Double the impact, half the time:
WITH AI
How we cut +50% of the time spent on creative production for Storybeat.
INTRODUCTION
Revolutionizing advertising by integrating AI into Storybeat’s creative process. This case study delves into their journey towards dramatically reducing production times and costs while enhancing ad effectiveness. By optimizing and refining ads through AI solutions, we sat a new standard in efficiency and performance.
THE CHALLENGE
Revolutionizing Ad Production
There was a need for rapid production without sacrificing the ad’s impact. We faced a bottleneck with traditional content creation methods — being slow and costly.
THE SOLUTION
We saw an opportunity to make a radical shift to AI-driven solutions to overcome these hurdles
Our focus was on refining and iterating the best-performing ads rather than creating new concepts from scratch. This strategy understands the iterative nature of ad optimization.
Partnering with an agency that took the initiative to experiment with AI in content creation has been pivotal for us at Storybeat, especially when creative design can be a bottleneck for small teams. This agile experimentation has not only enhanced our creative processes but also provided deeper insights into what resonates with our audience. At Storybeat, we are committed to continuous improvement and applying growth methodologies where constant iteration is key. It’s invaluable to have a partner that shares this mindset and helps optimize our outcomes
- Michelle Murcia, Head of Growth @ Storybeat
THE PROCESS
AI: The New Creative Partner
Admiral Media’s strategy was to infuse AI into every step of the creative process, from translation to testing.
AI Translations and Efficiency
AI was leveraged to automate the translation process, drastically reducing the time from script to screen and ensuring message consistency across different markets.
Creative Testing Accelerated
We deployed AI to test a variety of ad formats, analyzing performance metrics to quickly determine the most effective variations.
The AI Advantage
Immediate translations and faster image sourcing were just the beginning. AI allowed us to create more ad variations faster, testing them in real-time to optimize performance.
The winning version featured an iteration that included more people and drone shots of the island. Finding the right images for the original version took approximately 120 minutes. In contrast, prompting Midjourney to generate the exact desired images and animating them with Runway took less than 40 minutes.
THE RESULTS
The integration of AI into the creative process had compelling results in cost and time efficiency.
This led to significant cost savings, enabling more ad variations within the same budget and timeframe.
In some cases, due to the evolution of Generative AI tools, the final outcome might not be perfect. Nevertheless, the technology holds great potential and is already beneficial to the creatives testing process.
Time Savings Summary
Our AI integration for Storybeat resulted in significant time savings across various production aspects:
- Translation Time: Automated translations through AI were 10x faster than manual methods.
- Image Sourcing: The time spent on sourcing images was cut by 50%, by incorporating AI generated images.
Note: The table assumes a 50% time saving on simpler tasks and up to 80% on more complex tasks with AI, such as including an AI avatar instead of a creator to present the app.
Click on task type to read description.
Task type
Simple hook iterations
Simple hook iterations
Polished Subtitles
Polished Subtitles
Footage Research
Footage Research
Translation
Translation
UGC style footage
UGC style footage
Average Manual
Production Time
1 hour
0.75 hours
2 hours
10 min.
3 hours net
Deliverables by average
manual production time
25 hooks
Single 20 secs. ads
10 relevant videos
Single 15 secs. script
1 to 3 videos
AI tools approximate
Deliverables in the same
time
150 hooks
Three 20 secs. ads
18 relevant and
custom videos
Ten 15 secs. scripts
20 videos / 10 min each
Task type
Simple hook iterations
Simple hook iterations
Polished Subtitles
Polished Subtitles
Footage Research
Footage Research
Translation
Translation
UGC style footage
UGC style footage
Average Manual
Production Time
1 hour
0.75 hours
2 hours
10 min.
3 hours net
Task type
Simple hook iterations
Simple hook iterations
Polished Subtitles
Polished Subtitles
Footage Research
Footage Research
Translation
Translation
UGC style footage
UGC style footage
Deliverables by average
manual production time
25 hooks
Single 20 secs. ads
10 relevant videos
Single 15 secs. script
1 to 3 videos
Task type
Simple hook iterations
Simple hook iterations
Polished Subtitles
Polished Subtitles
Footage Research
Footage Research
Translation
Translation
UGC style footage
UGC style footage
AI tools approximate
Deliverables in the same
time
150 hooks
Three 20 secs. ads
18 relevant and
custom videos
Ten 15 secs. scripts
20 videos / 10 min each
THE INSIGHTS
Learning from AI’s Impact
Our analysis uncovered key factors that contributed to the success of AI-enhanced ads.
Enhanced Elements
Strategic use of voice-overs and select imagery provided by AI resonated more with audiences, as reflected in the enhanced performance metrics.
- Transitioned from a “robotic AI” voice to a more human tone. Challenging the effectiveness of the then trendy style, testing different voice overs in ads through multivariable tests.
- Shifted from realistic, softly-toned images (classic user generated footage) to more vibrant colors in reels, uncovering surprising audience preferences and challenging initial assumptions.
Valuable Lessons
- It became evident that the addition or removal of specific elements could dramatically influence viewer engagement and ad performance. This enables a more efficient testing of variations to identify winning combinations faster.
- We need to take into account that the time varies according to the results of generative AI exercises and the tools evolution. As Generative AI tools improve, more polished results can be obtained in less time. But AI is not quite there yet.
The context here is critical: this wasn’t about initial creative conception; it’s about optimizing what already works to avoid creative fatigue. By utilizing AI, we would streamline production making it possible to deliver tailored content that manual processes would struggle to match within the same time frame.
-Deb Paladino, Creative Lead at Admiral Media
CONCLUSION:
The AI Edge in Creative Advertising
Through this partnership, Admiral Media demonstrated that AI can be a game-changer in the world of advertising. Storybeat’s case is a testament to how AI can be utilized not just for efficiency but for crafting more resonant and effective ads.
This case study not only showcases our agency’s AI-expertise but also serves as a valuable resource for those seeking insights on how to successfully leverage AI in today’s User Acquisition world and the dynamic industry of mobile app advertising.
