That is the question.
We were recently asked to write a blog post for the awesome team at Onion CRM about AI in social media. So let’s dive in…
If scrolling Facebook and Instagram is all feeling a bit “samey” right now, that’s because it is. AI sentence constructions are formulaic and it feels like every business on your instagram feed is using these generic sentences to say a lot, but not much, at the same time. Comparative sentences like "it wasn't just X, it was Y" or "this isn't just about X, it's about Y" or “the thing no one is talking about”, (whilst talking about the thing everything is actually talking about) are everywhere.
So how as a business owner, with a small (if any) marketing budget can you get cut through in a sea of AI content?
Right now, there are quick wins to be had. As a business owner in a service based business, YOU are one of your biggest USPs. So showing up on social media can really help build trust, and showcase your authority. I know, I know, you don’t like making videos! You’re not good at it, and you just “don’t have time”. I hear this day in, day out. Many business owners are not vlogging their daily lives or showing the world of Instagram what they had for dinner, but put your business hat on and understand this. No-one is coming to save you. If you are not using your FREE social platforms to market your business, for free, you are doing yourself and your team a disservice. The marketing you do now, helps your future pipeline, so why would you not want to make use of this? (did I mention posting is free?)
Will it be perfect? No. Will it bring in new leads straight away? Probably not. Will it act as a trust signal to potential leads you don’t even know about? Yes. Will it warm up the algorithm and show you what is working so when you want to invest in paid ads, you’ll have the best chance of success? Absolutely.
A lot of conversations we are having with business owners right now are about ripping that bandaid off and getting their face in front of the camera. Not every post needs to be video content, but it is favoured by the algorithm, and introducing yourself to your audience helps build trust and authority. Showing your face, and sharing your voice, stands out against AI slop, so there really is no better time to get started. Well, the best time was about 5 years ago, but the second best time is today. Don’t look back in 3 months time and regret starting your social marketing plan today, your future pipeline won’t thank you.
Sarah Kavanagh, Managing Director of Sense, The Social Agency,
Written without the help of AI.
