Media Buzz Blog

How Much AI Should I Use on My Social Media?

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:56:09 GMT

Quick Summary

AI is more accessible than ever, and it’s here to stay. From flyers to UGC videos, AI-generated content is everywhere on social media. With the floodgates open and endless possibilities within reach, you may be wondering: how much AI is too much? We believe AI is best used as a tool, not a replacement for human creativity and presence. Some effective ways to use AI for your social media include:

Brainstorming content ideas
Creative editing tools
Proofreading/editing your captions

People use social media to connect with real people, not AI. Even when using AI as a tool, we recommend using it to perfect what you have, not replace it.

How to Use AI to Brainstorm Effectively

Your favorite LLMs (large language models like Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT) perform best when you take the time to shape them. One of the most common mistakes we see is an LLM used only at the surface level. For example, if you own a roofing company, don’t simply give the prompt: “I own a roofing company, give me 5 ideas for a social media post.”

This approach will give you ideas, but they will likely be generic ones that hundreds of other roofing companies are already using.

Provide Context

Instead, take the time to tell it about your business. Consider these questions:

What makes you different from other roofing companies?
Who is your ideal customer?
What do your customers care most about when they pick a roofing company?
What is your brand voice? (Professional, friendly, funny, etc.)
What are your goals?

Once you answer these questions and share them with your favorite LLM, you will get more personalized suggestions that will likely resonate with your audience more effectively.

Be Critical and Give Feedback

Don’t just accept whatever AI generates without reading through it and giving feedback. It can often take your critiques and effectively adjust to your suggestions. The more you critique it, the more it learns your preferences and style. Without feedback, it falls back on its default settings.

For example, ChatGPT is known for using dashes (--) in its writing. I used to use dashes frequently before the days of ChatGPT, but now I hesitate because I don’t want my human writing to be mistaken for AI. If you aren’t critical of the content, it will likely have that recognizable AI flavor instead of the authentic human voice social media users are craving.

Our Favorite Tools That Use AI for Creatives

You may have noticed that Meta now labels “AI Content.” This label doesn’t just apply to written content and images fully generated by AI. It also extends to editing tools that use AI. For example, if you use Canva’s Magic Eraser tool to remove an unwanted element in a picture you took, Meta may flag it as AI content.

At Hummingbird Media , we like to use tools like Canva and CapCut to create reels, graphics, and more. We always start with our own concepts and media, then use AI tools when needed to polish the work. Some of these AI tools require premium subscriptions.

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend using AI only when it can elevate what you already have without feeling artificial. Once it no longer feels like you or your brand, you’re better off with your own work.

Helpful Canva Features That Use AI

Magic Eraser

The Magic Eraser helps remove unwanted objects from a background. As with all AI tools, it’s not perfect. If the photo looks unnatural after automatic removal, it's better to remove it manually with a photo editor.

Background Remover

The Background Remover tool can be effective when making graphics, especially when highlighting a product. Like the Magic Eraser, it doesn't always remove backgrounds cleanly, so use your best judgment. Generally, the more prominent your focus subject is, the easier it will be to remove the background.

Magic Expand

The Magic Expand tool can be useful when you have a photo with a plain background that isn’t quite the ratio you need. Instead of zooming in, you can use Magic Expand to extend the background and make it look natural. This works best with plain backgrounds.

Effective CapCut Tools that Use AI

CapCut has several AI tools; while we don’t recommend using all of them, a few are helpful.

Reduce Noise

Sometimes, even with a microphone, your video may pick up too much background noise. Whether it’s traffic, wind, or a loud public environment, CapCut’s Reduce Noise tool can help clean up sound.

However, sometimes when the background noise is too strong, this tool can make the rest of the audio sound mechanical. When this happens, it’s better not to use the tool and instead refilm the video or, in some cases, isolate the voice.

Isolate Voice

Often, when the Reduce Noise tool is ineffective, the Isolate Voice tool can be a helpful alternative. Instead of removing background noise, it focuses on picking up the main speaker’s voice. We often find this tool can produce a cleaner result.

Beat Markers

If you’ve ever tried to align video clips or images to the beat of music manually, you know it can be tedious and time-consuming. CapCut’s beat markers speed up the process while still letting you adjust your clips' timing.

Auto Captions

Saving the best for last, auto captions are one of our most-used AI tools within CapCut. For best results, we recommend making any cuts and edits before generating your captions. While captions are usually accurate, mistakes can happen, especially with brand names or uncommon terms. After they generate, it’s always a good idea to proofread and make the necessary adjustments.

The Goal of Social Media Is to Connect

While you may be tempted to use AI to take over as much of your social media creation as possible, remember what people are looking for when they scroll: connection. Not only will your content resemble several other businesses if you use AI without intention, but your potential customers will have a hard time getting to know you.

People want to do business with people they can trust. The more you show your real team, share authentic moments, and your brand’s personality, the more people will be drawn to your content.

Don’t Have Enough Time to Manage Your Social Media?

Being a business owner is time-consuming. If you have a business in central Arkansas and feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with your social media accounts, our team at Hummingbird Media can help . We handle everything : filming, editing, copywriting, posting, Meta ad campaigns, and page management. We take the time to understand your business and its unique brand voice. If you’re ready to take your social media to the next level, we’d love to talk.

If the background has a lot of imagery, complex lighting, or patterns, the effect may look fake. In the example above, you can see that the wood flooring looks unnatural when using this tool. In this case, it's better to use a different image or add a neutral background that blends with the image.

What Should I Look for When Hiring a Web Design Company?

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:53:10 GMT

Quick Summary

When hiring a web design company, you want to consider a few factors, including:

Design process
Portfolio
Website platforms
Reviews
Website strategy
Mobile-friendly design
Website ownership

These should help you determine if the company is the right fit for your needs.

The Process

You want to know what to expect and how involved you'll need to be. Generally, a website design process will include a consultation/design discussion, information gathering, design, editing/feedback, and publishing.

For example, here is our process at Hummingbird Media :

Intake questionnaire
Kick-off call and design discussion.
Content guide
Homepage design
Client feedback
Remaining pages designed.
Client feedback
Final edits
Website transferred and connected to the domain.
Video tutorial recorded and sent.

Ideally, you want to work with a designer who has an established process that gives you plenty of opportunities to give feedback so you love the finished result. If the website designer needs written content or photos from you, providing them early will help the project stay on track.

Website Portfolio

Perhaps one of the most helpful things to consider is their past work. Many website designers share their past work online. For example, you can view Hummingbird Media’s portfolio on our website design page . If they don't have a website portfolio, ask them to send examples of their past work. If they’ve designed a website in the same or a similar industry, that can also work in your favor.

Website Platforms

If you have a specific website platform, such as Wix , that you want your website built on, make sure the designer can accommodate it. Every website platform is different, so website design companies often work on a few preferred platforms.

For example, while Hummingbird Media works on many different website platforms, we often recommend Duda because it’s user-friendly and easy for clients to manage once the design is complete.

Client Reviews

Client reviews are also an effective way to learn about the website design company. You may find reviews on their Facebook, Google Business Profile, and/or website. Look for reviews with specific information about client experience and the process. Vague reviews that say things like “great designer” may be positive, but they aren’t very helpful when you’re trying to see if you would be a good fit.

If you can’t find any reviews, you may ask the website design company if they have any references you can reach out to.

Strategy

You don’t just want a stunning website; you want one that gets you leads . During the initial consultation, ask about their strategy. Do they keep your customers in mind when creating the website structure, calls to action, and flow?

For example, at Hummingbird Media , we ensure every website has several clear calls to action, lead forms, and a logical structure that makes it easy for customers to find the information they need. We also build our content guide around each client, helping them write content that will connect with their ideal customers.

Mobile-Friendly Design

On average, about 53.7% of users visit websites on their phones. This makes mobile-friendly design crucial. Ask the website design team how they handle mobile-friendly design. You can also view some of their past work on your phone to see how they approach mobile website design.

Mobile-friendly design considerations may include font size and alignment, layout, images, and more. For example, in the graphic above, you can see the difference between the mobile hero banner and the desktop version.

On mobile, a picture is followed by a blue section with the title and buttons. On desktop, the text and buttons overlay the image.

To create the same overlay on mobile, the image would have to stretch to fit the buttons and text. Because the photo is landscape, this would make it blurry and pixelated. Thus, a vertically stacked design was the better choice for mobile.

This kind of design choice is intentional and helps create a more user-friendly experience.

Website Ownership

Not every website design company handles website ownership the same. Some companies host your website and charge a monthly fee. Other companies, like Hummingbird Media , transfer the website to you after the design is complete, so you own it and pay hosting fees directly to the website platform.

Hosting fees are the monthly or yearly costs a website platform (such as Wix, Duda, or WordPress) charges to keep your website live on their platform. This differs from what you pay monthly or yearly for your domain, the unique name of your website/URL (yourwebsite.com). Common domain providers include GoDaddy and Namecheap .

When Is It Helpful for A Website Design Company to Host My Website?

If you need frequent website updates and edits, it may make more sense to choose a website design company that includes edits in its monthly hosting fee. However, if you only need occasional edits or plan to make them yourself, it may make more sense to choose a company that transfers the website to you.

For example, at Hummingbird Media, our clients pay a flat price for their website and then pay the hosting fee directly to the website platform. If they need edits later, we charge an hourly rate. This is a cost-effective approach for people who don't require frequent website edits. For clients whose social media , Meta and Google ads , and SEO we manage, we will make website updates as needed to support our marketing efforts.

Schedule a Consultation

Getting a new website should be exciting, not stressful. Take the time to choose a company you can trust that understands your goals.

If you own a local service-based business in Arkansas and need a new website, our team at Hummingbird Media would love to help. View our portfolio and request a website design consultation on our website . No matter who you choose to design your website, we hope it serves you well and brings your business a new season of growth!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Your Website Losing You Customers? 7 Signs You Need a New Website

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:53:05 GMT

Quick Summary

While some websites may just need some updates and a design refresh, others would benefit more from a full redesign. Here are seven signs that you need a new website:

The navigation is confusing.
The design is outdated.
It isn’t mobile-friendly.
It’s difficult to use.
Your company has grown, or branding has changed since your last design.
You hesitate to share your website with others.
You aren’t getting consistent leads.

At Hummingbird Media , we help local service-based businesses in Arkansas stand out with custom websites that are user-friendly, conversion-focused, and aligned with your brand. Reach out today if you’d like to schedule a free consultation.

1. How Do I Know If My Website Navigation Is Too Confusing?

The menu at the top of your website is one of the most important elements. A well-designed navigation menu has clear labels that immediately tell users what to expect from your website. The goal is to make it easy for anyone visiting your website to tell what you do.

To avoid confusion:

Use Clear Language

Don’t use jargon (terms that only people in your industry would understand) or unclear labels. If they can’t read it and know exactly what it means, change it. For example, instead of putting “SEO” on our navigation menu, we put “Lead Generation” with a submenu of different ways we help clients get leads, including SEO . We did this because we’ve found many people don’t know what SEO is, so it’s better to show them what they’re actually looking for when they come to us: leads.

Keep It Simple

Only add the most important pages or categories to your main menu. Often this would be your home page, about page, services page(s) (nested under a submenu when it makes sense), and a contact page. When it makes sense, use navigation folders with sub-menus that keep it clean and easy to understand.

For example, this client has “drugstore” and “pharmacy” in their business name. Since their business name is prominently featured, patients can easily tell what they do. Thus, it made sense to create a services navigation folder with a submenu showing “Pharmacy,” “Medication Management,” and “Vaccines” to keep the menu from getting too cluttered.

Consider Essential User Actions

Consider the actions you want users to take. Pages like your Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, etc., don't need to be in your main navigation. Instead, you can link them in your footer. Focus on pages that give important information for potential customers and the conversion action you want them to take.

For example, for this wealth management company, we ensured they had a clear “Contact Us” button and the essential pages potential clients may want to visit before deciding to contact them.

2. Does An Outdated Website Make a Business Look Less Trustworthy?

The short answer is yes. We don’t have a magic number for how often you should redesign your website; however, if you wait long enough, it becomes obvious to users that it hasn’t been updated in a long time. This makes people wonder if your business is still active and keeps up with the times. Most people do their research before choosing a business, so your website is often their first impression.

If you want to see if it’s time for a redesign, it may help to look at your most successful competitors and compare your website to theirs.

In some industries, you may find that most businesses have an outdated website. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn't redesign yours. Instead, it presents an opportunity for your business to stand out. If you can’t find good examples, look at well-known national brands and even industries similar to yours.

3. How Important Is Mobile-Friendly Design?

Recent research shows that about 53.37% of users worldwide visit websites on mobile devices instead of desktops. While this may vary by industry, more people are using phones over computers.

Mobile-friendly design means optimizing a website differently for mobile than for desktop. This can include text alignment, section organization, button placement/type, and more. It’s likely that many, if not most, of your users will visit your website on their phone.

4. How Can I Tell If My Website Is Difficult to Use?

It can be hard to look at your own website objectively. If possible, have a friend or family member you trust visit your website and ask them the following questions. If you do not have someone, you can go through and ask yourself these questions. Just keep in mind that you have to pretend like you know nothing about your business.

Did any pages take too long to load?
Did any pages not load at all or return a 404 Error? A 404 Error happens when a button or link leads to a page that doesn’t exist.
Were there any buttons that didn’t work?
Was there anything that you expected to be clickable and wasn’t?
Were you able to find the information about my services easily?
Were you able to find a way to contact me/book an appointment/etc. easily?
Were there any pages that were hard to read, navigate, or were just visually overwhelming? For example, text that’s too light to read or too long, images that are too large, blurry, or poorly lit.

These are some informative questions to get you started. If you find there are multiple issues, you may want to consider a redesign.

5. How Do I Know If My Business Has Outgrown My Website?

Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with your website other than it’s just not a good fit anymore. Whether your company has grown or your branding has changed, if your website no longer accurately reflects your business and brand, it’s time for a change.

Your Company Has Grown

This is a reason to celebrate! Often as companies grow, so do their services, team, and capabilities. You want a website that shows everything you do and, when possible, the people behind your business.

For example, in the past year, our team at Hummingbird Media has more than doubled. As a result, we’ve been able to offer more services and expand. While we loved our previous website, we were ready for a new one that could reflect everything we offer and serve us better. That’s why we redesigned our website this month.

Your Branding Has Changed

Changing your branding can be exciting and give your business a fresh feel. If you update your branding, you'll want to make sure your website aligns with it. Once you've nailed down your new branding, meet with a web designer and share your vision for your website redesign.

6. You Hesitate to Share Your Website with Others.

If someone asks for your website, do you change the subject? Or do you warn them before they visit it that you’ve been meaning to get a new one?

Maybe you got a website a long time ago to check it off the list when you first started. We see this a lot with local business owners, and it’s completely understandable. You’re busy running your own business, and you don’t have time to learn website design.

At the same time, you know you need a website, so you get a template up over the weekend or cash in a favor from a family member. Or you spend many hours trying to design it yourself and give up in frustration.

Or sometimes, you pay a designer, and it’s just not what you had pictured.

Whatever the reason is, we believe you should be proud to share your website. The best websites are those that reflect you and your business effortlessly. They aren’t cookie-cutter; they aren’t generic and full of stock photos.

7. Why Am I Getting Website Traffic and No Leads?

If you’re driving traffic to your website with social media , ads , or SEO and still aren’t seeing leads, it may be your website design.

Websites shouldn’t just look great; they need to help you do business. Websites designed to convert have clear calls to action, straightforward navigation, answer potential questions, provide social proof, and focus on users, not business owners.

Clear and Frequent Calls to Action (CTAs)

First, make sure you have calls to action, or opportunities for people to take the action you want (like “Book Now,” “Contact Us,” and “Sign Up”). Don’t make people hunt for them. If you want them to book, give them plenty of chances throughout your website to do so.

Your buttons should also make it obvious what happens when people click them. If you have buttons that say things like “Love It,” people may not know what to expect when they click.

Easy Navigation and Flow

Your website should have a logical flow. Put the most important items at the top of a page with easy ways to get to other important pages. As mentioned before, your navigation menu is crucial.

Answer Potential Questions

Think about the most common questions you get from your potential customers before they’re willing to work with you. Try to answer these questions on your website so that they feel confident when they contact you.

Provide Social Proof

As they say, the proof is in the pudding. If your website is all talk and no proof, people are less likely to trust you and give you their business. When possible, include customer reviews, case studies, or customer video testimonials.

Choose reviews that are specific and highlight what makes you different or address common pain points. For example, if you’re a health coach, instead of picking a review that says “She’s the best health coach ever!” choose a review that says something like “She made me meal plans that are easy to follow and fit into my routines with ease. She’s taken the stress out of trying to eat healthy!”

Focus on Your Audience

Here’s the biggest secret: your website isn’t really about you; it’s about who you serve. They want to know if you understand them, if they can trust you, and if you can actually help them. Your website is a way for you to truly connect with your ideal customer and show them you GET IT.

Get a Free Consultation

If you’re a business owner in Arkansas and you’re ready for a new website, we’d love to help. We follow a straightforward process that includes your feedback throughout the design, so you love the finished product. We offer custom web design for local, service-based businesses. You can check out some of our past work and learn more about our web design here .

Media Buzz Blog

How Much AI Should I Use on My Social Media?

Quick Summary

How to Use AI to Brainstorm Effectively

Provide Context

Be Critical and Give Feedback

Our Favorite Tools That Use AI for Creatives

Helpful Canva Features That Use AI

Magic Eraser

Background Remover

Magic Expand

Effective CapCut Tools that Use AI

Reduce Noise

Isolate Voice

Beat Markers

Auto Captions

The Goal of Social Media Is to Connect

Don’t Have Enough Time to Manage Your Social Media?

What Should I Look for When Hiring a Web Design Company?

Quick Summary

The Process

Website Portfolio

Website Platforms

Client Reviews

Strategy

Mobile-Friendly Design

Website Ownership

When Is It Helpful for A Website Design Company to Host My Website?

Schedule a Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Your Website Losing You Customers? 7 Signs You Need a New Website

Quick Summary

1. How Do I Know If My Website Navigation Is Too Confusing?

Use Clear Language

Keep It Simple

Consider Essential User Actions

2. Does An Outdated Website Make a Business Look Less Trustworthy?

3. How Important Is Mobile-Friendly Design?

4. How Can I Tell If My Website Is Difficult to Use?

5. How Do I Know If My Business Has Outgrown My Website?

Your Company Has Grown

Your Branding Has Changed

6. You Hesitate to Share Your Website with Others. ﻿

7. Why Am I Getting Website Traffic and No Leads?

Clear and Frequent Calls to Action (CTAs)

Easy Navigation and Flow

Answer Potential Questions

Provide Social Proof

Focus on Your Audience

Get a Free Consultation

6. You Hesitate to Share Your Website with Others.