It seems like whenever new technology becomes available, society embraces it before considering potential repercussions.
I’m old enough to remember the 90s, when companies installed new phone systems and laid off all their receptionists (hardly a huge savings since they weren’t very high paying jobs). After a couple of years of button-pushing frustration, companies that value customer service re-hired receptionists to answer phone calls and greet guests (and employees) at the door.
When the cell phone came along, it meant that your employees, your spouse, or your kids could be readily available every minute of the day. It also meant that school children could text each other, and later have the internet and social media, at their fingertips, every day, all day. Since then, research has repeatedly demonstrated how damaging phones are (particularly in school) for a child’s education and psychological well-being. Sadly, we are slow to solve this problem in the US. It isn’t complicated, we know the problem, cause, and solution…we just lack the will to make it happen. (Luckily, 58% of countries worldwide have made it happen – most within the last 3 years.)
The latest technology we can’t live without is AI. I’m not against AI, I just don’t think it’s the answer to everything…
From a marketing perspective, AI is great in many ways, but not when it’s used to write content. Don’t get me wrong, we love to use AI to help brainstorm ideas, flesh out an idea, or even to create an outline. The problem is that exclusively using AI can quickly degrade the quality of your content. There’s a great article in the Harvard Business Review entitled “Don’t Let AI Slop Muck Up Your Company’s Processes”. I think the title says it all but take the time to read it. Very interesting!
The other issue with AI content is that it conflicts with both good SEO practices AND good GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), which defines what the latest AI models are finding and promoting. This is because much AI generated content lacks:
- Experience
- Expertise
- Authoritativeness
- Trustworthiness
These 4 are critical when it comes to SEO and GEO (or AIO, AI Optimization). Since AI generated content draws primarily from existing content, it lacks SEO rich information which is quality, relevance, and trustworthiness. There are also several logistical issues with AI content creation such as formatting and keyword placement that affect the way in which your site is found.
AI has come a long way, but it still has further to go. It may eventually get there – but until it does, be sure you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket. If you would like to learn more about proper AI implementation for your marketing needs, contact us. We’d be happy to discuss it.
Are you looking for a free (yes, I said free!) resource that helps your manufacturing facility save energy, improve productivity and reduce waste? Look no further than this Department of Energy funded program at UConn…
If your shop floor has an aging workforce, you risk incredible knowledge walking off into the sunset. However, if they’re all newly minted machinists, they have no one to learn from and don’t yet have the experience to solve complicated problems. The real trick is finding the right balance between new talent and seasoned experience. Just like your shop floor, your marketing team should be built with intention.
Consultants provide expertise in areas of your business that you either don’t have in-house or don’t have the capacity for. By outsourcing some tasks, you can focus on what you do best – manufacturing!
Data drives everything in our lives from the advertisements we watch to the music we listen to. It has become so intertwined in our daily life that we don’t think about it. However, January 28th marked International Data Privacy Day, and it might be worth investigating the last time you updated your website’s privacy and data collection policy.
At the beginning of the new year, people often set new year’s resolutions like going to the gym or eating better. But setting a goal is just the first step – you actually have to follow through with action. THAT’S where the rubber meets the road, because if you don’t want to do it, it’s probably not going to happen. I mean, we all know that running is a good way to lose weight, but if you hate running, it probably isn’t the right task for you. So, maybe you should try a team sport or swimming instead. You’re way more likely to complete a goal that you like!
As we approach the new year, many businesses are considering how they want to grow in 2026. Should they expand their offering in some areas and scale back in others? What does the market demand? To determine this, you need to have a sustainable way to attract new business while maintaining your current customers’ needs.
“I need a new website” is a statement we often hear. While a website is one of your most important marketing tools, it is easy for your site to get lost in the vast sea of search results even if you offer a superior product or unique solution.
With each passing week, it seems that more businesses have started to utilize AI to introduce new features and enhance productivity in their workforce. While this can be useful, in many cases as with any new technology, oftentimes who comes out ahead is not who can use it the most, but who uses it the best.
I attended the annual Women in Manufacturing Summit earlier this week. There were over 2,100 people at the Summit in Boston which offered more than 60 educational sessions. I was fortunate to attend the presentation on Reshoring by Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute.