📚 BrandCast Studio AI User Manual

📖 Overview

Welcome to BrandCast Studio AI, your AI-powered content marketing platform. BrandCast Studio AI helps you create, manage, and optimize marketing campaigns with intelligent automation and data-driven insights.

Key Features

Quick Navigation

Access these pages from the left sidebar:

• 🏠 Home: Landing page with platform overview
• 📊 Dashboard: Campaign overview and metrics
• 🎨 Campaign Builder: Create and design campaigns
• 📁 My Campaigns: View and manage all campaigns
• 💰 Pricing: View available plans and credits
• 🎵 Audio Library: Browse and manage music tracks
• 🤖 Campaign Advisor: AI-powered recommendations
• ⏰ Scheduler: Plan content publication
• 📈 Analytics: Performance tracking and insights
• 🏢 Organization: Team and organization settings
• ⚙️ Settings: Account preferences

🚀 Getting Started

Your First Campaign

📊 Dashboard

Your dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of your marketing activities, campaign performance, and key metrics at a glance.

Dashboard Components

Campaign Overview

View summary statistics for all your campaigns:

• Total Campaigns: Number of campaigns created
• Active Campaigns: Currently running campaigns
• Draft Campaigns: Campaigns in development
• Scheduled Campaigns: Campaigns pending publication

Performance Metrics

Recent Activity

Track your latest actions and campaign updates:

• Recently created campaigns
• Recently published content
• Recent performance changes
• System notifications

🎨 Campaign Builder

The Campaign Builder is the heart of BrandCast Studio AI, where you create compelling marketing campaigns with AI assistance.

Creating a New Campaign

Editing Existing Campaigns

When you open an existing campaign:

• All fields are pre-populated with saved values
• Logo appears with replace/remove options
• Uploaded files show in green chips (can delete)
• Generated slides are editable
• Click Update Campaign to save changes

AI Video Generation

For Video Slideshow and Reels Video formats, you can use AI video generation to produce fully rendered videos using advanced AI models:

• Video Quality: Choose Fast, Standard, or High quality to balance generation speed vs. output resolution
• Duration: Set video duration (5–60 seconds) for AI-generated videos
• Video Style: Optional style preference (auto-select for best results)
• Multiple generated video versions are saved in a gallery per campaign — select the best one for deployment

Troubleshooting

File Upload Issues

• No file uploaded: Ensure you click "Upload Files" after dropping files
• Payload too large: Total files + logo must be under 10MB. Reduce file sizes or upload fewer files
• Files not showing on edit: Check that files were uploaded successfully before saving campaign

Campaign Update Issues

• Failed to fetch: Server may be down. Check console for payload size. Restart Next.js if needed
• Changes not persisting: Verify you clicked "Update Campaign" and saw success notification
• Logo/files lost: Ensure files were uploaded before updating. Check database for saved settings

📁 My Campaigns

Manage all your campaigns in one place. View, edit, duplicate, or delete campaigns with ease.

Campaign List View

The campaign list displays:

• Campaign Name: Click to edit
• Status: Draft, Published, Scheduled, Archived
• Created Date: When campaign was created
• Last Modified: Last update timestamp
• Platform(s): Target publishing platforms
• Slides: Number of slides in campaign

Actions

Edit Campaign

Duplicate Campaign

Create a copy of an existing campaign to use as a template:

1. Click Duplicate on the campaign
2. System creates a copy with "(Copy)" appended to name
3. Edit the duplicate as needed
4. Save with a new unique name

Delete Campaign

1. Click Delete on the campaign
2. Confirm deletion in the dialog
3. Campaign is removed from your account

Filtering & Sorting

• Filter by Status: All, Draft, Published, Scheduled, Archived
• Filter by Platform: Show campaigns for specific platforms
• Search: Find campaigns by name or content
• Sort: By date, name, status, or performance

🤖 Campaign Advisor (AI Marketing Strategist)

Campaign Advisor is a fully interactive, chat-based AI marketing strategist. It is not a campaign analyzer — it is a conversational AI assistant that helps you develop marketing strategies, generate full marketing plans, and think through your business goals in real time. You can maintain multiple strategy sessions and export professional marketing plans as PDF documents.

Interface Overview

• Left Sidebar: Your conversation sessions. Each session has a title (e.g., "Campaign Strategy — 6/15/2025"). Click New Session to start a fresh strategy conversation. Delete sessions you no longer need using the trash icon.
• Center Panel: The active chat conversation. Messages are formatted in Markdown and streamed in real time.
• Top-Right Controls: Plan Type selector, Saved Plans dropdown, Save Plan, Export PDF, and the Generate Plan button.
• Right Drawer (Business Information): Opens when you click the settings icon. Fill in details about your business so the AI gives tailored advice.

Step-by-Step: Getting Marketing Advice

Managing Sessions

• Each session maintains its own conversation history and business info — useful for managing multiple clients or campaigns simultaneously
• Sessions are auto-titled by date (e.g., "Campaign Strategy — 6/15/2025")
• Delete sessions using the trash icon in the left sidebar — deletion is permanent and requires confirmation

🎵 Audio Library

The Audio Library lets you manage and AI-generate audio assets for your campaigns. It has two tabs: My Audio Library (browse and manage your existing tracks) and Generate New Audio (create new audio using AI text- to-speech or AI music generation). All audio assets are scoped to your organization and can be attached to campaigns in the Campaign Builder.

Tab 1: My Audio Library

Displays all audio assets generated by your organization. Each asset shows:

• Name and optional description
• Duration (formatted as mm:ss)
• Voice — a chip showing the voice type or music model used
• Used In — which campaigns currently use this audio asset
• Created date

Per-Track Actions

• ▶ Play / ⏹ Stop: Preview the track inline — playback is shared across the app so you can listen while browsing
• Edit (pencil icon): Update the asset's name and description via a dialog
• Delete (trash icon): Permanently remove the asset (confirmation required)
• Download: Download the audio file directly to your computer

Tab 2: Generate New Audio

Create AI-generated audio in three modes. Select your mode using the radio buttons at the top of the form:

• Speech: Convert marketing text to spoken audio using a text-to-speech (TTS) AI model
• Music: Generate background music from a text prompt using an AI music model
• Mix: Combine AI-generated speech and music into a single audio track

Common Fields (all modes)

• Asset Name (optional): A label for the generated asset in your library

Speech Mode Settings

• Speech Text: The marketing script the AI will read aloud. Includes sample text suggestions you can click to auto-fill.
• TTS Model: The text-to-speech engine to use. Available models are loaded dynamically; options vary by deployment but typically include:
  • Kokoro 82M (fast, local)
  • MeloTTS
  • F5-TTS (supports voice cloning)
  • Zonos (high-quality, expressive)
• Voice: Select a preset voice (female/male options) or use your own WAV voice sample (F5-TTS only)
• Speech Speed: Slider from 0.5× to 2.0× — adjusts how fast the AI reads the script (default 1.0×)
• Voice Source:
  • Preset Voice (Female/Male): Uses built-in AI voice presets
  • My WAV Voice Sample (F5-TTS only): Clone your own voice by uploading a WAV file (10–20 seconds recorded in a quiet room) or recording directly in the browser using Record with Mic. Save your voice sample for reuse.

Music Mode Settings

• Music Prompt: A text description of the music style you want (e.g., "upbeat corporate background music", "modern tech ambient sounds"). Click preset chip suggestions to auto-fill common prompts.
• Music Model:
  • MusicGen Small (Fast): Quickest generation, good for drafts
  • MusicGen Medium (Balanced): Better quality, moderate speed
  • MusicGen Melody: Melody-conditioned music generation
• Duration: Slider from 5 seconds to 60 seconds — how long the generated music clip will be

Mix Mode Settings

Mix mode combines both Speech and Music settings into a single audio asset. Configure both the Speech Text / TTS settings and the Music Prompt / Music Model settings. Additional controls include:

• Music Volume: Slider controlling the background music level relative to the voice
• Fade In: Toggle to apply a smooth fade-in to the music at the start
• Fade Out: Toggle to apply a smooth fade-out to the music at the end

Generating Audio

1. Select a mode (Speech, Music, or Mix)
2. Fill in the required text (Speech Text or Music Prompt)
3. Configure voice/model and quality settings
4. Optionally give the asset a name
5. Click Generate Audio — the AI processes your request and saves the result to your library
6. After generation, a Quality Check report displays automatically, showing:
   • Quality score and any detected issues
   • Recommendations to improve the result
   • Audio metrics: duration, sample rate, channels, peak/RMS levels, clipping ratio, silence ratio

Using Audio in Campaigns

1. Generate or upload audio tracks in the Audio Library first
2. In Campaign Builder, scroll to the Background Music section
3. Select a track from your Audio Library
4. Adjust volume, fade, and playback settings within Campaign Builder

💰 Pricing & Plans

BrandCast Studio AI uses a credit-based system. Credits are consumed when using AI features — manual content creation is always free. Navigate to Pricing in the sidebar to view and manage your plan.

Available Plans

Credit Usage

Plan Features

• Free & Starter: 1 seat, email support, unlimited campaigns
• Pro: Up to 5 seats, priority support, custom branding, advanced analytics, team collaboration
• Agency: Per-seat pricing (minimum 5 seats), client invitation system, white-label branding, dedicated account manager, API access

📝 Draft Manager

Organize and manage all draft campaigns in one centralized location. View, edit, convert, or delete draft campaigns efficiently.

Viewing Your Drafts

Managing Drafts

Bulk Operations

1. Select multiple drafts using checkboxes
2. Click Bulk Actions dropdown
3. Choose operation:
   • Delete Selected
   • Export as Templates
   • Move to Folder (organization feature)

🏢 Organization Management

Manage your organization's profile, team members, billing, and settings. Available to organization admins and owners.

Organization Profile

Team Management

User Roles & Permissions

• Owner: Full access, billing, delete organization
• Admin: Manage team, all campaigns, organization settings
• Editor: Create, edit, publish campaigns
• Viewer: View campaigns and analytics (read-only)

Billing & Subscription

1. Navigate to Billing tab
2. View current plan and usage statistics
3. Manage payment methods
4. View invoice history
5. Upgrade or downgrade subscription
6. Manage billing contacts

Organization Settings

• Brand Assets: Upload logos, colors, fonts for campaigns
• API Keys: Generate keys for integrations
• Integrations: Connect third-party services
• Security: SSO, 2FA, IP restrictions
• Data Retention: Configure backup and archive policies

⏰ Scheduler

Plan and automate your content publication across multiple platforms with intelligent scheduling.

Scheduling a Campaign

Calendar View

Visualize your content schedule:

• Month View: See all scheduled publications for the month
• Week View: Detailed week-by-week schedule
• Day View: Hour-by-hour breakdown
• Color Coding: Different colors for different platforms

Managing Scheduled Items

Edit Schedule

1. Click on scheduled item in calendar
2. Modify date, time, or platforms
3. Click Update Schedule

Cancel Scheduled Publication

1. Click on scheduled item
2. Click Cancel Schedule
3. Campaign returns to "Ready" status

Recurring Schedules

Set up automatic recurring publications:

• Daily: Publish at same time each day
• Weekly: Specific days of the week
• Monthly: Specific date each month
• Custom: Define your own recurrence pattern

Best Practices

• Schedule at least 1-2 days in advance for review
• Avoid scheduling too many posts on the same day
• Consider timezone differences for global audiences
• Use recurring schedules for consistent content flow
• Monitor performance and adjust timing accordingly

📈 Analytics

Track, measure, and optimize your campaign performance with comprehensive analytics tools.

Overview Dashboard

Key metrics at a glance:

Campaign Analytics

Performance by Campaign

• Compare campaigns side-by-side
• Identify top performers
• Analyze underperforming campaigns
• Track performance trends over time

Platform Breakdown

• See which platforms drive best results
• Platform-specific engagement metrics
• Optimal posting times per platform
• Audience demographics by platform

Content Analysis

• Which content types perform best
• Topic performance
• Tone and messaging effectiveness
• Visual content vs. text performance

Audience Insights

Demographics

• Age distribution
• Geographic location
• Industry and job roles
• Device usage (mobile, desktop, tablet)

Behavior Patterns

• Peak engagement times
• Content preferences
• Journey through your content
• Repeat visitors vs. new audience

Custom Reports

Export Options

• PDF: Formatted report with charts and graphs
• CSV: Raw data for further analysis
• Excel: Spreadsheet with formulas and pivot tables
• Google Sheets: Direct export to Google Sheets

A/B Testing

Test different versions of your campaigns:

• Test different headlines
• Compare visual styles
• Test CTA variations
• Experiment with posting times
• Statistical significance indicators

🚀 Performance Dashboard

Monitor real-time performance metrics and system health for your campaigns.

Real-Time Monitoring

Live Metrics

• Active Users: Current viewers of your content
• Live Engagement: Interactions happening now
• Publishing Status: Posts going live in real-time
• System Health: Platform API status and connectivity

Performance Alerts

Get notified about:

• Sudden engagement spikes or drops
• Publishing failures or errors
• Platform API issues
• Budget thresholds reached
• Content violations or flags

System Performance

Campaign Health Scores

Each campaign receives a health score (0-100) based on:

• Engagement rate compared to benchmarks
• Consistency of posting schedule
• Content quality indicators
• Audience growth rate
• Conversion performance

Optimization Recommendations

AI-powered suggestions to improve performance:

• Content Suggestions: Topics and formats based on trends
• Timing Recommendations: Best times to post for your audience
• Platform Advice: Which platforms to prioritize
• Budget Allocation: Where to invest for best ROI
• Audience Targeting: Refined audience segments

Competitor Benchmarking

• Compare your metrics to industry averages
• See how you stack up against competitors
• Identify areas where you're leading or lagging
• Track competitive positioning over time

⚙️ Settings

Customize your account, preferences, and platform integrations.

Account Settings

Profile Information

• Email address (used for login)
• Display name
• Company/organization name
• Profile photo
• Contact preferences

Security

• Change Password: Update your account password
• Two-Factor Authentication: Add extra security layer
• API Keys: Manage API access tokens
• Login History: View recent account access
• Active Sessions: See and revoke active sessions

Platform Integrations

Connect Social Media Accounts

Available Integrations

Notification Preferences

Email Notifications

• Campaign performance updates
• Scheduled post reminders
• Analytics reports (daily, weekly, monthly)
• System alerts and errors
• Product updates and tips

In-App Notifications

• Real-time engagement alerts
• Publishing confirmations
• Comment and message notifications
• Team activity (for multi-user accounts)

Brand Settings

Default Brand Assets

• Primary logo (used across all campaigns by default)
• Brand colors (color palette presets)
• Typography preferences (default fonts)
• Brand voice guidelines (tone settings)

Content Guidelines

• Hashtag strategy (default hashtags)
• Prohibited words or topics
• Approval workflow requirements
• Legal disclaimers and compliance

Billing & Subscription

Current Plan

View your subscription details:

• Plan name (Free, Starter, Pro, or Agency)
• Monthly/annual billing
• Renewal date
• Usage limits (campaigns, posts, users)

Upgrade or Change Plan

1. Click Manage Subscription
2. Compare available plans
3. Select new plan
4. Update payment method if needed
5. Confirm change

Payment Methods

• Add or remove credit/debit cards
• View billing history and invoices
• Download receipts
• Update billing address

Team Management (Pro & Agency plans)

Invite Team Members

User Roles

Advanced Settings

API Access

• Generate API keys for custom integrations
• View API documentation
• Monitor API usage and rate limits
• Revoke or rotate API keys

Data & Privacy

• Export all your data (campaigns, analytics, settings)
• Delete account and all associated data
• Manage cookie preferences
• View privacy policy and terms of service

💡 Tips & Best Practices

Content Creation

• Upload reference documents for better AI-generated content
• Use consistent brand assets (logo, colors, fonts) across campaigns
• Test different tones and messaging to find what resonates
• Keep slides concise - 1 key message per slide
• Always include clear CTAs

Scheduling

• Analyze your audience's peak activity times
• Maintain consistent posting frequency
• Don't oversaturate - space out posts appropriately
• Use recurring schedules for efficiency
• Schedule at least 24-48 hours in advance

Optimization

• Review analytics weekly to identify trends
• A/B test different content variations
• Focus resources on best-performing platforms
• Update underperforming campaigns promptly
• Learn from top performers and replicate success

Platform-Specific

• LinkedIn: Professional tone, industry insights, longer content (16:9 landscape or 1:1 square)
• Instagram: Visual-first, hashtags, stories, reels (1:1 square or 9:16 vertical)
• Facebook: Mix of content types, community engagement (16:9 or 1:1)
• X (Twitter): Concise, timely, conversational (16:9, 1:1, or 2:1)
• TikTok: Short-form vertical 9:16 video, trending audio, quick hooks
• YouTube: Standard 16:9 video; YouTube Shorts uses 9:16 vertical format
• Pinterest: Visual discovery focus, 2:3 vertical pins or 16:9

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Cannot Upload Files

Symptoms: File upload fails with error message

Solutions:

• Check file size - max 10MB total for all files
• Verify file format (PDF, DOCX, TXT only)
• Clear browser cache and try again
• Try uploading files one at a time

Campaign Won't Save

Symptoms: "Failed to fetch" or "Error saving campaign"

Solutions:

• Check internet connection
• Verify campaign name is unique
• Reduce total file payload (logo + uploads < 10MB)
• Check browser console for specific error
• Try refreshing the page and re-entering data

Platform Connection Failed

Symptoms: Can't connect social media account

Solutions:

• Verify you have necessary permissions on platform
• Check if platform API is operational
• Disconnect and reconnect the account
• Clear browser cookies and try again
• Contact support if issue persists

Scheduled Posts Not Publishing

Symptoms: Posts remain scheduled past publish time

Solutions:

• Check platform connection status
• Verify campaign is in "Ready" status
• Review platform-specific content requirements
• Check for API rate limit issues
• View error logs in Performance dashboard

Getting Help

• Documentation: This user manual
• Support Email: support@brandcaststudio.com
• Live Chat: Available 9am-6pm EST Mon-Fri
• Community Forum: Ask questions, share tips

✨ Best Practices

Follow these proven strategies to maximize your campaign success and get the most value from BrandCast Studio AI.

Campaign Creation Best Practices

Scheduling Best Practices

• Timing: Post when your audience is most active (check Analytics)
• Frequency: Maintain consistent posting schedule
• Spacing: Spread posts throughout the day/week
• Platforms: Stagger cross-platform posts (not all at once)
• Testing: Try different times to find optimal posting windows

Performance Optimization

Team Collaboration Tips

• Roles: Assign appropriate roles based on responsibilities
• Drafts: Use draft status for work-in-progress campaigns
• Naming: Use consistent naming conventions (e.g., "Q1_Product_Facebook_01")
• Folders: Organize campaigns by project, client, or quarter
• Comments: Leave notes for team members on campaign edits

Security & Compliance

• Enable 2FA for all team members
• Review platform connections monthly
• Use strong, unique passwords
• Verify music licensing for all audio files
• Ensure content complies with platform guidelines
• Keep brand assets and sensitive data secure

⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts