AI is often seen as the preserve of big tech companies and global corporations. But that perception couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, some of the biggest opportunities for growth, efficiency, and creativity lie with small businesses. So read on if you’re willing to explore what AI can do for you.
There’s a myth that AI is about replacing people with robots. But for small businesses, AI is far more about support, amplifying what you can already do, automating the repetitive stuff, and helping you punch well above your weight.
In this post, I’ll walk you through some of the overlooked but powerful ways AI, particularly tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Gamma, can help small businesses improve quality, boost productivity, save time, and work smarter.
AI for Quality
It’s sometimes argued that AI dumbs down content, but I see things very differently. For my clients, an AI generated customer avatar can lifts the quality of output. If you know your audiences pain points and what they value, you can deliver content that hits the mark.
You can also run AI analysis on past blog posts, social media content, and email newsletters, to identify what’s resonated with audiences, what’s fallen flat, and what deserves repurposing or further amplification. Patterns emerge that were once buried in guesswork. For example, you can compare copy length, style, tone, and even call-to-action placement across high-performing versus underperforming content.
Ultimately, AI doesn’t just save time. It improves clarity, consistency, and professionalism. It gives small businesses and entrepreneurs the ability to produce content that looks and reads like it came from a top-tier agency, while remaining authentic and tailored to their brand.
AI for Productivity
Most small business owners wear multiple hats including admin, marketing, sales and customer service. That’s where AI can make a real difference.
ChatGPT can summarise emails, rewrite long blocks of text, categorise customer feedback, and even help generate blog post outlines (like this one). Microsoft Copilot can sit right within your Word or Excel docs, helping automate your reports, formulas, and formatting.
SocialPilot GPT is another powerful tool, which integrates ChatGPT with SocialPilot to plan, generate, and schedule social content across multiple platforms saving hours each week.
A good example: For one client of mine, I use SocialPilot GPT and my own editorial guidance to plan, draft, and schedule an entire month’s worth of content in just a few hours. The AI handles the heavy lifting by generating ideas, writing draft posts, and slotting them into a schedule while I refine the messaging and ensure everything aligns with the brand’s tone and goals.
AI for Time Saving
Time is the one thing small business owners never have enough of. AI can’t give you more hours in the day, but it can reclaim the ones you’re losing.
You can use ChatGPT to draft client proposals or create personalised follow-up emails. Gemini can analyse long videos or documents and summarise them for you including in audio format. Microsoft Teams now offers real-time summaries of meetings, complete with suggested actions, so you don’t have to trawl through notes afterwards.
AI also excels at research. Whether you’re investigating industry competitors, preparing for a sales pitch, or pulling insights together for your next newsletter, AI tools can drastically reduce the time spent on manual searches.
AI is 24/7 and Never Gets Tired
Unlike us, AI tools don’t burn out or need a coffee break – in my case, several! They’re available around the clock for helping with or even automating tasks outside your normal working hours.
Customer service chatbots (say ‘hi’ to AI Tina on the bottom right of this page), email responders, and content planning tools like SocialPilot GPT can run in the background while you focus on what you do best. This doesn’t mean replacing your personal touch; it means extending your reach.
AI for Creativity
AI isn’t just about spreadsheets and summaries; it’s a spark for creativity, too. In fact, when used well, it can enhance your ability to think creatively and generate fresh ideas.
Your AI tool of choice can help you generate content ideas, draft video scripts, or brainstorm headlines. Try ChatGPT’s Voice Mode to bounce around ideas when developing new products, services, or social media content. Canva Magic Write can transform rough notes into polished copy, while ChatGPT’s 4o image generation helps visualise concepts and create compelling brand imagery. Gamma makes it easy to build elegant presentations, pitch decks, and social media content quickly. It’s especially effective for producing eye-catching PDF carousels on LinkedIn.
AI doesn’t replace your creativity. It frees it up.
Replacing Multiple Apps
AI tools are so versatile they can replace many single-purpose apps you might currently be using and even paying for.
ChatGPT can replace a grammar checker like Grammarly, a language learning app like Duolingo, a note-taker like Otter.ai, a calculator, and even a task reminder app. This not only reduces the number of tools you need to juggle but also helps cut down on cognitive overload and subscription costs. For example, for reminders and recurring tasks you can set up Any.do GPT or by using Gemini’s new Scheduled Actions feature.
The benefit? Fewer subscriptions, more streamlined workflows, and a central place to get things done.
Overcoming the Intimidation Factor
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by new tech, especially when there’s so much hype around AI. But you don’t need to be technical or even particularly tech-savvy to get started.
Tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are designed to be conversational and intuitive. And if you’re unsure where to begin, there are learning resources – see NILC’s YouTube channel – and experts ready to help.
As someone who trains small business owners in how to use AI tools effectively, I see pretty much every day how just a little bit of guidance can unlock a lot of value.
Final Thoughts
AI isn’t just for big companies with IT teams and huge budgets. It’s for you – the freelancer, the shop owner, the coach, the marketer.
Start small. Pick one AI tool, I’s suggest ChatGPT, and explore how it can save you time, improve your content, or take something off your plate.
If you’d like help getting started, get in touch using the form below, or sign up for my next Unlocking AI’s potential with ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Copilot session with NILC. It’s a great way to see what these tools can do for you and it’s free.