By Joseph Green

Figure out how to make this technology work for you.

There are absolutely loads of AI and ChatGPT courses on Udemy. You can learn all about this exciting technology with these online resources, giving you the tools you need to truly harness AI and make it work for you. And better yet, some of the best courses are available to take for free.

We’ve checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started. These are the best online AI and ChatGPT courses you can take for free this month:

• AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals
• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free
• AI for Everyone
• AI Foundations for Business Professionals
• AI-Powered Chatbot: Build Your Own with No Code
• AI Product Strategy
• AI to Boost Productivity
• Artificial Intelligence for Accountants
• Artificial Intelligence for Humans: AI Explained
• Artificial Intelligence: Preparing Your Career for AI
• Become an AI Accelerated Engineer Using ChatGPT
• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: ChatGPT, Github Copilot
• Business Analyst: Digital Director for AI and Data Science
• Canva AI: Master Canva AI Tools and Apps 2024
• ChatGPT 101: The Complete Beginner’s Guide and Masterclass
• ChatGPT in 30 Minutes: New Prompt Engineering and AI Skills
• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course
• ChatGPT Security: Privacy Risks and Data Protection Basics
• Create Faceless YouTube Videos Using Free AI Tools Only
• Deep Learning and AI with Python for Beginners
• Digital, Virtual and AI Photography
• Gemini AI Course for Beginners
• Google Gemini AI with Python API
• How To Make YouTube Automation Videos in 20 Minutes Using AI
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• Jasper AI Masterclass: Automate your Marketing with AI
• Learn Basics About AI
• Master Gemini AI
• Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: Get Started with AI
• Midjourney and ChatGPT: Unleash AI for Unique Image Generation
• Prompt Engineering+: Master Speaking To AI
• Unleash your Creativity with Stable Diffusion AI

These free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but that’s the only catch. You can still learn at a pace that suits you, so there really isn’t anything stopping you from enrolling.

Feature Image Credit: Getty Images

By Joseph Green

Sourced from Mashable

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

By Dan Massimino & Evan Hovorka

Harnessing the magic of TikTok in retail media

In this episode of The Garage podcast, hosts Dan Massimino and Evan Hovorka are joined by Casey Hamlyn, North America measurement lead at TikTok.

Join them as they explore the world of retail media on TikTok, from the challenges of balancing content creation with advertising, to the importance of data hygiene and trust-building.

Hamlyn also discusses the future of the advertising landscape, and expands on how machine learning and AI are transforming TikTok ads.

“We ​provide ​resources across ​all ​of the ​paid ​ad ​side to ​help ​advertisers ​make ​quality ​creative. ​Because, ​frankly, ​whether ​it’s ​paid ​or ​not ​paid, ​it ​helps ​if ​advertisers ​are ​making ​awesome ​creative ​that ​people ​love,” he says on the podcast. “​And ​then ​the ​balance ​isn’t ​about ​paid ​and ​not ​paid. ​It’s ​about ​how ​many ​good ​TikToks ​do ​you ​have ​in ​the ​system that ​people ​want ​to ​watch ​and ​be ​entertained ​by.”

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Key takeaways:

[15:07] In data management, it’s crucial to recognize that systems evolve over time, and new challenges continually emerge, especially with online transactions that weren’t initially considered. He uses the example of Nielsen, who emphasize sophisticated data quality checks and sustainable processes. They utilize a system of flags and notifications (e.g., yellow, green, red) to indicate the severity of data issues. Hamlyn offers a key lesson: Data hygiene deteriorates over time, requiring ongoing adaptation of data processes and sets to maintain accuracy. Continuous evolution and vigilance are essential for effective data management.

[19:00] TikTok balances content creation and advertising to ensure a seamless user experience by prioritizing high-quality creative content. The platform allows all types of content, whether paid or organic, to have visibility, which keeps users engaged. Senior-level decision-making oversees the equilibrium between paid ads and non-paid content, emphasizing long-term strategy and the importance of quality. TikTok supports advertisers by providing extensive resources and training to help them create compelling and engaging ads.

[26:57] TikTok is still in the early stages of establishing itself as a credible and reliable partner in the retail media space. Success in retail media requires dependable operations, strong relationships, and effective campaign management, including accurate measurement and negotiation. TikTok’s immediate goal is to prove its reliability and consistency in handling routine tasks before exploring advanced features and special projects. Hamlyn outlines how the platform aims to meet various levels of retail media sophistication, adapting to different capabilities and needs, while gradually introducing more innovative solutions as trust and credibility are solidified.

[32:16] Hamlyn anticipates significant advancements in the advertising industry, driven by reduced supply bottlenecks and enhanced creativity and processes. TikTok is leading this shift with its rapidly growing search and shop functions and new machine learning tools that transform traditional ads into engaging TikTok-style content. These tools speed up the creative process, helping marketers quickly adapt and optimize their briefs. These advancements are revolutionizing how marketers produce and manage high-volume ad content, marking a departure from traditional methods and setting the stage for unprecedented growth in the industry.

By Dan Massimino

Dan Massimino leads Communication and Learning and Development for Albertsons Media Collective, ensuring all marketing and messaging is on-brand and driving growth for the Retail Media industry and brands profitability.

Evan Hovorka

Evan Hovorka leads product development at Albertsons Media Collective, where he and his team design and build innovative marketing technology that drives profitability for brands.

Sourced from ADWEEK

By Jodie Cook

Everyone wants to scale their business but hardly any make it a success. Only 22% of new businesses launched in the past decade have pulled it off. 70% of startups struggle to scale, and half of small businesses don’t make it past year five. The odds don’t look good.

But here’s the thing. Two-thirds of the value created in new businesses happens during scale-up. Companies that nail their scaling are three times more likely to succeed.

It’s an important phase and the rewards are there if you can crack the code. Join the 22% with 7 ChatGPT prompts to help you scale.

Scale your business with ChatGPT: prompts for ideation, planning and success

Know when to make your move

“Adopt the role of a business analyst. What are the key indicators that suggest my business is ready to scale? Help me assess whether now is the right time to expand in [describe your industry/niche].”

Timing is everything. Don’t jump too soon, but don’t miss your window. Use this prompt to get it right. If you decide it is time to scale, move on to this next prompt.

Map out your scaling strategy

“Guide me through developing a scaling strategy that aligns with my current business model and market conditions. What steps should I take to prepare for growth? Ask 5 questions, one by one, about my business plan before providing a draft strategy [Include your business model and business plan]”

A solid plan is your roadmap to success. Without it, you’re just wandering. ChatGPT can suggest areas to explore that you may have missed.

Spot your scaling opportunities

“Acting as a growth advisor, help me identify potential scaling opportunities, such as new markets, products, or services. How can I evaluate and prioritize these options in line with the scaling strategy outlined. Here’s what we have tried so far: [describe that here]”

The right opportunity can skyrocket your growth. Get a list of ideas, discount those that won’t work, then choose a few and double down.

Prepare for the pitfalls

“What are some common challenges businesses like mine face when scaling, and how can I mitigate them? [Add more specific business details if required] Provide specific strategies for navigating potential pitfalls.”

70% of scale-ups fall short in at least one critical area, identified by McKinsey as being product & strategy, go to market, technology, people, operations, capital and governance. Cover all your bases.

Build your dream team

“Help me create a plan for scaling my team as my business grows, especially as I explore [specify the strategy you want to explore]. What roles should I prioritize hiring for, and how can I maintain a strong company culture? Here’s information about my team right now: [include that here]”

Your team can make or break your scaling efforts. Get a second opinion on the people you have in place, and build up with the best new hires.

Get your finances in order

“What financial considerations should I keep in mind when scaling my business as planned? Guide me through managing cash flow, securing funding, and planning for financial sustainability. First, ask me questions about my current finances so you have a deeper understanding of my situation.”

Successful scale-ups raise 250% more investment than anticipated. If you’re going for funding, be prepared for a windfall when you get this right.

Streamline your operations

“Assist me in refining my operations to support scaling. What changes should I consider in processes, technology, or partnerships to handle increased demand? First, ask me questions about my current operational setup and point out any areas of concern. Then move onto adaptations required for scaling.”

Efficiency is key. Make sure your operations can handle the growth, then throw everything at the top of the funnel. Without this step, your business could buckle under the strain of even your first efforts at scaling.

Scale smart, scale fast: ChatGPT prompts for insane business growth

Use these prompts to start your scaling journey with ChatGPT. Tailor them to your business for personalized advice and keep refining your plan until you’re confident in your scaling strategy. Get better as you get better.

You’ll know you’re ready to scale when the stats motivate you, not scare you off trying. Join the elite set of startups that successfully scale. Your scaling journey starts now. Make it count.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Jodie Cook

Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

Founder of Coachvox AI – create an AI version of you. Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2017. Post-exit entrepreneur and author of Ten Year Career. Competitive powerlifter and digital nomad.

Sourced from Forbes

By Reuters

Shares in the EU hearing aid industry dropped.

Feature Image Credit: Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters, file

By Reuters

—Anastasiia Kozlova, Alessandro Parodi, Agnieszka Olenska and Amir Orusov, Reuters

Sourced from FastCompany

By Kiah Collier

Scroll through your Facebook feed, and you’ll get pelted by advertisements begging for a click. Like any other type of post, these ads allow you to react. Often, you’ll notice that one or more of your friends has already “liked” them.

Advertisers hope that a high number of such endorsements, especially from familiar faces, might make users more likely to click. But new research from Texas McCombs finds it depends on the type of ad—and the type of friend.

The wrong ads and friends could have the opposite effect, making a viewer less likely to click. So say Ashish Agarwal, associate professor of information, risk, and operations management (IROM), and Andrew Whinston, professor of IROM. Whinston is also the Hugh Roy Cullen Centennial Chair in Business Administration and director of the Centre for Research in Electronic Commerce at The University of Texas at Austin.

Agarwal, Whinston, and Shun-Yang Lee of Northeastern University focused on call-to-action (CTA) ads. Such ads use assertive wording to urge users to do something specific, such as purchase a product or download a mobile app. They’re different from the passive wording of informational ads, which politely invite users to click to “learn more.”

Advertisers tend to prefer CTA ads, Agarwal says, because they put social media users “directly into purchase mode.” But past research had shown a downside to CTA ads: They often rubbed users the wrong way, especially when people felt manipulated.

The researchers wondered whether an accumulation of “likes” could overcome that resistance.

Agarwal asks, “Given that these are assertive ads, how would these social cues help or hurt?”

The team conducted two rounds of studies.

• In a field experiment, they teamed up with a mobile app developer to place a CTA ad on Facebook, asking users to download an app. It appeared 710,445 times, resulting in 799 “likes” and 4,052 clicks.
• For a lab test, they evaluated different combinations of ads and cues: informational vs. CTA and generic “likes” vs. “likes” from friends. Each of the 982 study participants provided the names of five friends.

The studies found that users had different responses, depending on the ad and the cue. For informational ads, more “likes” led to more clicks. The odds of a click rose 3% for every 100 generic likes and even more—21%—for each “like” by a friend.

For CTA ads, the opposite was true. The overall number of “likes” had no meaningful impact on clicks.

But “likes” from friends did have effects—both ways. They were positive or negative, depending on whether a user believed a friend had similar or dissimilar interests.

• Having similar interests increased the odds of a click by 180%.
• Having dissimilar interests decreased the odds by 66%.

Why the difference? In a follow-up lab study, the team found that users responded negatively to CTA ads, because they felt advertisers were trying to manipulate them. They saw the highlighting of “likes” as part of that strategy.

They set aside that resistance, though, when they saw that friends with similar interests “liked” an ad. They saw the ad as having higher credibility.

By contrast, they found informational ads less intrusive than CTAs. They felt less resistance and were more open to being swayed by “likes.”

The team’s findings have implications for advertisers, Agarwal says, as well as for social media companies that rely on advertising revenue. Displaying “likes” may be effective for informational ads but not for CTAs.

“You have to be a bit careful about the value of these endorsements,” Agarwal says. “Maybe social media companies can make their presence optional. Maybe advertisers should have a choice: Do I want my content to be promoted with these endorsements or not?”

The research is published in the journal Information Systems Research.

Feature Image Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

By Kiah Collier

University of Texas at Austin

Sourced from PHYS.ORG

By Kristen Dolan

Over the course of this year, I’ve helped brands navigate seismic industry changes, from Oracle’s departure from the advertising business to Google’s cookie phase-out reversal. At the centre of discussions (besides the obvious, AI) is an increasing focus on the role influencers play across the media mix and customer journey. After engaging in meaningful discussions with the industry’s top marketing leaders, I’m sharing a top 10 list of my favourite questions, along with my perspectives, which have helped to shape media strategies and innovation roadmaps.

Let’s dive in!

10. How is AI transforming influencer marketing?

While AI has been around for quite some time, generative AI (GenAI) has been a recent topic of interest over the last two years. GenAI is a type of AI that generates copy, graphics, audio and videos. The integration of AI technologies, including GenAI, in the influencer marketing landscape is catalysing transformative advancements in creator vetting, communication efficiency and content creation. In other words, it’s a BFD.

By harnessing AI-driven insights, agencies and brands can optimize workflows, strengthen client relationships and navigate regulatory complexities. These are mere examples, but the opportunities are limitless.

9. Will virtual influencers replace traditional influencers?

If the question pertains to the human impact on influence, I find it hard for AI to replace human connection. People follow influencers because they genuinely have built these parasocial relationships, trust what that influencer is saying and trust their recommendations as they would seek their own friend out to do so. The human connection is what drives that authenticity.

While I don’t see that wavering in place of AI, I do see a more collaborative role in that creators can tap into AI tools to help manage their businesses. Operationally, they can save so much time and resources by tapping into AI tools to help automate things like resourcing, invoicing, planning, data/analytics and so much more. From a content perspective, AI can certainly expedite and advance the creation process—I see an early-stage use case here of expanding creativity, not used to directly influence an action/recommendation.

8. How will creator content evolve over the next few years?

Outside of AI collaboration, creator content is becoming more pervasive. I hope to see brands more proactively adapt to a creator and audience-first mindset when developing omnichannel strategies.

7. What are the most innovative ways influencers are using new social media features?

Anecdotally, I really want creator-led programming to have its moment. Humour me…if we are seeing more consistent tune-ins across lives on social, inevitably, that means people are developing the habit of tuning into their favourite creators at a specific time.

In parallel, we’re seeing Netflix test out live content.

If both worlds are successful, creator live content becomes extremely valuable. I can see a world where streaming platforms are picking up creator programming (as they would broadcast programming) and offering creator content as a viewing option.

6. What influencer strategy is most slept on?

From a brand perspective, deeper creator collaborations. Creators, as their own small businesses, are an untapped resource for brands to realize their full ROI potential.

5. Which past social predictions have made an impact so far this year?

Less of a prediction and more of a framework for discerning marketing hype from hyperbole. Essentially, the parameters that need to be met in order for an emerging social platform to truly be noteworthy are: consistent adoption, a positive and value-adding user experience, serving a need and evolving with its user base as those needs change.

Threads userbase hit 200 million monthly active users according to their Q2 earnings. Up 100 million from their initial launch week in July of last year—a platform to monitor and distinguish from hyperbole if the framework elements continue to be met.

4. How can brands leverage creators to streamline the checkout process?

Approaching strategies with a customer-first mindset, understanding the customer journey and the role influencers can play in driving sales on your website or in your store. An important concept is recognizing creators as a standalone media channel. Creator content will become more pervasive as the ROI continues to be justified.

3. What does the future of creator commerce look like?

I don’t look at things as if there’s a definitive endpoint, but I can speak to the general cyclical pattern of ubiquity to consolidation and vice versa. Consumers have so many options, more than ever. Their attention grows more and more fragmented, and the ability to meet them where they are, with relevant messaging and the ability to immediately shop, is business critical but also cumbersome. The next phase in the future will inevitably shift to a version of consolidation, which we’re starting to see a glimpse of via Google’s Anti-Trust ruling and TikTok’s partnering with Amazon for integrated shopping.

2. What examples across the creator economy stand out as ground breaking applications of AI, and how can businesses tap into that potential?

What I consider ground breaking isn’t necessarily the splashy consumer-facing side of marketing but the technical infrastructure that fuels consumer insights and strategy. The stronger the first-party data for a brand, the more opportunity there is to eliminate wasted spend and influence more immediate ROI. I look forward to seeing applications of AI that enrich the data process for consumer profiles and strengthen propensity modelling for stronger go-to-market strategies.

1. How should companies be navigating this new wave of digital transformation through AI technology?

Be agile or stay fragile. I encourage everyone to embrace innovation and technology while finding ways to up level yourself, your business and your people.

Today is the worst state we’ll experience technology. It only improves from today onward. Those embracing it today are setting themselves up for success in the future.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Kristen Dolan

Kristen Dolan is SVP of Growth at Influential. Read Kristen Dolan’s full executive profile here.

Sourced from Forbes

By Riyah Collins

Adverts for nutrition products promoted by Diary of a CEO podcaster Steven Bartlett have been banned after a watchdog said they were misleading.

The businessman, who’s also one of the dragons on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, promoted products for Huel and Zoe without making clear he has business interests in both companies.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the ads, seen on Facebook in February, could be mistaken for an independent review and therefore mislead consumers.

Both Huel and Zoe argued against the ban, saying it would be clear to customers they had a “commercial relationship” with him.

Feature Image Credit: Getty Images

By Riyah Collins

Sourced from BBC

By Adrian Falk

When it comes to advertising your business, you no longer need months of planning and preparation to launch your campaigns.

When I started my advertising and PR agency over 22 years ago, it took weeks of planning to write clients’ ads, design show-stopping pieces and then manage all of the production for an integrated print, TV and outdoor campaign.

Nowadays, you can launch a social media campaign within a few minutes and then scale it overnight, internationally if you want. You can wake up to a calendar full of potential clients who are all warmed up and waiting to engage your company’s services.

Here are four tactics to use when you’re rolling out ad campaigns on Facebook and Instagram.

1. Be Aware Of Your Audience

Who is your target audience? Knowing your audience is crucial not only for setting up your campaign objectives but also for designing your creative. Not sure where to start? You can use tools like Google Analytics and Facebook’s Audiences section to discover information about your existing customers and identify their key interests and behaviours.

Having a great understanding of your audience also helps you craft your ad copy. You want to ensure that you communicate with your target audience in a tone that will resonate with them.

The great thing about Facebook is that it also offers look-alike audiences that allow you to reach potential new customers based on the attributes of your existing audience. You can simply upload a list of email addresses of current clients and then Facebook will automatically create a look-alike audience for you.

2. Prioritize The Meta Pixel

Properly installing the Meta pixel on your site, landing pages or customer relationship management tool is crucial. The pixel is a powerful way to track your ad audience’s behaviour on your site and then optimize the performance of your ads.

Installing the Meta pixel on your website allows you to track who is viewing your site, what products they add to their cart and what purchases they make. The pixel also can help with conversion tracking. This allows you to determine which ads produce the most conversions so you can optimize accordingly. Using the pixel as part of a retargeting strategy helps you further advertise to those who have visited your site or abandoned their shopping cart.

3. Optimize Often

Make sure you are continuously optimizing your Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns as things can change quickly. Even if you’ve hit a home run with winning creative, after a while I guarantee that your cost per lead will increase dramatically. At this point, you could either increase your budget or go back to the drawing board and start running new creative.

When testing new creative ideas, make use of Facebook’s A/B testing option, which allows you to see quickly which is the winning creative so you can roll out the ad that will ultimately perform the best.

Monitoring your daily ad spend is important as well. Although it seems like a given, many people set up their ads and don’t look that often at their ROI. You should pause any ads that aren’t meeting your advertising goals so you can give more weight to those that are.

Another metric to take note of is your ad frequency. I’ve found that ads with a frequency of two or more often start getting more expensive to run as your target audience may have ad fatigue, which can lead to a decrease in engagement.

4. Integrate Your Campaigns With Your CRM

Once your social media ads are up and running, integrate your CRM software with your Meta Ads Manager platform so your leads will be emailed to you in real time, and then you or your sales team can reach out to them promptly.

I also recommend setting up automated workflows in your CRM so you can keep prospective customers warm by drip-feeding them emails about you and your company throughout the month. You could even create an AI chatbot to engage with them and sell via a text messaging campaign. I have done this for my own company.

Running paid social media campaigns is a great way to grow your business without spending a fortune if you are doing it correctly. By taking a methodical approach, determining your goal upfront, testing creative along the way and monitoring your return on investment, you can be sure that you are setting your company up for success.

Feature Image Credit: Getty

By Adrian Falk

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.

Adrian Falk, Founder of Believe Advertising & PR | Helping Entrepreneurs Scale Through PR & Digital Marketing | Best-Selling. Author. Read Adrian Falk’s full executive profile here.

Sourced from Forbes

By Aamir Siddiqui

The US Department of Justice is exploring a couple of remedies, and it could possibly suggest a couple of them on Google.

We just had an exciting Pixel 9 series launch from Google, and those devices certainly warrant our attention. However, on the business side, things are not looking that good for the company. Earlier this month, a US District Court ruled that Google violated US antitrust laws when it preloaded its search engine and web browser on Android devices, capitalizing on its monopolistic position. As part of the remediation, the US Department of Justice is exploring the possibility of breaking up Android and Chrome away from Google.

Feature Image Credit: Edgar Cervantes, Android Authority

By Aamir Siddiqui

Sourced from ANDROID AUTHORITY

By Mark Penn,

Stagwell’s Mark Penn asks why marketers have such a problem with emerging tech, both trades share a timeless and unbreakable bond.

Investors always think marketing companies are going out of business, but history shows it is tech companies that become outdated and fall.

By Mark Penn,

Sourced from The Drum