AI tools like Chat GPT and others offers designers a competitive advantage by streamlining your marketing efforts while bringing a new level of creativity to your work. However, AI often appears far too complex for many designers to take full advantage of this intimidating technology.
In this episode, Jenna Gaidusek, founder of the Facebook community eDesign Tribe and host of the podcast AI for Interior Designers is here to help guide you through the world of AI and how you can use it to enhance your marketing efforts.
Getting started with AI
Starting with free apps like Chat GPT 3.5 or Co-pilot through Microsoft’s browser allows you to start experimenting with AI. Having fun with questions like what to make for dinner helps you become accustomed to using it to generate ideas. Using different apps will also help you find the one you like best. You can then upgrade to a paid version such as Chat GPT Plus for $20 per month. This app integrates with Dolly, an AI designed specifically to create pictures based on your Chat GPT discussions and only available through bing.com Co-pilot.
Using AI as a jumping off point
Jenna builds customized GPTs aka generative pre-trained transformers for designers she’s trained through her company, AI for designers. They can use these tools for specific tasks such as creating an opt-in CTA for emails and lead generation. You can feed the AI information about your business, and it will provide a bunch of ideas and copy.
AI provides jumping off points that allow you to interject your brand by editing the wording and including your expertise. It’s a great tool providing the starting point for many aspects of the design business for designers who don’t know where to begin.
Unleashing the marketing power of AI
One of Jenna’s first GPTs was created to generate hashtags. Dubbed the hashtag guru, she simply feeds it the picture she’s featuring on Instagram for the day, and it provides 30 hashtag options. AI can also provide alt text to boost SEO when posting images on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s a big help for designers who can’t find the right words for posts.
Customizable GPTs
When you work with a generic AI like Chat GPT, it won’t know exactly what to provide. However, these platforms allow you to create customizable GPTs like the ones Jenna creates for herself and her clients. For example, instead of random information, hashtag guru uses images to generate hashtags, alt text and image captions. It even formats the text so it can be copied from a clipboard ready for Instagram. Many AI users publish their own custom GPTs and with each new use, the AI grows smarter and stronger.
Filling in skills gaps
AI also offers tools that help fill in skills gaps in your business. For example, if you tend to have poor grammar and spelling, you can use AI like Grammarly to make corrections and smooth out your copy. It also helps pick up slack when you’re pressed for time such as providing images for your clients’ idea boards you can then clean up in programs like Photoshop, so they are more polished and ready to post.
Perfecting your prompts
AI uses “prompts” to understand what you want it to do. However, not all prompts offer enough guidance to see the best results. It can take some time to perfect your prompts, but it’s worth the effort. You can start with a few simple sentences to describe your needs and then see what pops up. From there you can add or remove details until you get the hang of what types of prompts work best for you.
AI is a tool, not a people replacer
AI is a tool that empowers you to become better at what you do. By taking care of the time-consuming processes that take you away from your core business, you can find more time to create and focus on your clients to bring more value to your services.
Highlights from this episode
Here’s some info you won’t want to miss:
- 15:08: Getting started with AI
- 17:09: Using AI as a jumping off point
- 19:50: Unleashing the marketing power of AI
- 22:13: Customizable GPTs
- 26:56: Filling in skills gaps
- 30:13: Perfecting your prompts
- 31:58: AI is a tool, not a people replacer
If AI is not your thing, but you need help with your marketing, book a free consultation to discuss your needs and learn how I can help.
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