Many of us are frequent users of Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant. We've also likely received product recommendations from brands for items we genuinely wanted. We've even received notes from the bank about suspicious purchases or spending abroad. All of these interactions are powered by artificial intelligence.
Whether we realize it or not, A.I. has been a driving force in our daily lives for many years. It's so integrated that we hardly realize it's there, and in the past few months, we've seen the rapid evolution of A.I. technology and the widespread adoption of ChatGPT. Consumers are now more aware of the role A.I. plays in their lives, and they have the opportunity to leverage it more intentionally and explore its benefits. In the SMB and entrepreneurial community, however, there is still some apprehension about this technology and its business benefits.
The truth is, there is no reason to fear A.I. It can be a powerful tool for streamlining processes, reducing costs, and improving the customer experience for any size organization.
In honor of National Small Business Week, here are three ways I recommend small businesses and entrepreneurs use A.I. and automation to work faster, create better content, and drive results.
Move faster and save money with automation
Is there anyone more pressed for time than a small-business owner or solo entrepreneur? More than 80 percent of small businesses have just one employee -- themselves. Still, whether a business has one employee or 100, there are always repetitive and time-consuming tasks that bog things down. By automating these tasks with A.I.-powered tools, owners can free up their time or their team's time to focus on more important work. The result is not only improved efficiency but also a reduction in the risk of errors and an increase in productivity.
Calendly, for example, is an excellent and affordable automation tool that can save valuable time, eliminating the tedious back-and-forth of scheduling meetings with vendors. Marketing platforms can also help automatically schedule and publish content, such as emails or social media posts. Additionally, in times of economic downturn or recession, automation tools are a potent way to reduce costs. Automation can enable SMBs to offer faster turnaround times and better-quality products or services, which are crucial elements to any customer strategy when wallets may be tightening.
Create better, more personalized content
Artificial intelligence is built on pattern recognition, meaning it has a detailed understanding of customer behavior, preferences, and purchase history. In turn, it collects knowledge and understands which types of content those customers are most likely to engage with. For small businesses and entrepreneurs, that knowledge and analysis are invaluable for creating engaging marketing campaigns.
Taking this a step further, A.I. content generators, like the one just launched by Constant Contact, can help small businesses overcome writer's block by automating the writing process. The time savings alone are worthwhile, but a good content generator can also understand where and when to deliver that message. In a world of noisy inboxes, the path toward customer loyalty is ensuring that the right customers receive the right messages in the right channels.
Additionally, A.I.-generated content can be used to create product descriptions, blog posts, and other written materials -- and just imagine what you could do with all that free time
Improve the customer's experience with your brand
Artificial intelligence's ability to analyze massive and often scattered datasets is one of its biggest strengths. Small businesses and entrepreneurs can use the technology to create a more seamless and intuitive experience for customers. For example, determining the optimal frequency with which to reach out to customers and in turn cultivating a more authentic relationship with them.
A.I. can also be deployed to help identify pain points and areas where the product may be confusing or difficult to use. By better understanding the customer journey and where they are getting stuck or abandoning the experience, you can make targeted improvements to the user interface or sales process. Thus, you're likely to see customer satisfaction and user engagement increase.
Thinking even further about the customer journey, A.I. can be used to provide a personalized onboarding experience. Whether it's guiding a user through the initial set-up or familiarizing them with product features, any reduction in the learning curve makes your product more accessible to a wider range of users. By using A.I. to improve the user experience, entrepreneurs have a strong path to differentiate from competitors and increase customer loyalty.
Harnessing A.I.'s power as a small business
Artificial intelligence is a rapidly evolving technology, but it's getting easier than ever to see just how powerful it can be for small businesses and entrepreneurs. In many ways, it feels like we're in a similar place with A.I. as we were with email marketing back in 1995. As adoption increases, we'll continue to see new tools being built and the crescendo will grow.
It's not a question of if A.I. will touch your industry, but when. So, if you're a hesitant entrepreneur, it's time to follow your customers' lead and start integrating A.I. and automation into your daily life too. From writing better content to developing stronger relationships with customers, there are so many ways you can use these technologies to help you achieve more and become more efficient.
Resist the urge to label the A.I. revolution as a passing fad, and take the leap. Embrace the power of A.I. to help boost productivity and deliver more tailored experiences, and your customers will thank you for it.
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