Podcast Summary: Social Media Marketing Talk Show – "Most Marketers Have No Idea What's Coming"

Host: Michael Stelzner, Social Media Examiner
Release Date: January 18, 2025

1. Introduction & Context

In this special episode of the Social Media Marketing Talk Show, host Michael Stelzner delves into the seismic shifts occurring in the world of AI and social media marketing. He reflects on a post he made on December 19th, which stirred significant conversation across platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). The post highlighted a major, albeit overlooked, development in the marketing landscape that unfolded just before the Christmas holidays—a period typically fraught with distractions and competing announcements.

Michael Stelzner [00:00]:
"Most marketers have no idea what just happened over the last two weeks. It's so big that it's hard for me to wrap my head around."

2. Challenges for Marketers in 2024

Throughout 2024, Stelzner observed a growing sense of uncertainty and frustration among marketers, particularly those running agencies, consulting businesses, or operating solo. Many struggled to identify the next strategic focus, frequently encountering obstacles that hindered their progress. This widespread struggle underscored the need for innovative solutions and guidance in navigating the evolving digital landscape.

3. The AI Explored Podcast Experiment

In response to these challenges, Stelzner embarked on an experimental initiative: launching the AI Explored podcast in May 2024. Contrary to traditional AI shows that emphasized news or technical aspects, AI Explored aimed to provide practical applications of AI tailored for marketers. The hypothesis was straightforward yet ambitious: if the small business marketing community, Social Media Examiner's primary audience, needed help leveraging AI, then a dedicated platform could offer the necessary support.

Stelzner approached this experiment with a scientific mindset, establishing a clear metric for success: achieving 1,000 listeners per episode within the first 12 episodes. This goal was set to validate the podcast's value and inform future endeavors.

4. Success and Expansion Initiatives

Against expectations, AI Explored surpassed its initial goals swiftly. By the fifth episode, the podcast had already garnered over 1,000 listeners, prompting Stelzner to declare it a resounding success and a permanent addition to Social Media Examiner's lineup. Fast forward eight months, the podcast had ascended to the top 15 marketing podcasts in the Apple Podcast Directory, consistently attracting thousands of listeners within the first 24 hours of each release.

Encouraged by this success, Stelzner expanded Social Media Marketing World, the flagship conference of Social Media Examiner, to include an entirely new AI and Marketing track. This addition featured 11 speakers dedicated to demonstrating how marketers can effectively implement AI technologies in their strategies.

In October 2024, furthering their commitment to AI education, Social Media Examiner launched the AI Business Society—a paid membership offering ongoing live training sessions, bi-monthly meetups, and access to a vibrant community of like-minded marketers.

5. December's Major AI Announcements

Returning to December, Stelzner highlights a flurry of significant AI announcements from industry giants like Google, OpenAI (the creators of ChatGPT), Meta (formerly Facebook), and Amazon. These announcements, collectively referred to as "AI changes everything," were made deliberately during the holiday season—a period typically dominated by personal and professional distractions, making it an unconventional time for major industry disclosures.

6. Demonstration of ChatGPT's New Features

To illustrate the advancements, Stelzner conducts a live demonstration with ChatGPT, showcasing its enhanced capabilities:

• Visual Recognition: ChatGPT accurately identifies a Rodecaster Pro audio mixer shown on camera, extrapolating its use in audio production.

  Michael Stelzner [12:04]:
  "It looks like you have a Rodecaster Pro audio mixer in front of you. It's a sleek device with faders, knobs, and some colorful buttons. Are you working on some audio production?"

• Comprehensive AI Announcements Summary: Upon requesting a summary of OpenAI's "12 days of shipments," ChatGPT provides a detailed account of new feature releases, including the O1 model, Sora (a text-to-video generation tool), expanded Canvas for collaborative writing and coding, ChatGPT's integration with Apple Intelligence for Siri, advanced voice modes with video capabilities, and previews of upcoming models like O3 and O3 mini set for January 2025.

  ChatGPT [12:45]:
  "Over the past 12 days, OpenAI introduced several new features. They launched the O1 model, enhancing reasoning abilities. They also unveiled Sora, a text-to-video generation tool..."

Stelzner emphasizes the impressive integration of visual, conversational, and informational capabilities within ChatGPT, likening it to the fictional Star Wars character C-3PO.

Michael Stelzner [13:49]:
"We're literally Talking Star Wars C-3PO level stuff here, right? Without a physical robot."

7. Implications of Rapid AI Innovation

Stelzner conveys a sense of awe and urgency regarding the unprecedented pace of AI advancements. Drawing from his extensive experience in the industry, he asserts that the current wave of innovation exceeds anything witnessed before, positioning AI as a transformative force in marketing.

Michael Stelzner [17:00]:
"I'm here to tell you that I've never seen in a two-week period of time this level of innovation and the possibilities of it ever..."

He warns that marketers who swiftly adopt and integrate these AI advancements will gain a substantial competitive edge, enhancing productivity and value to employers or clients. Conversely, those who resist or delay embracing AI risk falling behind, potentially diminishing their market relevance and job security.

8. Internal AI Adoption at Social Media Examiner

Reflecting his commitment to AI integration, Stelzner outlines the proactive measures taken within Social Media Examiner:

• Comprehensive AI Training: All employees underwent sophisticated AI training sessions, learning various use cases and gaining access to essential AI tools.

• Mandatory AI Utilization: AI usage became a core expectation for every team member, aimed at enhancing work quality rather than replacing their roles.

• Accountability Measures: Leadership was tasked with weekly reporting on their AI utilization and learnings, a practice extended throughout the organizational hierarchy to ensure consistent AI adoption.

Michael Stelzner [18:01]:
"This is going to provide a massive advantage to marketers who embrace this innovation now."

9. Recommendations for Marketers

Stelzner offers actionable advice for marketers seeking to stay ahead in the AI-driven landscape:

1. Engage with the AI Explored Podcast:

   He encourages listeners to immerse themselves in the AI Explored podcast, starting from the first episode to build a strong foundation in practical AI applications for marketing.

   Michael Stelzner [23:48]:
   "I suggest you make a habit of listening to the AI Explored podcast each and every week and go all the way back to episode one and just start listening..."

2. Invest in Personal AI Education:

   Emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, Stelzner advises investing time and resources into mastering AI tools and strategies. He highlights opportunities such as attending Social Media Marketing World 2025, which offers dedicated AI tracks and virtual participation options for those unable to travel.

   Michael Stelzner [23:48]:
   "Consider investing in yourself by making an investment in yourself, you're committing to yourself that you want to become an AI-enhanced marketer..."

10. Conclusion and Call to Action

Wrapping up the episode, Stelzner reiterates the transformative potential of AI for marketers. He calls for immediate action to embrace AI innovations to secure a competitive advantage and invites listeners to share their thoughts and experiences with AI through various social media platforms.

Michael Stelzner [25:00]:
"I believe AI is going to be a massive game changer and I can't wait to see what all this innovation that has happened over the last month and what is happening right now is going to make possible for you."

He concludes with an invitation to attend the upcoming Social Media Marketing World conference and to engage with the broader community to harness the full potential of AI in marketing.

Notable Quotes:

• On Starting the AI Experiment:

  Michael Stelzner [05:00]:
  "If you're like many marketers, last year was very challenging, but this year doesn't have to be that way."

• On AI as a Competitive Advantage:

  Michael Stelzner [19:41]:
  "Any marketer who understands how to put the latest AI innovations to work will have an unfair competitive advantage over other marketers."

• On the Pace of AI Innovation:

  Michael Stelzner [17:00]:
  "This, my friends, is Next level. The pace of innovation that is happening that so many of us are not prepared for is really crazy."

Final Thoughts:

Michael Stelzner's episode serves as a clarion call for marketers to prioritize AI integration within their strategies. By sharing his journey of experimentation, success, and the urgent developments in AI technology, Stelzner underscores the necessity for marketers to adapt or risk obsolescence. The episode is both a roadmap and a motivational piece, encouraging continuous learning and proactive engagement with AI to thrive in the rapidly evolving digital marketing landscape.