Artificial Intelligence

The Spielberg film, AI, unsettled me - but we're not there yet!

Using Artificial Intelligence software within the writing and editing industry has already had an impact on the creative economy. Enabling 'lazy' writers to generate income more quickly opens up opportunities for freelance and contract work, providing a pathway for marketing professionals to pursue their career goals.

The downside for those professionals is that, now, anyone can do it. Once their clients cotton on to this, some will just do it themselves, saving £££s off their costs.

Note. Much of the above was originally created with AI but has since been edited to actually be meaningful. Below is a generated paragraph that was totally unnecessary.

Creative Text, Images and 'Moving Pictures'

This is reminiscent of the problems that graphic designers suffered when affordable design software was released. Many small businesses decided to create their own logo, for example. It took several months for most of them to realise that having access to tools doesn't mean that no skill or experience is necessary - would you attempt to re-wire your home just because you had coils of wire and a screwdriver?

Video creation is easy too - kids are growing up with it. A few entertaining TikTok vids are a long way from traditional cinema but could easily become a good marketing tool, in the same way that YouTube is used. The new generation of creatives can engage with the new generation of buyers and users. Podcasts are used by a number of businesses these days, as well as the entertainment industry.

Will the time come when AI writes quality books and film scripts? This was the dream of Film Studios which prompted the recent writers' strike. They also wanted to not pay supporting actors - were they hoping to create a host of androids to play those roles?

Editing and Honing Media

Editing happens all the time! Whether it's for scripts, books, film, etc.. The editing industry contributes to professionalism and growth, enhancing published media to appeal to a wider audience by improving its quality and accuracy. 

The growing use of AI is likely to increase the need for professional editors, both for text and images. 

Retirement - no longer a viable option?

 

Picture this: you've been lucky and enjoyed your chosen career then one more major change in the way you need to optimise your skills comes along and you think, "No, I've had enough. What's the point of having years' of experience just to struggle to keep up with new trends?" There are younger people whose brains are not cluttered with all this historical data who are way ahead of your curve, so you decide to retire. 

But... half your clients ask you to keep working for them and you agree - after all, part time is a gentle step towards retirement. The other half of your time, you ponder the state of your income. Used to a good living, will your pension make up for the shortfall of retirement? No, not if it's just the government pension! 

'Boomers' were mostly lucky with their pension plans - one almost-octogenarian told me recently that his retirement income is higher than if he was working. Probably not so if you're younger.

Most will have been paying into a private pension during the years of bounty or as employees of a company scheme. Due to government policy tweaks, some will have suffered heavy losses in the early part of the century, virtually wiping out their investment. Also, life expectancy is longer therefore pay-outs are often lower. 

Many people downsize their homes or move where property is better value for money, putting aside the spare cash for an unknown future. At 0.1% interest, this doesn't come close to inflation. So how does an Ordinary Joe (or Jo) enjoy their retirement? 

One solution is to keep on working as long as you can, for as long as you enjoy it. Long may it last! 

Social Media for Business or for Fun

Time for an update? It's not that nothing occurred to me since the previous post but life changed during and after lockdown. Please accept our apologies for diverting our attentions elsewhere.

On 30th August 2016 (yes, almost 7 years ago) I wrote a post about Google+ and Tumblr which predicted that Google+ was doomed. It died in 2019, R.I.P..

I also made observations about Tumblr which noted... 

Tumblr is a popular blog tool, supposedly, but in my opinion it is rarely used for business. I have struggled to find interesting posts, despite trying a variety of search terms. It seems mainly full of images and these are mostly from photographers and the leisure crowd. I dip back in now and then but find no significant improvement.

So, here is an update of what's changed, in my opinion, since then. I would now state that... 

Tumblr is a popular blog tool, supposedly, but in my opinion it is unsuitable for business-to-business. I have struggled to find interesting posts, despite trying a variety of search terms. It seems mainly full of images and self-indulgence - lost people who are trying too hard to be seen to be different. I dip back in now and then but find no significant improvement. 

Not a lot different, really. And guess what... 100 posts but no more followers. In fact, I think I may have lost one! 

It's probably not a bad thing that there is a non-business element to Tumblr as there are other options for businesses: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok are largely leisure posts. 

Twitter has a foot in both camps, despite all the negative publicity over recent months. 

If you want to advertise your business online, the three listed above in purple text are worth considering in addition to or as an alternative to Google ads. Depending on your niche market, Amazon can also be used for paid promotion. 

Is blogging worthwhile?

As previously stated, Tumblr is essentially a blogging tool. Its reach via search engines does not compare favourably with WordPress or Google Blogger (in the UK, anyway). WordPress is the most interesting, at present, as it offers a free blog (with ads) or a paid option (ad-free). They can both be made to look and function as websites and no other software comes close to the popularity of a professional WordPress-based website.

Personally, I love blogs. To be able to read at my own pace, rather than sit through a webinar or YouTube output, is the best use of my time. 

Keep on blogging! 

FYI, here's some more about blogging and alternatives.