AI is changing the world as we know it, right before our eyes.
Fortunately, this opens up a world of opportunity for small business owners. It allows them to streamline workflows and generate new ideas. They can also create innovative strategies. These strategies help startups and niche brands connect coveted solutions with consumer demands. Many people have mixed feelings about the merit and ethics of AI-generated content. Nonetheless, it has undoubtedly become a valuable mechanism for overlooked business processes. Automation tools like ChatGPT offer unprecedented capabilities, allowing business owners to focus on marketing objectives. As a content marketing strategist, I’m sharing five obvious ways to use ChatGPT for small business growth in 2025.
AI integrity
Before we dive into some basic functions business owners can delegate to ChatGPT to streamline operations, let’s talk about integrity. The use of AI in content marketing is controversial for obvious reasons. Marketing materials are intended to evoke human emotion, enough to compel them to act. Hence, the traditional school of thought is that they should be created by humans themselves. As much as this feels like basic psychology and communications, the world we live in today is different. We know enough about human connection to – dare I say – automate these interactions. This automation doesn’t negate the value of human-generated content. Rather, it systematizes the content creation process. In doing so, we can expand on the original thoughts and ideas we use to personify our brands. Think of ChatGPT as your personal assistant or advisor for your business’s operations.
For example, you can use AI to brainstorm ideas based on industry-specific historical trend patterns. Or to clarify core concepts in your brand’s messaging. Last but not least, *please* use a proofreading tool to check for grammar and punctuation errors before you publish anything. There’s no reason not to utilize AI for functions like these. Exercising integrity with AI tools doesn’t mean it replaces your creativity or critical thinking. Regardless, you are still responsible for the content you produce. So if you use ChatGPT or other AI tools unethically, prepare to be held accountable. That said, here are five ways to use AI to achieve marketing objectives and scale impact with integrity.
How to use ChatGPT for small business
Administrative tasks & SOPs
Before I got into content marketing, I was an Executive Assistant for over fifteen years. Deep in the weeds of corporate America, I quickly realized the experience administrative assistants provide is an invaluable asset. Thoughtful, tailored support through the development of long-term working relationships is not something a computer can replace. However, many other aspects of administrative operations can.
For startup and small business owners, this is good news. For starters, ChatGPT and other generative AI tools are either free or cost a fraction of an EA’s salary. For a minuscule fee, you can have an AI assistant plan meetings, record meeting notes, summarize action items, and outline project management timelines. To add, ask your AI assistant to plan work-related events and give you a checklist for seamless day-of coordination. ChatGPT can standardize pretty much any tedious, time-consuming business process, even for HR functions like onboarding and offboarding employees.
Market research
AI tools pull from online search engines to answer your specific questions. So, instead of spending hours clicking through search results, let AI do the legwork for you. ChatGPT gives you a consolidated, personalized summary of industry-specific data about market trends, consumer behavior, and audience insights that guide you to your brand’s marketing objectives.
Competitive analysis
Beyond general market research, input real customer data, feedback, and info about similar brands. ChatGPT will take these valuable insights and perform a comprehensive competitive analysis. The more specifics you provide, the better quality the output. Quality competitive analyses are essential to the success of any content marketing plan. As such, AI tools guarantee your efforts are targeted and aligned with consumer’s actual demands.
Customer support
You’d be hard-pressed to find any major retailer’s website without an AI chatbot in 2025. This incredible feature allows business owners to streamline and provide immediate support for customer inquiries. No more calling or emailing. Just open the chat icon on the side of every landing page and let AI field the questions and feedback. Data collected from these chatbots allows you to bond with your site’s visitors. Moreover, have ChatGPT funnel this data into the templates and SOPs discussed in the administrative tasks section.
Collaborative opportunities
To expand on its competitive analysis capabilities, ask your AI tool to identify collaborative opportunities. Finding complementary brands, influencers, and other marketing affiliates boosts your brand’s content marketing efforts and increases reach.
What ChatGPT *can’t* do
Undoubtedly, ChatGPT is highly controversial when it comes to ethical marketing and content creation. Nonetheless, if you wield it responsibly using these methods, it can be an indispensable tool for business growth in 2025. Using AI to enhance critical functions rather than replacing human capabilities will allow you to unlock its full potential.
As a content marketing strategist, I develop strategies and content optimized for search engines relevant to your target audience that don’t compromise integrity or human impact. By leveraging ChatGPT for small business operations, these strategies establish your brand as an authoritative voice in its field.
Ready to take your brand to the next level? Become a hub of solutions and inspiration for your corner of the market through a quality content marketing plan. Check out my full range of services and submit an inquiry form so we can discuss your marketing objectives for 2025 and how I can help you achieve them. With the help of automation tools like ChatGPT, of course! 😉
