5 Ways to Boost Creative Performance With Generative AI

2023 was an explosive year for generative AI. Tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and others have captured the imagination, and they’re also creating waves in mobile marketing. Although designing impactful ad creative has always depended on automation for success, a new caliber of tools is transforming creative production as we know it. With the right approach, generative AI can help mobile businesses achieve scale and speed with creative production and testing and improve overall efficiency.

It’s still in the early days, but Liftoff Creative Studio, has been steadily scaling up our use of generative AI to drive campaign performance. We recently shared some tips for success in Liftoff’s 2024 Mobile Ad Creative Index. Here are some highlights:

1. Treat AI like a new partner for decision-making, not a replacement

Imagine AI as the newest collaborator in the room. It will supercharge your brainpower but is not a replacement for human creativity and collaboration.

Tip: We recommend using AI for ideation and research. For example, asking an AI engine to provide data-backed concepts for a new seasonal campaign can accelerate the brainstorming process. But arriving at the right concept will still involve discussion—not to mention trial and error.

2. Speed up production with AI-generated images

Image generators like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion are changing how creatives are designed. We’ve found that they are great for generating ad creative variations at scale. With the right inputs, we can generate endless variations of existing ads.

Tip: The same tools’ ability to generate ad creative from scratch leaves much to be desired. We don’t recommend starting from zero to ensure AI-generated creatives are brand-compliant, which is especially important when working with clients with brand IP. Instead, begin with iterations of existing ads and remember to integrate your brand guidelines.

Easily translate voice and copy with generative AI.

3. Localize ads, at scale, with AI

Another area where AI tools shine is in the localization of ad creatives. AI tools can quickly adapt existing creative for different audiences.

Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can help advertisers localize copy quickly and more accurately.

Tip: We’ve found success using AI to translate both subtitles and voiceovers:

• Video ads with subtitles tend to have higher engagement rates. AI makes cutting variants of the same ad with different language subtitles easy.
• Adding a voiceover to a video can boost conversion rates. AI makes it easy to create the VO and translate it into other languages.
  

4. Elevate user-generated content with AI

Over the last several years, UGC has become a staple creative format in performance marketing. In fact, UGC creatives built with Liftoff Influence saw an average of 152% increase in impression-to-install conversion rates. Influencers are likely to have an existing connection with your audience, and users are more likely to engage when a real person showcases an app’s features.

Tip: AI tools can help optimize scripts for your UGC ad. They can also help you combine influencer videos with playable elements for a more engaging and competitive ad.

Go 3D with generative AI.

5. Add new dimensions to your creatives

Sometimes, all an ad needs is something to make it pop. Generative AI allows you to move seamlessly from 2D to 3D and back again.

Tip: Adding a 3D CTA button in place of a 2D one can be a simple and effective way to boost engagement. Test what works best for you.

These are just a few ways to experiment with generative AI in your ad creative workflows. At Liftoff, we think that the generative AI revolution is far from a passing phase — it’s a transformative shift that’s here to stay.

Explore more about how Creative Studio can help you leverage generative AI for better ad creatives.

Craving for more generative AI? Join us and our friends at AppsFlyer, Product Madness, and Rocketship HQ on June 6 at 10 AM PT/7 PM CEST for a webinar on the transformative applications of generative AI in mobile ad creatives.