads and closing leads into customers
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Social Media Solutions: Understanding The Importance of Social Media Engagement vs. Following

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Social media has become one of the most important marketing platforms over the past decade or so. This is because there are hundreds of different social channels out there, all of which cater to different demographics. If you can find the right social platform, you will find it much easier to find and target niche audiences. However, one of the common mistakes businesses make is focusing too much on expanding their followers instead of engaging with the followers that they already have.

Why You Should Focus On Engagement

Social media allows you to connect directly with your audience. That said, spending your time developing relationships with your audience is much more important than increasing your brand awareness. There’s a temptation to try and get the most followers as possible, especially if you’re competing with similar businesses who are doing the same thing. This, however, will simply turn your marketing efforts into a popularity contest.

By spending your time engaging with your current followers instead of chasing the followers you don’t have, you’ll find that your efforts will have a more lasting impact. By building your relationship with your followers, you will eventually build trust and brand loyalty. This can translate to repeat sales from the same followers. Additionally, once you’ve built relationships with these followers, they will turn into brand ambassadors. They will engage with your content by sharing, liking, and commenting on it, thereby exposing followers in their personal social circles to your brand.

5 Ways To Optimize Your Social Media

How to Improve Your Engagement

By focusing on engagement, your followers will help you get more followers. The following are a few Social Media solutions to help you improve engagement with the followers you have:

  • Post content on a regular basis – Use your social channels to post links to your newest blog posts. When followers share your content, it will be seen by more people. The engagement level of your content can also give you a good idea of what types of content resonates with your audience. This allows you to adjust your content strategy so that your content is more relevant to your specific audience.social media
  • Incite conversation – When posting content, ask a relevant question to what you’ve posted in order to encourage your followers to comment on it. You can also simply spark a conversation by asking general questions on your social pages. Twitter is a particularly effective channel for this strategy.
  • Always respond – If your followers take the time to post a comment, take the time to respond. Whether their comment was positive, negative, or simply just a response to something you posted, answer them. This shows them that you are actively engaged and that the conversation isn’t one-sided. Be sure to respond to negative comments as well instead of simply deleting them (unless they are purposefully inflammatory). Your followers will appreciate your efforts to deal with negative experiences in a friendly and professional manner. In this way, social media can be quite effective as a PR tool.
  • Hold contests – Social media contests are a great way to engage followers. You could do something simple like hold sweepstakes in which only followers can enter, or you can hold a contest that’s a bit more involved. For example, you could hold a photography contest on Instagram. You can even have the winner voted on by the followers themselves.

How To Use Social Media To Drive B2B Sales

Social Media Solutions = More Followers

Social media solutions that improve engagement will eventually help you to increase your followers as well. Be sure to use these social media solutions to help improve engagement with followers on social media. 

social media marketing
unique media platforms

Unique Media Platforms to Consider Heading Into 2026

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We were looking for a digital billboard solution for a client but wanted something fresh that could stretch every penny of the budget. While scrolling through Instagram, I came across Caasie—a platform that lets you manage your own digital billboard placements. It felt like the kind of nimble, alternative media solution that more brands should know about. And it’s not the only one.

As competition grows and audiences fragment across channels, marketers in 2026 need to think beyond traditional media buys. Innovative, cost-efficient platforms are emerging that allow brands to reach audiences in smarter and more creative ways.

Why Explore Alternative Media Platforms?

Traditional channels like TV, radio, and even mainstream social media remain valuable, but competition and rising costs mean that smaller, more innovative platforms often offer better ROI. These platforms also empower brands with flexibility, self-serve tools, and hyper-local targeting options that weren’t possible just a few years ago.

Examples of Emerging Media Platforms

1. Self-Serve Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) Advertising

Platforms like Caasie make billboard and digital signage advertising more accessible. Instead of negotiating through agencies or paying for lengthy campaigns, businesses can now log in, upload creative, and manage placements in real time—similar to buying digital ads. For B2B and B2C brands alike, this creates opportunities to make hyper-local connections at a fraction of the cost of traditional OOH campaigns.

2. Retail Media Networks

Retail media is booming, and by 2026, it’s expected to grow even more. From Amazon to Walmart to niche grocery chains, retailers are turning their digital real estate into ad networks. These platforms allow brands to place targeted ads directly where purchase decisions happen, offering both visibility and measurable conversion impact.

3. Audio Streaming & Podcast Marketplaces

With more people consuming on-demand audio, podcast marketplaces and self-serve ad platforms like Spotify Ad Studio or Acast Marketplace are growing in influence. They enable brands of all sizes to buy audio spots and even dynamically insert ads based on listener demographics or interests. For brands seeking engagement, audio provides a trusted, intimate channel.

4. In-App & Niche Community Advertising

Beyond Meta and Google, platforms are emerging that allow brands to connect directly with smaller, highly engaged communities. Think in-app ads in fitness, parenting, or even professional networking platforms. These offer less clutter and more authenticity compared to crowded mainstream social feeds.

5. Connected TV (CTV) and Programmatic Video

While not entirely new, CTV continues to expand as cord-cutting accelerates. Programmatic tools are now making it easier for smaller advertisers to access premium inventory once reserved for large brands. Heading into 2026, expect continued growth in shoppable video ads, interactive CTV formats, and niche streaming networks.

How Brands Can Prepare

  • Test Early & Often: Pilot campaigns on smaller platforms to see what resonates.
  • Leverage Self-Serve Tools: Take advantage of automation and control that these platforms provide.
  • Integrate With Broader Strategy: Don’t treat alternative platforms as side experiments—connect them with your brand storytelling and performance metrics.

Learn More About:

The Future of Paid Media Advertising: AI, Automation, and Means for You

The future of media isn’t just big networks and mass audiences. It’s nimble, hyper-targeted platforms that empower brands to connect with consumers on their terms. By exploring these unique opportunities now, marketers can stay ahead of competitors and unlock new ways to drive growth in 2026 and beyond.

 

Explore Platforms Mentioned:

Ready to rethink your media strategy? Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you leverage new platforms to maximize ROI.

The Impact of Digital Marketing Automation on Senior Living Communities

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In the ever-evolving landscape of senior living, employing robust marketing strategies, including the use of marketing automation, is vital for standing out in a crowded marketplace. Therefore, it is crucial for operators to understand and integrate these technologies. This article will explore how automation and specific digital marketing strategies can optimize outreach and resident acquisition efforts.

two elderly women talking and smiling

The Role of Automation in Senior Living Marketing

Modern marketing automation provides a variety of tools designed to enhance efficiency and efficacy in reaching potential clients. Below are key areas where automation is proving indispensable in marketing for senior living:

  • Email Marketing Campaigns: Automated email campaigns are a cornerstone of effective marketing for senior living. By using automation tools, facilities can send timely, relevant information tailored to the interests and needs of potential residents and their families. This could include updates about facility amenities, testimonials from current residents, or invitations to virtual tours and events. These campaigns help build a rapport by providing consistent, valuable content that assists families in making informed decisions about senior care options.
  • Lead Management: The use of automation software in lead management allows senior living communities to capture and store detailed information about each prospect, from initial inquiry through to move-in. Automated systems can trigger follow-up tasks and send personalized emails based on prospect interactions. They can also score leads based on engagement, greatly increasing the efficiency of the sales process. This ensures that the community responds promptly and appropriately to each prospect, which is crucial for converting inquiries into residencies.
  • Social Media Management: Social media is an invaluable tool for building community and engaging with potential residents and their families. Automation tools can schedule consistent content postings across various platforms like Facebook and Instagram. This ensures a steady stream of engaging material that highlights community events, resident stories, and useful information about living options. Additionally, these tools provide analytics that measure engagement rates. This enables communities to adjust their content strategy to better meet the needs and interests of their audience.

Integrating Advanced Digital Marketing Tactics

To further refine your marketing strategy, incorporating advanced digital marketing tactics for senior living communities can be a game-changer. These include:

  • Targeted Ads: Targeted advertising employs sophisticated algorithms to display ads to specific demographics by analyzing their online behaviors and preferences. This approach ensures that marketing for senior living reaches those most likely to be interested in such services. For example, ads can be shown to adults searching for comfortable retirement options or those seeking amenities such as on-site medical care, thereby increasing the likelihood of capturing relevant leads.
  • Content Marketing: Content marketing involves creating and disseminating articles, blogs, and videos that directly address the queries and challenges potential residents or their families may face when considering senior living options. This strategy not only informs them but also establishes the facility’s authority in the senior living sector. Effective content marketing can boost engagement by providing valuable insights and solutions, fostering trust between the community and prospective residents.
  • SEO Strategies: Implementing SEO strategies enhances a website’s visibility on search engines like Google. This makes it easier for potential clients to find the website when they search for senior living options. This involves optimizing site structure, improving meta descriptions, and using relevant keywords throughout web content. An effectively optimized website attracts more organic traffic, which can lead to increased inquiries and higher occupancy rates for senior living facilities.

digital marketing globe surrounded by icons

Crafting a Comprehensive Senior Living Marketing Plan

An effective senior living marketing plan is well-rounded and adaptive. Key components should include:

  • Market Research: Market research is critical in grasping the dynamics of the local market and identifying the specific preferences and needs of your target audience. This research can include demographic studies to understand age distributions and economic factors. It can also include surveys to gauge service expectations. Additionally, research can include focus groups to test market reactions to potential new services or facilities.
  • Competitive Analysis: Competitive analysis involves examining the strengths and weaknesses of competitors within the market to discover what they excel at and what gaps they leave open. This analysis helps your community identify unique selling propositions (USPs) that can differentiate your services from others. Whether it’s superior medical care, better amenities, or more inclusive community activities, understanding these elements can strategically position your facility in the market.
  • Budgeting: Effective budgeting entails the strategic allocation of financial resources across various marketing channels to ensure the highest return on investment (ROI). This process involves prioritizing spending on high-impact marketing efforts, such as digital advertising and event marketing, and scaling back on less effective initiatives. Proper budget management ensures that every dollar spent contributes to achieving broader marketing objectives and financial stability.

Prioritizing Website Effectiveness

Your website serves as the central hub for your marketing efforts. Implementing essential website updates for senior living communities is critical for maintaining an edge. Updates to consider include:

  • User Experience: Ensuring the site is easy to navigate and accessible, particularly for older adults or their caretakers who are not as tech-savvy.
  • Mobile Optimization: With an increasing number of users accessing information via smartphones, a mobile-friendly design is indispensable.
  • Content Refresh: Regular updates to blog posts, FAQs, and other resources to keep content relevant and engaging.

Taking the Next Step in Marketing for Senior Living

By integrating marketing automation tools, senior living facilities can not only streamline their marketing operations. They can also create more personalized, meaningful interactions with potential residents. These strategies ensure that your community remains competitive and appealing to those seeking a new home for themselves or their loved ones.

To explore how these strategies can be tailored to benefit your community, Contact Us for a free consultation.

The Power of Storytelling in Real Estate Lead Generation

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In the competitive world of real estate, standing out from the crowd is essential. While traditional marketing tactics like listing photos and open houses are still important, real estate lead generation is increasingly driven by the power of storytelling. By crafting compelling narratives around your listings, testimonials, and brand, you can engage potential clients on a deeper emotional level, build trust, and ultimately drive more conversions.

Why Storytelling Matters in Real Estate

Storytelling is not just about selling a property; it’s about selling a lifestyle, a dream, and an emotional connection. When potential buyers or sellers can envision themselves in the story you’re telling, they’re more likely to take action. According to a study by Virtuance, listings that incorporate storytelling elements see a 20% increase in engagement compared to those that rely solely on facts and figures.

But storytelling isn’t just about engagement—it’s also about differentiation. In a market saturated with listings, a well-told story can make your property or brand memorable. Think about it: when a buyer is scrolling through dozens of listings, the one that tells a story about a family enjoying their first holiday in a new home is far more likely to stick in their mind than a listing that simply states “3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.”

Read more about: 5 Brand Storytelling Examples To Learn From

Crafting Compelling Narratives for Listings

When it comes to real estate lead generation, your listings are your first opportunity to tell a story. Instead of simply listing the features of a property, focus on how those features can enhance the buyer’s life. Here are some tips for crafting compelling narratives:

Highlight the Lifestyle

real-estate marketing

Instead of saying “3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home,” try “A cozy family home with a spacious backyard perfect for weekend barbecues and a bright, sunlit kitchen where you can enjoy your morning coffee.” Paint a picture of the life the buyer could lead in this home.

Use Real Estate Testimonials

Share stories from previous clients who found their dream home through your services. Testimonials add credibility and help potential clients see themselves in a similar success story. For example, “The Smith family was able to find their forever home in just three weeks thanks to our personalized approach.”

Focus on Emotions

Buyers often make decisions based on emotions rather than logic. Use descriptive language to evoke feelings of comfort, excitement, or nostalgia. For example, “Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping in your private backyard oasis.”

Leveraging Digital Platforms and Social Media

In today’s digital age, real estate lead generation is heavily influenced by online presence. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn offer unique opportunities to tell your brand’s story and engage with potential clients.

Real Estate Social Media Stories

Use Instagram Stories or Facebook Live to give virtual tours of properties, share behind-the-scenes content, or highlight client success stories. These platforms allow you to connect with your audience in real-time and create a sense of urgency. For example, a Facebook Live tour of a new listing can generate immediate interest and inquiries.

 

Read more about: Mastering the Art of Integrated Digital and Social Media Marketing

Content Creation

Regularly publish blog posts, videos, and infographics that provide value to your audience. For example, a blog post titled “5 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers” not only positions you as an expert but also keeps your audience engaged with your brand. You can also create video content, such as “A Day in the Life of a Real Estate Agent,” to humanize your brand and build trust.

Engage with Your Audience

Don’t just post content—engage with your followers. Respond to comments, answer questions, and participate in conversations. This builds a sense of community and makes your audience feel valued.

lead generation tips

Strategic Content Creation Tips

To maximize your real estate lead generation efforts, your content should be both informative and emotionally engaging. Here are some tips:

Use Visuals

Incorporate high-quality images and videos into your content. Visual storytelling is incredibly powerful and can help potential buyers visualize themselves in the property. For example, a video tour of a home with soft background music and a voiceover describing the lifestyle the home offers can be far more compelling than static images.

Incorporate Data

While storytelling is important, don’t forget to back up your narratives with data. For example, you could reference Resimpli’s blog on 80 Real Estate Lead Generation Statistics to add credibility to your content. Data can help reinforce the emotional appeal of your story with hard facts.

Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

Always include a clear CTA in your content. Whether it’s encouraging readers to schedule a consultation, download a guide, or follow you on social media, a strong CTA can help convert leads into clients. For example, at the end of a blog post, you could include a CTA like “Ready to find your dream home? Contact us today to schedule a consultation!”

The Role of Storytelling in Brands

Your brand is more than just your logo or tagline—it’s the story you tell about who you are and what you stand for. In real estate, your brand story can set you apart from the competition and attract the right clients.

Define Your Brand Story

What makes your real estate agency unique? Is it your personalized approach, your deep knowledge of the local market, or your commitment to client satisfaction? Define your brand story and weave it into all of your marketing materials.

Consistency is Key

Your brand story should be consistent across all platforms, from your website to your social media profiles to your email newsletters. Consistency helps reinforce your brand identity and makes it easier for potential clients to recognize and remember you.

Showcase Your Values

Use storytelling to showcase your values and what you stand for. For example, if community involvement is important to you, share stories about how you’ve contributed to local charities or organized neighborhood events.

Conclusion

In the world of real estate lead generation, storytelling is a powerful tool that can set you apart from the competition. By crafting compelling narratives, leveraging digital platforms, and building trust through strategic content creation, you can engage potential clients on a deeper level and drive more conversions. Remember, it’s not just about selling properties—it’s about selling dreams, lifestyles, and emotional connections.

The Future of Paid Media Advertising: AI, Automation, and Means for You

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In today’s fast-changing digital world, paid media advertising is transforming. Tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are helping businesses show ads to the right people at the right time, saving money and improving results. But even as technology advances, human creativity and oversight remain essential. Let’s break down how these tools work and why teamwork between humans and machines is key.

How AI Is Changing Paid Media Advertising

Predicting What Customers Want

AI can analyze past customer behavior to guess what people might buy next. Think of it like a weather forecast for shopping trends—it helps businesses prepare by focusing their ad budgets on what’s likely to work.

Paid Media Advertising

Personalized Advertising for Millions at Once

Imagine showing a dog food ad to dog owners and a travel ad to adventurers—all automatically. AI tools adjust ad text, images, and calls-to-action (like “Buy Now”) for different audiences in real time. This means a single paid media advertising campaign can feel personal to millions of people.

 

Read more about: Ways You Can Improve Your Email Personalization

Keeping Paid Media Advertising Safe and Honest

AI helps spot fake clicks and unsafe websites where ads might appear. This ensures ads are shown to real people in appropriate places, protecting both budgets and brand reputations.

Automation: Letting Machines Handle Repetitive Work

Buying Ads Without the Hassle

Automation handles the buying and placing of ads across websites, apps, and streaming services. Instead of negotiating manually, machines instantly find the best places to show ads based on your goals.

Managing Paid Media Advertising Across All Platforms

Tools now let businesses run ads on Google, social media, and other channels from one place. Automation adjusts budgets automatically—spending more on what’s working and less on what’s not.

Simplifying Reports

AI tools gather data from all your ad campaigns and summarize results in easy-to-read dashboards. This saves hours of manual work and helps teams focus on improving campaigns.

Working Together: AI and Human Creativity

While AI handles repetitive tasks and data crunching, humans bring irreplaceable skills:

  • Strategy: Setting goals (like brand awareness or sales) and ensuring ads align with a company’s values.
  • Creativity: Writing relatable ad copy, designing eye-catching visuals, and telling stories that connect emotionally.
  • Ethics: Checking that AI tools don’t accidentally reinforce stereotypes or ignore privacy rules.

For example, AI might generate 100 ad headlines in seconds, but humans choose the ones that sound authentic and match the brand’s voice. Similarly, AI can suggest where to place ads, but humans decide if those places align with the brand’s image.

Read more about: 10 AI Marketing Tools for Optimizing Your Marketing Strategy

What’s Next in Paid Ads?

Voice Search Ads

As more people use voice assistants like Alexa, ads will need to answer conversational questions (“Where’s the nearest coffee shop?”). AI helps optimize ads for these spoken queries.

Paid Media Advertising

Immersive Experiences

Augmented reality (AR) lets users “try” products digitally—like seeing how a sofa looks in their living room. These interactive ads blend the digital and physical worlds.

Eco-Friendly Paid Media Advertising

Businesses are increasingly using tools to track and reduce the environmental impact of their ads, such as energy used in online campaigns.

Challenges to Keep in Mind

  • Privacy: Laws now require businesses to be transparent about how they use customer data. Tools exist to help manage consent and stay compliant.
  • Training Teams: As AI becomes essential, companies need to train employees to use these tools effectively.
  • Fairness: Regularly checking that AI tools don’t favor or exclude certain groups unfairly.

Getting Ready for the Future of Paid Media Advertising

  1. Review your current tools to see if they support AI and automation.
  2. Train your team on basic AI advertising tools.
  3. Experiment with new ad formats, like interactive video or AR.

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Conclusion

The future of paid media advertising isn’t about replacing humans with machines—it’s about combining their strengths. AI handles speed, scale, and data analysis, while humans provide creativity, ethics, and strategic direction. By working together, businesses can create ads that are not only efficient but also meaningful and trustworthy.

FABTECH Chicago 2025

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WHO: FABTECH 2025 is North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding, and finishing event. It provides a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, see the latest industry products and developments, and find the tools to improve productivity, increase profits and discover new solutions to all of your metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing needs.

WHERE: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois

WHEN: September 8-11, 2025

DETAILS: FABTECH offers a variety of conference sessions and workshops led by industry experts, covering topics like technical, operational, economic, and managerial aspects of the industry. Visitors can also explore a wide range of products and services across various sectors, including forming and fabricating, 3D/additive manufacturing, robotics, and industrial automation.

Digital Strategies to Lead Generation & Drive Demand; 8:30 AM – 9:30 PM, Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Internet Marketing Director, Nicole Wagner, will be presenting Digital Strategies to Lead Generation & Drive Demand. Nicole will guide you on leveraging digital media, your website, and content development to build a strong online presence that attracts the right audience and converts them into valuable leads. It will delve into strategic planning for your marketing initiatives, focusing on creating a compelling web presence and developing targeted content that resonates with your ideal audience. Audience will leave with the tools to evaluate your existing marketing programs and implement inbound marketing strategies to drive growth and achieve the business goals.

 

Register for the event here.

Learn more about FabTech 2025 here.

Read about Dan Gartlan and Nicole Wagner, or book them for speaking here.

Book a free consultation with Stevens & Tate here.

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What’s Trending in Marketing for March 2025

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Welcome to our March 2025 edition of “What’s Trending,” where we bring you the most relevant marketing trends and insights. Stay informed and ahead of the game with our curated collection of marketing trends and reports in spring 2025.

Leveraging March Madness for Marketing Success

Basketball in a dunk

March Madness presents a unique opportunity for brands to engage audiences through creative social media campaigns and strategic partnerships. By aligning with the tournament’s excitement and using real-time content, brands can increase visibility, foster engagement, and drive customer loyalty. Highlighting the use of relevant hashtags, influencer collaborations, and interactive posts, this trend capitalizes on the cultural buzz of the season to boost brand presence.  Read more.

IKEA’s Creative Easter Campaign: The Flat-Pack Bunny

IKEA cleverly embraced its flat-pack furniture expertise to launch Vårkänsla, a 3D bunny complete with assembly instructions. This unique approach combined humor and creativity, resonating with Easter’s festive spirit while engaging consumers on social media and driving foot traffic to stores. The campaign’s unexpected twist on Easter marketing showcased how brands can break into unfamiliar categories with innovative, category-specific strategies.  Read more. 

X Introduces Grok AI Tools for Enhanced Ad Creation and Campaign Analysis

X has launched Grok, a suite of AI-powered tools designed to revolutionize ad creation and campaign analysis. By utilizing advanced AI, Grok aims to streamline the process for marketers, offering valuable insights into ad performance and simplifying creative workflows. This move positions X as a leader in integrating AI into digital marketing strategies. Read more. 

Improving Your Marketing Program 

Top 10 Inbound Marketing Strategies

Inbound marketingMastering inbound marketing requires a strategic approach to attract, engage, and convert customers. From SEO optimization and content creation to email marketing and influencer collaborations, each tactic plays a crucial role in driving organic growth. Leveraging interactive content, social media engagement, and continuous performance analysis ensures your marketing efforts remain effective. By implementing these ten strategies, businesses can build strong customer relationships and increase brand visibility. Read more.

Mastering Integrated Digital and Social Media Marketing

Digital and social media marketing are essential for brand success, offering unique opportunities for engagement and conversion. This article explores how to integrate both strategies effectively, covering content amplification, data-driven insights, and brand consistency. It also discusses leveraging social media for targeted ads, audience interaction, and diverse content formats, along with best practices for unified marketing efforts. Read more.

4 Tips to Leave Lasting Impressions on Customers

Making a lasting impression on customers goes beyond selling a service—it’s about creating meaningful interactions that keep them coming back. This article explores four key strategies to build strong customer relationships: personalizing interactions, staying in touch through various channels, adapting to different communication styles, and showing respect even in disagreements. By fostering trust and demonstrating authenticity, businesses can enhance customer loyalty and stand out in a competitive market. Read more. 

Recent Marketing Reports, Updates, and Trends

HubSpot Publishes The 2025 State of Marketing Report 

The 2025 State of Marketing Report by HubSpot focuses on how AI is transforming marketing strategies. Marketers are increasingly adopting agile strategies, targeting Millennial and Gen Z audiences, and leveraging short-form video and influencer collaborations for high ROI. AI is central, used for data analysis, workflow automation, and research, to enhance creativity and efficiency. The report provides insights and actionable tips on building value-driven campaigns, optimizing marketing workflows, and using AI to stay competitive in 2025. Read more. 

Adobe 2025 AI and Digital trends report

The Adobe 2025 AI and Digital Trends report highlights how businesses are increasingly embracing AI to personalize customer experiences and drive innovation. AI is moving beyond pilot projects, delivering measurable results in customer engagement, operational efficiency, and unified insights. By leveraging advanced data tools, companies can now unlock previously inaccessible insights, enabling deeper customer relationships and more streamlined operations. AI is set to reshape customer interactions, offering new opportunities for businesses in 2025. Read more. 

Supermetrics’ 2025 Marketing Data Report 

The 2025 Marketing Data Report reveals that marketing teams are handling significantly more data, with query volumes and returned data growing by over 200%. However, challenges persist, with many marketers lacking the time, tools, or data necessary for effective decision-making. The report highlights the rising importance of zero-party data, as marketers move away from third-party data, and the increasing reliance on advanced measurement methods like marketing mix modeling. ROI measurement remains difficult, with 41% of marketers struggling to measure marketing effectiveness across channels. Read more.

LeadingAge Michigan Annual Meeting & Expo 2025

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WHO: LeadingAge Michigan is a nonprofit organization and one of the largest and most respected associations of providers serving older adults in Michigan . LeadingAge strives to advocate for quality services, promote innovative practices, and foster collaboration. Additionally, LeadingAge aims to improve the lives of older citizens by maximizing the effectiveness of service providers. LeadingAge is a platform that enhances professional development and fosters community engagement. It’s an organization that constantly pushes the boundaries of health care.

WHERE: Radisson Plaza Hotel, 100 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007

WHEN: May 19-21, 2025

DETAILS: The LeadingAge Michigan 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo offers everything attendees have come to expect over the years. Thousands of visitors will have opportunities to connect with hundreds of exhibitors, listen to presentations from industry and business development experts, and network with other professionals. The event provides an environment for senior living providers to come together and develop their businesses. It’s a can’t-miss event that pushes the entire industry forward.

Digital Marketing Strategies to Build Website Traffic and Increase Lead Conversion;  Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 4:15 PM – 6:00 PM

Internet Marketing Director, Nicole Wagner, will be presenting Digital Marketing Strategies to Build Traffic and Increase Lead Conversion. Nicole will discuss the importance of digital marketing alongside traditional methods. She will explore how to utilize digital methods to build a significant online presence. Moreover, the session emphasizes the importance of attracting the right audience and converting them into high quality leads. Attendees will have the opportunity to analyze and assess the strength of their current digital marketing programs. Nicole will also teach attendees how to create a digital content program and web presence. With these strategies, attendees will be able to reach the right audience with the right message.

Register for the event here.

Learn more about LeadingAge Michigan here.

Read about Nicole Wagner, or book her for speaking here.

Book a free consultation with Stevens & Tate here.