Enhancing End-of-Year Campaigns with AI: Insights from BlueLena’s Experiment

15 publishers generated $170,414 in net new reader revenues through leveraging BlueLena's AI-assisted campaign messaging

As publishers look for innovative ways to streamline their fundraising and engagement efforts, BlueLena recently experimented with AI-generated campaigns to support their end-of-year initiatives. The goal was to offer a more customized option for publishers who lacked the capacity to create fully tailored campaigns but still wanted a personalized touch.

The AI Experiment

Last year, BlueLena introduced AI-assisted campaigns, inviting 15 publishers to participate in this initiative. The process involved gathering key strategic inputs—such as mission statements, value propositions, past story examples, and reporter bios—to craft AI-driven email sequences using ChatGPT. The AI-generated drafts served as the foundation for comprehensive 8-to-12 email campaigns.

A Collaborative Approach

While AI played a crucial role in generating content, the human touch remained essential. The drafts were reviewed and refined within ChatGPT’s workspace and Google Docs to ensure accuracy, brand alignment, and a natural tone. The objective was not to replace human writing but to create a strong starting point that publishers could adapt and enhance.

Results & Future Enhancements

The fifteen participating publishers collectively generated $170,415 in net new reader revenues by sending 3.9M discrete email campaigns to audience members from October-December, and acquiring 1,707 new donors.

The AI-assisted campaigns performed well, demonstrating that AI can be a valuable tool for publishers looking to streamline their processes without sacrificing quality. Moving forward, BlueLena aims to refine this approach further, making AI-generated campaigns even more accessible and effective.

This experiment underscores how AI can be leveraged to save time while maintaining editorial integrity, offering a scalable solution for publishers eager to enhance their engagement strategies.