“Marketers are expected to do more with less, and maybe we want to automate away those boring tasks.” – Ruta, Blame it on Marketing
Welcome, marketing maestros, to a topic that's become increasingly pivotal in our busy world: the blend of AI and automation in our daily marketing grind. Our latest episode of "Blame It on Marketing" offered a solid dive into this subject with special guest, Tim Cakir, CEO of Task Drive and future founder of "AI Operator". Tim's particular fervor for AI, which started in November 2022 when ChatGPT caught his interest, has brought him to our doorstep to share valuable insights.
One of the key points Tim made was the dizzying array of marketing tools available today. The MarTech landscape, sprawling with options, poses a challenge for many of us trying to zero in on the tools that genuinely enhance productivity. “There's too many tools for marketeers… the business ecosystem is too crowded,” Tim noted. As marketers, we're often like kids in a candy store, tempted to try them all. That allure, combined with our innate propensity to make things ‘just so’, can hinder us from focusing on innovation and efficiency.
What's the big deal about automation? Simply put, it's about efficiency and creativity. As Tim puts it,
“AI is here to stay… We have to use it, because if not, you're not going to compete.”
The conversation stressed identifying tasks that are repetitive and soul-sapping, implying that automating these can unleash our creative energies on more fulfilling, high-impact projects.
Tim's strategy for automation involves a straightforward approach: list out your daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Mark the ones you dread, and explore AI tools that can take those burdens off your shoulders. This isn't just about making life easier; it's about freeing your mind for innovative strategies and marketing breakthroughs.
For those running solo or small teams, automation could be the sidekick you desperately need. Tim, reflecting on his approach if he were back to being a solo marketer, suggested devoting time solely to experimentation with new tools. “I'd make a day just for that, and focus more on my day-to-day job for four days,” he said, suggesting that workplace fun and creativity could stem from this routine.
Whether you're well-funded or scraping by, there's always a route through innovation. Tim and our hosts discussed the reality of limited budgets, emphasizing lean tech setups and creative workarounds using combinations of different affordable tools.
“When you're kind of forced to be creative in that way… there's always kind of a way out,” said Ruta.
The conversation segued into the practical side of these tech setups. Emma cautioned against creating an unintelligible web of automated processes without proper documentation. While it might be a snooze-fest to log your setups, Tim offered a fresh take on the chore using ChatGPT to process and organize these tasks effectively.
“An AI first mindset… Anything I'm doing, I'm like, can I do this better with AI?” Tim shared, showing how a little paradigm shift can turn daunting tasks into opportunities for simplification and better efficiency.
Does your company balk at the cost of tools? Tim's analogy was spot on: “It's like being a mechanic but not having any tools to fix the engine.” The ROI on these investments often outweighs their costs, especially when they empower your team to be more productive and creative.
In the cluttered landscape of MarTech, choosing wisely and investing where it counts allows you, as the marketing maven, to remain a step ahead of your competitors.
Our chat with Tim Cakir reaffirmed the transformative power of technology in our field. With AI and automation, we can nurture creativity, streamline processes, and, most importantly, keep our sanity intact in the ever-demanding world of marketing. So, next time you're faced with a monotonous task, look at it through your AI lens and consider if there’s a friend named ChatGPT who’d love to help you out.