11 Ways to succeed with AI for Small Business in 2024
Small businesses have become increasingly aware of the need to embrace technology to stay competitive. However, many small business owners are hesitant to invest in expensive tools and software. The good news is that with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), small businesses now have access to affordable and powerful tools that can help them grow and thrive. In this blog, we will explore how AI for small businesses can be beneficial and provide you with concrete examples of how to use it.
What is AI?
Before diving into how AI can help small businesses, it’s important to understand what exactly AI is. Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and act like humans. This technology enables computers to learn from data, recognize patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention. AI is being used in a wide range of industries, from healthcare and finance to retail and manufacturing. Now, even small businesses can take advantage of this innovative technology.
Unlocking the potential of aI for small business?
There are numerous ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) can greatly benefit small businesses, revolutionizing their operations and unlocking new opportunities. From automating repetitive tasks to enhancing customer experiences, AI has the potential to transform the way small businesses operate in today’s digital age.
To demonstrate the possibilities of AI, I have curated a collection of 11 examples. I aim to inspire small business owners to embrace the power of AI tools and unlock its benefits.
So, let’s dive in and explore some use cases that underscore the value AI can bring to small businesses!
1 Automate the importing of new leads
By leveraging automation tools like Zapier, you have the power to automate regular tasks. This enables your employees to allocate their valuable time to more crucial tasks.
For example, have Zapier handle the importing of new leads to your CRM. This could be client emails and submissions from your website’s forms to name a few.
No more wasting time on manual copying and pasting of information. Embrace efficiency and reclaim valuable time for other important tasks.
2 Send personalized greetings to new customers
One way to make new customers feel seen and recognized is by sending them a short personalized video. Personalized videos makes customers feel valued and appreciated, driving customer loyalty, and positively influencing your brand image.
As a small business owner, you’re well aware of the significant cost and time investment that would be involved. However, with the emergence of AI video generation tools like Heygen or Synthesia, you can effortlessly create AI avatar videos with just a text input and their user-friendly online editors. These tools offer a seamless and efficient solution for generating engaging videos while minimizing the resources required.
Using Zapier to automate the process
What’s even more impressive is that both of these AI tools are compatible with Zapier, allowing for seamless automation of video generation. For instance, you can effortlessly create a new video whenever a new lead comes in.
This feature greatly simplifies the process of welcoming new leads, even beyond regular business hours, thereby creating a positive impression for when you resume the conversation within operating hours.
For further info on how to set this up, check out my guide.
3. Enhance Your Website’s SEO with AI Writing Tools
It’s likely you’ve been bombarded with countless offers from individuals claiming they can “optimize your website for SEO.” While there are many strategies for improving SEO, one of the most effective methods is by creating content, particularly content related to your industry or business. This process contributes to building ‘topical authority’, a concept where Google recognizes you as an authority on a certain subject, thus increasing your rankings on search engine results.
However, consistently generating engaging, relevant, and SEO-friendly content can be time-consuming and challenging. This is where AI writing tools can be a game-changer for small businesses. Tools like Jasper, Content at Scale and others can assist in generating high-quality content tailored to your business and industry. These AI writing tools can streamline the content creation process, saving time, and ultimately contribute to driving more traffic to your website.
If this piques your interest, then have a look at my blog about the best AI writing tools.
4 Leverage AI chatbots to provide customer service
Utilizing AI-powered chatbots, small businesses can efficiently address basic customer inquiries and provide support. This allows staff to dedicate more time to addressing complex issues and tasks, further enhancing the overall customer experience.
Communicate.io is a top choice among my favourite AI chatbots for customer service. It offers a seamless onboarding process, making it incredibly easy to get started with. Communicate.io also effortlessly integrates with various platforms, including social media, Ecommerce platforms, and WordPress.
This enables you to connect with customers regardless of the platform they use to engage with you.
This is a very efficient way to bring in new leads in the same fashion on multiple platforms. Users receive instant responses to their basic questions and are prompted to provide their email. Moreover, you can utilize the concept discussed in point number 2 to effortlessly send them a concise video greeting.
This system can operate around the clock, always prepared to capture new leads.
5 Use AI video editors to make presentation videos
Creating engaging video content is another effective way for small businesses to harness the power of AI and generate more leads. AI video editors can help you create professional-looking marketing videos without needing much editing experience.
For example, a bakery could use these tools to create a step-by-step video of a popular recipe. This video could then be shared on social media platforms to engage viewers and entice them to visit the bakery.
An alternative approach is for an ecommerce store to utilize videos to showcase their products. For instance, you could create videos demonstrating how to effectively use your products and share them on your website or through email campaigns. At the end of each video, a call-to-action can be included, encouraging viewers to make a purchase and explore more product options.
Many believe that producing videos requires a substantial budget, but with just a smartphone and a user-friendly AI video editor, you can achieve remarkable results. Learning to create these videos is a breeze, and with the assistance of AI features, it has never been easier.
Remember that the key to lead generation is to provide value to your potential customers. By offering interesting and helpful video content, you’re showcasing your expertise and building a relationship with potential leads.
6 Create Email Campaigns with AI
AI tools, such as Jasper AI, can significantly enhance the creation of email campaigns. Jasper is an advanced AI writing assistant capable of creating personalized, compelling content that resonates with your audience. All you need to do is provide a brief description of the content you want, and Jasper does the rest, generating well-crafted emails that can improve your open and click-through rates.
For instance, let’s say you manage a fitness studio and want to send out an email campaign promoting a new set of workout classes. With Jasper, you can input prompts like “Promote new workout class schedule”, and the AI will generate compelling content that motivates your subscribers to join these exciting sessions.
In addition, Jasper’s AI technology can assist in writing subject lines proven to increase open rates. It understands the nuances of your business, the nature of your campaign, and the preferences of your audience, ensuring the creation of subject lines that entice readers to open your emails.
Jasper also provides multiple content variations, allowing you to A/B test your emails and continue optimizing your campaigns. So, even if you’re not a professional writer, with Jasper AI, your email campaigns can perform like they were crafted by one. Remember, the more personalized and engaging your emails are, the more likely they are to convert leads into customers. Thus, investing in AI tools, like Jasper AI, can significantly boost your marketing efforts.
If this is what you’re looking for, I have a comprehensive guide that covers the fundamentals of copywriting and demonstrates how to leverage Jasper to expedite the process.
7 Automize Social Media content Creation.
AI tools offer a wide range of capabilities for social media marketing. They can efficiently schedule posts, analyse engagement metrics, and even provide valuable content suggestions based on audience preferences. With these advanced features, businesses can optimize their social media presence and effectively engage with their target audience.
Coming up with ideas, writing, editing, and posting social media content can quickly become a time-consuming process. However, by utilizing the appropriate AI tools, you can automate a significant portion of this process. There is much to cover here, but rest assured that you can significantly reduce both the time and financial investment required for creating social media content.
8 Turn your blog posts into videos.
With the growing number of platforms, it also becomes harder and harder to keep up with all the content creation demands. Fortunately, AI tools can help you repurpose your written blog posts into engaging video content. These tools use natural language processing to automatically generate scripts, select relevant images or videos, and even add voiceovers. With the rise of video marketing, businesses can gain a competitive edge by implementing AI in their content creation strategies.
Utilizing AI tools such as Pictory empowers you with all the necessary resources to transform your current blog posts into new video content. This innovative approach allows you to create a diverse array of videos that can effectively engage untapped customer bases across various platforms.
9 Create Engaging Employee Training videos
AI doesn’t just shine in customer-facing roles, it can also provide significant value internally. For instance, consider the process of training new or existing employees – this can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. However, AI can streamline this aspect of your business as well by helping you create training videos much quick than you would think.
Using AI tools like Synthesia and HeyGen for creating employee training videos has been a game-changer for me. Their browser-based video editor not only saved me valuable time by eliminating the need for audio recording, but also ensured top-notch quality.
I was even able to effortlessly create multilingual video versions, benefiting employees in different countries who could receive training in their native language. The result? A significant decrease in follow-up inquiries. AI-powered video creation has truly revolutionized the way I create training materials. With AI, you can also easily create training videos on a wide range of topics, from product tutorials to company policies.
10 Enhance your content engagement with AI-generated art and images.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the remarkable ability to generate captivating content, spanning from intricate artwork and stunning designs. This creative prowess can prove invaluable in elevating branding and marketing endeavours. By using AI tools like Jasper Art or, you can easily create unique and visually striking images for your website, social media channels or blog posts.
This can really help up the engagement of your content, leading to further leads.
11 Format and clean-up raw data
Although it may seem perplexing initially, allow me to explain. There will come a time when you encounter a collection of names or other data, but frequently, this data lacks a consistent format. Consequently, it becomes challenging to import it into software programs or utilize it effectively.
ChatGPT became a life-saver for me when I had to assist a client with formatting and cleaning up a lengthy list of names, which were riddled with typos, incorrect capitalizations, and extra spaces. After refining my prompt for just 10 minutes, I was able to utilize ChatGPT to fix approximately 3000 names in about 1 hour.
How Can AI Benefit Small Businesses
With the demands of running a business, small businesses often have trouble making the most efficient use of their resources. However, AI tools have made it easier for smaller companies to automate mundane and repetitive tasks, freeing up time and energy for more critical business operations.
Conclusion/Wrapping Up
Small businesses can leverage AI tools to their advantage. With affordable solutions readily available, integrating AI into operations has become easier. As technology advances, the potential benefits for small businesses are limitless. By embracing AI, businesses can enhance efficiency, save resources, and thrive in a competitive market. Don’t shy away from incorporating AI into your strategy—it could be the key to unlocking success. Keep exploring and learning how AI can work for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AI tool for small business?
The best AI tool for small businesses will vary depending on the specific needs of each company. Some popular options include chatbots, data analytics software, and virtual assistants. It’s important to do research and find a tool that aligns with your business goals and budget.
Is there a free AI I can use?
AI tools often offer limited trials, allowing small businesses to test various options and find the right fit. While these trials are valuable, they typically require a subscription after the trial period ends.
Can you use AI to start a business?
AI tools are crucial for startups, serving as the foundation of their business models. By providing AI-powered content creation services, companies can generate engaging, SEO-optimized content quickly and efficiently.