I just came across a LinkedIn post by Ethan Mollick that got my wheels turning. You know how we’ve been talking about integrating AI into our email marketing strategies? Well, Ethan’s got a brilliant idea that might just be the kickstart we need.

The No-Code AI Hackathon: Your Secret Weapon

Ethan suggests running internal no-code hackathons to get teams comfortable with Generative AI. This isn’t just another trendy idea – it’s a practical way to get your team excited about AI and actually using it in their day-to-day work.

Here’s the gist: You set up a hackathon where your team members are encouraged to use AI tools to solve real problems in their work. The best part? No coding skills required! It’s all about leveraging those user-friendly AI interfaces we’ve been talking about.

Why This Works for Email Marketers

Now, you might be thinking, “Tamara, how does this apply to us email folks?” Well, let me count the ways:

1. Hands-On Learning: Instead of sitting through another boring webinar, your team gets to play with AI tools in a way that directly relates to their work. Maybe someone figures out how to use ChatGPT or any of its cousins to brainstorm subject lines, or another team member uses it to segment their audience in a new way.
2. Real Problem Solving: This isn’t about creating hypothetical solutions. Your team will be tackling actual challenges they face in their email campaigns. It’s learning with a purpose!
3. Creativity Boost: Sometimes, we get stuck in our routines. A hackathon can shake things up and spark new ideas. Who knows? You might stumble upon the next big innovation in email marketing!
4. Team Building: Nothing brings a team together like a shared challenge. Plus, it’s a great way to identify your AI champions – those team members who really take to the technology and can help drive adoption going forward.

Making It Happen

Ethan points out some key advantages to this approach:

• It shows management is serious about AI adoption
• It gets people actually using the tools (remember our chat about spending 10 minutes a day on prompt crafting?)
• It showcases a variety of examples to inspire others
• It’s low-cost and easy to implement

To make your hackathon a success, consider these tips:

• Provide some basic training beforehand. Maybe share some of those prompt engineering frameworks we discussed?
• Set clear goals. What do you want your team to achieve?
• Offer incentives. Who doesn’t love a little friendly competition?
• Make it fun! This isn’t just about work – it’s about exploring and learning together.

Beyond the Hackathon

Now, don’t think of this as a one-and-done event. The hackathon is just the beginning. Use the momentum to keep the AI conversation going. Maybe the winning ideas become pilot projects, or you set up regular AI brainstorming sessions.

And hey, if you’re looking to dive deeper into how AI can transform your work, I can’t recommend Ethan Mollick’s book “Co-Intelligence” enough. It’s THE must-read book on Generative AI right now. Ethan’s got a knack for making complex topics accessible, and he offers practical insights on how AI can augment our work rather than replace it.

Wrapping Up

Look, I get it. Introducing new tech can be daunting, especially when we’re all juggling a million tasks already. But that’s exactly why this hackathon idea is so brilliant. It’s a low-pressure way to dip your toes into the AI waters and see what’s possible.

So, what do you say? Ready to shake things up with an AI hackathon? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you tried something like this before? Any ideas on how you’d customize this for your email marketing team? Drop a comment below and let’s keep this conversation going!

And hey, if you’re looking for more ways to level up your AI game in email marketing, don’t forget about the live online workshop “Master AI for Email Marketing” that I’m hosting with Jeanne Jennings on August 12 and 13. We’ll be diving deep into practical AI applications for email marketers. It’ll be the perfect follow-up to your hackathon!