Marketing is a balancing act of creativity, data, and time. In a recent TMM webinar, Nick shared how AI isn’t here to take our jobs, but to give us back the time and brain space we need to focus on the things that matter—ideas, strategy, and creativity.
With over 1,100 marketers tuning in, Nick’s session delivered practical tips for how AI can be a valuable teammate, covering everything from presentations and data analysis to everyday personal hacks. Here’s what we learned.
🔑 Key Takeaways
1️⃣ Time is the biggest challenge.
- The TMM community highlighted lack of time as the biggest barrier to creativity and productivity.
- AI can give us back hours by automating repetitive tasks, freeing us up for strategy and creativity.
2️⃣ AI is your new assistant.
- Think of AI as “Presentation Paula,” “Research Ray,” “Data Dan,” “Creative Cam,” and “PA Priya.”
- Each helps with a specific task: slides, summaries, data insights, creative ideas, and admin.
- Together, they save time and unlock fresh thinking.
3️⃣ Human + AI is a powerful combination.
- AI helps with speed and pattern recognition, but human context, judgment, and creativity are essential.
- Stay in control of the process, apply checks, and use AI as a supportive partner, not a replacement.
4️⃣ Quick, practical tools to explore.
- Gamma: Turn text outlines into professional slide decks.
- Napkin: Create data visualizations from simple inputs.
- NotebookLM: Summarize white papers, create podcasts, and query content hands-free.
- Claude: Generate campaign ideas and drafts with a natural tone.
5️⃣ Prompts are modern delegation.
- Use Nick’s “Three Cs” for effective AI prompts: Character, Clarity, and Context.
- The better the brief, the better the output.
6️⃣ Play with AI in daily life to build confidence.
- Try meal planning with fridge photos, hydration challenges, or travel planning for personal practice.
- It’s a safe way to learn before applying AI to work.
7️⃣ Balance productivity with learning.
- Avoid over-reliance on AI; it’s there to augment your skills, not replace them.
- AI can help with speed and creativity, but keep developing critical thinking and understanding the “why” behind decisions.
8️⃣ Start with one tool, then scale.
- ChatGPT is a versatile starting point for most marketers.
- Add tools like Claude, Gemini, or Copilot as you become more confident.
- Avoid being overwhelmed by options; focus on a few tools that cover 90% of your needs.
✍️ Nick’s Tips for Better AI Use
- Think of prompts like delegating to a teammate: clear, specific, and context-rich.
- Start simple, then refine and iterate.
- Use AI for the heavy lifting, then apply your creativity and context to perfect the output.
- Remember, AI is fast, but it’s your job to ask “so what?” and apply the human touch.
🤖 What About Ethics?
Nick shared a thoughtful reminder:
“AI isn’t magic—it’s a set of tools. Balance the benefit and the risk, and use it responsibly. AI can be part of the solution, not just the problem.”
🙌 Thanks to Our Sponsors
Huge thanks to Frontify who helped make this possible. Also big love to Stickybeak, Cambridge Marketing College, Redgate, and Planable, you help make sessions like this happen.