In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we sit down with Andreas Duess, co-founder of 6 Seeds Consulting, to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the world of consumer research. From reducing the failure rate of CPG product launches to building synthetic personas based on behavioral data, Duess offers a fascinating look at the future of marketing.

You’ll learn:

·      How to use AI to close the “say-do” gap

·      The value of AI-powered digital focus groups

·      The role of meaning-making vs. sense-making in successful AI strategies

·      How smart fridges and food delivery data contribute to predictive analytics

·      Why generalists will thrive in the age of AI

Plus, Duess shares how he uses AI as a collaborative partner in writing, creativity, and product development. Whether you're a CMO or a startup founder, this is a must-listen conversation that offers strategic and tactical takeaways.

To learn more about 6 Seeds Consulting, visit: https://6seedsconsulting.com

Click here to view the video: AI and Marketing with Andreas Duess

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we explore how AI search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are revolutionizing how customers discover and engage with brands. From optimizing for conversational language to updating your website’s technical structure, marketers must adapt quickly.

You'll hear expert insights on:

·      How AI search differs from traditional SEO

·      The role of review platforms and YouTube content

·      The importance of a holistic marketing strategy

·      What foundational marketing principles still matter

·      How to audit your brand’s AI visibility vs. competitors

We also discuss advice for young marketers, the importance of staying curious, and the future of AI-powered agents in marketing.

🔗 LinkedIn Profile

📎 To learn more about Debbie Gainsford Marketing, visit: https://debbiegainsford.com/

🎥 Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/J5mwMDPASF0

Hashtags:

#AIandMarketing #AIenabledMarketResearch #DigitalMarketing #AISEO #B2BMarketing

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we dive into how AI enabled market research is reshaping small business marketing, especially in the trades. Our guest from Far Beyond Marketing shares how her proprietary "4 Cs" framework—Clear Copy, Consistent Branding, Customer Demographics, and Channel Management—helps business owners build smart, scalable strategies. Learn how to align your brand messaging, reduce marketing waste, and convert more leads by integrating AI into your customer journey.

You’ll also discover how Amber's team used AI to reduce cost-per-click from $500 to $79 in just 12 weeks across 30 franchise locations. Plus, we cover tips on recession-proofing your marketing, building long-term client value, and creating upsell systems that maximize revenue. Whether you’re a solopreneur or managing multiple locations, this episode is packed with insights to take your marketing far beyond the basics.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketing-strategy-coaching-ambergaige/

To learn more about Far Beyond Marketing, visit: https://farbeyondmarketing.com/

Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/96zz9EH0zp4

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we explore the collision of AI and SEO with HelloSEO’s founder. With over a decade of experience, she shares how AI-enabled market research is transforming how marketers approach digital visibility—and what still can’t be replaced by machines.

Discover:

·      Why human expertise still matters in SEO

·      How to use AI without losing reader trust

·      The danger of relying on AI for keyword research

·      How PR, backlinks, and EEAT play a critical role in your rankings

·      Why zero-click content is changing everything

·      What AI-powered search engines mean for local businesses

From startups to Fortune 500 brands, this episode offers invaluable insights into building long-term SEO success in the age of AI.

🎥 Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/Ye4EyhMbx-0

Click to visit the Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BackstoryOnMarketingandAI

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we talk with a senior leader at Freepik, an AI-powered creative platform used by millions of professionals. Discover how the evolution of generative tools is reshaping the design and marketing world.

From the rise of video AI in 2025 to the ethical questions around copyright and content quality, this episode covers:

·      How Freepik transitioned from a stock content platform to a full AI suite

·      What SlidesGo is doing with presentations and generative media

·      The biggest AI trends marketers need to prepare for

·      Ethical concerns, legal gray areas, and quality assurance

·      Practical advice for new marketers and creatives entering the AI age

We also discuss the role of AI in driving personalization, creativity at scale, and how marketers can position themselves as strategic leaders using these tools.

Resources mentioned:

·      Freepik: https://freepik.com

·      Connect with Jose: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseflorido/

·      Visit MarketingMachine.Prorelevant.com for more on the upcoming book The AI Marketing Machine

Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/YsaobR4_iYY

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we uncover how Marla Schilling at Zayo is using AI to dramatically enhance marketing performance. Learn how her team increased blog traffic by 160% and improved social media engagement by 90% by integrating AI into their content and social workflows.

Discover how AI-enabled Market Research powers better decision-making, the best ways to overcome internal resistance to AI adoption, and why human oversight remains crucial to maintaining brand quality.

Whether you're curious about AI's potential in marketing or already implementing AI-driven strategies, this interview is packed with actionable insights!

🔗 Connect with Marla on LinkedIn

To learn more about Zayo, visit: https://zayo.com/

🎥 Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/7OvvTv2EUIQ

#AIandMarketing #AIenabledMarketResearch #ContentStrategy #SocialMediaMarketing #MarketingInnovation

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we spotlight an AI-native advertising platform that’s reshaping how marketers approach media buying and personalization. Learn how NextRoll powers over 150 billion buyer predictions daily and helps marketers optimize spend across web, social, CTV, and more. Discover how AI-enabled market research and predictive analytics are giving brands full-funnel visibility and campaign autonomy. Hear how they're preparing for a cookieless future through privacy-forward data strategies and how they’re applying natural language processing in contextual targeting.

This conversation dives deep into:

• The shift from assistive to autonomous marketing decision-making
• Multi-channel campaign optimization and cross-channel attribution
• Contextual targeting through NLP in the post-cookie era
• Lessons from real-world clients seeing AI impact bottom lines

🔗 Visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/vibhor/

🔗 Visit https://nextroll.com

Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/_xMXG9X-TNU

#AIandMarketing #MarketingAI #AdTech #PersonalizationAtScale #AIenabledMarketResearch

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the publishing industry. Our guest is the CEO of Ulysses Press, who reveals how his company uses AI to forecast demand, optimize marketing, and stay competitive in a changing digital landscape.

You’ll learn:

• How TikTok and influencer-driven algorithms are replacing traditional media in book discovery
• How AI tools like ChatGPT and Photoshop are streamlining press releases and marketing assets
• Why Amazon's AI chatbot “Rufus” may mark the end of SEO as we know it
• How synthetic narration could disrupt the audiobook market
• Why AI is not replacing jobs, but enhancing productivity—especially in marketing and editorial teams

This episode is a must-listen for marketers, publishers, and authors navigating the AI transformation.

Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/JiVOaAhJpEQ

In this powerful episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we explore how Tipton-Franklin is transforming modern marketing with the help of cutting-edge AI tools. Angela Tipton and Travis Franklin share their unique journey from biotech and agriculture to strategy and tech-driven marketing.

They break down the role of platforms like Gemini, ChatGPT, Hype AI, and Blow Potato in enhancing content creation, segmentation, personalization, and operational workflows. The conversation touches on agent-based AI systems, the strategic use of AI for segment-based personalization, and the importance of maintaining human oversight to ensure accuracy and compliance—especially in regulated industries.

Angela and Travis also offer practical tips for young marketers to own their careers, drive AI adoption within their teams, and use tools like prompt libraries to scale their work. This episode is packed with insight, humor, and hands-on advice for marketers looking to stay ahead of the curve in the age of automation.

🎥 Click here to view the video: https://youtu.be/2SidPicW_Xo

In this episode of The Backstory on Marketing and AI, we explore how AI is transforming the way marketers develop strategy, conduct research, and bring campaigns to life. We uncover how a purpose-built AI marketing OS can empower teams to generate insights, test creative, track cultural shifts, and optimize campaigns—all through agentic AI and LLMs trained on brand-specific logic.

This conversation covers:

·      How marketers can build trust in AI outputs

·      Why AI should be seen as an input synthesizer, not a magic bullet

·      The role of "explainability" in selling AI-derived ideas internally

·      How Opus Intelligence uses role-specific agents to cut research time by 75%

·      Why cultural relevance must be trained into your AI stack

·      How to scale content without sacrificing strategic insight

·      Why marketers need to move beyond “AI as a buzzword”

This episode is a crash course in strategic, brand-aligned AI use that respects both the art and science of marketing.

Click here to view the video.