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5 Practical Ways Small Businesses Can Use AI Right Now

June 15, 2023

5 Practical Ways Small Businesses Can Use AI Right Now

AI isn't only for enterprise teams or PhDs. Today’s small businesses can adopt simple, affordable AI tools that save time, increase revenue, and improve customer experience. Below are five practical uses you can start testing this week.

1. Customer Service Automation (Chat + Messaging)

Use AI chatbots to answer common questions, qualify leads, and schedule appointments 24/7. Start with chatbot builders that integrate with your website and Facebook/Instagram DMs so you capture inquiries where customers already are.

  • SMB example: A hair salon uses a chatbot to show availability, book appointments, and send reminders — cutting phone time and reducing no-shows.
  • Quick start: Configure 10–15 FAQ responses and a booking link; test for a week and measure messages converted to bookings.

2. Faster Content Creation

AI writing tools speed up drafts for blog posts, product descriptions, emails, and social captions. Always edit the output to keep your brand voice and remove factual errors.

  • SMB example: A cafe uses AI to generate weekly social captions and a short newsletter that highlights specials.
  • Quick start: Use AI to create a first draft, then edit for local flavor and personality.

3. No-Code Data Analysis

Upload simple spreadsheets to no-code ML tools to surface trends like best-selling products, slow-moving inventory, or customer segments worth marketing to.

  • SMB example: A boutique analyzes purchase data to identify their top 20% of customers and offers them VIP discounts.
  • Quick start: Start with one dataset (sales last 6 months) and ask the tool: “Which customers spent the most?”

4. Smarter Email & Campaign Automation

Email platforms now offer AI subject-line suggestions, send-time optimization, and segment predictions. Use these to lift open and click rates with minimal effort.

  • SMB example: An auto shop uses send-time optimization to increase appointment reminder opens by 18%.
  • Quick start: Enable AI subject-line testing and monitor opens for your next 3 campaigns.

5. Visual Content, Fast

Create images and basic marketing assets with AI-driven design tools to reduce graphic costs and accelerate campaigns.

  • SMB example: A landscaper generates seasonal promo graphics in minutes for Facebook and Instagram.
  • Quick start: Generate one hero image for a promotion and A/B test it against a hand-made design.

Getting Started: A 30-Day AI Sprint

  1. Week 1: Pick one pain point (customer questions, content, scheduling).
  2. Week 2: Try 2–3 freemium AI tools for that problem.
  3. Week 3: Measure the results (time saved, bookings, opens).
  4. Week 4: Keep what works and expand to the next area.

Pro tip: Use AI to automate repetitive tasks, not to replace the human touch. If you want help picking the right tools and implementing them into an app or website, get a free consult with We Build Apps.

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