LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory)

Definition

LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) is a special type of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) designed to process and forecast sequences of data, especially when historical patterns influence future outcomes. In AI content marketingDefinition Content marketing strategically creates and share..., LSTM models help predict behaviour over time—such as trafficDefinition In the context of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation... fluctuations, content seasonality, or recurring user engagementDefinition Engagement in content marketing refers to the deg... patterns.

For example, a digital marketing Auckland team can use LSTM to forecast organic searchDefinition Organic search is the term for the organic, free ...<search trafficDefinition Search traffic refers to organic visitors arrivin... by analysing historical Google AnalyticsDefinition In SEO, analytics involves collecting, measuring,... data. The model captures long-term dependencies and can recognise cyclical patterns like weekend trafficDefinition In the context of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation... dips or seasonal keyword surges.

An SEO company might apply LSTM to evaluate the performance of specific blog series over six months and adjust the content schedule accordingly. Similarly, a performance marketing agency uses it to predict how past email campaignDefinition A company sends a coordinated set of individual e... behaviour informs future click-through rates or subscription activity.

LSTM’s ability to “remember” longer sequences makes it ideal for forecasting marketing trends, customer lifecycles, and ongoing campaignDefinition An SEO campaign involves focused, Organised effor... results with high precision.

Real-World Example

A performance marketing agency monitors weekly content engagementDefinition Engagement in content marketing refers to the deg... data over 12 months. They use an LSTM model to forecast page views for new campaigns. The model recognises monthly peaks and annual declines. With this insight, they reschedule campaigns around predicted highs and improve engagementDefinition Engagement in content marketing refers to the deg... by 26% in the following quarter.

Formula & Workflow

Key Equations Behind LSTM:

LSTM units include input gate, forget gate, and output gate with memory cell updates:

• Forget Gate:
  ft=σ(Wf⋅[ht−1,xt]+bf)f_t = \sigma(W_f \cdot [h_{t-1}, x_t] + b_f)ft​=σ(Wf​⋅[ht−1​,xt​]+bf​)
• Input Gate:
  it=σ(Wi⋅[ht−1,xt]+bi)i_t = \sigma(W_i \cdot [h_{t-1}, x_t] + b_i)it​=σ(Wi​⋅[ht−1​,xt​]+bi​)
• Output Gate:
  ot=σ(Wo⋅[ht−1,xt]+bo)o_t = \sigma(W_o \cdot [h_{t-1}, x_t] + b_o)ot​=σ(Wo​⋅[ht−1​,xt​]+bo​)
• Cell State Update:
  Ct=ft∗Ct−1+it∗C~tC_t = f_t * C_{t-1} + i_t * \tilde{C}_tCt​=ft​∗Ct−1​+it​∗C~t​
• Hidden State Output:
  ht=ot∗tanh⁡(Ct)h_t = o_t * \tanh(C_t)ht​=ot​∗tanh(Ct​)

Simplified LSTM Use Table:

5 Key Takeaways

1. LSTM models predict time-based trends in content marketingDefinition Content marketing strategically creates and share... with high accuracy.
2. They retain long-term patterns, making them ideal for forecasting campaigns.
3. Agencies use them to predict trafficDefinition In the context of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation..., engagementDefinition Engagement in content marketing refers to the deg..., and content life cycles.
4. LSTM supports proactive planning by revealing future content opportunities.
5. It improves content timing, resource allocation, and cross-channelDefinition Cross-channel in social media marketing refers to... consistency.

FAQs