Questions to Ask Before Buying AI Marketing Software

In This Article

Choosing the right AI marketing software requires key considerations about team size, integration, and data security for optimal results.

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AI marketing tools come in different forms - some handle specific tasks, others act as all-in-one workspaces. Picking the wrong one can waste time, money, and resources. To make the right choice, here’s what you need to ask:

Quick Tip:

Platforms like Averi AI stand out by offering flat-rate pricing, marketing-specific AI models, and human expertise integration. Compare options carefully to find a tool that matches your team’s needs and workflow.

Read on for a deeper dive into these questions to help you make a confident decision.

Questions to Check if the Software Fits Your Business

Does the software align with your team size and marketing goals?

Before diving into a platform, think about whether it’s built for your team’s size and specific marketing needs. Startups, small businesses, and large enterprises often require very different tools. For instance, some platforms cater to solopreneurs with straightforward features, while others target mid-sized teams or enterprise-level organizations that may need IT support to manage the software.

Ask the vendor about user limits, pricing tiers, and whether scaling up will require switching platforms. It’s crucial to choose a system that grows with your business without disrupting your workflow.

Your marketing goals also play a big role. If your focus is on content creation, a specialized tool might be enough. But if you need a solution that handles everything from planning to execution, you’ll want a more robust platform. Be realistic about whether you need a single-purpose tool or a comprehensive marketing solution.

Once you’ve assessed your goals and scale, it’s time to look at how well the platform integrates AI with human expertise.

Can the software balance AI with human input?

AI tools are impressive, but they’re not a replacement for human creativity, judgment, and strategic thinking. The best platforms don’t try to do it all with AI - they find ways to combine artificial intelligence with human expertise.

Basic AI tools often work in isolation: you enter a prompt, get a result, and hope it’s what you need. More advanced platforms, like Averi, take a smarter approach. Averi’s Synapse architecture and AGM-2 marketing-trained foundation model can decide when AI should handle a task and when it requires human intervention. This kind of hybrid system ensures tasks are intelligently routed between AI and human specialists.

When evaluating software, ask how it handles complex tasks that require human insight. Does it connect you with experienced marketing professionals when needed? Is there a built-in process for ensuring quality through human review? Or are you left to figure out when AI-generated results need refinement?

The best hybrid platforms go beyond simply offering access to freelancers - they carefully vet and manage their human networks. This ensures you’re working with qualified experts rather than random contractors. Look for platforms that can clearly explain how they select and oversee their human specialists.

Finally, think about how the tool fits with the skill levels of your team.

Does the tool suit your team’s experience level?

Every marketing team is different. Some are led by seasoned experts, while others include junior marketers or small business owners juggling multiple roles. The right platform should cater to both beginners and advanced users, offering features that grow with your team’s expertise.

For beginners, look for tools that provide clear, step-by-step guidance without requiring extensive training. For experienced marketers, check whether the platform includes advanced capabilities that don’t get bogged down by basic tutorials. The ideal tool strikes a balance, helping beginners get started while still offering depth for experts.

Ask vendors to demonstrate how their software adapts to varying skill levels. Can a novice use it effectively right away? Does it support advanced users with more sophisticated features? And don’t overlook the learning curve - some platforms take weeks to master, while others are designed for quick adoption. Consider your team’s capacity to learn new software and opt for a tool that fits their comfort level.

No matter how powerful a tool is, it won’t make an impact if your team struggles to use it consistently. Choose a platform that aligns with their skills and helps them succeed.

Questions About Features and What the Software Can Do

What AI model runs the platform?

Generic AI models, like GPT-4 or Claude, often produce broad, unspecialized content that requires significant editing to meet specific needs. In contrast, platforms built on marketing-focused models generate content that's tailored, relevant, and aligned with brand standards.

When exploring software options, it's essential to ask vendors about the AI models they use. Are they relying on general-purpose systems, or have they developed models specifically designed for marketing? Marketing-specific models are trained on industry-relevant data, enabling them to grasp the nuances of branding and strategic communication.

Take Averi AI as an example. It employs AGM-2, a model specifically trained for marketing tasks, which simplifies strategic content creation. This tailored approach ensures the system understands critical concepts like brand consistency and marketing strategies, rather than forcing general AI tools to adapt to specialized needs.

To evaluate a platform's capability, ask vendors to showcase how their AI handles marketing-related tasks. Can it maintain a consistent brand voice across various content formats? Does it understand marketing jargon and best practices? This level of specialization is key to ensuring the platform can adapt to diverse marketing challenges.

Does the software adjust its approach based on the task?

Not all AI platforms are created equal - some apply the same methods to every task, regardless of its complexity. The best systems, however, are flexible enough to adapt their approach, scaling responses based on the nature of the task and even involving human experts when necessary.

For example, straightforward tasks like drafting a product description might only require a quick and simple output. But for more intricate projects, such as developing a strategic marketing plan, the system needs to dig deeper, analyze multiple factors, and possibly incorporate human insights.

Averi's Synapse architecture exemplifies this adaptive approach with its "Adaptive Reasoning" system. It automatically selects from three modes - Express, Standard, and Deep - depending on the complexity of the request. Users don’t need to tweak settings or specify the level of detail; the platform determines the appropriate depth of response and allocates resources accordingly.

When comparing platforms, ask vendors to demonstrate how their system manages different types of tasks. Does it know when a project requires strategic depth versus a quick turnaround? Can it decide when to bring in human expertise? Platforms that can scale their responses intelligently ensure better outcomes for a variety of needs.

This adaptability also reinforces quality control, helping maintain high standards across all outputs.

What quality control features does it have?

AI-generated content can sometimes miss the mark - whether it’s off-brand, inaccurate, or inconsistent. Without robust quality control, you could end up spending more time fixing errors than benefiting from the platform. The most effective systems integrate multiple layers of quality assurance to minimize these issues.

One critical feature is brand voice enforcement. Ask vendors how their platform learns and applies your brand's unique tone and style across different types of content. Advanced systems go beyond manual reviews by incorporating automated tools that ensure outputs align with your brand identity.

Another key aspect is expert vetting. Some platforms include human specialists in their workflow, but not all freelancer networks are created equal. While some systems carefully screen their experts, others function like open marketplaces, where quality can vary widely. Be sure to ask how the platform ensures the expertise of its contributors.

Automated correction mechanisms are equally important. How does the platform handle errors or content that doesn’t align with your brand? Can it learn from your feedback to refine future outputs, or does it treat every interaction as a standalone event? Advanced systems can adapt based on corrections, improving accuracy over time.

Lastly, inquire about output validation. Does the platform fact-check its content, ensure compliance with legal standards, or flag potentially problematic material before delivering it? These features can save you from costly mistakes and reduce the time spent on manual reviews.

The goal is to achieve consistent, high-quality, and brand-aligned content with minimal effort on your part.

Integration and Workflow Questions

What integrations does the platform offer?

To get the most out of your AI marketing software, it needs to seamlessly connect with the tools you already rely on. Without proper integration, you’ll find yourself wasting valuable time copying and pasting content or manually transferring data between platforms - time that could be better spent on campaign creation.

Start by exploring the native integrations the platform offers. For instance, can it directly push content to tools like WordPress, HubSpot, or Salesforce? Does it sync with advertising platforms such as Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ads, or LinkedIn Campaign Manager? These direct connections not only save time but also reduce the risk of errors when launching campaigns.

Equally important are approval workflows, especially for teams managing multiple stakeholders. Some platforms integrate with tools like Monday.com or Asana, making it easier for team members to review and approve content without switching between systems.

Don’t overlook data flow capabilities. Ask how the platform interacts with your CRM or analytics tools. Can it pull customer data to create personalized content? Does it access performance metrics to refine future campaigns? The more seamlessly the platform handles data, the better its recommendations will be.

Finally, consider the importance of API availability. Even if a platform doesn’t offer a direct integration for a specific tool, a robust API allows your tech team to build custom connections. This flexibility ensures the software can adapt as your tech stack evolves, creating a smoother workflow for your campaigns.

Is the platform a complete workspace or a single-purpose tool?

Marketing teams often juggle a variety of tools - one for writing, another for strategy, and yet another for project management. While this approach can work, it often leads to inefficiencies and makes it harder to maintain a consistent brand voice across different platforms.

Some platforms, like Averi AI, offer a more unified solution. These complete workspaces consolidate strategy, execution, and project history in one place. This setup ensures that your brand voice, team preferences, and campaign context remain consistent throughout the entire process.

On the other hand, single-purpose tools specialize in specific tasks. For example, you might use Jasper for copywriting, Canva for design, and then upload everything manually to your CMS. While these tools often excel in their niche, they require more effort to coordinate and can introduce inconsistencies during transitions.

When deciding between a unified workspace and specialized tools, think about your team’s workflow. A centralized platform often works best for smaller teams that need to streamline their processes, while larger organizations with more specialized roles may benefit from using best-in-class tools for each function. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your team’s size, complexity, and preference for either simplicity or advanced features.

How does the software deliver and manage work?

The way a platform organizes and delivers work can have a huge impact on your team’s productivity. Some systems provide clear workflows and project management features, while others leave you scrambling to keep track of deliverables.

For simple tasks, self-serve prompting might suffice. You input a request, and the platform delivers a quick response. However, this approach can quickly become chaotic when managing multiple campaigns or complex projects. Without proper structure, important work can easily get lost in chat logs or scattered across tools.

More advanced platforms offer structured workflows that guide projects from start to finish. These systems break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps, track progress, and maintain context throughout the campaign. For example, Averi's Command Bar anticipates your next actions, helping you juggle multiple projects without feeling overwhelmed.

Some platforms also include talent marketplaces, allowing you to bring in external experts for specific tasks. However, the quality and consistency of these networks can vary. Be sure to ask vendors how they vet contributors, manage handoffs, and ensure a high standard of work across projects.

Another key feature to look for is project memory. Does the platform remember past campaigns and apply those insights to future work? Can it maintain your brand’s tone and preferences without requiring constant re-explanation? Platforms with strong memory capabilities reduce repetitive setup and help ensure consistent results over time.

The best platforms provide clear project organization, progress tracking, and easy access to completed work. This allows your team to focus on strategy and creativity instead of wasting time managing the tool itself.

Data Privacy, Ownership, and Security Questions

What are the platform's data storage and privacy policies?

When you input marketing data into an AI platform, you're sharing sensitive customer insights, campaign strategies, and brand messaging. Protecting this information is essential.

Start by confirming that the platform adheres to key regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable standards. Ensure the platform uses encryption protocols to secure data both during transit and while stored. For instance, Averi AI employs enterprise-level encryption and offers robust user controls, allowing you to access, export, or delete your data as needed.

Also, check if the platform offers data residency options to comply with international and industry-specific regulations. Audit trails are another must-have, enabling you to track data access and modifications. These features are critical for investigating potential security incidents or proving compliance to regulators.

Finally, evaluate how the vendor protects your intellectual property.

Does the vendor protect your intellectual property?

Your proprietary strategies should remain exclusively yours. Confirm that your data is not used to train models for other clients. Vendors should clearly state whether your data is isolated from shared training models. Look for assurances that your content stays private and won't be repurposed for other users' benefit.

Ask for transparency about how aggregated, anonymized data is handled. Some platforms openly use this data to improve their systems, while others might be less clear about their practices. Push for specific details on what data is collected, how it’s used, and what safeguards are in place to prevent leaks to competitors.

Additionally, confirm that you retain full ownership of any AI-generated content. This is especially important if you're creating client-facing materials or planning to trademark AI-generated assets. Averi AI, for example, ensures customer data is never used to train models for other clients, keeping boundaries between organizations’ data intact. This approach safeguards your competitive edge while still leveraging AI capabilities.

Once IP protection is confirmed, it’s time to ensure the platform’s outputs align with your brand and security standards.

Are outputs brand-safe and secure?

AI outputs must be both brand-compliant and secure. Verify that the platform has mechanisms to filter out offensive or biased content while preventing exposure of sensitive information. Advanced content filtering is key, as AI systems can unintentionally incorporate training data in unexpected ways, potentially revealing proprietary or personal details.

Ensure the platform can consistently reflect your brand voice. These systems should learn your tone, style, and messaging guidelines to avoid generating content that feels out of sync with your established identity.

Human oversight is another critical layer of protection. For example, Averi AI integrates human review for outputs that require extra scrutiny or refinement. This hybrid model combines the speed of AI with the reliability of human judgment, helping to catch potential issues before they reach your audience.

Lastly, look for features like version control and multi-stage approval workflows. These tools allow you to track changes, manage multi-step reviews, and ensure team collaboration during the content creation process. Such systems are invaluable when multiple stakeholders are involved in approving content before it goes live.

Pricing and Total Cost Questions

What is the real total cost?

The monthly fee you see advertised is often just the tip of the iceberg. It’s important to dig deeper and understand the full scope of costs. Check if the price increases as your team grows or if features like integrations, extra storage, or premium support come with additional charges.

Another factor to consider is the cost of expert services. If the platform connects you with specialists for strategy or execution, find out how they charge - whether it’s hourly, per project, or through a retainer.

Averi AI takes a straightforward approach with flat-rate pricing that covers both its AI tools and access to human expertise. Their Plus Plan is $45.00 per month, while the Pro Plan costs $200.00 per month[1]. This setup avoids hidden fees since expert collaboration is already included, not treated as an extra.

To make an informed decision, compare the total cost of ownership for your specific team size and usage. Sometimes, a platform with a lower monthly fee can end up being more expensive due to additional charges for expert services. Run the numbers to see how costs scale for your needs.

Once you have a clear picture of the pricing structure, assess how quickly this investment can start delivering measurable results.

How quickly does the tool deliver results and ongoing value?

When evaluating AI marketing platforms, speed-to-value is a critical factor. Ask how long it takes to go from signing up to creating your first useful marketing asset. Some platforms might take weeks for setup and training, while others can start producing results in just a few hours.

It’s also important to consider how the tool performs as you scale. Does it improve by learning from your feedback? Can it maintain quality and consistency as your projects grow in complexity?

The learning curve is another key point. Platforms that require extensive prompt engineering or complicated workflows can slow your team down. In contrast, tools that adapt to your brand voice and marketing needs can accelerate results significantly.

Don’t overlook campaign continuity. Check if the platform can ensure brand consistency across multiple projects, which is especially crucial for larger teams or enterprise-level campaigns. Its ability to scale with your business needs can make or break its value over time.

What support and training does the vendor provide?

Cost and speed matter, but strong support can make all the difference in getting the most out of your platform. Ask about the onboarding process - what kind of training is offered, how long it takes, and what resources are available.

Support services can vary widely. Some vendors provide dedicated customer success managers to help you optimize your usage, while others only offer basic technical support when problems arise. Training options should cater to your team’s preferences, whether that’s live sessions, video tutorials, written guides, or even community forums.

Response times are another crucial factor. Find out how quickly the vendor addresses urgent issues and whether premium support tiers offer faster assistance.

Averi AI’s Pro Plan includes dedicated support, which is a standout feature for higher-tier users who need more personalized help[1]. Also, look into the vendor’s commitment to ongoing user education. Regular webinars, best practice guides, and feature updates can ensure your team keeps up with the platform’s capabilities.

5 Factors To Keep In Mind When Buying AI Software

Making the Right Choice

Selecting the right AI marketing software comes down to how well it matches your team's size, goals, and day-to-day workflows. Instead of being swayed by flashy marketing claims, focus on aligning the tool's features with your specific needs.

Start by considering the basics. Does the software suit the size of your team and its level of marketing expertise? A simpler AI tool might not meet the demands of a larger, more experienced team, while smaller teams may not need the complexity of advanced platforms. Additionally, decide whether you need a purely AI-driven solution or one that combines artificial intelligence with human input for a balanced approach.

Next, take a close look at the platform's technical capabilities and how seamlessly it integrates into your existing workflow. The underlying AI model, its adaptability to various tasks, and the quality controls it offers all influence the outcomes you can expect. Platforms built on proprietary, marketing-specific AI models often produce results more aligned with marketing needs than generic tools adapted for the job. Whether your team requires a fully integrated workspace or a more focused, specialized tool will depend on your current operations and systems.

Cost transparency is another critical factor. Look beyond the sticker price to understand the total cost of ownership, including any extra charges for expert services, advanced features, or scaling as your needs grow. Sometimes, a platform with clear pricing and built-in human expertise offers better value than a cheaper option that comes with hidden fees.

Also, prioritize platforms that can deliver results efficiently while maintaining consistency across campaigns. Strong vendor support and comprehensive training resources are essential to ensure your team can get up to speed quickly and make the most of the software.

For a well-rounded solution that ticks these boxes, you might explore options like Averi AI. Designed as a complete AI marketing workspace, it aims to enhance your team's capabilities without adding unnecessary complexity.

Ultimately, compare your choices carefully to find a platform that complements your team's expertise and fits naturally into your workflow.

FAQs

How can I decide between a single-purpose AI marketing tool and a full-featured workspace?

To choose between a single-purpose AI marketing tool and a more comprehensive workspace, consider what your team truly needs. If your marketing involves juggling multiple tasks - such as strategy development, content creation, and campaign management - a platform that integrates these functions, like Averi AI, could be the ideal choice. Averi blends AI-driven capabilities with human insights to simplify even the most complex workflows.

However, if your team’s focus is narrower - say, generating copy or analyzing data - then a single-purpose AI tool might do the job just fine. The real question is whether you need an all-in-one solution to oversee your entire marketing process or a specialized tool designed to excel at specific tasks.

What should I look for to ensure AI marketing software protects my data and privacy?

When choosing AI marketing software, it's crucial to examine how it handles data security and privacy protection. Look for platforms that minimize data collection, secure explicit user consent, and adhere to privacy regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. Pay attention to whether they have clear policies for data retention and deletion, effective measures against cyber threats, and transparent practices for data usage.

It's also important to confirm that the software conducts regular risk assessments and audits to maintain ethical standards. Platforms that emphasize security often provide detailed compliance documentation and take extra precautions for cross-border data transfers. These practices not only safeguard your data but also help your organization remain compliant with regulatory requirements.

What steps can I take to make sure AI-generated content matches my brand's voice and quality standards?

To make sure AI-generated content mirrors your brand's voice and meets quality expectations, start by establishing detailed guidelines. These should clearly define your brand's tone, preferred style, and specific terminology. Providing examples of existing content that embody your brand's identity can help the AI better understand and replicate your unique style.

Introduce a review process where human editors assess the AI's output to ensure it aligns with your standards. Continuously update your guidelines based on feedback and keep an eye on the content being produced to ensure consistency across all platforms. By blending the speed of AI with the precision of human oversight, you can consistently deliver high-quality, brand-aligned content.

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