Category: Insights

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Insights Restaurant Marketing Communications Digital Media Advice

How QSRs Can Adapt to the New Value Equation in Restaurants

How QSRs Can Adapt to the New Value Equation in Restaurants

“There’s food at home.” We’ve all heard those fateful words before. But that eerily familiar phrase has crept into our minds more times than we’d like to admit these days. Or has it? The landscape of value in the restaurant industry is rapidly evolving. Causing consumers to think twice before spending their hard earned cash on a meal out. Economic factors and changing consumer behaviors have introduced a new level of complexity to the value equation, challenging quick-service restaurants (QSRs) to rethink their strategies. As inflation impacts spending power and consumer price sensitivity remains high, it’s essential for QSRs to adapt to these changes to remain competitive and retain customer loyalty.

Before now, the value equation was much simpler. Consumers valued dollar meals and quick-service restaurants on a daily basis. And splurged on sit-down restaurants once in a while. But now, consumers’ perception of value has changed. While they generally remain price-conscious, consumers aren’t just making decisions based on budget. They are considering all kinds of variables, such as convenience, service fees, pricing and shrinkflation. Or even the experience they get out of dining-in.

Interestingly, a trend of YOLO spending has emerged, where consumers are occasionally willing to splurge on experiences that provide a sense of enjoyment or novelty. This behavior is driven by a desire to make the most of life despite economic uncertainties. For QSRs, this means there is an opportunity to capture this spending by offering unique and memorable dining experiences that feel like a treat without breaking the bank. Limited-time offers, exclusive menu items, and themed dining experiences can tap into this trend and attract customers looking for a special experience.

Although, the gap in value perception is even narrowing between grocery stores, quick-service and full-service restaurants is narrowing. Rising prices in QSRs are pushing consumers to compare them more directly with full-service options, where the perceived value often includes enhanced service and atmosphere. At the same time, grocery store prices are increasing, prompting some consumers to find eating out more appealing despite the costs.

This presents an interesting opportunity for QSRs to capture this shift in spending behavior. Here’s how they can adapt to win over consumers:

1. Enhance Loyalty Programs: Develop and promote digital loyalty programs that reward repeat visits, fostering long-term customer relationships.

2. Menus Redesign: Streamlined menus simplify decision-making for diners, improving their overall experience. Simplified menus also enhance operational efficiency, leading to faster service and better order accuracy.

3. Offer Consistent Value: Introduce and maintain value menus that provide affordable options without compromising quality, ensuring customers always find value in their dining experience.

4. Improve Customer Experience: Focus on service quality, atmosphere, and the overall dining experience to enhance perceived value and encourage repeat visits.

5. Embrace Technology: Invest in online ordering, mobile apps, and digital payment systems to meet the growing demand for convenience and enhance customer satisfaction.

6. Promote Direct Channels: Encourage customers to use your own platforms for orders to build a direct relationship, reducing reliance on third-party services and associated fees.

7. Monitor Economic Trends: Stay agile and adjust pricing strategies based on economic indicators and consumer behavior, ensuring your offerings remain attractive and competitive.

While inflation may be cooling, but wages have not kept pace. Meaning they consumers may be pinching more pennies when it comes to eating out. Especially if prices continue to rise. Restaurants and QSRs will need to be more strategic in their value offerings to keep customers coming back.

The value equation in the restaurant industry is evolving, driven by economic pressures and changing consumer expectations. QSRs must understand and adapt to these shifts to maintain competitiveness and customer loyalty. By enhancing loyalty programs, offering consistent value, improving customer experience, embracing technology, and promoting direct channels, QSRs can navigate the complexities of the new value equation and keep customers coming back.

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Insights Branding Marketing Communications Advice

Unveiling the Power of Consumer Insights: How Push Elevates Brands with Deep Understanding

Unveiling the Power of Consumer Insights: How Push Elevates Brands with Deep Understanding

In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, understanding consumer behavior is paramount. Businesses do so by constantly considering how their target audience thinks, feels, and behaves. By delving deep into the minds of consumers, Push elevates brands to new heights. Here’s how:

The Importance of Consumer Insights in Brand Strategy

Consumer insights are more than just data points; they are the foundation for successful marketing strategies. Understanding the motivations, preferences, and behaviors of your target audience enables brands to:

  • Craft Personalized Experiences: Tailor messages and offerings to meet the specific needs and desires of different consumer segments.
  • Enhance Customer Loyalty: Foster deeper connections by addressing consumer pain points and delivering consistent value.
  • Drive Innovation: Identify emerging trends and unmet needs to stay ahead of the competition.
  • Optimize Marketing Spend: Allocate resources more efficiently by focusing on the most impactful strategies and channels.

How Push Applies Consumer Insights

Analyzing consumer insights is at the core of all strong strategy and design. Our approach involves several key steps:

  • Data Collection: We leverage a variety of sources, including social media analytics, surveys, focus groups, and customer feedback, to gather comprehensive data.
  • Data Analysis: We analyze the data to uncover patterns and trends that reveal consumer preferences and behaviors.
  • Consumer Segmentation: We segment the audience based on shared characteristics and behaviors, allowing for more targeted and effective marketing strategies.
  • Behavioral Analysis: We uncover the ‘why’ behind consumer actions so that we can predict future behaviors and tailor our strategies accordingly.

Success Stories: Transforming Brands through Insights

Case Study 1: Tailoring your message

One of our newest clients is a bean bag company that had already identified who its consumers were: young families. What it didn’t do was a deep dive into understanding why these individuals bought. After a customer decision-making audit, it was unveiled that a substantial portion of the families who were fervent brand advocates were those who had neurodivergent children who loved that the materials of the chairs were noiseless. Identifying this small detail caused the brand to reconsider its messaging for this sub-segment of its audience and create specialized content that highlights key values that were highly relevant to this specific audience but not others. It also provided an opportunity to explore some additional media channels for this audience exclusively.

Case Study 2: Knowing your customer’s WHY

Another relevant example is when one of our university clients utilized first-party consumer research to consider how it could increase enrollment with prospective Hispanic students, a market that it was trying to make inroads with. Of all of the factors considered, the most influential proved to be the input of their parents or guardians, disproportionality so for Hispanic audiences. Research showed that when Hispanic students considered college enrollment, hearing from their parents and how much time college would take away from their family was a big factor in their decision-making process. As a result, our ads featured parents as a dedicated audience with their own creative, targeting, and budget along with adding families in all our Hispanic marketing for the college.

Get Started with Consumer Insights at Push

Harnessing the power of consumer insights is not just a strategy; it’s a necessity in today’s competitive market. At Push, we pride ourselves on our ability to transform data into actionable insights that drive marketing success.

Ready to elevate your brand strategy by evaluating the transformative power of consumer insights with Push. Touch base with us!

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Insights Marketing Communications Digital Media Advice

Integrating Online and Offline Channels for a Seamless Customer Experience

Integrating Online and Offline Channels for a Seamless Customer Experience

Everything we need is essentially available at our fingertips. Need groceries? Pre-heat the oven, they’re on the way. How about a dress for a night out? It’ll be at your doorstep before you are. We can have practically anything at the tap of a button. But that doesn’t mean we stop having IRL experiences with the companies we’re buying from. In fact, it becomes all the more important that modern businesses seamlessly integrate their online and offline channels in order to give customers a unified experience with their brand. Let’s look at the benefits of channel integration and the best way to give your customers the journey they expect when they interact with your brand in these different spaces.

What Are Online and Offline Channels?

Online channels can be anything your customer is using to interact with your brand in a digital space: your website and mobile app, social media page or emails. Offline channels refer to physical stores, in-person events and print media customer engage with physically, like bus shelters or magazine ads. These are places one might consider more classic mediums of advertising.

Why Should You Integrate Online and Offline Channels?

Breaking down the barriers between these isolated channels is the key to achieving a seamless experience. This helps ensure that your brand essence is communicated whether a customer is looking at your billboard on the side of the road or breathing in the signature scent of your store. A seamless experience will boost your customer’s satisfaction with your brand––increasing loyalty and, ultimately, sales.

Target is an expert in this space. Their app serves as the most significant support system for in-person experiences, with innovative features like same-day delivery, curbside pick up and inventory management to enhance customer convenience. By utilizing real-time data and tech, Target can personalize and customize customer experiences across all platforms, creating positive and satisfying experiences with their brand.

Integrating online and offline channels gives you access to boundless amounts of data that tell you who your consumers are, what they buy, when they buy it and more. With these valuable insights, you can cultivate a better all-around experience for your audience.

How Do You Effectively Integrate These Channels?  

Start providing a unified experience across multiple spaces, both online and offline, through omni-channel marketing. This involves coordinating and synchronizing marketing efforts to create a cohesive and consistent experience no matter where customers interact with your brand. You should ensure you use the same messaging and branding in store and online and take advantage of the crucial role social media plays in connecting with consumers.

It won’t be long before the data from omni-channel marketing allows you to personalize your marketing or improve customer service. The data will also provide you with a Unified Customer Data Platform and a repository of customer data from various sources that will allow you to tailor future strategies and improve customer experience.

This strategy will ultimately enhance customer satisfaction and inspire more repeat purchases, help you reach a larger audience and increase brand visibility while elevating the customer experience.

See It in Action

Living in this digital era, retailers must understand the consumer demand for connected digital and in-store experiences.

The Apple Store is another expert in creating a cohesive experience through channel integration. Their app allows consumers to browse products, make purchases, and schedule appointments at physical stores. Any experience online is complemented at their stores by personalized assistance, product demonstrations, and workshops. Additionally, their use of omni-channel means any experience that begins online can continue and end in the store or vice versa.

Cinnabon recently embraced the benefits of integrating channels and pivoted from being fully on-site to being a brand found both on-site and at home or office. Consumers can now order online, with their app, or in-store to enjoy their treats anywhere they like. They can also use the Cinnabon app to elevate their in-store experience with rewards or exclusive offers. Successful channel integration has allowed Cinnabon to evolve into a forward-thinking brand that is connected to its customers.

Challenges and Solutions 

Though a seamless experience is the goal, we can’t promise that the transition to one will be seamless. You may receive concerns about data privacy, experience technical issues or struggle to integrate organizational silos internally.  The best solutions to these challenges are to give your team the proper training and adjust your policies to best suit your company’s needs.

What Happens Next? 

Modern businesses stay modern for a reason: they evolve. And that’s what customers expect. You must constantly monitor advances in technology to stay sharp and ahead of the game in creating a unique space for your customers to interact with your brand. Take AI and AR/VR, for example. Integrating these into your customer experience could enhance the services you provide your consumers, making them even more efficient and engaging.

Note that these advances mean customers will become increasingly demanding in terms of how fast and seamless they want their experiences to be. It’s only a matter of time before these emerging technologies become essential, so why not stay ahead of the curve?

Ultimately, an omni-channel retail strategy will grant you access to more consumers and consumer data while providing your consumers with an elevated retail consumer experience with your brand. Curating a seamless transition between your physical stores and online presence may seem daunting, but retail integration is the best way to join the modern business world in their success. If you need help getting started, we have experience. Check out our work, or speak to a Pusher.

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Insights Restaurant Branding Marketing Communications Digital Media Advice

How Consistent Branding Can Be Your Restaurant’s Secret Ingredient

How Consistent Branding Can Be Your Restaurant’s Secret Ingredient

In our nearly 30 years of restaurant branding experience, we’ve seen just about every type of restaurant under the sun. And despite their differences in cuisine, location, and clientele, these restaurants can all be neatly filed under two categories: those that were successful, and those that were not. With the biggest determining factor often being consistency––or a lack thereof.

Consistency is what keeps customers coming back. What makes them refer you to loved ones looking for a good meal. It’s a promise that all the reasons they loved their last meal will be waiting for them when they next grace your dining room.

But consistency isn’t reserved for restaurant experience. Along with delicious food, a unique perspective, and stellar service, a consistent brand, too, can be a key ingredient in your continued success. Follow along to the recipe below as we help you cook up a consistent brand for your restaurant.

Be On-Brand

You probably have no less than 30 brands you can think of in a moment’s notice, simply because of the consistency of their logos, colors, fonts, messaging and voice. Establishing consistent branding for your restaurant means aspiring to this level of ubiquity across every consumer touchpoint: giving your customers the same signature flavor and experience each time they interact with your restaurant.

Spend quality time chewing on the elements mentioned above, ensuring they each send the right message. Burger King’s playful irreverence doesn’t fit McDonald’s, nor could Macca’s bright brand colors work for an upmarket eatery like The Capital Grille. These are the first impressions of your brand, and they’re what will become engrained in customers’ minds as they examine your place in the market. If you’re looking to protect your brand, it will help to compile a comprehensive set of brand guidelines. Think of these guidelines as a marketing Magic 8 Ball: if you’re ever doubting whether a creative decision is on brand or not, simply return to the rules you have in place for guidance.

Be Authentic

In the restaurant business you need to build a foundation of trust and loyalty with your customer base. This will require you to uphold the brand promise you created to build the foundation you need to evolve and expand. It will also demand that you be authentic.

Your customers are smart––they can see right through an inauthentic brand. Give them the credit they deserve by presenting honestly and authentically, drawing from real achievements, strengths, and emotions that translate across your entire organization. Part of establishing an authentic brand is ensuring your team knows how to represent your brand. Make sure they understand and embody your brand’s values and standards.

Look at brands like Sonny’s BBQ. Since undergoing a tip-to-tail rebrand with Push in 2013, they have have proudly maintained a consistent brand that lives authentically throughout the entire company. Their status as legendary local pitmasters is indisputable and shines through every billboard, menu item and social post. If you want an example of a younger company with brand consistency, Smalls Sliders has produced an organic cult-like following in just five short years. This is largely due to their simple, craveable product. But a healthy portion is owed to their consistent, Push-built brand.

Be Memorable

Your brand should be as memorable as your go-to order (double cheeseburger, extra pickles, add Mac sauce––thank us later.) When a brand is consistent across all fronts, spanning social media, web and physical locations, packaging, etc., consumers get to know it so well that they feel personally connected it. They know what it should look like, what it might say, and what it definitely wouldn’t say. (See our point about authenticity above.) A unified marketing strategy that is deeply influenced by your brand’s identity and messaging is great way to solidify the relationship consumers have with your brand.

Hubspot argues that your logo is the most memorable part of your entire brand, and we agree. When done well, it can immediately tie back to the pillars of your brand in the minds of consumers, in addition to looking equally great on a billboard or a napkin. Developing a memorable brand can feel like capturing lightning in a bottle. But consistency will undoubtedly help you put a cap on it.

Be Different

To end up on top in an increasingly competitive market, your restaurant needs to be different than the rest. Or, at the very least, consumers need to believe you provide a unique value that makes you a better option over other restaurants. With only so much wiggle room when it comes to price point and menu options, brand consistency can be a great way to curate a unique personality for your brand. As your brand matures, regular audits of your brand touch points will help you make sure you’re still staying true to the personality that makes people love your brand.

When hanging together, brand elements like signature dishes, distinctive decor, and a clarified visual presence are all ways to establish a distinct brand identity. But, remember: brand differentiation without consistency is a side dish without an entrée. It doesn’t matter how unique you are if you aren’t consistent with it.

Be Connected

Your customers may be the ones who bring home the bacon, but it’s your employees who make sure your doors open every day. Your employees are also your main ambassadors both within your restaurant and out in the world. They may not be in boardrooms making high-level brand decisions, but their daily insights can be instrumental in the success of your brand.

Keep these valuable lines of communication open by creating a feedback loop that encourages both customers and employees to identify areas for improvement in your organization. Even when communicating within your organization or onboarding employees, keep your brand personality and values consistent. Remember what we said about authenticity: A disconnect between how your brand looks or feels internally and externally will put off those consumers who have gotten to know your brand well.

We can look back at Smalls Sliders for a great example of consistent branding within an organization, too. Their brand’s voice and personality are clear and consistent no matter who it is aimed at. And with employees who fully embody their brand, it’s not just their sliders that keep people coming back.

Brand consistency can help you enhance brand recognition, increase customer loyalty, strengthen your brand’s identity, improve marketing efficiency, and improve employee engagement. But, all of these benefits can only be achieved through consistency over time, which will pay off in customer loyalty and the success of your restaurant.

If you want a brand that won’t get lost in the sauce, try out the advice given above. And if you feel like you need more direction, we are more than happy to lead the way. Check out how we helped Smalls Sliders Push their brand to its full potential.

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Insights Commentary Restaurant Advice Trends

6 Marketing Trends for BBQ Restaurants in 2024

6 Marketing Trends for BBQ Restaurants in 2024 feature image

Sustainability. Personalization. Authenticity. These are just a few market drivers for restaurants in 2024. As experiences and expectations continue to evolve, BBQ joints need to stay ahead of the curve and explore trends redefining the restaurant space. 

1. Fire up new tech 

Technology has infiltrated our daily lives. By now, almost everyone, from guests to restaurants, is plugged in. And tech-savvy guests are driving the expectation of automation. Whether it’s tap-to-pay service, online reservations, table-side tech, or custom promotions that get guests engaged with the brand, it’s important to add convenience to the menu. And reach audiences where they’re at.

2. Get personal(ization)

Guests want to make their dining experience, theirs. From customizable menus to memorable interactions, guests want their individual preferences and needs to be seen. This can manifest in a few different ways:

•  Mix-and-match menus:  Let guests choose their journey. Include permanent or LTO items that allow guests to mix and match sides, proteins, and ingredients in dishes like bowls.

•  Save preferences:  From birthdays to anniversaries, seating preferences, dietary  restrictions and  order history, BBQ restaurants can remember and recognize these to make guests  feel more  comfortable, valued  and  appreciated.

•  Recommendations:  Based on previous orders, restaurants can make  educated recommendations on online platforms for guests, suggesting new plates to try and  add-ons that  would level up their choices.

3. Clean up your practices

Today, consumers  are  largely  considering  a restaurant’s sustainability practices when deciding where to spend their dollars. Restaurants  will need to  embrace new processes to minimize their impact and align with consumers’ demand for more green practices. For example,  prioritizing  locally sourced foods, practicing portion control to reduce waste, establishing effective recycling programs, and switching to energy-efficient appliances and biodegradable or  even  reusable packaging.

4. Innovate the smooth sippin’ experience

It’s  no secret cocktail menus can plus up the dining experience. But guests’ tastes are constantly changing. With new preferences  on the rise, restaurants might need to freshen up their drink menus. Here are a few noteworthy trends and innovations that go beyond that traditional beverage:

• CBD-infused cocktails

• Eco-friendly liquors

• Mocktails

• Experiential enhancements like smoke, edible garnishes, and aromas.

5. Support the community

Guests want to know that their favorite restaurants are giving back. It’s an  important  aspect of building a strong loyalty with them.  Engage the community by hosting charity events for local causes,  hosting  workshops, cooking classes,  or  food-related events that provide educational opportunities, and partnering with local businesses through promos, events, and initiatives.

6. Keep it real

Stay true to your brand. Make sure your messaging aligns with your menu, values, mission, and actions taken. This will help your BBQ restaurant build trust and loyalty with guests. All it takes is consistent messaging, transparency and honesty about practices and shortcomings, and compelling brand storytelling.

Whatever marketing trend you decide to jump on, be sure it aligns with your BBQ restaurant  brand’s  mission, vision, and values. You can see how we  took a locally loved BBQ restaurant to the next level with a re-brand and new marketing strategies  here.  And if you need help deciding what makes sense for your brand or  don’t  know where to start, you can always  reach out.

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Retail Insights Marketing Communications Digital Media Advice Trends

Examining Gen Alpha: The Spending Habits of “Little Adults”

Examining Gen Alpha: The Spending Habits of “Little Adults”

Gen Alpha, the successors to Millennials and Gen Z, are reshaping how we think about marketing with their unique traits and tech-savvy nature. Let’s uncover what makes these globally aware kids tick and how businesses can keep up.

The Death of the “Tween”

Remember the early 2000s when tweens flocked to malls, heading straight to Limited Too? It was the younger version of The Limited and a go-to spot for logo tees and glittery accessories. As a 12-year-old girl, it was your favorite store. Or maybe you preferred Wet Seal, Delia’s, The Body Shop, Lush, or Charlotte Russe, places where young people explored who they wanted to be. By the late 2000s, Limited Too was gone and so was the tween shopping experience.

Gen Alpha, kids 14 and under, are known as the ‘landmark generation’ but surprisingly have few dedicated retail spaces. This is odd because they’re expected to be the largest generation in history, with over 2 billion born between 2010 and 2024. With nowhere to go, older Gen Alphas are jumping straight into adult brands like Starbucks, Lululemon, Sephora, Walmart and Target, influenced by their millennial parents.

Younger Gen Alphas are even more influenced by their millennial parents, who are still shopping for them. These parents do a ton of research before buying anything and exhibit higher brand loyalty, preferring nostalgic choices for their kids such as Disney, Lego, Nintendo and Fisher-Price.

To add further nuance, it should be noted that attempts by adult brands to target Gen Alpha separately, like Project Gap, don’t top their favorites list. That honor goes to brands like Amazon, Apple, Nintendo and Target—places adults love too. Gen Alpha and Gen Z share almost the same top 10 favorite brands. This generation is very brand-savvy, so businesses need to stay authentic. Speaking to them like they’re children can come off as patronizing.

At the end of the day, while Gen Alpha may have distinct brand preferences, they don’t yet have independent purchasing power. The reality of what brands kids are repping is down to what their parents are willing and able to buy them. So brands continue to market to adults, even if their consumers are getting younger by the day. If you’re wondering why 10-year-olds’ Sephora shopping carts are filled with retinols and heavy exfoliants, look no further than who’s paying for it.

Who’s influencing who? 

These shopping habits were built online over the past decade, first on Instagram and then on TikTok. Gen Alpha has grown up digitally connected, learning to “get ready with me” by listening to their favorite YouTubers list off the brands they consume during their daily morning routine, or things like WaterTok and IceTok, where recommendations about ice cube trays and water additive packets are free-flowing and monetized.

Certain products have reached cult status thanks to their constant appearances in Instagram Stories, YouTube haul videos and TikTok For You Pages. These brands do more than just serve a purpose though, they help tweens feel accepted in a community of multigenerational tastemakers. Buying these brands is like a rite of passage into adulthood and a way for Gen Alpha to join online culture.

Around 25% of Gen Alphas say influencers are their main shopping source and nearly 60% of their parents note that their kids watch shopping content, influencing their purchases based on favorite YouTube or Instagram personalities. This trend means companies should look into influencer partnerships for effective brand promotion.

However, to give credit where credit is due, Gen Alpha is changing how they use media, shifting towards more entertaining and funny content that sparks engagement. They value digital and human connectivity, pushing companies to create shareable and conversation-starting content.

Sustainability or Bust

While parents and influencers shape their choices, Gen Alpha has strong opinions. About 66% prefer buying from companies that make a positive impact and 67% want careers that help save the planet.

It makes sense that Gen Alpha is so eco-conscious—they’re growing up in a time of big environmental awareness. They’re more informed about issues like climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss than previous generations were at their age. Sustainability is part of school curriculums, all over social media and a priority for many of their parents.

As a result, Gen Alpha prefers eco-friendly products like those made from recycled materials, biodegradable items and minimal packaging. They support brands with ethical practices, including fair trade and corporate social responsibility. They also favor locally sourced and organic products to reduce carbon footprints. Brands need to keep innovating to meet Gen Alpha’s high sustainability standards.

Marketing to Gen Alpha

Now that you understand what influences Gen Alpha’s buying preferences, let’s talk tactics for effectively marketing to them:

1. Leverage Influencers: With many Gen Alphas looking to influencers, collaborating with popular YouTubers or Instagram stars can significantly sway their purchasing decisions.

2. Nostalgic Branding: Since their parents are loyal to familiar brands, tapping into nostalgia in your campaigns can resonate well.

3. Entertaining Content: Create humorous, shareable media to match Gen Alpha’s love for engaging content.

4. Balancing the Experience: Blend online and offline interactions to play on Gen Alpha’s value for connectivity.

Adopting these marketing tactics can allow businesses to navigate the unique characteristics and preferences of Gen Alpha, ensuring a meaningful and impactful presence in their world.

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Insights Marketing Communications Digital Media Advice Trends

Top AI Tools for Businesses: Identifying Popular Solutions and Expert Detection Methods  

Top AI Tools for Businesses: Identifying Popular Solutions and Expert Detection Methods feature image

Now that we know AI comes in peace, companies across all kinds of industries are starting to embrace the new tech with open arms. But it’s important to understand the dangers, the benefits and impact of AI to use it effectively. Let’s take a look at the top AI programs being used by businesses today and the best ways to evaluate their performance. So you can take your business to new heights.

What are AI tools?

Let’s back up a little bit. What is artificial intelligence? It’s super high tech that can complete tasks that normally us humans would have to do. For example reasoning, problem-solving, decision-making, etc. A lot of businesses use these AI software apps to save time and money, understand their audiences, predict patterns, spot fraud and even provide customer support.

Today, 35% of businesses have already dove into the world of AI. And 42% of companies that haven’t plan on integrating it within the next two years. Companies clearly don’t want to get left behind in this new tech revolution. Especially since new softwares seem to become available almost every day.

Key AI Technologies to Consider

Top AI Tools for Businesses: Identifying Popular Solutions and Expert Detection Methods

From streamlining operations to customer satisfaction and content creation, AI harnesses the power and potential to drive success in many different areas of business. But they aren’t meant to replace your work. Only reinvent the way your business operates so that you can focus on the bigger picture.

You might be asking yourself, “But how do I know which ones are right for my business?” Here’s a list of questions you can ask yourself to find out which tools make sense for your business:

• What are the specific goals I want to achieve through AI?

• Which of my businesses needs could be met using AI?

• Can this AI tool grow with my business?

• Is this AI tool cost effective for my business?

• Is this AI tool compatible with other stakeholders?

ChatGPT and Grammarly have earned their fair share of hype. But check out some more AI tools that could plus up your operations, marketing or customer satisfaction:

• FreePik AI Image Generator: A visual content creator that can help you streamline visual content editing and you bring your ideas to life through its flagship AI image generator.
Reply.io: A sales engagement platform that can help you expand your opportunities and handle the sales process more efficiently.

• Byword: A content creator that can produce high-quality content at scale. It uses keywords and titles to create SEO-optimized articles that will help boost your SEO traffic.

• Legal Robot: AI software program that makes it easier to decipher legalese, or overcomplicated legal terminology that is not easy for businesses to decipher, and identify potential legal risks.

• Outmatch: A recruitment AI program that can help you streamline the recruiting process while reducing costs and creating a positive experience for everyone involved.

Expert Methods for Evaluating AI Content

We understand that it’s hard enough to produce content at the speed of lightning. AI can help alleviate some of those mundane tasks and jobs that take up our team members’ valuable time. But while AI is a great tool, you can’t rely on it alone. Remember, AI doesn’t have a human stream of consciousness. It may require more information and learning to understand different concepts, ideas and questions to generate content that is original and accurate.

This is why you should always research and revise the content spit out by AI before implementing it in your business, posting online and creating any marketing assets. Here are a few ways you can evaluate your content:

    1. Check for patterns in text.
    2. Run your content through AI tools like Grammarly and Writer.com for plagiarism.
    3. Fact check. AI isn’t always up to date.
    4. Read your content to make sure it connects all the dots.
    5. Send your revised words through an AI detection tool.

Whether you’re in the restaurant, retail, higher education or tourism industry, tapping into AI tools can help improve your business in many facets. But if you want real, original, authentic content for marketing, it may take a little more brain power than artificial intelligence. If you’re interested in leveling up your advertising, feel free to reach out. For now, check out our past work.