Leveraging AI for Business Success – Times News Online

Embracing AI: Tools for Small Business Success

AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a part of our daily lives, sometimes even without us realizing it. Many small business owners find themselves either pushing it aside or actively avoiding it. However, for those willing to engage with this technology, the rewards can be significant.

Empowering Businesses with AI

Laura McCarroll and Sarah Stidham, the dynamic duo behind Saint and Siren Marketing Co. in Jim Thorpe, are on a mission to help businesses unlock the potential of artificial intelligence. They recently led a workshop titled “AI Made Simple: Practical Tools for Small Business Success” at the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation in Lehighton.

McCarroll emphasizes that "AI is a tool to support humans, not replace," reminding attendees that they are still the decision-makers in their businesses. The essence of AI, she suggests, lies in its ability to function as an assistant, streamlining tasks that consume valuable time.

Shifting Focus: From Busy Work to Meaningful Work

According to Stidham, employees typically spend a staggering 30% to 50% of their workdays on repetitive tasks, such as sorting emails, scheduling, and data entry. Imagine the potential of redirecting that time towards nurturing customer relationships, strategic planning, or creative pursuits. “It’s about shifting from busy work to meaningful work,” Stidham remarks.

AI tools can mitigate the burden of these mundane tasks. For instance, AI can swiftly compile data from photographs, such as extracting contact information from business cards and organizing it into a spreadsheet. Similarly, it can sift through handwritten meeting notes, turning them into actionable lists that prioritize tasks.

AI for Enhanced Decision-Making

McCarroll recommends using OpenAI’s ChatGPT for several functions, including data analysis. Businesses can harness AI’s power to assess sales data, generating reports that highlight top-selling products and critical inventory needs. Many view AI with trepidation, imagining complex algorithms and intimidating interfaces. McCarroll and Stidham are here to dispel those misconceptions, asserting that AI is much more accessible than most think.

Research and Lead Generation Made Easy

Brainstorming is one area where McCarroll sees immense potential in AI. She believes that lead generation—a critical component of marketing—can significantly benefit from AI tools. To utilize these technologies effectively, she advises users to ask specific questions, or prompts, to get concise and relevant information. “Don’t be general,” she cautions. Broader inquiries tend to yield vague responses.

While AI can pull from a vast pool of publicly available data, not all information is reliable. McCarroll recommends always double-checking facts to maintain accuracy. As users interact with AI, the technology learns their preferences and gradually tailors responses to better fit their needs. “When you’re using Chat, it wants to learn you,” McCarroll notes, emphasizing that this personal touch can streamline future interactions.

Stay on Topic: Effective Use of AI

While it’s easy to get sidetracked by tangential topics, McCarroll warns that this can lead to wasted time. Staying focused is essential to make the most of AI’s capabilities.

Exploring Different AI Applications

The market is brimming with AI applications, tailored to various functions and user needs. Some are completely free, while others might require a subscription. McCarroll often opts for ChatGPT, citing it as the most versatile and user-friendly tool available.

For transcription tasks, McCarroll recommends Otter. In the realm of sales and marketing, platforms like HubSpot, Copy.AI, and Canva prove to be invaluable. She also mentions other noteworthy options like Jasper, Perplexity, Google’s Gemini, Outcomes, VISME, and Fireflies, each offering unique functionalities.

• Perplexity is perfect for in-depth research.
• Canva excels in graphic-rich projects.
• Outcomes curates trustworthy sources for information gathering.
• VISME is ideal for creating engaging presentations, although it’s a paid service.
• Fireflies automates the summarization of meeting notes into actionable plans.

Finding the Right Tool for Your Needs

McCarroll encourages businesses to find the applications that resonate best with their goals and workflows. Instead of jumping from one tool to another, she suggests focusing on an app that can encompass multiple needs effectively.

The integration of AI into small businesses doesn’t need to be daunting. By leveraging it as a supportive assistant, owners can reclaim time for what truly matters—strategic thinking, creative endeavors, and, most importantly, nurturing meaningful relationships with their customers.