The digital landscape is changing fast - what does that mean for you as an online business owner? With actionable insights and practical guides within AI, marketing and tech, Marketing At Scale helps you upskill in AI, marketing and tech – in simple and practical terms. Written by Ylva - full stack marketer with 10+ years of marketing experience.
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🦾 5 ways to futureproof your online business in the age of AI
Published 5 months ago • 6 min read
Hi friend 👋
Welcome to another edition of Marketing At Scale, where we provide actionable insights and practical guides within marketing and tech - that can all be consumed in your coffee break!
One of my favorite tech quotes, also known as Amara’s law, is this:
“We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.”
This quote reminds us to consider the broader context and timeline when predicting technological advancements, something that especially applies in the age of AI.
Sure, there are probably some areas where AI is massively overhyped - but underneath the surface, there are real fundamental changes to come in all areas of society in the long run, that we cannot fully grasp yet.
A great example of Amara’s law in action is the evolution of the Internet. In the early days, many people didn't grasp the full potential of the internet (except for maybe Bill Gates). Today, the internet has revolutionized communication, business, and almost every aspect of our lives.
So what does Amara’s law mean for you and your business? In this issue, we’re taking a closer look at how to future-proof your business in the age of AI. Of course, no one knows what the future holds, but there are some actions you can take to make sure you are focused on where the puck is going, instead of where the puck has been (to use a famous hockey analogy). 🏒
In this issue:
✅ Deep dive: Five ways to futureproof your online business in the age of AI
✅ Tech Tip – This AI-powered trip planner helps you explore destinations like a local
5 Ways to Futureproof Your Online Business in the Age of AI
In an era where AI reshapes industries, future-proofing your online business is essential. But when it comes to AI, the fact is, that no one knows the magnitude of its impact just yet, we can only make educated guesses. Therefore the exercise of future-proofing your business is even more important.
The key to future-proofing your online business in an uncertain marketplace is to regularly assess the changing digital landscape, and anticipate potential future changes in order to minimize their impact on your business. This involves considering future trends, and potential risks, and developing strategies and solutions to mitigate them. And since things are changing fast, this is an exercise that needs to be done often. Here are five ways to futureproof your online business – that I recommend doing on a regular basis:
1 Perform a SWOT analysis of your online business
A SWOT analysis is a technique used to identify your business's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Strengths and weaknesses are usually considered internal, while opportunities and threats are usually considered external, as illustrated in the matrix below. By performing a SWOT analysis with the changing digital landscape in mind, you can develop a clearer understanding of the future of your business, make informed decisions, and strategically steer your business toward long-term success and adaptability in a dynamic market. Learn more about how to do a SWOT analysis for your business.
Understanding how AI can specifically affect your field is crucial. Whether you're a copywriter, graphic designer, or email marketing strategist, AI might offer new tools for efficiency and creativity or pose threats like market saturation with AI-generated solutions. Stay informed about AI developments within your niche by following industry leaders and being active in online communities such as Facebook Groups and Slack Channels.
3 Invest in Upskilling
Thanks to AI tools we can now automate many routine tasks, but the flipside of this is that AI tools will also create demand for more advanced skills. Focus on cultivating areas that AI cannot easily replicate, such as creative ideation, strategic thinking, and personal client relationships. Also consider investing in courses or resources that enhance your proficiency with AI tools (for example best practice prompting), that help you understand the fundamentals of AI as well as ethics and compliance within AI (a field that is evolving in real-time).
4 Leverage AI Tools Strategically
By leveraging the right AI tools in your business, you can automate many administrative tasks, enhance creative processes, optimize content strategies, and more. Evaluate tools that align with your business goals and can provide a measurable ROI. So how do you decide what tasks to outsource to AI? Read my 9 tips for outsourcing tasks to AI tools from a previous newsletter. If you need inspiration for which AI tools to look into, check out my curated list of top 25 AI marketing tools - that can actually save you time and energy.
5 Cultivate an Innovative Mindset
As a freelancer or small business owner, you have a huge advantage compared to agencies and bigger companies when it comes to flexibility and adaptability. Make sure to leverage these assets by embracing an innovative mindset in your business. Set aside time for experimentation with new tools and technologies. Network with other professionals in your field to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities that can expose you to new approaches and technologies.
By proactively adapting to AI on a regular basis, you can not only futureproof your business but also position yourself to take full advantage of the emerging opportunities of AI.
💬 How are you adapting to the changing digital landscape in your business? Hit reply and let me know!
👀 Tech Tip
Sponsored post
This AI-powered trip planner helps you explore destinations like a local
If you're an avid traveler or digital nomad like me, you probably aim for a holistic view of each destination you visit. You want to explore the must-see sights as well as the hidden gems known mainly by locals. But finding these truly local sights and experiences for every new destination can be challenging and time-consuming.
Shouldn't there be an AI tool for that - you ask? Well, there is!
With AIreelity.com - travel planning becomes a breeze...
AI Reelity does the heavy lifting of analyzing:
✅ Activities to do
✅ Places to visit
✅ Dining options to consider
All while comparing how tourists do it vs how locals do it.
The price to generate a travel plan is a mere $5 – a steal if you ask me, considering the time it saves you. And if you use my code MAS40 you can get 40% off.
Simply visit AIreelity.com, enter the city you want to explore, and let the AI generate a tourist vs local travel plan.
✈️What city would you want to explore like a local?
🎙️Podcast
Will AI automate 95% of what marketers do?
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, thinks AI will do everything but 5% of what marketers do, what does that mean?
In this episode of the podcast Marketing Against The Grain (one of my favorite podcasts when it comes to marketing and tech), host Kieran dives into how to be in that 5% as a marketer, since that part isn’t going away. He also talks about the biggest mistake marketers are making with AI, what that 5% includes, and what Sam Altman’s quote actually means.
If you’re a big fan of Canva like I am, don’t miss the opportunity to attend the event Canva Create - Canva’s signature event which they call “a creative festival with the unique opportunity to learn from and network with like-minded innovators.” Last year’s Canva Create had more than 1,5 million people tuning in from across the globe.
If you can’t make it to the in-person event in LA, you can tune in for free online to get a first look at the new launches and listen to keynotes from industry professionals. Speakers include Canva co-founder Melanie Perkins, Bob Iger (CEO of The Walt Disney Company), and Guy Kawasaki (author, venture capitalist, and chief evangelist of Canva).
Meta AI is a new AI assistant now available in the search bar on Facebook and Instagram
The tool is similar to ChatGPT and Gemini, offering text generation and image creation. Users can access Meta AI in their feeds, chats, and search. They can also view the history of conversations in the chat section on Messenger and Instagram. The main difference that separates Meta AI from other chatbots is the ability to use it when you're in the social media app without exiting the app, and it's the first tool automatically implemented into multiple social media platforms. Learn more.
Threads hits 150 million active users and could be on its way to becoming bigger than X/Twitter
Despite constant mockery from X owner Elon Musk, Threads is growing. Learn more.
Google's controversial move to kill the web cookie just got delayed until 2025
Google delayed the removal of third-party cookies from Chrome again. The move gives companies more time to prepare for the removal of cookies, following pushback. Learn more.
🥳 Just For Fun
When automation goes too far…
That’s it for this edition!
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Thanks for reading! If you have any requests for topics or questions – just hit reply to this email. I read and respond to every single message. 👋
The digital landscape is changing fast - what does that mean for you as an online business owner? With actionable insights and practical guides within AI, marketing and tech, Marketing At Scale helps you upskill in AI, marketing and tech – in simple and practical terms. Written by Ylva - full stack marketer with 10+ years of marketing experience.
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