Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the landscape of every industry. While current use cases are generally focused on generating text and creating content, major companies are developing AI Assistants that can do much more than just write blog posts. We’ll soon be able to update CRM systems, schedule meetings, and run reports, all from the same search box. AI tools will become as essential to running a business as the Microsoft Office Suite has become.
But what does this popularization mean for small businesses?
Believe it or not, this isn’t something to fear. AI tools could become a significant benefit to small business owners specifically. In this post, we’ll explore what the popularization of AI tools for business will mean, why this shift could benefit small businesses in particular, and what small business owners need to do to prepare for this new era of business.
The Pros and Cons of AI For Small Businesses
AI tools are not just for big corporations or tech giants anymore; they’re becoming an essential asset for business owners of all sizes and niches, helping them streamline their workflows, optimize their performance, and create engaging content.
They will ultimately help small businesses save time, expenses, and energy. However, this will only be possible if small businesses have someone on their team who knows how to make the most of these tools.
Small businesses should be aware of two key things before exploring AI tools:
- AI is not perfect
- Your output is only as good as your input
A Learning Process
AI assistants are not perfect, but they are improving. They may make mistakes or produce outputs that are not suitable ethically, grammatically, or just for your business in general. So it’s essential that you fact-check and proofread everything that comes out of an AI generator.
A Learning Curve
AI assistant outputs are only as good as their inputs (and even then, they often need to be refined to figure out how they work) so it’s going to become crucial to surpass this learning curve.
Additionally, there are many AI assistants available in the market today, each with its own features, strengths, weaknesses, and costs. Since we don’t know which system will come out on top, it’s recommended that small businesses stay aware of their options.
Brand Voice
With the rise of AI-generated content, it’s crucial to have a strong brand voice that distinguishes you from your competitors and resonates with your customers. Your brand voice is the personality and emotion that you convey through your word choice, personal experiences, and shared examples. Speaking authentically about your brand and services will help you stand out, which is crucial for small businesses especially.
Plus, with millions of generic pieces of content being churned out by companies everywhere that are excited about the rise of AI tools, it’s essential that small businesses don’t rely too heavily on generic AI generated content. They must have a strong brand voice if they’re planning to use AI tools for business content.
The Small Business Advantage
In some ways, small businesses inherently have a leg up because owners are often the faces of their brands. They may not have the big marketing budgets like conglomerates, but they can easily add a personal touch to all of their content because they’ll have familiar faces routinely showing up in their content.
“It’s far easier to put your trust in a face or a name than a logo, particularly if that face is the owner of the business.” – BaseKit
In our modern age where authenticity is key and people are becoming more skeptical of brands than ever before, small businesses have a natural advantage. Small business owners can connect with their customers directly which encourages a level of trust that bigger businesses can only really achieve through intentional and long-form thought leadership strategies.
So how do I get started with all this?
Our recommendation is to share the authentic expertise you have from running your small business and connecting individually with your customers. That first-person knowledge of their pain points, how they work, what interests them, and what problems your services or products solve for them is knowledge that will directly help you connect with more people and develop your brand voice.
Plus there are a ton of resources out there to help you get started. To develop or identify your brand voice, you can use this guide from HubSpot.
Our team at Sweet Rose Studios is also available to help you integrate AI tools into your existing content creation process and refine each piece of content with your brand voice in mind.
AI assistants are the future of business, and they can help you grow faster and easier than ever before. However, you need to be prepared for this new technology and learn how to use it effectively and efficiently. By following the tips in this post, you can get ready for AI assistants and leverage them for your business success.
If you’re interested in working with our team to optimize your use of AI tools, contact Sweet Rose Studios today to get started.
