The Future of AI in B2B Marketing: 5 Trends You Can't Ignore
Marketing leaders are already bracing for an AI-powered future. AI is poised to reshape social media, brand positioning and search landscapes.
The leader's focus will be on building AI-driven strategies that deliver short-term gains while positioning businesses for long-term benefits.
As AI becomes central to marketing success, leaders will need to operationalize these strategies to navigate the changing dynamics and stay ahead.
In the coming year, AI will be pivotal for positioning your company for success. Read on to explore what’s next for AI in marketing, both now and beyond.
Five Predictions from Gartner to Focus on for Next Year
1) AI Will Improve, Not Replace, Creative Talent
Despite popular belief, AI won’t replace creative jobs; it will simply encourage human creativity.
By 2026, 80% of advanced creative roles will use Generative AI to produce more innovative and diverse content. This is a wake-up call for those sceptical about AI’s worth.
And this is why the CMOs must invest in upskilling talent to work alongside AI. This will allow creatives to develop more concepts and content variations, keeping businesses competitive.
2) Brand Protection Against AI-Generated Misinformation
How many people enjoy reading AI-generated content? Hardly any, as it often feels redundant and lacks value. The result? Your content gets lost in the noise, damaging your brand's reputation.
Thankfully, AI tools are emerging to verify the authenticity of AI-generated content
According to Gartner, by 2026, 60% of CMOs will implement content authenticity tools and stricter GenAI guidelines.
To make AI a success for your campaign, it’s crucial to use user-generated content (UGC) to support marketing objectives. This approach will help protect your brand from misinformation while promoting authenticity and trust.
3) Half of Consumers Will Significantly Reduce Social Media Usage
Social media is declining in B2B. By 2025, 50% of consumers will reduce their interaction with major social media platforms due to AI-driven misinformation and fake content.
This decline stems from the overuse of AI in content creation, which is degrading its quality.
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That’s why brands are shifting their focus toward alternative customer engagement strategies
These strategies include: Integrating experiential benefits such as personalized offers, priority services, and early access.
By doing this you help brands build deeper engagement beyond transactional rewards, compensating for the decline in social media influence.
Additionally, early access can help brands foster deeper engagement by offering customers exclusive benefits that go beyond simple transactional rewards.
This way you can compensate for the diminishing impact of social media by creating a more personalized and value-driven customer experience.
4) Acoustic Brands Will Differentiate by Remaining AI-Free
In an AI-driven age, some customers still value AI-free content. In fact, by 2027, 20% of brands will differentiate themselves by positioning as AI-free.
In fact these "acoustic brands" will appeal to consumers who prioritize authenticity, safety, and ethics.
By doing this you particularly address the concerns about content bias, misinformation, and trust issues arising from AI.
But completely avoiding AI could mean a missed opportunity. In fact AI is the perfect way to manage customer concerns proactively.
Meanwhile, marketers need to anticipate shifts in consumer perceptions. This means you ensure transparency, protect customer data, and adopt responsible AI use policies. Again, limited trials and clear guidelines will help safeguard brand reputation.
5) AI’s Impact on Search Engine Results (SERPs)
By 2028, GenAI-powered search engines (SGE) will significantly reduce organic search traffic.
GenAI takes the top position in search results. So, marketers must adapt by prioritizing conversion-focused keywords, creating unique branded content, and exploring alternative channels like mobile marketing and advertorials.
To remain competitive in this evolving digital environment, brands need to optimize their content for visibility by prioritizing audience-centric and metadata-optimized content.
In conclusion:
The decisions you make today can have a long-term impact. By following these predictions and implementing the provided advice, you can chart a clear path for growth.
Focus on addressing gaps in revenue and leverage the power of AI to fuel your revenue cycle. Committing to these strategies, you’ll not only mend broken revenue streams but also position your business for sustained success in an AI-driven future.