AI in Action: How The Promo Industry Is Using AI

What’s all the buzz about AI and why does it matter to promo? 

Think of AI as your new super-powered sidekick. It can tackle everything from writing killer product copy to whipping up engaging social media content with tools like ChatGPT, Descript, and Jasper doing just that. Plus, AI is sneaking its way into tools you might already use, like Google docs, sheets, email and Microsoft applications to take those boring manual tasks off your plate.

AI will change the way we source, market, and sell, and is the single most transformative technological advance of our lifetime, second only to the internet itself! Distributors and suppliers in the promotional products industry are already exploring numerous ways to leverage AI to enhance sales growth, marketing content, data management, and operations.

In a recent webinar, commonsku's Chief Content Officer, Bobby Lehew, and Charles Freund, Director of Sales at Fairware, shared practical examples of how they are currently using AI tools and strategies to power their businesses. 

Here are the top apps and top tips

1. Internal training and team inspo: Turning your company's impact report into a podcast with Notebook LM? Fairware's doing it! Talk about making information accessible. 
2. Say goodbye to social media stress! Fairware uses a clever combo of Make, ChatGPT, and Claude to automatically create tailored posts from articles. Marketing just got a whole lot easier (and more democratic!).
3. Tired of sifting through lukewarm leads? Fairware built their own ChatGPT tool called "FILA" to quickly size up potential clients. Smart, right?
4. Struggling with product descriptions? Their other custom AI tool, "MILES," can whip up compelling product copy in a flash. Hello, efficiency!
5. Podcasting pros, rejoice! commonsku loves Descript for zapping those "ums" and "uhs" and even turning audio into social snippets and blog posts. Multitasking masters!
6. Want headlines that grab attention? Headline Studio Pro is commonsku's go-to for creating and analyzing titles that shine. Tools like Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot are getting in on this action too.
7. Need to freshen up your newsletter or summarize a long video? Writer and Notion are here to help you rewrite, rephrase, and get the gist in no time. The workflow is flipping productivity on its head – with articles, AI drafts the original, humans refine!

And how about using AI agents?. Picture AI handling client requests, searching catalogs, and generating killer ideas and presentations almost instantly. This could seriously speed up that middle part of the sales process, getting you from "hello" to "shipped" faster than ever.

If you’re ready to jump into the AI playground but you're not sure where to start, here are a few tips from Charles and Bobby:

• It won't break the bank! Many awesome AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google's Notebook LM are free to try.
• Just have a go! The best way to learn is to experiment. Don't worry about messing up – these tools are pretty forgiving. Think of it as test-driving a new gadget. And try it out personally too, use it to plan your next trip!
• Look who's already using AI! Check out the AI features hiding in your current Microsoft or Google tools.
• Got a headache-inducing task? See if AI tools like ChatGPT can lend a hand. Each time you handle a task that’s irritating, ask: Can I use an AI for this?
• The internet is your friend! There are tons of free articles and YouTube videos to help you become an AI whiz. Pro-tip: Even the AI tools themselves can teach you how to best use them!
• Let's be mindful, but keep moving forward! AI has an environmental footprint, focus on using it wisely.  
• Don’t forget, you’re the boss. AI is smart, but it doesn't have your unique flair. Always put your human touch on the content it creates. Your opinion matters!

Mostly: Enjoy the ride. AI is meant to make our lives easier, not more stressful. Don’t let these new tools freak you out. Have fun exploring and watch how they can make you a more efficient and creative superstar. By embracing AI, you can boost your efficiency, ramp up your marketing and sales game, and stay ahead in this fast-paced industry. 

So, what are you waiting for? Go get AI-ing! Here are the tools mentioned: 

• Jasper
• Writer
• Notion
• Descript
• ChatGPT
• NotebookLM
• Make

Join Our AI workshop at skucamp!

Only a handful of seats left for skucamp 2025! We just added a two-hour AI workshop to the schedule, so come learn how the industry’s most progressive pros are driving change in their business with AI. What's skucamp? Learn more and register today to lock in your seat!