From Netflix to Nike: Examples of How Brands Do AI Marketing

Leyla Ezgi Dinc

Leyla Ezgi Dinc

Clock Icon

10 Mins

E-commerce AI

E-Commerce

AI advertising is here and getting smarter than ever. So, should we be worried about robots selling us everything from toothpaste to vacations? Not quite. Let's dive into the fascinating world of AI Ads and see how it's actually benefiting both businesses and consumers with real-world examples. In this blog post, we'll explore how big companies are using AI technology in their marketing strategy.

From Netflix to Nike: Examples of How Brands Do AI Marketing

Artificial intelligence has already revolutionized the future of advertising, and it seems like it will continue to dominate the scene in the years to come. So, let the statistics speak for themselves. According to a study by MSPoweruser73% of marketing executives have already adopted AI at their companies. 

In this blog post, we'll explore how renowned brands like Starbucks, Netflix, Nike, and Lacoste have integrated AI Ads technology into their marketing strategies. I hope this article is a valuable guide for those seeking answers to "How to Use AI in Advertising?"

The Power of Personalization: Starbucks 

First, let's talk about Starbucks' three-legged win-win-win marketing strategy.

Starbucks leverages AI to analyze a treasure trove of customer data within their mobile app. Yep, that widely used mobile application. This process includes past purchases, preferred drinks, typical order times, and even frequency of visits. By harnessing this wealth of information, Starbucks can craft highly personalized marketing campaigns. 

Imagine receiving a push notification on a chilly autumn morning suggesting your favorite pumpkin spice latte, just when you might be craving a warm seasonal treat.

AI can also recommend new beverages or food pairings based on your past behavior. You may discover a delicious pastry that perfectly complements your usual iced latte.

DeepBrew – Machine Learning at Starbucks – a Roadmap – Brian Ames, Starbucks

Results: The impact of Starbucks' AI-powered personalization is fantastic. Studies have shown a significant increase in customer engagement, with targeted promotions leading to more frequent app usage and purchases. Additionally, by suggesting complementary food items alongside beverages, Starbucks has reached a remarkable uplift in average order value. This win-win situation benefits both Starbucks and their loyal customers. And it is also good news for AI Ads companies, which are the invisible heroes of AI Ads success stories

AI-powered Chatbots for Customer Support: Sephora

Sephora Marketing Strategy

Sephora takes customer service to the next level with their innovative AI-powered chatbots available 24/7 on their website and mobile app. These chatbots are like friendly beauty experts at your fingertips, ready to answer a wide range of questions.

Sephora's chatbots are providing personalized recommendations and advices about the perfect shade of foundation for your skin tone or product ingredients. Chatbots can even offer assistance in multiple languages for Sephora's global audience, ensuring everyone feels welcome and understood. Isn't it a perfect way to build customer loyalty?

Results: Coming to results, the implementation of AI chatbots has significantly improved the customer experience at Sephora. Customer satisfaction scores have soared with the help of immediate and personalized support. Additionally, chatbots have reduced wait times by efficiently handling basic questions, freeing up human representatives to focus on more in-depth and organic customer interactions.This should be an example in response to those who question whether AI alienates humans from each other.

Netflix's Recipe for Success: AI-powered Recommendations

Netflix Marketing Strategy

Do you know what one of Netflix's unique characteristics is? Netflix is about helping users discover shows and movies they'll genuinely love. That means providing some personalization. Do you think they're just guessing? I think not.

Here's the recipe. Marketing strategy of Netflix is data-driven, personalized and customer centric. This is where their AI-powered recommendation engine shines. Netflix's algorithms delve deep into a user's viewing habits, analyzing not just what they watch but also how they watch.

In other words. Do you prefer to watch horror movies late at night or stand-up specials during your lunch break? Or, are you one of those who struggles to remember their Netflix password when a popular show comes out once a month? AI technology used by Netflix takes into consideration these tiny details, tailoring recommendations to your specific preferences and watching patterns.

But personalization goes way beyond that... Netflix uses AI technology to suggest similar shows based on genre, characters, or even the overall tone of what you liked. Feeling emotional? AI can recommend romcoms based on your past browsing behavior. Do you habitually watch only super popular shows to keep up with your friends' conversations? Based on your viewing history, Netflix can highlight upcoming movies you're likely to enjoy.

Results: AI-powered recommendations on Netflix have led to a significant increase in watch time, keeping users engaged and entertained for longer. Furthermore, by suggesting content users truly enjoy, Netflix reached a decrease in customer churn, ensuring satisfied subscribers stay loyal to the platform. Users themselves rave about the recommendation system, with many crediting Netflix for introducing them to their new favorite shows. 

AI Can Do It: Nike & Emotional Connection 

Nike Marketing Strategy

We're all familiar with Nike's famous slogan, 'Just do it!'. It's inspiring and speaks directly to emotions, right? Nike's AI strategy is built on the same principle. Nike takes personalization a step further by leveraging AI to analyze not just what people say about Nike, but also how they feel. AI considers not just to social media conversations, but also to customer reviews, brand mentions in online forums, and even athlete testimonials. By doing so, AI can identify the emotional motivations surrounding the Nike brand.

Does the latest shoe collection spark excitement for pushing athletic limits? Perhaps a new campaign featuring a renowned athlete overcoming adversity sparks a sense of inspiration. AI can identify these emotions and help Nike craft messaging that resonates deeply with their target audience.

Results: The impact of Nike's emotionally driven AI advertising is undeniable. Their ads tap into the emotions that drive people to choose Nike, creating a powerful connection fostering brand loyalty and advocacy. This translates significant increase in customer advocacy and social media engagement since Nike implemented this AI-powered approach, proving that emotional connection is always a winning formula in advertising. If you're interested, we've previously discussed the topic of 'How to connect emotionally with customers' in our earlier articles.

E-commerce Giants and AI-powered Search: A Match Made in Shopping Heaven

Marketing Strategy of Amazon

E-commerce giants like Amazon -and Alibaba- are also consolidating the online shopping experience with the help of AI-powered search. Their search engines go beyond simply matching keywords; they discover customer data to personalize product listings for each individual.

How do they do it? Well… AI analyzes past purchases, browsing behavior, time spent on specific products, and abandoned carts. Additionally, AI tailors keywords used in past searches to understand a user's current need and intention. 

Imagine you're browsing a furniture website, looking for a new couch. You have yet to settle on a specific style but want something comfortable and spacious. As you scroll through different options, AI notices browsing behavior. It starts filtering results to show couches with plush cushions and broad seating areas. Additionally, it analyzes past purchases, noticing you recently bought a mid-century modern coffee table. The AI then personalizes your view to prioritize couches that complement that style, creating a cohesive living room aesthetic.

Results: AI-powered search on platforms like Amazon and Alibaba has led to a significant increase in conversion rates, meaning more shoppers find what they're looking for and complete purchases. Additionally, personalized search improves the user experience by saving time and eliminating irrelevant search results, making online shopping a smooth experience.

Get Ready for Personalized Shopping: Lessons from Lacoste

Lacoste Marketing Strategy

Lacoste leverages Enhencer's AI technology to analyze customer data and browsing behavior. This includes past purchases, website visits, and interactions with Lacoste's social media channels. By analyzing this data, AI can create a detailed profile of each customer, allowing Lacoste to tailor their ad content and messaging accordingly.

Imagine browsing online and seeing Lacoste ads showcasing polos and shirts that perfectly complement your style and body type. Enhencer's AI personalizes ad content to ensure it resonates with each individual customer's preferences, increasing the likelihood of a click-through and ultimately a sale.

Gone are the days of static ad banners. Lacoste utilizes Enhencer's AI to generate dynamic ad creatives that change based on the user's profile. This could involve showcasing different product colors, tailoring visuals to match the user's location, or even featuring models with similar body types, creating a more personal and engaging ad experience.

Results: Lacoste's partnership with Enhencer resulted in impressive results. According to the Enhencer case study, Lacoste saw a significant increase in click-through rates on their ads, indicating a higher level of user engagement. Additionally, their campaign substantially boosted brand awareness, solidifying Lacoste's position as a leader in innovative marketing strategies.

Key Takeaways from Lacoste's AI Success Story

  • In the age of information overload, consumers crave personalized experiences. Lacoste's use of AI demonstrates the power of tailoring content and messaging to individual preferences.

  • AI thrives on data. By utilizing customer data responsibly, Lacoste can make informed decisions about their advertising strategies, ensuring they reach the right audience with the right message at the right time.

  • Click-through rates and brand awareness are valuable metrics. Lacoste's success highlights the importance of creating engaging ad experiences that resonate with customers and encourage them to interact with the brand.

AI Tailors the Message: How Maaji Personalizes Swimwear Ads

maaji success

Maaji is another excellent example for companies using AI Ads for success. They trust AI Ads to personalize their ad campaigns and connect with customers on a deeper level. Maaji uses Enhencer's AI Ads to analyze customer data and browsing behavior. This allows them to tailor ad content and messaging to individual preferences, increasing the likelihood of a click-through and, ultimately, a sale. The results? Maaji saw a significant uplift in click-through rates and brand awareness. For a more in-depth look at how Maaji boosts its key performance indicators with Enhencer AI Ads, I recommend reading the Maaji success story

These stories are a shining example of how AI Ads can be a game-changer for businesses of all sizes. Speaking of sizes, I'd like to briefly touch on AI Ads usage recommendations for startups in the final part of this article.

Startups vs. Big Companies: How They Use AI

Are AI Ads only for big companies? Of course not! We looked at the examples above as a guide. But relying on the power of AI Ads is a path that businesses of all sizes, from big companies to startups, are taking. Here's a breakdown of how both established companies and innovative startups leverage AI to boost their bottom line:

With the usage of AI Ads, big businesses are refining their strategies for the maximum impact. From product recommendations to dynamic pricing, AI Ads personalizes the customer journey across industries. Travel platforms retarget abandoned searches, while beauty retailers leverage AI chatbots for 24/7 support. And here are remarkable examples of the ultimate love between startups and AI Ads. 

Many startups are on AI-powered Ad copy generation. With limited resources, startups can leverage AI tools to generate creative and targeted ad copy for various platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads). This allows them to test different messaging and optimize their campaigns for better conversion rates and sales.

  1. Social Media Startups love micro-targeting with AI audience insights.  These can leverage AI to gain deep audience insights on social media platforms. They can then create hyper-targeted ad campaigns that resonate with specific user demographics, interests, and behaviors, leading to a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to broader targeting strategies.

  2. Fashion & Apparel Startups are best friends with AI-powered Dynamic CreativesThey utilize AI to automatically generate personalized product ads featuring different models, backgrounds, or even text overlays based on user data. This personalization can grab attention and lead to more clicks and sales.

  3. Subscription box startups implement chatbots for personalized customer engagement. These startups can leverage chatbots to answer customer questions about subscriptions, offer personalized product recommendations, and even upsell complementary products within existing subscriptions. This can increase customer satisfaction and drive recurring sales.

  4. Many health and wellness startups offer personalized vitamin or supplement subscriptions. AI can analyze a customer's health goals, dietary restrictions, and even fitness tracker data (with permission) to suggest a customized package of supplements. This personalized approach can build trust with customers and encourage them to stick with their subscription.

  5. New travel booking startups can leverage AI to offer competitive pricing on flights and hotels. AI can analyze factors like seasonality, competitor pricing, and real-time demand to dynamically adjust prices, ensuring the startup remains competitive while maximizing revenue. This can attract budget-conscious travelers and potentially increase bookings.

  6. Flash Sale Apps offer limited-time deals on various products with AI. Because AI can analyze a user's purchase history and browsing behavior to predict which flash sales they're most likely to be interested in. Personalized notifications for relevant flash sales can lead to increased user engagement and, ultimately, more purchases.

  7. New FinTech startups can use AI chatbots to guide users through onboarding and answer basic questions about their financial products. This 24/7 support can improve the user experience and build trust with new customers, encouraging them to explore the startup's financial services.

  8. Language learning apps can leverage AI chatbots to simulate conversations with native speakers, allowing users to practice their language skills in a personalized way. The chatbot can adjust the difficulty level based on the user's progress, making the learning experience more engaging and effective. This can lead to higher user retention and potentially encourage premium subscriptions within the app.

These are just a few examples, but they showcase the versatility of AI advertising for startups. By leveraging AI to personalize the customer experience, optimize pricing strategies, and offer 24/7 support, startups can compete effectively and achieve significant sales growth.

How to Get Started with AI Advertising? 

By embracing personalization, data-driven decision-making, and a focus on engagement, companies can achieve significant results and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving marketing world. Unlock the next generation of paid advertising & Discover the difference with AI Ads! 

Summary

In this blog post, we covered the broader impact of AI Advertising beyond sales in the light of real-world examples. It's now more apparent how AI Ads are changing the marketing landscapeRemember, AI ads aren't just about boosting sales. This revolutionary technology also builds brand awareness, fosters customer loyalty, and creates a positive brand impact. By offering a perfect personalized experience throughout the customer journey, AI advertising can lay the groundwork for long-term success.

Scale your Shopify E-commerce with AI Ads & the World’s first AI Audience.