Lomit Patel's Blog, page 93

How To Leverage AI And Automation With SaaS Platforms

KPMG stated that 94% of C-suite executives implementing AI in their workplace believe in its potential to optimize their organization and help it add greater value across every key performance indicator.

Things will change when one of the big four says something like that.

No SaaS, No Progress

How does that tie in with software as a service (SaaS)?

Sixty percent of American businesses use SaaS to save them upfront software and hardware installation costs, resulting in tremendous cost savings as opposed to the traditional on-premise setup.

Ultimately, SaaS enables small- to medium-sized businesses to gain access to high-performance software solutions on demand at significantly lower costs.

Leveraging SaaS AI Platforms To Maximize Business Efficiency

SaaS is beginning to embrace the inexorable march toward AI and machine learning���just as mainstream and investor interest is starting to stir.

No-code AI SaaS solutions, products and services can be rolled out in a drag-and-drop fashion on-demand, making it the absolute bleeding edge of innovation in the coming years.

And we’ve barely scratched the tip of the iceberg.

How AI-Powered Writing Assistants Can Help Businesses

Recently my team chose to leverage an AI-powered writing assistant, a prime example of an AI SaaS solution that can help small and medium businesses thrive in this rapidly evolving market.

By simplifying and streamlining the content creation process, AI-powered writing assistants can offer several benefits. Here are five features leaders should seek out when considering such solutions.

1. Cost Savings and Efficiency

A strong solution should help save your business’ time and resources by automating content generation, allowing your team to focus on other critical tasks and reduce overhead costs.

2. Consistency and Engagement

The right AI tool should help your business maintain a cohesive brand image and create captivating content that resonates with your target audience, leading to higher engagement and better conversion rates.

3. Improved SEO

Consider whether a tool will help aid in optimizing content for search engines by suggesting relevant keywords, phrases and ideal content structures to boost search engine rankings.

4. Scaling Content Production

Determine whether a given AI-powered writing assistant will enable you to scale your content production without additional staff as your business grows, generating a wide range of content types to meet demands.

5. Enhanced Creativity and Innovation

By leveraging AI-generated suggestions, businesses can break through writer’s block, gain fresh perspectives and develop innovative content ideas to set them apart.

Factors To Consider When Choosing An AI SaaS Platform

As these solutions have become more widespread, they’ve materialized into a new category of specialized software: AIaaS. While general AI platforms can do various tasks very well, a specialized AI SaaS can do a particular one much better.

AI-powered writing assistants stand to change the game for copywriting. But with so many market options, how do you pick the best solution for your business?

Choosing an AI-enabled SaaS platform to streamline your business is no laughing matter. Let’s explore what factors to account for, steps to take and mistakes to avoid when selecting one that suits your business needs.

1. Scalability

As your business grows, so do your user numbers and the volume of data you’re working with. You’ll want to ensure 24/7 availability with zero backlogs to ensure your platform isn’t prone to latency or failure.

2. Ease Of Integration

Depending on your organization’s requirements, you’ll want a certain depth of integration with your company’s existing infrastructure, apps, services and data. Integrations can be complex, and you’ll want your solution to be as easy to integrate with your setup.

3. The Degree Of Customization Needed For Your Business

Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, you might not get the optimal results from the wrong solution. That’s why choosing a best fit for the functionality, performance and integrations you need is essential.

4. Price

Startups, bootstrappers and solopreneurs might not require the most expensive solution for their requirements, while larger businesses might require an enterprise-ready service. Therefore, you’ll want to choose one that provides good value for the price and the goals you wish to achieve by using it.

Mistakes To Avoid

Before making that commitment, it’s important to take the right steps to determine what platform works best for you. Likewise, understand that there will be pitfalls when using an AI SaaS platform and separating marketing from reality.

Here are some common mistakes business owners and decision makers often make when choosing one.

1. Committing Too Fast, Too Soon

Don’t be pressured into committing, no matter how enticing a vendor’s packages might be. A good deal today is a good deal tomorrow���and it often pays to stay the course and evaluate the platform thoroughly to form a complete assessment before committing. Make sure there aren’t unnecessary features or longer lock-ins than you need.

2. Setting And Forgetting

Getting an AI SaaS platform isn’t a one-off job you set and forget. It’s more like tending a garden in that you need to stay on top of it throughout the implementation process to ensure that every part of your garden is well-tended���meaning you need to monitor your performance and efforts.

Analyze what else can be improved, measure everything with data and determine whether results align with your key performance indicators

3. No SOPs Or Team Onboarding

You can have the latest AI SaaS solution for your business with all the premium features, but it won’t amount to much unless your team adopts it and uses it in their day-to-day tasks. Granted, it’s never easy to get team members to use new technologies without a bit of nudging, but the only way you’ll get ROI using these new technologies is by gaining company-wide buy-in.

Finding The Right AI Solution For Your Business Needs

Artificial intelligence will disrupt the modern business landscape across every industry���including SaaS.

When SaaS is combined with AI’s immense potential, it allows businesses to extract the most value out of their investment by gaining deeper, value-added insights from their data, automating and personalizing products, solutions and services���and supercharging human capacity to previously unthinkable levels.

This article first appeared on FORBES

The post How To Leverage AI And Automation With SaaS Platforms appeared first on Lomit Patel.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education: Transforming Learning Experiences

Even in its infancy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already influencing many parts of our day-to-day lives. From organizational decision-making to medical diagnoses, AI has been a transformative force on par with the internet, and the education sector is no ���������exception.���     ������

The global ���AI in education��� market has already grown to about $4.25 billion and is set to reach over $20 billion by 2028 and over $30 billion by 2032, as per two different projections. AI’s impact on the education sector grows stronger every day, and understanding the role of AI in education can help relevant stakeholders and policymakers make educated decisions.

As the Chief Growth Officer at Tynker, a leading K-12 edtech platform, I will share three of these topics.

1. The Challenges of Defining the Role of AI in Education

������The role of AI in education is evolving too rapidly to accurately predict how it will transform education for different stakeholders, i.e., student learning experiences and teacher techniques, in the near and distant future.���

Further complicating the matter are the differences in AI adoption rates in different societies, communities, and education levels (primary, secondary, professional, etc.). There are also contrasting views about the ethics of AI in education, sparked by the widespread adoption of ChatGPT by students ������using it to craft essays and find quick solutions to homework questions.

Like many other technological innovations, AI is a powerful tool. Wielding correctly can lead to positive educational outcomes, but it can just as easily be abused to cheat the current educational system. This is why it���s essential to define the role and scope of AI in education, despite its challenges.

A good starting point would be to observe and analyze how AI transforms learning experiences in different learning environments and educational levels. The role of AI in education, especially ���in��������� transforming learning experiences, is most prominent in three domains.

2. Assessment/Monitoring

������One of the ways AI is transforming the learning experience for both students and educators is through the assessment and monitoring of a student’s performance. Teachers spend about 6.5 hours every week evaluating their students’ work and providing feedback, a time frame AI can significantly reduce. ���������

Automated essay scoring, where scoring rubrics can be modified, and the depth of assessment, especially from linguistic performance, can be fine-tuned far beyond human assessment, is already a mature AI application in education. AI can even be leveraged to introduce new assessment methods and add more dimensions to traditional evaluation/assessment.

The role of AI in educational assessment is currently limited to higher education or specialized educational domains like language proficiency assessment. However, efforts are being made to expand the scope of AI-powered assessments in an educational setting.

It’s also important to acknowledge the limitations ������of AI-based assessment and monitoring to define the scope of the role of AI in education. Some limitations include the bias inherent in training data, digital literacy (teachers and students), poorly defined performance evaluation metrics, situation awareness, and lack of empathy.

3. Personalization (At Scale)

������Even the most dedicated of teachers cannot personalize the learning experience for each student in a class. They must provide a learning environment ensuring maximum knowledge retention for most students. ���     ������

They cannot spend the time needed to bring the weakest student in the class up to speed with the rest of the students or help the brightest student reach their full potential by challenging them every step because either would negatively impact the bulk of the class.

This is an inherent problem in our education system that AI can help resolve. With comprehensive assessments, AI systems/tools can identify learning gaps and areas of strengths and weaknesses for each student. They can develop a new study schedule that allocates more time to the areas a student is weak at. ���������

By identifying which type of educational videos and learning materials benefit a student the most, an AI system can help that student achieve better learning outcomes by focusing on media/medium that works for them. NLP models like ChatGPT can explain ideas simply as a student needs to understand them. It can even ������explain ���������������������������complex concepts by providing analogies from a student���s areas of interest.

A comprehensive AI model can simultaneously offer each student the attention they need to keep pace with the rest of the class. Adaptive learning tools can use feedback to reroute a student���s learning ���path��� for better concept clarity and reinforcement.

It���s important to remember that personalized doesn���t mean humanized. AI cannot empathize with students or assess their emotional state (yet) and may have difficulty comprehending how emotional distress or distractions can impact learning outcomes.

Engagement and Knowledge Retention

������AI in education can make the learning experience more engaging, and personalization is just one aspect. AI can enhance the self-paced learning experience. Students ������unwilling to ask what they assume would be classified as “stupid questions” in the class can get the answer from AI and keep pace in ���real time. ���������

AI-based real-time translation models can increase engagement levels in multilingual classrooms. Interactive learning tools like chatbots can engage students more effectively.

AI can also be used to generate smart content that can be tailored to the specific needs of the students or gamify both learning and testing for improved knowledge retention.

Incorporating AI has the Potential to Improve Learning Outcomes

������AI in education is often compared to introducing calculators in the classroom, and ���how parents and teachers feared it would ���������weaken students’ mathematical abilities. ���������

However, ���������just as calculators didn’t diminish students’ mathematical abilities ���(it increased ���������efficiency���), AI may do the same ���on ���������a far grander scale. It may transform the learning paradigm and help humanity uncover new and better ways to learn and process complex ideas. ���������

The role of AI in education will only become more prominent and comprehensive in the future, and an early start in defining and shaping that role can lead to numerous positive learning outcomes.

This article first appeared on HACKERNOON

The post The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education: Transforming Learning Experiences appeared first on Lomit Patel.

How to Write an Impressive Resume As a Teenager

As a teenager, you may not have extensive work experience to boast about just yet, but that doesn���t mean you can���t create an impressive resume. A well-crafted resume can be a powerful tool to showcase your skills, achievements, and potential to future employers or educational institutions.

Don’t fret if you’re a teen lacking work experience. I will provide a step-by-step guide on writing an impressive resume as a teenager, highlighting your unique qualities, and setting yourself apart from the competition.

Contact Information

You should first include your contact information in your impressive resume. This information should include your name, address, phone number, and email address. Make sure this information is accurate and up-to-date.

Objective Statement

Your objective statement should indicate the type of job you are seeking and why. This statement should be short and to the point. For example, ���To obtain a part-time position that utilizes my communication and organizational skills.���

Education

List your high school and expected graduation date. If you have any notable academic achievements, such as a high GPA or being a member of the National Honor Society, include that as well. You can also include any relevant coursework, such as computer programming or business classes. If you have participated in any academic competitions or clubs, such as the Science Olympiad or debate team, be sure to include those.

Work Experience

If you don���t have any work experience, don���t worry! There are other ways to demonstrate your skills and abilities. You can include any volunteer work, internships, or summer programs you have participated in. For instance, if you are applying for a job in graphic design, you can showcase any design projects you have worked on, even if they were just for fun. Additionally, you can highlight any leadership roles you may have held in school, such as serving as a captain for a sports team or leading a school club.

Remember, employers are looking for candidates who are passionate, driven, and willing to learn. Use your resume to showcase your strengths and potential, even with limited work experience. List the organization, your role, and the dates you were involved. For example, ���Volunteer at the local animal shelter, walking and caring for dogs, May 2019 ��� present.���

Extracurricular Activities

Listing extracurricular activities in a resume is especially important for teens with little work experience. This section can help demonstrate your interests, passions, and ability to manage your time and balance multiple commitments. When listing extracurricular activities, include any clubs or organizations you are a part of and any leadership roles you may have held.

This can consist of student government, sports teams, or music groups. Don���t be afraid to get creative here ��� if you have pursued any personal projects or hobbies related to the job you are seeking, be sure to include those. For instance, if you are applying for a career in journalism, you can showcase any articles you have written for your school newspaper or any blogs you have maintained on your own.

Awards and Honors

If you have received any awards or recognition for your achievements, include them in a separate section. This can include academic honors, community service awards, or credit for a specific project or accomplishment.

Some examples of awards and honors that a teen can include on their resume:

Academic awards, such as Honor Roll, National Honor Society, or AP ScholarAthletic awards, such as MVP, team captain, or All-ConferenceCertificates of completion in relevant subjects like coding, art, or music.Community service awards, such as Volunteer of the Year or Outstanding Service AwardLeadership awards, such as Student Council Officer of the Year or Best Delegate at a Model UN ConferenceArtistic awards, such as Best in Show at a local art fair or winner of a photography contestMusic awards, such as First Chair in an orchestra or winner of a solo competitionScience awards, such as recognition in a science fair or participation in a research program

When applying for a job, limiting the awards and honors you include to only those that use the position is essential.

Personal Statement

Consider adding a brief personal statement at the beginning of your resume. This can give potential employers a sense of your personality and what you are passionate about. Keep it short and focused, and tie it back to the job you seek.

An example of a personal statement for a teen without much job experience might be: ���As a recent high school graduate, I am excited to enter the workforce and gain experience in marketing. I am a creative thinker with a passion for social media and digital marketing, and I am eager to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment.���

Workshops and Courses

If you have taken any relevant workshops or courses, include them in a separate section. This includes Coding lessons, online courses, community center workshops, or local college classes.

Remember, your resume is a reflection of you and your experiences. Be honest and concise, and focus on highlighting your strengths and accomplishments. With a well-crafted resume, you can stand out from the crowd and land that dream job!

Skills

Include any skills you have that are relevant to the job you are seeking. This can include computer skills, language skills, or any other skills that may be relevant to the job.

Here are some skills that could be listed on your resume:

Computer skills, such as proficiency in Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative SuiteCoding skillsLanguage skills, such as fluency in a second languageCommunication skills, such as public speaking or social media managementOrganizational skills, such as event planning or project managementLeadership skills, such as team captain or student council officerTechnical skills, such as web design or codingCreative skills, such as graphic design or photographyReferences

Include at least two references, such as a teacher, coach, or mentor. Make sure you ask for their permission before including their contact information.

Formatting

Ensuring that your resume is visually appealing and easy to read is essential. A simple and clean font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and a consistent format throughout the document can help achieve this.

While creating a solid resume as a teenager can be challenging, it’s not impossible. You can showcase your strengths and experiences, including extracurricular activities and relevant coursework, to potential employers by tailoring your resume to each job you apply for.

Keep your resume concise, visually appealing, and easy to read, and don’t forget to proofread for errors. Following these tips will increase your chances of landing your dream job!

This article first appeared on HACKERNOON.

The post How to Write an Impressive Resume As a Teenager appeared first on Lomit Patel.

Embracing Career Upskilling and Reskilling: Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing Job Market

The job market landscape is becoming increasingly turbulent in the face of rapid technological advancement.

News of job losses or corporations reducing their hiring efforts frequently appears in headlines.

Formerly confident in their positions, professionals today are now finding themselves in an unstable position with the possibility of being obsolete or being replaced by those with a more ���modern��� skillset. With the rise of cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other technological advancements, the need to keep one’s skillset as refreshed as possible has become more essential than ever at the risk of falling behind.

However, this is not a narrative of doom and gloom.

Instead, it is a call to action: an opportunity for professionals to seize control of their career trajectories through upskilling and reskilling, ensuring their relevance in the dynamic job market.

I will cover four principles around upskilling and reskilling.

1) The Importance of Upskilling and Reskilling

In the tech industry, the pace of change is relentless. New technologies, programming languages, and methodologies are constantly emerging, making it crucial for professionals to update their skills continuously.

One example of that is Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Although not a new concept, AI is making waves in every business by automating or streamlining day-to-day operations currently performed by humans. While imperfect, many companies embrace this new trend and alter their employment processes and hiring projections.

So how can a human compete with AI?

This is where upskilling can provide a competitive edge.

Human intervention will still be required when designing and operating AI for many years. By upskilling to learn your industry’s AI-powered tools and trends, you can secure your foothold in the space and ride the wave instead of being left behind.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, by 2025, 50% of all employees will need reskilling as the adoption of technology increases. The same report also states that the number of roles that require the use of technology will rise from 41% to 48% by 2025.

These statistics will only continue to rise as time ��� and technology ��� continues to progress.

The tech industry is where the need for upskilling and reskilling is most pronounced. With new technologies and programming languages emerging regularly, professionals in this field must constantly update their skills to stay relevant.

2) Strategies for Effective Upskilling and Reskilling

How do reskilling and upskilling help one stay relevant?

Several strategies for approaching upskilling and reskilling, just like professional development. Bootcamps, certification programs, and online courses are all excellent possibilities. For example, numerous courses in various tech-related subjects are available on platforms like Coursera and Udemy.

Upskilling and reskilling, however, involve more than just learning new skills. They also entail learning how to use these abilities successfully in a practical setting. Working on projects, cooperating with others, or even launching your own tech company might all fall under this category.

This more personalized approach, especially within the bounds of your own company, can benefit both employer and employee as growth trajectories change.

In addition to these strategies, promoting a continual learning culture within your company is crucial. This can be done by giving workers access to learning resources, encouraging them to attend workshops and conferences for their industry, and rewarding those who try to retrain or upskill.

3) Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Growth

Upskilling and reskilling can be challenging. It requires time, effort, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone.

It is crucial to consider these difficulties as learning opportunities rather than roadblocks. Upskilling and reskilling can be made less scary by adopting a growth attitude and viewing problems as chances to learn and better.

Furthermore, technology should be seen as a tool for development rather than a threat. Professionals can improve their skills and increase their marketability by learning to harness the power of technology.

Like learning any new skill: practice makes perfect.

4) The Role of Leadership in Promoting Upskilling and Reskilling

Leaders play a crucial role in promoting upskilling and reskilling within their organizations.

With so much change happening across every industry, setting the tone by committing to ongoing learning and growth rather than cutting costs and maintaining a lean organization can positively impact productivity and revenue.

Leaders can encourage upskilling and reskilling by giving staff the necessary tools and support. This could entail investing in training and development programs, allowing time off work for learning, or rewarding people who take up upskilling or reskilling projects. This will create an environment built on trust and opportunities for both the individual and the company to see a positive return in the future.

Even the most advanced technologies require some form of human intervention.

Invest in those who can help to keep you moving forward.

Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Work

In a rapidly changing job market, staying stagnant is not an option.

Professionals must continuously learn and adapt to stay relevant. By embracing upskilling and reskilling, you can ensure that you remain a valuable contributor in your respective field, no matter how much those fields may change.

Leaders must find opportunities to cut costs and invest in those who can help keep them moving in the right direction. You can motivate your team to further themselves and the company by implementing upskilling and reskilling.

Upskilling and reskilling are not just about keeping up with the latest technologies or trends.

It is about embracing a mindset of continuous learning and growth.

It is about being proactive in developing your skills and capabilities.

Most importantly, it is about being ready to seize new opportunities.

Ultimately, the most critical skill we can develop is learning and adapting. And by embracing upskilling and reskilling, we can cultivate this skill and ensure our success in the future of work.

The future belongs to those willing to learn, adapt, and grow.

This article first appeared on HACKERNOON

The post Embracing Career Upskilling and Reskilling: Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing Job Market appeared first on Lomit Patel.

7 Ways For CMOs To Reduce Costs While Driving Growth And Efficiency

As marketing rapidly evolves, CMOs face a formidable challenge in finding effective ways to reduce customer acquisition costs (CAC). With escalating economic uncertainty, the pressure to cut costs has reached unprecedented levels. Whether you helm a Fortune 500 company or a nimble startup, lowering your CAC is a paramount objective.

While paid media spending continues to soar as a viable response, resulting in soaring customer acquisition costs, another simple yet powerful solution exists: Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

You can dramatically slash your CAC by implementing a meticulously designed SEO strategy. Prashant Puri, CEO and Co-Founder of AdLift, estimates that a robust SEO strategy can reduce customer acquisition costs by 60%. Elsewhere, a recent study from Econsultancy and DeepCrawl found that 42% of top performers strongly agreed that search results performance is a key indicator of business health, while 89% of marketing leaders agreed that organic search will drive more revenue for their business.

To conquer the challenge of minimizing customer acquisition costs, a comprehensive SEO strategy can serve as your guiding star. Here are seven powerful SEO strategies to significantly reduce your CAC.

1. Unleash the power of People Also Ask (PAA).

A People Also Ask (PAA) Box can be a treasure trove of question-and-answer goodness to help users discover further information related to their initial search query. Leaders should craft highly targeted content that enhances organic search visibility by diligently analyzing and addressing user questions. Incorporating relevant keywords and providing comprehensive answers to PAA queries will elevate your SEO rankings and better attract qualified traffic.

2. Invest in User-Generated Content (UGC).

In the era of social proof, user-generated content has emerged as an invaluable tool. By actively encouraging customers to leave reviews, provide feedback and share their experiences, you can amplify brand credibility, foster engagement and boost SEO performance. Implementing creative strategies such as contests, social media campaigns and incentivized reviews will inspire users to generate valuable content to entice new customers and drive down acquisition costs.

3. Create compelling content.

The significance of high-quality, informative and engaging content cannot be overstated in any effective SEO strategy. Captivating content lies at the heart and soul of capturing the attention and loyalty of your target audience.

Brands can bolster their content through meticulous keyword research and seamless integration to ensure prominent placement in search engine results. By consistently updating websites or blogs with fresh, captivating content, you can enhance organic rankings, drive website traffic and attract potential customers.

4. Elevate your brand with Digital PR.

Digital PR and SEO go hand in hand, creating a match made in marketing heaven. While not strictly an SEO strategy, Digital PR complements your SEO efforts by enhancing your brand’s E-A-T, or Expertise, Authority and Trustworthiness.

Increase organic visibility through collaborative efforts such as guest blogs, expert interviews and share-worthy content. Earn high-quality backlinks with compelling content that establishes your brand’s authority in the industry.

5. Leverage synergies between paid media and SEO.

Seamlessly integrating your paid media and SEO strategies optimizes your online presence, drives targeted traffic to your website, and boosts search engine rankings, all while keeping costs to a minimum. The synergy between paid media and SEO is a potent combination that unlocks tremendous potential for cost-effective customer acquisition. By aligning messaging and keywords, and targeting strategies across both channels, you create a unified and powerful marketing force that maximizes online visibility and drives qualified leads.

6. Optimize for featured snippets.

Just like PAA, optimizing your content for featured snippets can be a game-changer in reducing customer acquisition costs. Providing clear and concise answers to specific queries increases the likelihood of your content being featured prominently in search results.

Appearing in featured snippets enhances online visibility and drives targeted traffic to your website, reducing reliance on paid media channels. By claiming those coveted snippet spots, you establish your brand as a trusted and authoritative source of information, organically attracting potential customers.

7. Target your high-revenue products.

To achieve optimal ROI and reduce overall marketing spend, focus on your most profitable products or services. By directing resources towards high-revenue offerings, you can maximize the impact of your marketing campaigns and attract valuable customers who are more likely to convert. This targeted approach allows you to strategically allocate your budget and generate greater returns while keeping acquisition costs in check.

A people-first approach is key to growth and cost reduction.

As business leaders, we must understand the importance of a robust marketing strategy that delivers results while minimizing costs. To achieve this, leaders should prioritize the creation of content that resonates with their target audience. Building content for people is the cornerstone of any successful marketing strategy. We must invest in understanding our customers’ unique needs, preferences and pain points in order to build strong relationships and drive engagement.

Many leaders opt to work with an SEO agency that can perform a comprehensive SEO audit in order to most effectively accomplish this. This step can pave the way for all future SEO strategies. With the right strategies and/or agency as a foundation, you can better focus on innovatively and engagingly telling your brand’s story.

I hope this piece provides some valuable takeaways for CMOs seeking to embrace the power of SEO and create content that connects with their target audience, reduces costs and helps drive significant business growth.

This article first appeared on FORBES

The post 7 Ways For CMOs To Reduce Costs While Driving Growth And Efficiency appeared first on Lomit Patel.

How to Use Digital Marketing to Boost Your Startup’s Success

As the digital era has grown, the marketing environment has changed, making digital marketing a crucial tool for any startup looking to succeed. The advantage lies in the ability of digital marketing to reach a global marketplace, fostering connections with customers who are already searching online for their products or services.

However, it is critical to remember that digital marketing is not merely about increasing visibility and driving traffic. It is also about engagement and conversion, creating a meaningful dialogue with consumers, and building long-term relationships based on trust and mutual benefit.

There are many different digital marketing strategies for startups to cost-effectively boost their growth and gain a competitive edge in the market. I will outline three.

1) The Power of (Intentional) Social Media Marketing

With an estimated 3.96 billion people using social media worldwide, social media is a powerful platform for startups and established companies. With the power to transform a brand’s visibility ��� for better or worse ��� a single post could completely change your growth trajectory overnight.

Develop a social media strategy as a part of your marketing strategy as soon as possible. Because of its quick-to-react nature and increasingly complicated algorithms, some people may put social media on the back burner in their marketing plan or merely rely on the “we’ll just post when we can” approach. However, these decisions will only have a detrimental effect eventually.

As a founder, begin by asking yourself a few straightforward questions:

Do I have the time to actively manage our social media accounts under (yet another) hat, or can I delegate it?What social media sites should we post on, and how do they connect with our target audience?What content appeals to our target market and best promotes our goods or services?

Answering each of these questions will help you determine things like:

If you, as the founder, are best suited to act as the brand’s spokesperson and post “in-the-moment” material, or if a small team can run itIf you should be posting short-form video content on TikTok versus long-form thought leadership pieces on LinkedInIf you should be posting selfies of your team packing orders late at night or polished ���talking head��� style videos of you and your team

You and your team should constantly be considering how to be as intentional as possible.

Use social media to provide value, tell your narrative to the world, and set expectations for your team and yourself early on.

Every post offers the chance to engage authentically, regardless of style or platform.

2) Standing Out in Inboxes

We have all felt the pain of scrolling through our inboxes and seeing junk messages from email lists we do not remember subscribing to.

On the other hand, we���ve also probably impulse-bought something from a promotional email while scrolling late at night.

Positioning your brand as a positive part of your target audience’s inbox is a delicate balance. Email marketing remains an effective strategy for direct communication with a median ROI of 122% ��� over four times higher than other marketing formats, including social media, direct mail, and paid search.

We have all experienced the agony of scrolling through our inboxes and finding spam from email lists we do not recall signing up for.

On the other hand, we have all scrolled late at night and made an impulsive purchase from a promotional email.

With a median ROI of 122%, email marketing is still a successful tactic for direct communication. Email is also more than four times more likely than other marketing formats like social media, direct mail, and sponsored search.

This does not mean that sending an email will automatically result in a positive ROI.

Take the time to identify your target market and map out their inbox experience as your email list expands.

Personalized marketing is more crucial than ever, with 73% of consumers expecting brands to understand their unique needs and expectations.

There are many chances to create a unique experience for each customer, even if you only sell one product or service. Tailoring your messaging through personalization tokens to include customer names, generating a unique call-to-action (CTA) or coupon code based on the platform they signed up on your email list for, or curating a list of product or service recommendations unique to each customer is just one of many examples where personalization can shine.

This also means implementing a proper system to track meaningful data points such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to understand your audience best. Unlocking these data points will help you establish a more meaningful connection with your audience to avoid becoming ���just another email��� in the trash.

3) Content Marketing with a Value-First Mentality

The most effective content marketers give without expectation.

Content marketing is a marketing technique that uses��informative, advisory, and entertaining content��to attract and engage a target audience and to convince them of the value of a company, its products, or its brand.��It costs 62% less than traditional marketing��and, if done correctly, can generate more sales without asking for the sale formally.

Understanding that your audience is not just a potential sale or conversion but a community seeking value is a more paced strategy that pays dividends eventually.

Providing valuable, free content cultivates trust, loyalty, and a sense of reciprocity among the audience.

This can take on a variety of shapes, including blogs that address frequently asked customer issues, instructional video series, podcasts based on market insights, etc. These pieces of content not only function well as niche marketing materials but also have the potential to remain evergreen and position you as an authority over time, all without a traditional sales pitch.

This trust-based relationship increases brand loyalty, positive word-of-mouth, and higher conversion rates.

SEO, or search engine optimization, heavily relies on content marketing. You can boost the visibility of your website by writing and posting high-quality content that contains the appropriate keywords for your business. Search engines elevate websites that consistently post pertinent, keyword-optimized material in search results, making it more likely that potential customers will find you when looking for the goods or services you provide.

When used wisely, digital marketing can accelerate startup growth without requiring a significant investment. Understanding your audience, the platforms they use, and the kinds of content they consume can help your business reach new potential heights while making the most of even modest investments.

This article first appeared on HACKERNOON

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How to market and grow EdTech app products

Lomit Patel returns to the Apptivate podcast to share his experiences marketing Tynker, an Edtech product that teaches kids how to code. 

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How AI is Disrupting The Way Educators Teach

As technology continues to play a crucial role in the advancement of almost every field, it shouldn’t be surprising to find education on the list. Educators across the globe are beginning to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the classroom at nearly every grade level. It shapes how we learn and teach, making the learning experience more engaging, personalized, and efficient.

As a disclosure, this article includes links to my parent company BYJU’S – one of the world’s foremost education technology companies that provides engaging and personalized learning programs to more than 150 million students worldwide.

Lomit Patel

Investments in edtech worldwide hit a new high of $16.1 billion in 2020, with AI-powered edtech solutions ranking among the top investment targets, according to a report by HolonIQ. Investors noted interest in AI-powered edtech solutions that can help personalize learning, automate administrative chores, and enhance student outcomes.

The impact, however, is more than just big business. With teachers working an average odf on top of the growing teacher shortage, 20 to 40 percent of current teacher hours (or nearly 13 hours per week) could be automated or streamlined using technology, according to McKinsey & Company. That means more time to support student learning and less time on paperwork.

While the list of benefits of AI in education is long, here are three benefits with examples of how AI disrupts the way educators teach in the classroom.

Personalized Learning

Personalized learning has long been a foundational part of education. AI’s power makes building and tailoring a learning experience for specific students’ needs even more accessible. Data collected by educators can be fed into AI-powered platforms to help determine a student’s learning requirements, such as learning pace, preferences, strengths, and weaknesses. Teachers can develop lesson plans and find resources.

AI-powered platforms can provide students with personalized feedback, assisting them in identifying areas for development. An AI-powered platform can evaluate an individual student’s performance on an assignment or test and provide real-time feedback to identify better areas where they may need to concentrate their studies more. This also facilitates better conversations with instructors or parents to identify other factors affecting their studies.

By using machine learning and AI, the BYJU���S app is diving deep into the learning needs of every individual student. Changing what is offered and updating recommendations is integral to customizing the learning process. Based on what is being taught in schools at a particular point, BYJU���S creates modules for specific concepts and topics to ensure students don���t feel limited while learning. So depending on how well a student can understand a concept or how he or she is faring in a subject, the recommendations will keep changing until a child can apply the concept and grasp the outcome.

Enhanced Learning Experience

Technology has already transformed students’ learning experiences through fun, educational gamified learning experiences. Students, for example, can learn to code by making or modifying their video games through platforms such as Tynker to create a more interactive and entertaining educational experience.

Through the power of AI, these already engaging learning experiences can become more personalized by recommending additional resources based on a student’s hobbies and learning style. If a student is interested in astronomy, an AI-powered platform can suggest other resources, such as articles, videos, or interactive simulations, to keep them motivated and involved.

Another significant advantage of artificial intelligence in education technology is its ability to provide a more immersive learning experience. Different types of technology combined with artificial intelligence can give interactive simulations that enable students to experience real-world situations, such as a virtual field trip to a historical site or a science lab experiment. This immersive learning experience can help students comprehend complex concepts and make learning more memorable.

Data-Driven Insights

Teachers can obtain valuable insights into their student’s learning behaviors using data. AI-powered platforms can provide teachers with more opportunities to evaluate a student’s performance, learning habits, and interests to provide the best learning experience. This personalized strategy can help students overcome learning difficulties.

Platforms with AI capabilities can also collect data on the efficiency of different teaching methods and techniques. By examining the information collected from various students, teachers can identify trends and patterns in their classes and make data-driven decisions about their instructional approaches. This data-driven strategy to education enables teachers to adapt lesson plans to meet their students’ unique needs better, improving learning outcomes and academic performance.

Examples of AI in the Classroom

Although there isn’t a robot in the room with the students, AI can be incorporated into the various tools and software teachers already use to create new possibilities for learning and growth. Some examples include:

Adaptive Learning Platforms: These AI-powered tools evaluate students’ learning levels and customize classes to suit their needs. Some examples are Dreambox, Knewton, and Carnegie Learning.

Intelligent Tutoring Systems: These tools use AI to give students individualized feedback and direction as they work through issues and learn new material. Some examples are Carnegie Learning, ALEKS, and Knewton.

Virtual Learning Assistants: These AI-powered assistants respond quickly to questions from students providing them with instant help and feedback. Examples of such tools include IBM Watson Assistant and Adaface.

Chatbots: Chatbots such as ChatGPT can provide support outside of the classroom, such as answering questions about homework assignments, giving feedback on pronunciation and grammar, and even be programmed to help students learn a new language.

Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP is used to study and understand human language, supporting the development of chatbots, voice assistants, and other AI-powered user interfaces that can have natural-language conversations with students. Some examples of NLP-powered tools are Duolingo, Grammarly, and LanguageTool.

Speech Recognition: Speech recognition technologies help assess students’ pronunciation and fluency, providing them with feedback on how to improve. Some examples include Language Learning with Netflix, Rosetta Stone, and Google Speech Recognition.

Predictive Analytics: These AI-powered tools help teachers intervene and assist students as needed by analyzing student data and forecasting performance. Some examples of predictive analytics tools are Edmentum, BrightBytes, and Skyward.

Sentiment Analysis:  Sentiment analysis tools examine the tone of student comments to gauge how satisfied they are with any individual learning experience. Some examples of sentiment analysis tools are IBM Watson, RapidMiner, and Alteryx.

Learning Analytics: These tools analyze data from various sources to provide insights into student learning patterns, preferences, and behaviors. Some examples of learning analytics tools are Blackboard, Brightspace, and Canvas.

Building and Learning with AI

Student learning has significantly benefited from AI, but they can also learn how this technology works. Everything is becoming “smarter” these days, from smart TVs to even smart cars, so there are more chances for students to learn smarter while exploring potential new interests or future career paths.

Also published on HACKERNOON

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An Intro to Coding for Kids: What Every Parent Should Know

It���s happening. Your child is beginning to dive into the world of computers and the programs that make them tick.

However, instead of taking things apart with screwdrivers and hammers in the garage like the past generations, your child is modifying his favorite game or unpacking the software powering the Chromebook they got at school.

Congratulations! You���ve taken the first steps in becoming a Coding Parent!

While it was once considered intimidating to all but a few, computer science has moved into the mainstream to become one of the most in-demand skills worldwide, with surging career growth.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that ���job openings for software developers are slated to grow 21 percent between 2018 and 2028 ��� that���s more than four times the average rate for all careers.���

However, learning to code early is more than preparing kids with tech skills for the job market. Kids who begin learning to code early on see numerous advantages in school.

What Can I Do To Support My Child in Learning to Code?

As parents, we know that everyone wants to see their kids be creative and resilient and learn valuable new skills. That���s why it���s important to allow kids to learn code everywhere.

Rest assured. You don���t have to know how to code yourself to encourage your child to learn these skills. Coding platforms like Tynker offer the world���s most extensive library of fun, self-paced courses and activities with built-in tutorials so your child can learn on their own���at their speed���paired with expert guidance from over 20,000 teachers to support them in learning faster.

What Kind of Benefits Will My Child Get From Coding?

Coding can encourage your child���s innate curiosity using play-based gamified courses and activities that make coding fun, motivating them to complete projects and advance their skills from block coding to real-world text languages like Python and JavaScript.

Here are some ways that learning to code can be of value to your child:

Coding Promotes Computational Thinking

Children learn to identify problems as a computer does by developing their computational thinking skills. This means they can process information to solve complicated issues by breaking them down into more minor, sequential problems, which can then be resolved more effectively and efficiently.

Coding Enhances Creativity

At its core, Coding is a creative process. It encourages children to ask questions and develop innovative solutions for them. It also requires experimentation and innovation, which help further strengthen creative and ���whole brain��� thinking. Children who code also tend to take these newly developed skills and use them in other areas of interest.

Coding Promotes Problem-Solving Skills

Kids develop problem-solving skills by giving them a fresh perspective to finding solutions. Children learn not to give up and stick to working on a solution to a problem, which builds resilience, determination, and perseverance.

Coding Builds Confidence and Improves Communication Skills

Coding is often a collaborative effort among programmers working in teams to solve problems and achieve programming objectives, helping them build their confidence and improve their ability to communicate clearly.

Final Thoughts

The correct coding platform can foster an environment where your child can explore their curiosity and better understand how technology influences the world around them.

About the Author

Lomit Patel��is the Chief Growth Officer of��Tynker, with 20 years of experience helping startups grow into successful businesses. Lomit has previously played a critical role in scaling growth at startups, including Roku (IPO), TrustedID (acquired by Equifax), Texture (acquired. by Apple), and IMVU (#2 top-grossing gaming app). Lomit is a public speaker, author, and advisor with numerous accolades and awards throughout his career, including being recognized as a Mobile Hero by Liftoff. Lomit’sbook��Lean AI��is part of Eric Ries’s best-selling ���The Lean Startup” series.

Also published on HACKERNOON

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Coding Education Is Crucial To American Business Success: 3 Ways Businesses Can Help

All over the globe, in countries such as Estonia, Israel, China, England, Australia and the United Arab Emirates, children start learning to code in elementary school. And yet, according to a recent study, across 37 U.S. states, only 4.7% of high school students in the United States were enrolled in computer science programs in 2021. As a disclosure, my company Tynker is one provider of coding edtech solutions.

Learning to code is being adopted much too slowly across the education system. This is scary because fewer elementary coders mean fewer STEM degree enrollments���resulting in an underskilled workforce to support our future digital economy.

What problems does this pose for business leaders?

The demand for workers with technical skills shows no sign of slowing���rapidly outpacing growth in traditional jobs. Jobs requiring technical expertise in areas including IT, cybersecurity, marketing research and other consulting services are expected to experience the third-largest employment increase over the years 2021���2031. In the next decade, more than half of all U.S. jobs will be impacted by automation, but job openings for software developers, data scientists, quality assurance analysts and testers are projected to grow 25% from 2020 to 2030.

Business leaders must recognize the importance of computer science in early childhood education and find ways to support it. If they do not prioritize this effort, the future workforce will lack the desired technical skills needed to become employable. The U.S. must catch up to other countries in providing its youth with 21st-century skills, as neglecting to do so poses a significant risk to the country’s economic future.

Computer science must become as fundamental a part of education as the traditional subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic if we want to ensure the country’s prosperity and its children’s success. In this article, I will outline some ways it can empower learners and three strategies companies can use to help bring coding education to their communities.

Coding has become a base requirement in many careers.

The next generation of coders is already preparing for tomorrow’s most innovative jobs, and by 2033, graduating high schoolers will be divided into those with computer science skills and those without. This will create an economic divide between countries that invest in coding education and those that don’t���with the former prospering in the job market and the latter struggling. Otherwise, companies like yours and mine will be forced to move higher-paying technical jobs overseas.

A successful career in the future depends on students learning how to code in order to meet the forecasted demand for jobs requiring technical skills. I’ve written further about this increased demand for coding skills across careers in this piece. By democratizing coding and guaranteeing access to coding instruction, students from every walk of life might gain access to vast opportunities.

At what age can students begin to learn to code?

Coding is an enjoyable experience for children as young as six, and kids can grasp fundamental computing concepts just as they do with math and English. In addition, numerous studies have shown that students who take computer science classes outperform their peers in standardized tests in math and reading.

Coding activities, tutorials and games aimed at children are available online; most are free or inexpensive. There is no downside to introducing children to coding early in their school careers, and students exposed to computer science while young are more likely to pursue STEM-related fields in college.

Learning to code also fosters creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, resilience and determination. The reward of success, whether through a small program or a major project, is incredibly satisfying. In addition, knowing how to code can help set a child up for maximum individual freedom later in life when it comes to career choices.

Here are strategies companies can use to help bring coding education to their communities.

1. Invest in free coding education programs.

A few examples of businesses supporting coding education include Microsoft, which has partnerships with local schools to offer computer science education and resources to students, and running programs like DigiGirlz, which exposes young women to technology careers. Another example is Apple, which runs coding workshops for kids and teenagers at its retail stores and provides educational resources to teachers and students through its Everyone Can Code program. Google also supports coding education through initiatives like Made with Code, which inspires girls to explore careers in technology, and Code with Google, which provides resources and support to help schools and educators teach computer science.

2. Host coding events and competitions.

Another way businesses can promote coding education is by sponsoring coding events or competitions for kids and young adults in their local community. My own company Tynker, for example, runs code jam competitions for kids and teens to encourage them to learn about coding and explore their creativity and problem-solving skills. We’ve experienced great success sponsoring a hackathon for high school students to encourage them to learn about coding. Such events can provide students with a fun and challenging learning experience while allowing companies to connect with the local community and share their passion for coding and technology.

3. Offer internships.

Finally, businesses can promote coding education by providing internships and job opportunities for students and young professionals interested in pursuing a career in coding. By offering hands-on experience and real-world exposure, businesses can help aspiring coders hone their skills and gain a deeper understanding of the field. This can benefit individuals while also strengthening the local community and helping promote the importance of coding education.

Is your company seeking to invest in coding education?

There are many ways for businesses to promote coding education and connect with their local community, and it’s time we get creative. Through sponsoring coding events, partnering with schools and educational organizations and providing internships and job opportunities, businesses can positively impact and help inspire the next generation of coders. By investing in coding education to help support the local community, companies can foster a more diverse and skilled workforce, helping to drive technological innovation.

This article was first published on Forbes

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