Month: June 2023

AI Sprint Day 10 – We Have Giveaways & Stuff

If you have been following our 10 day AI Sprint series, you’ll be aware that we have covered a vast array of topics around AI, from ethics and manipulation to chatbots and image generators.

So, we wanted to sign off the series with some free stuff. Tools and tips you can start using straight away, or even just play with to help understand the capabilities of AI.

Blogs – ReWriter Script

On day one we spoke about how OpenAI allows you to send data back and forth, instead of using ChatGPT. With the following script, you can send an article/blog URL over to ChatGPT in segments, and have it use the basis for the inspiration of a brand-new article.

The article will be sent back into the Google Sheets, along with suitable meta-tags, and even an image generation prompt. You will need to make your own copy of the sheet in order to run it, and populate your OpenAI key into the ‘instructions’ tab.

Blog reWriter Google Sheet Script

A huge thank you and well done to the guys at AutoSheets for their work on this script.

Just For Fun – Image Editing

We all remember the fire-starter girl meme right?

How about we switch it up Star Wars style?

The image examples we gave in our day 5 post, are all created using MidJourney, an image manipulation and generation AI tool. You can get your free credit for MidJourney here. Point of note, you do need a Discord account to use MidJourney.

Google Ads Scripting

On day 6, we discussed a Google Ads script which we are using in production, to assist with some of the monotonous work around split-ad testing and proofing. This means less time can be spent on repetitive tasks, giving more time to spend on ad creatives and analysis.

Download the Google Ads Script here.

With all the above tools, ethical considerations should of course always be used in terms of how you deploy them within your own campaigns.

The Full Index

We really hope you have enjoyed reading the past 10 day’s content about AI and how we are using it within our marketing campaigns.

To sign off, heres a full index of every topic covered;

Day 1 – The power of OpenAI compared to ChatGPT
Day 2 – Using AI with Google Ads
Day 3 – Using AI tools to assist neurodivergent users
Day 4 – Using AI for content planning
Day 5 – Image generation
Day 6 – Scripting with Google Ads
Day 7 – Using AI for Accessibility
Day 8 – The impact of AI on creativity
Day 9 – WordPress and AI

AI Sprint Day 9 – WordPress And AI – A Powerful Combination

As AI technology continues to evolve, it can be increasingly beneficial to make use of the tools available in order to improve user experience on WordPress sites. AI offers a number of features that can optimise your content and provide a more tailored approach to web design. In this article, we will investigate 6 ways AI can bring better user experiences on WordPress sites.

Voice Search & Usability

One way to leverage the power of AI is to improve website content for voice search. Optimising your site for voice search requires you to come up with keywords relevant to everyday conversations, as people tend to phrase their queries as if they were speaking to a friend. Additionally, it is important to ensure your site is mobile-friendly, as any hindrances here may lead to a lower ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).

An FAQ section may also help, allowing for questions that are likely to be asked in a voice search. If you are running a local business, you may look into local SEO strategies to ensure your information appears on SERPs. Furthermore, Microsoft recently launched its Machine Understanding Model (MUM), an AI-based update to how search engines interpret and understand user input.

Image Speed

AI can also be used to automate image compression on your WordPress site. This helps with page loading speed, resulting in a faster and more enjoyable experience for the user. SpeedSize Image & Video Automation is one such example of a platform that utilises neuroscience technology to reduce media size by up to 99%, while retaining the same quality. Other platforms include High-Fidelity-Generative-Compression and Compress Jpeg by AI.

AI-driven content creation is another feature you may want to explore. Platforms like BuzzSumo or WP Robot can help you to monitor and curate content from multiple sources, all within your WordPress dashboard. This could be immensely helpful in keeping content fresh and relevant to users.

Design

AI can also be used to improve the overall aesthetics of a WordPress site. For example, you can make use of AI-generated imagery and audio features to create an aesthetically-pleasing user interface. The technology can analyse images and choose the best ones from a given set, while using sound effects to add visual flair that will make the design pop even further. It can also be used to generate fascinating visuals as discussed in our recent blog post.

AI can also help you with personalisation on your WordPress site. Personalisation entails tailoring content and design elements specifically for the individual user, to make their experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. AI-driven solutions like Adobe Sensei or IBM Watson can track visitor behavior and generate tailored content based on their preferences. This can help to improve engagement with users and increase the likelihood of them returning to your site.

A V.A.

Another interesting use of AI on WordPress sites is to create virtual assistants. This is a great way to automate customer support on your site. AI-enabled virtual assistants are capable of understanding questions asked in natural language, making them useful tools for communicating with customers and addressing their queries. This can help improve customer loyalty and trust in your company.

The latest advancements in AI have enabled automated translations of web pages, even via a virtual assistant. This feature can be especially useful for websites catering to international audiences, as it allows them to offer translated content autonomously. Automated translation tools like Google Translate API use AI algorithms to detect languages, translate words and phrases into the desired language, and produce a coherent output that reads naturally. This can be an excellent addition to help make your website more accessible to a wider audience.

Chat-Bots

AI-driven chatbots are becoming increasingly popular across many websites. They can interact with visitors in real-time, provide useful information related to their query, and even guide them to the relevant page on the website. AI-powered chatbots are capable of tracking visitor behavior and adjusting their responses accordingly. This can help to create a more personalised experience for visitors, and ensure that they receive the information they need quickly and conveniently.

Getting Analytical

AI-driven analytics tools can make it easier for website owners to keep track of their performance. By evaluating key metrics in WordPress, they can identify the changes needed to help get more visitors and improve user engagement. AI-based analytics tools like Matomo or Splunk can monitor a range of data points and present them in easy-to-understand graphs and charts. This can help website owners to easily analyse their data and make informed decisions moving forward.

In Summary

In summary, it is clear that AI can have numerous applications when it comes to enhancing the user experience on WordPress sites. By leveraging the power of AI, website owners can optimise their content, speed up page loading times, curate content, link internal pages, automate image tagging, generate virtual assistants, provide automated translations, create natural-sounding text, and analyse website performance. All in all, it is evident that incorporating AI into your WordPress site can bring a vast array of benefits that will take user experience to a new level.

Watch out for our next post, in which we will be providing some usable resources to start your AI journey.

Get in touch to see how AI might be used within your digital marketing strategy.

AI Sprint Day 8 – The Effects of AI on Creativity

With so many articles, blogs and conversations surrounding the topic of AI in recent months, there has been a lot of discussion about whether AI harms creativity, but there are many angles to approach this debate from. We’re going to break the argument down and analyse the ways in which AI can affect creativity.

AI Poses a Threat to Artists and Writers

Many argue that the rise of AI poses a threat to the work of artists and writers, as it’s now easier than ever to generate blogs, social media posts, and even images using various AI tools. With just a few clicks, anyone can have access to content that many wouldn’t even realise was generated with the assistance of AI. It may seem like a worrying time for artists, writers, and other content creators, but there is a simple fact that can help: AI isn’t human.

No matter how accurate AI becomes, it will never be able to fully replicate the human mind, as human creativity can be unpredictable and impulsive, something that AI is not able to do. Embracing AI tools, and using them for help with initial ideas can be great for content creators, and exploring ways to use them could end up beneficial to them and their work.

AI Kills Creativity

With the ability to generate content in just a few seconds, concerns have risen that AI is killing off creativity. However, this all depends on how AI is being used. When used a lot, it becomes important to think of new ways to interact with and use AI tools to achieve the desired results. This means that creativity is needed simply to use AI effectively. Furthermore, there are many ways to think outside the box and use several AI tools at once to get the best use out of them.

For example, on Day 5 we discussed how to use ChatGPT to create a prompt to give to the Image AI creator. This technique is a great way to make use of multiple AI tools, and can be the first step to many more creative ways to use them.

People Rely on AI Too Much

With so many AI tools now readily available at our fingertips, it’s easy to see why there is a worry that we will become too reliant on these new technologies. Over reliance on AI can be harmful in the long run, giving consumers a weaker experience due to potential repetitiveness. Deciding when to use AI can be a challenge, but it’s essential that it doesn’t fully replace work tasks. Rather, we would suggest using the tools here and there as a way to gather ideas or inspiration and proofread. When using AI for longer texts, such as blogs, social posts or ads, we’d recommend you use it as a base, similarly to how you would a first draft, and make sure you change it up to make it your own.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while it may seem that AI is harmful to creativity, there are many ways it can help boost it. Much of this depends on how AI tools are used, and when this is done effectively, there’s no end to what can be achieved.

AI Sprint Day 7 – AI For Web Design and Accessibility

On Day 3 of our AI Sprint, we spoke about how AI tools can be used to support dyslexic and dyspraxic creators. Tools like ChatGPT can help with idea generation, and articulating and simplifying difficult concepts. However, AI’s capabilities don’t stop at content creation. There’s a range of tools, browser extensions, and technologies that use AI to improve web accessibility.

Here’s a breakdown of just a few ways AI can be used to increase access for everyone.

Accessible Design

When designing a website, there are regulations in place to ensure that it meets certain accessibility standards. In the UK, public sector websites must meet a set of standards outlined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

However, private sector websites are not completely exempt from regulations. Under the Equality Act (2010), businesses are expected to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to remove barriers faced by disabled users; and, as of 2020, they are expected to work towards achieving the goals set within The European Union (EU) Directive on the Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications.

For many users, you only have 15 seconds to make a first impression. And, if your website is inaccessible, this can result in a negative user experience. Web Accessibility Testing tools can help you identify ways to make your website design and brand more accessible. These tools use AI to analyse code for common, high impact accessibility issues like insufficient colour contrast, missing aria labelling, and lack of alt tags on imagery. It will develop a report which identifies the issue, where they are present, and a suggested solution.

These tools are regularly updated and will help you analyse your compliance with approximately 50 accessibility requirements. Many of these tools are available quick and easy to use browser extensions, like Accessibility Insights for Web.

Language Support

Video streaming services like Youtube and Microsoft Stream have been using AI technology for years. These services feature a built-in Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) algorithm that transforms audio files into captions, subtitles, and transcripts, which can then be amended or expanded by the content creator.

This AI algorithm is specifically trained to analyse speech patterns and recognise different sounds, assigning priority to some inputs while muting others. It’s a technology that is widely used in smartphones for speech-to-text and digital assistant software. And it’s incredibly handy. Because these systems can transform speech-to-text, it can make accessing this information and entertainment easier for those who are deaf and/or hard of hearing, have language processing difficulties like an Auditory Processing Disorder or Dyslexia, and they can help creators who have mobility impairments that require the support of a speech-to-text functions.

Additionally, these systems can be used in tandem with AI translation services like Google Translate, the Microsoft Translator App, and (you guessed it) Chat GPT. This enables creators to communicate with audiences who do not speak the same language as them.

Par exemple: Nous avons traduit cette phrase rapidement et facilement en français en utilisant ChatGPT.
(For example: We translated this sentence into French quickly and easily using ChatGPT.)

Built-in Tools:

For businesses looking to go the extra mile, AI tools can be created or implemented to support the consumption of content and navigation on your website. For example, widgets like Userway provide the ability for disabled consumers to tailor their experience to their specific needs.

The user-triggered interface gives viewers the option to:

Have content read aloud via AI-powered screen reading software
Automatically adjust contrast levels to ensure WCAG compliance and better visualisation.
Change all text to a dyslexia friendly font to make it easier to read.
Reveal page structures such as headings, landmarks, and links to make finding relevant content easier.
And so much more! See the full list here.

Of course, the tools found within Accessibility widgets can also benefit non-disabled users looking for a faster, more tailored experience.

Conclusion

Every visitor has a unique way of navigating your website. AI tools allow you to ensure that as many user experiences are supported as possible, in a faster way. They have the power to increase your engagement rate, conversions, and overall brand reception.

By being mindful of and actively working to tackle the limitations users may face when visiting your website, you can attract a whole new audience that previously could not access your products or services, opening up a whole new world of possibilities.

AI Sprint Day 6 – Scripting With GoogleAds

In today’s AI blog, we are going to talk about Google ads scripts. Google Ads scripts provide a powerful toolset for automating various tasks within your advertising campaigns. By leveraging scripts to create missing Responsive Search Ad (RSA) headlines and description lines, you can save time, ensure consistency across ads, and improve the overall performance of your Google Ads campaigns.

One of the key elements of any successful Google Ads campaign is the creation of compelling ad headlines and description lines. However, as campaigns grow in size and complexity, it can become challenging to manage and optimise every ad variant manually. This is where Google Ads scripts come in handy. In this blog post, we will explore how you can leverage Google Ads scripts to automatically generate missing Responsive Search Ads (RSA) headlines and description lines.

This free script has been made available by Frederick Valley, co-founder of the PPC Optimisation tool, “Opytmzr” and all-round PPC guru. If you are interested in PPC, he hosts regular video blogs called “PPC Town Hall” which are well worth a watch.

If you are new to using Google ads scripts, here are the instructions to set it up for the first time Google Ads Script Instructions. You will also need to get an API key from the Open APi’s website and add this into the script. A note of warning, do not set this script to run automatically as there are fees attached to using the API key.

Each ad contains 15 headlines & 4 description lines and ideally, you want to split test so that’s 2 x RSA’s in each individual ad group. Some of our campaigns contain 15-20 ad groups! That’s a lot of ads. This script definitely helps with the heavy lifting!

Once you’ve run the script, this creates a Google sheet and exports the current ad data. For those blank cells, ie where there are missing headlines & description lines in any of the Responsive Search Ads then suggestions are made via the GPT API. Any suggestions made for new headlines or description lines are highlighted in green. It is also worth taking note of the ad strength column highlighting if the ad is Poor, Average or Excellent. This can help to identify which ads need improvement.

Remember that while maximising all headline and description lines can offer several advantages in terms of visibility and ad strength, it’s important to ensure your ad remains coherent, relevant, and appealing to users.

Regular monitoring, testing, and optimisation are crucial to achieving the best results from your responsive search ads.

AI Sprint Day 5 – AI For Image Generation

Using AI for scripting or for content writing and brainstorming is one thing, but the most recent innovations in AI are also very visual. AI image generation is now being used in commercial applications. Here at MUV we have also used AI image generation to assist in web development, and in ad campaigns. In part 5 of our AI sprint series, we’re going to look as some practical uses.

Scenario 1 – New Product Launch

Let’s set the scene. You’re about to launch a new event. It’s very niche, it’s very unusual, and it’s weather dependant. For example, your about to launch a marketing campaign for a horror-themed music festival.

To run the campaign you’re going to need images right? So, a photographer, make-up artists, models/actors, and a location for the shoot. Yep…. it’s going to get expensive. Or perhaps not. How about instead of briefing a photographer you brief an AI?

So we prompted AI with the following;

Create me an image of a horror-themed music festival.

Not bad, but probably not quote what we were hoping for. So instead, let’s leverage the power of ChatGPT, and ask it to create us a much better instruction for the Image AI creator;

We can see the resulting output is instead a much more elaborate, detailed description. So let’s see what comes back from the image generator;

Yup, that’s better.

Scenario 2 – Lifestyle Images

Which campaign doesn’t need a few lifestyle images along the way! Lifestyle photography is often used to compliment your main campaign, with high quality and on-theme images which represent the look, feel and tone of your overall campaign.

So, imagine we have a website selling sunglasses. We have a huge range, and we are very much aiming at ‘all the family’. the problem is, we are based in Cumbria, and it’s December. Not a great time for sun glasses photo shoots.

So we prompt AI with the following;

“a photo of a modern-day family enjoying their picnic, all wearing sunglasses”

The fact the middle little girl is playing with the sunglasses makes this a coincidental winner. A very usable photo.

Scenario 3 – Reinventing Old Photos

Sometimes you might have an old image, but you need to breathe new life into it. AI Image generators can often work with pre-existing images.

Imagine you’d about to launch a new ‘super hero’ themed campaign for your brand. You have some great photos of your team, but wouldn’t it be fun to re-theme those photos with a touch of Marvel….

Before

After

Before

After

The Moral Questions

As with most aspects of AI, there are moral questions to be asked about usage, and there are advocates and critics.

The critics would say that AI technology is use existing human works from which to draw inspiration and re-generate elements. For example, if part of an image contains a ‘lake’, the AI will be determining what a lake looks like, from existing, perhaps commercial photography.

Advocates would say that humans also draw inspiration from existing works.

At the present growth rate of AI, legislation to govern usage is not yet finalised and is still being developed. AI should be used with caution, in particular when it comes to creative output. Publishes and business owners should use their own moral compass from the information available, as to how they use AI photography commercially.

I believe that AI will never replace a real-life photographer and that creative people generating new original works will be key to the improvement of AI image generation. I would hope that legislation and technology is leveraged in a way that original creators are both credited and compensated for the use of their works by AI.