Imagine creating ads so personalized it feels tailor-made for every viewer. And publishing those ads on multiple channels automatically from one platform. That’s the power of creative automation tools. 

Creative automation, also known as programmatic creative, is a fairly new concept in marketing that is quickly gaining traction.

Simply put, it’s about using AI and technology to create, test, and launch different ad variants on multiple media platforms.

For marketers, this means more personalized ads in less time and effort. 

In this post, we’ll give an in-depth analysis of 5 best creative automation tools in 2023 and a step-by-step guide to automate your creative process.

But first, let’s answer the “big” question. 

Can creative automation tools automate creativity? 🤔

Creativity can't be replaced, but it can be made easier and faster through automation.

For marketing teams who spend hours every day crafting and A/B testing different versions of ads for different audiences and ad platforms, automation is a significant time-saver. 

But automation is not about replacing human creativity and leadership.

Marketers still need to dictate the strategy behind ad messaging and creatives and make the final decisions on what to publish, what needs tweaking, and what to scrap.

For instance, when we created AdGen AI, our proprietary creative automation tool, our aim wasn’t to replace marketers. Instead, we envisioned a tool that will liberate them from the mundane and give back more time out of their day for strategy.

Based on generative AI models and millions of ads created by marketers around the world, AdGen AI generates laser-targeted, high-performing ads that are pre-formatted to fit specific ad platforms (e.g. Google Ads).

You can edit and adjust them as needed, and publish them on their ad account in one click. See here for AI generated ad examples. 

Generic ads are now replaced with dynamic adjustments in real-time, which ensures every ad is a high performer. And as we look to the future, predictive performance modeling is our compass.

Using rich historical data and current trends, we can forecast, adjust, and ensure our ad campaigns are not just current but ahead of the curve.

This means, you’re:

• Efficient: Repetitive tasks are now automated, and you have more time for strategic and creative work.
• Consistent: Your ads are now consistent to your brand guidelines across every channel and campaign.
• Fast: The ad production process is a lot faster, reducing time-to-market for campaigns by streamlining workflows and approval processes.
• Data-Driven: You get deep analytics and insights to optimize campaigns for better performance.
• Collaborative: Collaboration is now easier through centralized dashboards and real-time updates.
• Personalized: Your ads are now automatically tailored to different audiences and ad platforms, enhancing engagement and conversion rates.
• Cost-effective: Automation reduces the margin of error and generates higher ROI.
• Scaling up: Automation makes it easier to manage and execute large-scale campaigns with fewer resources.
• Controlling quality: Automated checks can make sure that all output meets predefined quality standards.
• Reaching globally: AI automation tools simplify the process of localizing and translating content for different markets.

So what kind of creative automation tools are out there? Let’s take a look: 

5 Best Creative Automation Tools for Marketers and Agencies

Now that we've explored the compelling benefits of creative automation tools, let's dive into some of the best options available for various marketing tasks, such as creative production of ads, content, images, and videos.

1. AdGen AI: All-in-one best ad creation software in 2023

What is it?

AdGen AI is a leading programmatic creative solution that focuses on digital ad generation and testing at scale using Generative AI technologies. It's easy, simple, and affordable (starts from $19 for individual users).

Who is it for? 

AdGen AI is designed for marketers and digital marketing agencies who want an efficient and cost-effective solution for creating and publishing ads across multiple channels. It is suitable for both seasoned marketers and beginners looking to streamline their ad creation process.

Best Features

• Generative AI Technology: AdGen AI is not just ChatGPT–it’s a collection of leading generative AI models. This means your ads are more accurate and high-quality. 
• Automatic Formatting: The software automatically formats ads for different channels, taking into account factors like the landing page, brand identity, historical data, and more.
• Ad Creative Bank: AdGen AI accesses Adriel's "Ad Creative Bank" database to offer high-performing ads that continually improve over time.
• Multilingual Support: AdGen AI can craft ad copy and visuals in six different languages, including English, French, Korean, Spanish, German, and Chinese, making it suitable for global marketing efforts.
• End-to-End and Prompt-Engineered: Unlike some other AI tools, AdGen AI is designed to be an end-to-end solution that is prompt-engineered, ensuring quick and efficient ad creation.
• User-Friendly Interface: The software is user-friendly, allowing users to input their website URL, choose a brand tone and voice, and write a product summary. It then generates ads aligned with the messaging style and target audience.
• Cross-Channel Publishing: AdGen AI enables users to publish generated ads across Google and Meta platforms with just a few clicks.
• Integration with Business Intelligence Tools: Users can track the performance of their ad campaigns in real-time on Adriel's marketing dashboard, allocate budgets, and gain insights from AdOptimize. Additionally, they can extract, transform, and load marketing data with Adriel Datastream.

Limitations 

• Platform Limitations: The software enables users to publish generated ads across Google and Meta platforms, but it does not support other advertising platforms at this point. (We are working hard to add more though!) 
• Limited Creativity and Originality: While AdGen AI leverages Generative AI to produce ads at scale, it's important to note that the AI can only generate content based on existing data patterns. This means it may lack the creative flair or originality that a human marketer could bring to ad campaigns.
• Potential for Bias: Generative AI can inadvertently introduce bias into the ad content if the data it was trained on is biased. This could affect the inclusivity and effectiveness of the ads, especially when targeting diverse audiences.

Pricing 

• Check out the detailed pricing here.

2. ChatGPT: Best Content Generating Software

If you want to go beyond ad creation and launch to craft compelling text for social media, blog posts, video scripts, newsletters and much more, embrace ChatGPT. 

What is it?

ChatGPT is an advanced AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. Unlike traditional search engines that provide a list of results, ChatGPT engages users in a dialogue to answer queries. 

It's a versatile tool that can generate a wide range of content, from marketing copy and articles to social media captions and product descriptions. It's designed to assist in various tasks by leveraging its large language model technology, which is trained on a vast amount of text data from the internet.

Who is it for?

ChatGPT is ideal for marketers, agencies, and small businesses looking to produce tons of high-quality content quickly. Whether you're in digital advertising, content creation, or product marketing, ChatGPT offers functionalities that can help you generate ideas, improve existing content, and even recommend tools.

Best Features

• Content Generation: ChatGPT can help you create copy for emails, blog posts, product descriptions, ad copy, and social media captions.
• Content Ideation: Struggling with what to write next? ChatGPT can assist in brainstorming topics for your blog posts, guides, and other forms of content.
• Tool Recommendations: Need to find the best keyword research tools? ChatGPT can provide recommendations based on your queries.
• Customer Surveys: It can help you generate customer feedback surveys, aiding in market research and customer relationship management.
• Chatbot Ideas: If you're looking to add a chat feature to your website, ChatGPT can offer ideas for prompts and answers to engage your visitors.
• Translation and Language Support: ChatGPT can translate text in 95 different languages, making it a versatile tool for localization and global marketing strategies.

Limitations

• Not a One-Stop Solution: While ChatGPT is a powerful tool for automating creative tasks, it's essential to use it as a starting point and not a complete solution. It's best suited for tasks involving content and copy, rather than strategic decisions like marketing strategy or competitor analysis.
• Professional Expertise Required: It's not a replacement for specialized professionals like marketing consultants or copywriters.
• Not factually correct: May occasionally generate incorrect or biased information.
• Outdated information: Limited knowledge of world events and data after September 2021.

Pricing

• ChatGPT offers a free tier, ChatGPT Free: Based on GPT-3.5, fewer features, and limited availability during peak times.
• ChatGPT Plus, priced at $20/month. Subscribers receive several benefits, including:

Access to advanced GPT-4 model, faster responses, and priority for new features.

Includes plugins for extended capabilities, like link reading for research and creating infographics based on data. 

Limited to 25 messages every three hours during high demand.

ChatGPT Plus is ideal for those needing advanced features and priority service, while the free version is suitable for basic tasks.

3. Midjourney: Best image creation AI tool

Just as you can rely on ChatGPT for your writing needs, another tool that has gained traction among marketers and creative teams for image creation is Midjourney.

What is it?

Midjourney is a generative AI program and service that specializes in creating art through text prompts. It leverages natural language detectors and a vast dataset of images to generate entirely new visuals based on user input. 

Midjourney is accessible exclusively through Discord, where users can easily generate AI art by using specific commands.

Who is it for?

Whether you're a brand marketer or work with an agency, Midjourney offers a unique way for digital marketers to generate captivating visuals for your campaigns.

Best Features

• Ease of Use: The platform is accessible through Discord, making it easy to generate art right from a familiar messaging platform. Commands are straightforward, and there's a community to help guide you.
• High-Quality AI Art: Midjourney's AI is sophisticated, capable of generating stunning visuals that can be used in various marketing materials, from social media ads to website graphics.
• Commercial Usage Rights: All subscription plans come with general commercial usage terms, allowing you to freely use the generated images in your marketing campaigns.
• Community and Support: Midjourney has an official Discord channel where users can share ideas, seek help, and even earn free GPU time by rating images.

Limitations

• Learning Curve: While the platform is user-friendly, newcomers may find it challenging to navigate the Discord channel and understand all the commands initially.
• No Free Trials: As of March 2023, Midjourney has suspended its free trials, which could be a barrier for those wanting to test the service before committing financially.
• Limited to Discord: The service is only accessible through Discord, which might not be convenient for everyone.
• Challenges in Brand Consistency: The platform struggles to maintain the same look and feel for a character across multiple renderings, making it less ideal for campaigns that require a consistent on-brand persona or mascot.
• Lack of Detail in Visual Elements: May miss specific details like accessories or hairstyles, requiring manual edits. This could be a setback if you're trying to highlight particular product features or create ads that resonate with a specific audience.
• Limited Scope for Complex Visual Narratives: The platform currently has limitations in creating intricate compositions with multiple elements, which could limit its utility for more ambitious marketing campaigns. 

Pricing

Midjourney offers four subscription plans:

• Basic Plan: $10/month or $96/year
• Standard Plan: $30/month or $288/year
• Pro Plan: $60/month or $576/year
• Mega Plan: $120/month or $1152/year

Each plan offers different levels of Fast GPU time. Fast GPU time is basically the amount of quick processing time you get to create your images. Think of it like the speed of your internet; the more you have, the faster you can get things done.

The plans range from 3.3 hours/month in the Basic Plan to 60 hours/month in the Mega Plan. Additional GPU hours can be purchased for $4/hr. 

4. Canva: Best Visual Content Creation Software 2023

To counter the limitations of Midjourney and expand beyond just images, consider using Canva for versatile visual content like presentations, websites, and infographics.

What is it?

Canva is a user-friendly design tool that simplifies the creation of visual content. It offers a range of features that enable users to create everything from images for social media posts to presentations, all without needing advanced design skills. 

Who is it for?

Canva is designed for marketing professionals and design teams who need to create visual content but may not have advanced design skills. It's particularly useful for teams looking to maintain brand consistency across various types of media.

Best Features

• Image Creation: Canva allows you to create custom images for various platforms, so you get images in the right size and dimensions for each platform automatically.
• Template Library: Offers a wide range of templates for different types of content, from social media posts to presentations.
• Stock Images/Videos: Provides access to a vast library of stock images and videos, making it easier to create visually appealing creative content.
• Design Automation: Canva standardizes design tools, making it nearly automatic to create good design.
• Contrast and Unity: The platform offers features that help you use contrast strategically and maintain unity across images for brand consistency and streamlining your design process.

Limitations

• Not a Substitute for Professional Design: While Canva is powerful, it's not a replacement for specialized design software or professional designers.
• Limited Customization: The tool offers templates and stock images, but customization can be limited for more complex projects.
• Simplicity Over Complexity: Canva is designed for ease of use, which may not suit projects requiring intricate design elements.

Pricing

Canva offers both free and paid plans. 

• Canva Free: Basic design types, 1+ million free photos and graphics, drag-and-drop editor. Suitable for individual use or small projects. 
• Paid Plans: Paid plans offer advanced features like a more extensive template library, team collaboration tools, and priority support. A 30-day free trial is available for paid plans. 
• Canva Pro at $119.99/year for individuals.
• Canva for Teams at $300/year for the first 5 people.

5. Synthesia: Best Video Creation AI platform 

While tools like Canva and Midjourney excel in image creation, when it comes to video production, one game-changer that has emerged is Synthesia.

What is it?

Leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence, Synthesia allows you to generate videos without the need for traditional filming or editing. You can create videos with AI avatars, generate natural-sounding voice overs in multiple languages, and even write complete video scripts—all within the platform. 

Its AI-driven features significantly reduce the time, effort, and cost traditionally associated with video production.

Who is it for?

Synthesia is designed for a broad audience but holds particular appeal for B2B digital marketers. Whether you're looking to create corporate videos, training modules, online courses, YouTube videos, or marketing content, you can produce high-quality videos quickly and efficiently.

Best Features

• AI Avatars: Choose from over 150 ethnically diverse AI avatars that act as presenters in your video, eliminating the need for actors or cameras.
• Multilingual Voice Overs: Generate voice overs in 130+ languages using text-to-speech AI technology, offering a global reach without the need for multiple voice actors.
• Voice Matching: Synthesia allows you to match recordings of your own voice with your video, offering a personalized touch to your content.
• Built-in Script Assistant: Synthesia's integration with ChatGPT simplifies the scriptwriting process, allowing you to generate complete video scripts with just a few clicks.
• Text-to-Video Editing: Create talking head videos by simply typing in text. The AI video editor will generate your videos in minutes.
• Auto-Generated Subtitles: Improve accessibility by automatically adding closed captions to your videos.
• Professional Templates: Choose from 65+ professional video templates suitable for various types of content, from corporate videos to YouTube content.

Limitations

• Not Ideal for Cinematic Videos: While Synthesia excels at creating AI-generated videos with human-like presenters, it's not the best fit for cinematic or highly artistic videos.
• Usage Restrictions: Synthesia prohibits the use of their videos with built-in avatars for popular advertisements and paid promotions.
• Learning Curve: Though designed to be user-friendly, new users may require some time to fully explore and utilize all the platform's features.

Pricing

Synthesia offers a range of pricing options tailored to different needs:

• Free Demo: You can try Synthesia for free by going to their free demo video page, where you can generate a video without any cost.
• Personal Plan:‍
• Cost: $30 per month or $300 annually
• Video Minutes: Provides you with 10 video minutes per month
• Custom Avatar: An add-on to your subscription at $1000/year

• Enterprise Plan‍
• Cost: Custom pricing tailored to your organization's needs
• Features: Enterprise-grade scalability, security, and support, along with a unified workspace for your team

Step-by-step Guide to Successfully Implement Creative Automation Tools

If you've read this far and are interested in trying out these tools in your own agency or company, here are the steps to get started.

Step 1: Identify Needs

Before you choose a tool, figure out what you really need. Do you want to automate social media posts, email campaigns, or design tasks? Knowing your needs will help you pick the right tool.

Step 2: Research Tools

Look for tools that meet your needs and fit your budget. Read reviews, ask for recommendations, and consider doing a free trial.

Step 3: Get Buy-In

Talk to your team and higher-ups to get their support. Show them how automation can save time and improve quality.

Step 4: Budget and Plan

Set aside the budget for the tool and plan how you'll roll it out. Decide who will use it, and what training they'll need.

Step 5: Training

Train your team on how to use the tool. You might need a few sessions to get everyone comfortable.

Step 6: Test Run

Before fully implementing, do a test run. Use this phase to iron out any issues.

Step 7: Monitor and Adjust

Once the tool is in use, keep an eye on how it's working. Are tasks getting done faster? Is the quality better? Make adjustments as needed.

Step 8: Scale

If the tool is working well in one department, consider rolling it out to others.

Step 9: Keep Learning

Automation tools often update with new features. Keep learning to make the most of your investment.

Step 10: Review and Iterate

Regularly review the tool's impact. Is it meeting your needs? If not, it might be time to try something new.

Be a part of the future

AI automation isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s just going to get more popular. 

Creative automation tools are at the forefront of this evolution. By automating the mundane and repetitive tasks, you're not just saving time—you're investing in the quality and impact of your creative projects. 

Now the question isn't whether to adopt these tools, but how to best utilize them for maximum efficiency and creative freedom. So why wait? 

Dive into the world of creative automation and unleash your true creative potential with AdGen AI. Get started below.