<\/a><\/p>\nIn this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interviewed Mark Schaefer, futurist, bestselling author, and marketing strategist, about his new book Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World<\/em>. Mark is a thought leader in digital and content marketing, and in this conversation, he explores the intersection of AI marketing and what it truly means to be human in an increasingly automated landscape.<\/p>\nWe dive deep into why human-centered marketing is more essential than ever, how shared experiences and emotional marketing can outperform cold performance metrics, and why creative branding\u2014especially the bold and unexpected kind\u2014is the antidote to the AI-generated noise. If you\u2019re wondering how your business can stand out in the age of AI and shifting consumer behavior, this conversation is for you.<\/p>\n
Key Takeaways:<\/h3>\n\n- Human-centered marketing is the competitive edge in the AI era.<\/strong> While AI marketing tools are powerful, they can\u2019t replicate genuine human connection, emotional marketing, or brand experiences built around shared values and trust.<\/li>\n
- Performance marketing has overshadowed the soul of branding.<\/strong> Mark challenges the overreliance on SEO, paid ads, and automation\u2014urging marketers to reclaim storytelling, empathy, and creativity in their strategy.<\/li>\n
- Experiential marketing is key to creating emotional resonance.<\/strong> Mark emphasizes the need for shared experiences\u2014both online and offline\u2014that tap into what he calls collective effervescence<\/em>, a psychological state where people feel connected, inspired, and part of something bigger.<\/li>\n
- Word-of-mouth marketing remains massively underutilized.<\/strong> Despite being one of the most trusted forms of promotion, most brands don\u2019t budget for it. Building communities and customer advocacy should be a core part of any marketing strategy.<\/li>\n
- In a world of sameness, be audacious.<\/strong> Whether it\u2019s creative branding or marketing disruption, Mark argues that the brands who dare to be bold\u2014sometimes even weird\u2014win attention and loyalty. AI can\u2019t replicate originality.<\/li>\n
- Consumer behavior has shifted\u2014and AI is influencing it.<\/strong> As consumers begin using AI to filter content and make decisions, marketers need to deliver clarity, brevity, and emotional depth. Attention is earned, not assumed.<\/li>\n
- Start with wrong to spark innovation.<\/strong> One of Mark\u2019s most memorable tips: disrupt your thinking by flipping assumptions. Instead of optimizing the old way, ask what would happen if you did the opposite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Chapters:<\/h3>\n\n- 00:09 Introducing Mark Schaefer<\/li>\n
- 00:59 Where Do Humans Fit in an AI Dominated World?<\/li>\n
- 04:09 A World Without Shared Experiences<\/li>\n
- 07:00 How to Out-Human AI<\/li>\n
- 09:44 Embracing Every Day Awe<\/li>\n
- 13:08 How AI is Changing Consumer Behavior<\/li>\n
- 17:25 Story of the Book Cover<\/li>\n
- 19:17 Start with Wrong<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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