Just a marketer trying to master AI in 2024 🦾 | Host of AiDrivenMarketer.com

Marketers everywhere are being told “learn AI.” The question is: learn it for what?

The real opportunity isn’t learning every tool... it’s understanding how AI changes how content is created, distributed, and consumed.

I’ve spent the last few years helping marketing teams adopt AI—from podcast workflows to full content systems and teaching thousands through The AI-Driven Marketer.

I help marketers turn AI from chaos into clarity by automating the busy work, amplifying their creativity, and clarifying their message.

👉 Subscribe to The AI-Driven Marketer newsletter for hype-free lessons on using AI in your content strategy at https://AIDrivenMarketer.com/

👉 Or start with my free 5-Day AI Fundamentals course at https://danchez.com/course/

Dan Sanchez

Quick ChatGPT hack.

Create a Project for each area of your.

I have projects for fitness, faith, my cars, house, work, clients, and even my family. 

Why?

Because ChatGPT does better with context.

Not just any context, but the context that's needed for the particular topic. So, if you want superior answers, you need to give it the right context for the right conversation.

I just set up a new project for my two cars yesterday and I always have the same process. The goal of the first conversation in a new project should be to collect the context for all future context and then compile it into instructions for that Project. 

Now, every future conversation I have about my cars with ChatGPT doesn't need all the basics. It knows the makes, models, years, milages, and basic history. It can now guide me accordingly.

Once you do this for a half dozen of the different areas of your life you are actively managing, you'll find that ChatGPT will be helping you navigate them all much faster and more accurately. 

Have you tried this yet?

#Danchez

PS - Want more details? I just elaborated on this whole process in the most recent episode of the AI-Driven Marketer. You can find it YouTube or any place podcasts are available.

You Can Be AI-Driven AND Human-first. Join me & 5k others to leverage both at AIDrivenMarketer.com

A podcast has the power to be a book publishing machine.

You just have to be thoughtful about the process.

You're already sharing your expertise on the show.

But, if you organize them correctly, those transcripts become more than content you can repurpose downstream into social.

They can be published upstream into a book.

You still have to outline the book the normal way, but instead of writing your first draft, you can speak it. 

AI can do the rest of crafting amazing chapters and even making strategic rewrites, restructuring and condensing. 

It's still your stories, expertise, frameworks, and personal experience. 

AI is just the ghost writer. 

That's what Ken Freire and I did with Own the Show and we want to show you how we did it in our live event this Thursday. I'll show all the steps I took, including the ones that are still manual that you might have to hire out.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/eUqsUpRG

I will not be holding back what I learned and will be sharing the good, the bad, and one ugly detail you'll want to hear before you start the process. 

#Danchez

PS - If you're wondering if the book is any good. You can judge it for yourself. Take a look: https://ownthe.show

I'll be vibe coding all future websites. 

I can't go back to drag/drop after this.

This is a simple HTML site, but it could build a backend CMS if it needed to. 

I can hand code a whole website if I needed to, but this is better. 

It not only understands how to code, it knows how to design. I gave it the book cover design and asked it to build a website based on it. 

I can even give it vague instructions like "animate this box with some kind of subtle glowing thing" and it does. It used to take me hours of research just to figure out what was possible and a few more hours to bring a thing to life.

Now I just ask.

#Danchez

PS - Book went live on Amazon yesterday. Still waiting on Audible/Spotify, but you can get the full book/mp3s here for free: https://ownthe.show/

Don’t let FOMO fool you.

All this AI stuff is hype.

Give it two months to see if any of this is still being talked about.

If you are breaking apart your personal systems and mapping a few of them to Custom GPTs, you are on the right track. (Or any of the equivalents. IE projects, Gems.).

If you’ve already done that a dozen times, start learning how to vibe code landing pages in Replit.

If you’ve done that a dozen times, maybe play with one of the things below. 

Don’t let the hype machine distract you from mastering the proven tools and shipping real results with AI.

#Danchez

graphical user interface, text, application

Building CustomGPTs are still the most meaningful

way to use AI and most people don't do it.

Maybe it's a Google Gem, Claude project, or a ChatGPT project. 

Doesn't matter. 

In 2026, this is still the one skill that separates beginner AI users from advanced ones. 

I'm not talking about simple, throw some context in it, custom GPTs either. I'm talking about ones that mirror important processes for you, so by the time you have a half dozen of them you feel like your workflow is supercharged.

Very very few people use them like this.

Once you figure it out though, you'll never go back. 

And the learning you get from doing this sets you up for full automation and/or vibe coding later. Without it and you'll won't be able to do those well. I promise.

Please, please, please go watch a dozen videos about how to build robust custom GPTs on YouTube. Then find one important process you use daily and try to build a custom GPT that speeds up that process dramatically. 

The first time you do it will be painful, but it will be worth it.

Also, it's not technically hard at all. What's hard is thinking through your process and bringing clarity to the individual small steps you take to accomplish a task or project. 

Don't let another year go by without building this skill.

#Danchez

I just did market research with AI for a company that I worked with 15 months ago.

Same project. Same questions.

15 months ago I did it manually. Interviewed the creators/founders, surveyed the audience, spoke to the audience.

That was before reasoning models and deep research AI tools.

This time I had AI do it.

When I compared AI’s results to my old notes… AI was far more thorough and accurate.

I know. 

I had done it manually before and knew the brand.

Deep Research is one of the best tools AI has for marketing and nobody talks about it.

It’s the thing we all needed to do but didn’t, because it took too much time. Now it’s easy and I don’t think anybody does it still. 

🤷‍♂️

Are you?

#Danchez

One step AI can't do for you.

Is print layout design. Not yet anyway.

Fortunately, I have a background in Adobe Indesign. 😅
I never thought I would open this app again, and may have had to ask ChatGPT more than a few questions about where such-in-such button was these days.

I haven't been promoting this new book heavily over the last few months because I honestly wasn't 100% sure going from podcast to book would even work. 

But, the first version is now live online: https://ownthe.show/ 

And coming soon to Amazon Kindle, print, and Audible. 

I've learned so much in he process, that I'm far more excited sharing the AI lessons learned on AI-Driven Marketer than promoting the book. 

It's up now though for your full review. 

The best news? It only gets better from here.

#Danchez

If an AI Bubble bursts... awesome.
If it doesn't... that's cool too.

I don't really care.

But, if it bursts, I'll only double down. 

Some people might go the other way at that point, but I'll keep pressing in because I'm seeing the fruit of using the tools and I can't go back.

Even if we never get another update, we will still have 10 years of innovation built on top of the tech we have right now.

It would honestly be great to get a breathier from the speed of change too! 

What we have right now is amazing. 

What we get this year will be insane.

Video models that are as clear and accurate as our image models.
Voice models that are near real time and can reason.
And I bet we will see more AI that is proactive this year.

Who knows what else they have in store. 

I'm good either way.

#Danchez

Most frustrating part of Google Gemini..

If you start with deep research or a canvas... you can't go back.

Not without starting a whole new chat anyway. In ChatGPT, you create multiple canvas' in one chat which is really handy when you want the context to build on itself for each subsequent document you need.

Why does it do this?

Any Gemini experts know?

#Danchez

PS - Yes, you can save it to a doc and pull in that doc later (one of the things I love about Gemini), but it's a slower process and makes it difficult to hunt down any of those conversations later. It's also much slower.

Grace Fellowship Church

Director of Communications

Pitch Purpose with Tony Winslow

In the Pitch Purpose with Tony Winslow podcast, I interview purpose-driven business leaders discussing their methods for inspiring others and operationalizing their purpose.

Podcast Host

Kenton County Fiscal Court

Communications Strategist

Swivel

After 9 years at Cengage, I was the Marketing Manager at a B2B marketing agency. During that time, I: 

- Led go-to-market strategy creation for a mid-sized organization in Northern Kentucky by interviewing key stakeholders, sales survey creation, competitive research, and positioning exercises.
- Directed the team in the creation of breakthrough content heroes, paid ads, and product messaging playbooks.

🚀𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: In a short time, I gained valuable experience, including keyword research using SEMRUSH, audience research using SparkToro, paid media distribution, performance analysis, and web design.

Marketing Manager

Cengage Group

After consistently achieving performance goals, partnering with sales to win top opportunities, leading special and more, I was promoted to Marketing Manager. The role had 3 primary accountabilities: Market Expertise, Sales Enablement, Campaign Definition and Support. As MM, I: 

- Created and distributed content for blogs, e-newsletters, flyers, events, etc., across four product portfolios to increase webinar attendance, asset downloads, and product usage.
- Partnered with Product Management to establish go-to-market strategy, product development, and portfolio innovation.
- Analyzed market trends, competitive intelligence, and win/loss feedback to influence the product roadmap, pricing strategy, sales enablement materials, and go-to-market communication.
- Created and delivered training and enablement materials, including playbooks, one-pagers, decks, and email templates to support sales and customer success teams.

🚀𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭:
- Contributed to a portfolio increase of 1.4k digital units in FY22.
- Contributed to an 8% increase in new product activation from FY20 to FY22.
- Exceeded existing asset download conversion by 58% by focusing on delivering practical value to help customers engage their target audience.
- First Marketing Manager to write posts for the Cengage blog.

Marketing Manager, Cengage Higher Ed

Based on collaboration skills, creativity, and sales performance, I was promoted and responsible for developing sales collateral, training internal and external customers, developing sales strategies, and being an expert on the customer voice.

I developed a deep understanding of why customers adopted Cengage products and spread that knowledge to relevant stakeholders. I collaborated cross-functionally to influence product development, marketing campaigns, and sales strategy.

🚀 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: 
- Contributed to a 27% increase in business units and 57% online platform activations in FY 2020.
- Contributed to a 29% increase in new product adoption during year 2 of availability.

Associate Marketing Manager & Product Specialist

Based on exceptional sales performance, promoted to Executive Learning Consultant responsible for
managing a $2 million territory and collaborating with Field Learning Consultants on key accounts.

Executive Learning Consultant

Hired to grow share as an Inside Learning Consultant selling online learning platforms to higher education
instructors. Analyzed $1 million territory revenues, trends, and new business opportunities to achieve sales targets.

🚀 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Based on sales performance over a 3-year period, chosen among top performers to join the “Circle of Excellence” for two consecutive years.

𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬: 2014 Sales Year Rookie of the Year, 2014 and 2016 Goal Achiever

Learning Consultant

University of Cincinnati

I holistically reviewed the College of Nursing to develop an integrated marketing strategy to increase program enrollment by 31%. I led project execution by partnering with staff to determine the competition, target market, and positioning. 

I wrote, designed, and distributed a Qualtrics survey to various sample groups through the partnership with UC Online. I synthesized insights and complex ideas into clear and concise narratives for different audiences.

🚀 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Synthesized 100+ page  final report into 25 slide/20-minute presentation. From Professor Hardin, “You did an outstanding job on a very diffi cult project!”

Marketing Strategist

The Underground Agency

Student Researcher at the Underground Agency; conducted marketing research with Generation Y, focused on re-positioning the Hoist brand. 

In a later semester, I was a Social Media Strategist at the Underground Agency. I developed a social media marketing plan designed to help P&G get 70% of wash loads converted to cold water by 2020.

🚀 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Both reports were selected by the marketing faculty at Haile/US Bank College of Business for publication.

Social Media Strategist & Marketing Researcher (Academic Client Projects)

2005, my first job at McDonald's, starting an 8-year stint in restaurants teaching me customer service, efficiency, empathy, and hard work.

2008, college. I wanted to "help people," so I tried nursing school. Long story short, not for me. I switched to marketing mostly because it wasn't math, science, or blood-related.

2011 brought my first marketing lightning strike. My professor is Czech, and the accent alone was a joy; plus, he brought us Nutella. Dr. Raska taught us "mindful marketing" and brand purpose and empowered us to use marketing to help solve global and cultural issues and change the world.

2013, I started in sales at Cengage, expecting to spend a year gaining experience. 4 years later, I hit my goal multiple times and was awarded the Circle of Excellence 2 years in a row.

2017, promoted to Product Specialist sitting in the marketing org. I worked on messaging, created tools, and trained sales through live training, fun videos, and Zoom calls. But I didn't feel like a "marketer." I convinced myself that I wasn't because I wasn't doing what I thought marketers did or what I went to school for.

2018, I pursued an MS in Marketing. My brothers both had their master's, and maybe getting an extra credential would open me up to more opportunities to be a marketer.

2020 was crazy. COVID, full-time school + job, my second child was born. I even finished a final paper in the hospital. But 2020 brought two more lightning strikes. My Brand Strategy course was about how brands must lead with purpose and authenticity. It ignited the passion I felt in 2011, and I became convinced that driving purpose in organizations is what I was meant to do.

Fall 2020, final semester. I still didn't feel like a marketer. I had applied many times to be Marketing Manager and was told no. But, mid-semester, my professor told me something that changed my life. He said, "You know when you become a marketer? When you decide you are a marketer."

Who cares if I didn't have a specific title? This mindset turned me into a lifelong marketing student and convinced me that I could create new opportunities for myself.  I became a marketer.

2021, pink slip. At this point, I had applied eight times to be a Marketing Manager at Cengage. 2 weeks to get hired, or I was jobless. There were three open MM roles. I was denied two, then lucky (God ordained, I should say) number 11 came.

2022, MM for Cengage. I left Cengage in October of that year to work for a small B2B Marketing Agency.

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