6 GenAI Marketing Mistakes and How to Dodge Them

Generative AI (GenAI) usage has already increased 50% from last year, with 90% of marketing professionals using GenAI tools at least once per month and 70% using them weekly.

This enormous GenAI adoption isn’t just happening quickly; it’s exploding! 

With the rapid adoption of GenAI, there is a significant risk of oversights. Using it without caution can damage your brand, waste time and resources, or even cause legal trouble!

Here are the six most common mistakes made by marketers and how you can avoid them.

1. Lack of Strategy

Teams often jump into AI without defining objectives, which can cause wasted budgets and unclear ROI. According to Gartner, 30% of GenAI projects will be abandoned after proof-of-concept because they weren’t tied to a real business outcome. 

Before launching a tool or campaign, decide exactly what you want AI to solve, whether it’s reducing content production time by 40%, increasing personalization in emails, or boosting conversions on landing pages. AI should be the means to your marketing goal, not the goal itself.

Here’s how to build an AI strategy designed for growth!

2. Using Bad Data

Good data in is good data out. A 2023 study found that 78% of marketers struggle with data quality and validation when deploying AI. AI is only as effective as the data behind it. Before automating, take the time to audit, clean, and organize your data so your campaigns don’t fall flat.

3. Over-Automating Interactions

Automation can streamline workflows, but over-reliance risks making your business feel impersonal. B2B buyers expect authenticity and expertise, and they can easily recognize when communication is templated. In fact, only 38% of decision-makers say they’re comfortable with fully automated interactions. 

Use AI to handle repetitive tasks, like data analysis or drafting outreach, but ensure human oversight remains in place for strategic conversations and complex problem-solving.

4. Skipping Human Touch

By no means is AI perfect. It can “hallucinate” facts, misinterpret prompts, and change your brand tone. Without review, you could be publishing inaccurate, off-brand, or even legally risky content. A Capterra survey revealed 39% of marketers found AI content took more effort to edit than expected. 

Always run outputs through human editors. These team members should be trained to spot factual errors or tone mismatches. This extra layer is the difference between a polished, brand-aligned campaign and one that damages trust.

Here’s a bonus blog on how to make your marketing more human.

5. Ignoring Bias and Ethical Risks 

GenAI is trained on large datasets, which contain historic and cultural biases. Left unchecked, it can unintentionally stereotype or exclude groups of people. A recent survey showed 59% of consumers trust brands more when they know AI is audited for fairness. Regular bias testing and ethical reviews aren’t just good PR; they’re business imperatives. Your AI should reflect your brand’s values as much as your human team does.

6. Undertraining Your Team

Giving your team AI tools without the skills or policies isn’t a great idea. Even though 77% of professionals believe AI improves competitiveness, only 22% of businesses offer AI-specific training. 

Without guardrails, team members could misuse AI, unintentionally publish errors, or miss opportunities to use it effectively. Training should cover prompt engineering, brand voice alignment, bias detection, and legal considerations.

AI can be a powerful driver of efficiency, creativity, and personalization, but only if you use it with intention, ethics, and human oversight. Avoid these six mistakes, and you’ll position your brand as both innovative and trustworthy. We are here.