AI and Metaverse in Business - what does it mean?

The world of digital marketing has undergone a seismic change since the emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) by technology giants, such as Google, Meta (Facebook) and Microsoft. 

Website analytics and optimisation have to be virtually scrapped and regenerated to take account of the trends that are here to stay for the near future. Companies that have recognised this are the ones at the top of (for example) Google searches. Posts on social media would also benefit from using AI to reach a more targeted audience.

The other buzzword is the Metaverse, originally associated with Meta and also Microsoft. It is now taking on a life of it's own. The concept is like a tadpole who expects to metamorphose into a frog but could become a prince. Or... 

"The metaverse can be defined as a simulated digital environment that uses augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and blockchain, along with concepts from social media, to create spaces for rich user interaction mimicking the real world."

For the 'gamer' generation, this will seem quite normal. 

So how can SMEs catch up?

First, ensure that your website is using Google Analytics' latest update which includes AI options. Second, consider using AI to create some of your content for both your website and social media. Third, Ensure that videos are a major part of your digital marketing strategy.

There are some companies that are optimising their websites for voice search activation, for the growing number of people who 'talk' to their devices rather than type into a search engine. 

Creating content with AI

AI is more intelligent than a plain old robot so, when used properly, you won't end up with the same text as all your competitors. And don't forget - you should always check the article to ensure that it says what you want it to. It's editable by you. too (in which case, have the edited version checked for errors by another party).

A popular choice is to use ChatGPT but, at the time of writing, there are some issues. The following was generated with toolbaz.com (free, online) by inserting the title:
Discuss Using AI for SEO

As the internet continues to evolve, so does the way we search for information. As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent, it has become an invaluable tool for search engine optimization (SEO). AI can be used to improve the quality of search engine results and to give users better content. AI can help understand and interpret complex user queries, identify relevant content and identify patterns in user behavior. AI can also help with keyword optimization, content optimization, and link building. AI can also be used to analyze user behavior, such as click-through data and the number of searches done for a particular topic. This data can then be used to create more targeted content that is more likely to be found by users. AI can also be used to identify trends in user behavior and create content that is more likely to be seen and clicked on. AI can also be used to improve the speed and accuracy of web page indexing by reducing the amount of time it takes for a page to be indexed. AI can also be used to optimize the structure of a website, making it easier for search engine algorithms to crawl and index a website's content. AI can also be used to create personalized content for users based on their past searches and interests. AI can also be used to automate the process of content creation by generating content based on user queries. AI can also be used to monitor the performance of a website and make changes to make it more search engine friendly. AI can also be used to identify new opportunities for SEO and to create more effective strategies for SEO.

That text was created instantly. Obviously, it has been generated for an American audience therefore some spellings may need your attention.

It's accurate but, in my opinion, it's s bit generically bland and far too wordy. Still, it's free and a great starting point - writers often struggle when faced with a blank page.

We'll be writing more on other aspects of AI and keeping it simple. We hope it helps! 

Stay in Business: Go With The Flow...

Do you still use 'Twitter' or have you started calling it 'X'? In business, there are always changes and going with the flow is the only way to survive.

For example, The BPc began as a graphic design and marketing agency in 1990. Eventually, DIY design software became publicly available and some companies started creating their own logos, marketing materials, etc. Ironically, we soon had a surge in design requests because clients realised that, just because you have the software, it doesn't mean you have the experience of good graphic design.

Around 1996, we included website design services (thankfully, the co-owner had a technical background, therefore writing HTML was a doddle). Since then, the majority of our work was website design, including optimisation and internet marketing to keep our clients on page 1 of Google. Then internet service providers and software companies started to offer DIY website solutions for users to 'be in control of their own destiny'. Hmm. What it really meant was that users were tied to the company who owned the website software and, of course, their monthly costs often escalated. But, as had happened with graphic design software, a number of new clients approached us to update their websites or, in some cases, rewrite them.

As an additional marketing service, we offered video shoots and recruited a film graduate to produce professional videos for our clients but now everyone is an expert with a smartphone. We are occasionally asked to create a more professional look to 'movies'. 

Social Media management is one of our popular services. Everyone can do it but most smaller businesses don't prioritise it, preferring to spend a small amount per month to have a reliable service manage it for them.

But we are nothing if not flexible. Moving on to today's projects, they break down (approximately) as follows:

• Website design, updates and maintenance (40%)
• Blog and Social Media marketing (30%)
• Literary proof-reading and Script writing/editing (20%)
• Graphic Design (5%)
• Troubleshooting, video work and miscellaneous (5%)

Note the new entry in the middle of the table. 

Going with the flow has kept us solvent for nearly a quarter of a century so we thoroughly recommend it for some SMEs.

We wish you the best of luck with your endeavours! 

Thousands of Followers on Social Media?

The growth of  'followers' is often used by Social Media agencies as a gauge of how well they're doing for their clients. But is it enough? 

Not these days. We manage some Social Media accounts for small number of clients; there are thousands of followers but very few interactions. Depending on the main purpose, this could be OK or it could be an issue.

Most of our clients use social media to show their products with a hope that their followers will be interested to buy or share details with others. It's a way to get the company's name known to more people. 

One specific client posts products, opinions and related information, inviting feedback and with a view to gaining more followers to interact with. It's a completely different approach from that of most companies because he is a one-man-band who likes exchanging views of his and others' work. This client is struggling to gain followers, more than the others are - possibly because there are very few products to showcase (3). For whatever reason, he remains largely invisible.

Whether you have accounts with Meta, X, Tumblr, LinkedIn or other social media, having followers is not an indication of success. People follow you if you can give them something for free, e.g. humour, glamour, cute cats, etc. but it isn't (and never has been) a great medium for promoting your products or services, just because you have a high number of followers. And now, sadly, it's not always good for interacting.

Take Tumblr, for example. Tumblr has 'Ask me anything' that can be added to your profile. Author Neil Gaiman (Good Omens and other fiction) is excellent at interacting with his Tumblr followers, fans of his work, and they feel closer to him and the glamour of his world. I have only one client on Tumblr and nobody is interested in asking about his work. To be fair, he has only managed to gain 8 followers (0.001% of Neil Gaiman's entourage) in just over a year.

Today's favoured medium is video - whether on YouTube or TikTok - and again, these are classed as SOCIAL media. However, it's useful to upload videos for incorporation into websites. Many of our clients are not suitable candidates for Webinars or 'live' broadcasts - although there is one client who publishes a regular podcast which is popular with followers. Unfortunately, we have no further stats at the moment, regarding this medium.

Social Media, in general, is not designed as a business tool yet advertising revenue from businesses are the main reason that social media can function as a free service for others.

The issue for smaller companies with low budgets is that social media has become saturated and competition is as fierce and futile as competing to get a website listed on page one of Google, especially amongst the myriad of 'sponsored' entries that take priority.

We are currently looking at the cost of in-app advertising for one of our clients. We'll let you know what we find out and when we spot the next opportunity for small businesses to compete on a level playing field, we'll let you know.