šŸŽÆ How To Make AI Agents Actually Work

AI Agents Are Hereā€”But Are Marketers Even Using Them?

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Today, weā€™re bringing you the latest in AI-powered marketing and business strategies. Hereā€™s whatā€™s inside:

šŸšØ AI Top Story: Discover how businesses can integrate AI agents effectively and unlock their potential without the headaches

šŸ“ˆ Killer Marketing Prompt: Use AI agents to keep your brand's reputation in check with real-time data

šŸŽÆ AI Use Case Of The Week: : Find out how M&S is using AI to increase conversions

šŸŒŸ Creator Spotlight: Discover Niall Ratcliffeā€™s approach to generating consistent leads and building strong client relationships through storytelling and strategic positioning

AI TOP STORY

How To Make AI Agents Actually Work

AI Agents Are Hereā€”But Are Marketers Even Using Them?

Talk of AI agents is everywhere, and while theyā€™re advancing fast, a lot of businesses and professionals are still struggling to figure out how to make them work in practice. Perhaps they can see that the potential is there, but implementation isnā€™t completely straightforward.

From managing costs, to ensuring they integrate smoothly into existing workflows it can be tricky, and without a clear strategy, itā€™s easy for them to be more of a distraction than a solution.

One of the biggest challenges comes down to cost efficiency and integration. AI agents rely on large language models (LLMs) and APIs, but not all platforms offer built-in access. Some require businesses to connect their own OpenAI API, while others bundle it into their pricingā€”making cost structures sometimes confusing to navigate. Without a clear understanding of these models, businesses risk overspending or underutilising AIā€™s full potential.

So how can businesses integrate AI agents without the headaches?

First, start small. Rather than automating critical business functions right away, businesses can test AI agents in low-risk, high-impact areas.

This could mean using an AI agent to automate internal knowledge retrievalā€”helping teams quickly pull key information from documents, meeting notes, or databases.

Another practical use case is automating data enrichment - where an AI agent gathers missing details from CRM records, keeping customer profiles up to date without manual input. These controlled use cases will allow you to evaluate AI agents in action before scaling their role.

Second, set clear parameters. AI agents work best with well-defined tasks. If workflows are too vague or permissions too broad, they can produce unreliable results.
Defining clear objectives, assigning agent roles, and continuously monitoring performance helps ensure they align with business needs rather than creating unnecessary complexity.

Finally, assess the ROI early. AI agents arenā€™t just another automation toolā€”they should deliver tangible business impact almost immediately. Businesses should track time saved, process improvements, and efficiency gains to ensure theyā€™re driving real value rather than just running in the background.

As AI agents evolve, weā€™ll continue sharing the latest advancements and real-world applicationsā€”helping you stay ahead of the curve and find the most practical,
high-impact ways to make AI work for your business!

AI NEWS FOR MARKETERS

šŸ“ŗ What marketers can expect as CTV and retail media converge in 2025 - Retail media and CTV are starting to blendā€”what does that mean for marketers?

āš™ļø Does DeepSeek offer Appleā€™s faltering AI strategy a lifeline? - Appleā€™s been lagging in AIā€”Hereā€™s what this partnership could mean.

šŸ” Marketers Say They Are Ready To Move Beyond Google Search - Marketers are looking past Googleā€”AI is shifting how we find information. So, whereā€™s the next big opportunity?

šŸ¤– Is Alibaba The Next AI Threat? - Alibaba is making big AI movesā€”should OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft be worried?

THE LATEST FROM THE AIE NETWORK

šŸŽÆ The Artificially Intelligent Enterprise - What You Need To Know About DeepSeek

AI TOOL OF THE DAY

PromptLayer is an AI prompt management platform built to help developers and businesses easily track, store, and optimise the prompts they feed into language models. In a world where the quality of your prompts really matters, it offers a professional, business-friendly solution thatā€™s a cut above community-driven alternatives.

With robust versioning, detailed performance analytics, and smooth collaboration features, it makes managing your AI inputs across your team simple and effective. Whether youā€™re iterating on creative inputs, debugging your model interactions, or fine-tuning your AI deployments, PromptLayer helps you drive better results and streamline your workflows.

Key AI Features

Prompt Versioning & Tracking:
Keep a detailed history of prompt iterations to refine your AI interactions over time.

Performance Analytics:
Gain insights into how different prompts perform, helping you optimize for better outcomes.

Seamless Integration:
Easily connect PromptLayer with popular AI systems and development workflows for streamlined usage.

Collaboration & Sharing:
Enable teams to collaborate on prompt development while maintaining a professional, curated environment.

CREATOR SPOTLIGHT

NIALL RATCLIFFE - Discover 13 game-changing B2B marketing trends for 2025

KILLER MARKETING PROMPT

Find Real-Time PR Angles for Your Business Using an AI agent

Manual Setup (Before Running the AI Agent)

To allow real-time AI-powered brand monitoring, set up API integrations with third-party services that track brand mentions and sentiment. The AI agent will process structured data from these sources to generate insights.

API Setup for Real-Time Monitoring (Optional)

  • Use Brandwatch, Meltwater, or Talkwalker APIs to track brand mentions across social media, news articles, and forums.

  • Integrate Google Alerts API to fetch brand mentions in news and blog articles.

  • Connect Trustpilot or Google My Business APIs to pull customer reviews and ratings.

Data Storage & Access (Optional for Automation)

  • Set up an automation workflow via Zapier or Make.com to route brand monitoring data into Google Sheets, Airtable, or a CRM for structured tracking.

  • If no automation is enabled, manually export brand mentions from third-party tools and input them into the AI agent.

AI Agent Prompt (To Be Run After Data Collection & API Setup)

You are an AI-powered brand monitoring and crisis management agent for [BUSINESS NAME]. Your role is to analyse brand sentiment and generate strategic recommendations based on structured brand monitoring data.

If API access is available, retrieve structured data from:
[Brandwatch, Meltwater, Talkwalker, Google Alerts, Trustpilot, or other specified sources] to monitor mentions across social media, news, and customer reviews.

If no API access is available, analyse the provided brand monitoring data:
[INSERT CUSTOMER FEEDBACK, SOCIAL MEDIA MENTIONS, NEWS ARTICLES].

First, categorise the brand mentions into three sentiment groups: positive, neutral, and negative. Summarise key themes and trends in each category. Identify any emerging PR risks, such as negative press gaining traction, viral customer complaints, or influencer-led criticism. If competitor sentiment data is provided, compare brand perception and highlight key differences.

Next, generate a brand response strategy. For negative mentions, suggest a crisis response plan that includes key messaging adjustments, recommended PR angles, and escalation recommendations if needed. For positive mentions, provide strategies to amplify brand goodwill, increase engagement, and maximise marketing opportunities.

Finally, compile a structured report summarising:

Brand sentiment trends and public perception shifts.
Areas that require immediate attention.
Suggested next steps for PR, marketing, and leadership teams.
If API access is available, format the insights for real-time integration with [Google Sheets, Slack, or internal CRM] for ongoing tracking. If no automation is enabled, structure the report for easy manual implementation.
AI USE CASE OF THE WEEK

Want More Sales? Learn M&Sā€™s AI Personalisation Strategy

Campaign Overview

Marks & Spencer (M&S) implemented artificial intelligence to enhance its online shopping experience by offering personalised outfit recommendations based on body shape, size, and style preferences. This AI-driven strategy improved customer engagement, increased conversions, and led to a significant rise in online sales.

The Strategy

Tools Used
  • Thread AI (Acquired by M&S) ā€“ Provided AI-driven fashion recommendations tailored to individual customer profiles.

  • Custom AI Personalisation Engine ā€“ Combined insights from in-house stylists with machine learning models to refine recommendations.

  • Natural Language Processing (NLP) AI ā€“ Adjusted communication styles based on customer preferences.

Steps M&S Took
  1. Data Collection & AI Analysis

    • M&S gathered data through an interactive style quiz, capturing customersā€™ size, body shape, and personal preferences.

    • AI analysed purchase behaviour and browsing patterns to fine-tune personalised recommendations.

  2. AI-Driven Personalisation

    • The AI engine suggested full outfit combinations tailored to each shopperā€™s profile.

    • AI-generated communication styles adjusted to fit different customer personas.

  3. Real-Time Optimisation

    • M&S monitored the success of AI-driven recommendations and adjusted the models for better personalisation.

Replicate It: Implement AI-Powered Personalisation on Shopify

Want to bring AI-driven product recommendations to your Shopify store like Marks & Spencer? Hereā€™s how to replicate their strategy using Octane AI to personalise product suggestions and boost engagement.

Step 1: Install Octane AI on Your Shopify Store

  • Go to the Shopify App Store and install Octane AI: Quiz & Surveys.

  • This AI-powered tool creates customisable quizzes that collect customer data and deliver personalised product recommendations.

Step 2: Build a Personalised Style Quiz

  • Inside Octane AI, create a product recommendation quiz that asks customers about:

    • Their body shape, size, and preferred fit.

    • Style preferences and colour choices.

    • Shopping habits and favourite clothing categories.

  • Configure the quiz to store responses and link them to product recommendations.

Step 3: Automate AI-Powered Product Suggestions

  • Octane AI integrates directly with Shopify, so the quiz results will automatically generate personalised product recommendations.

  • Ensure that the AI analyses browsing history and purchase behaviour to refine recommendations over time.

  • Display AI-powered recommendations on product pages, checkout pages, and in retargeting campaigns.

Step 4: Send Personalised Email & SMS Recommendations

  • Connect Octane AI with ESPā€™s like Klaviyo or Omnisend to send follow-up emails and SMS messages with personalised product suggestions.

  • Use dynamic content blocks to show custom recommendations based on quiz results.

Step 5: Track Performance & Optimise

  • Monitor how well AI-powered recommendations perform using Octane AIā€™s built-in analytics dashboard.

  • Adjust the quiz, refine product suggestions, and experiment with different messaging to maximise conversions.

AI MEME OF THE DAY

A Quick Reminder To Focus on What They Gain,
Not Whatā€™s Under The Hood!

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Your AI Sherpa, 

Mark R. Hinkle
Editor-in-Chief
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