Spoiler alert: This blog post offers a free download of suggested AI prompts for small business content needs.


You’ve likely heard of AI, or artificial intelligence. AI-powered chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard are wowing the general public with their ability to mimic human conversation and writing.

These chatbots and other AI technology benefit from machine learning. The applications are able to learn and improve on their own, which means that the already impressive chatbots will only get better with time.

With all the buzz surrounding AI, it’s worth asking: How can you utilize AI as a service-driven small business person? How can you leverage what AI chatbots do best to save time as a busy solopreneur?

Vast Potential: Start With Content Needs.

AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we do business. That story will continue to unfold – remember, AI is in its infancy. The conversation is just starting.

You can stay tuned here and elsewhere for further ideas on how AI can propel your small business efforts. 

To start, let’s talk about some “low-hanging fruit.” Even in the early going, it’s clear that AI is a game-changer when it comes to content creation. In a few seconds, AI chatbots can generate outlines, drafts, and practically finished written communications, like emails or social posts.

This is a godsend for those small business people who stare at the computer screen, immobilized by writer’s block. By providing a well-informed starting point for so many communications, AI chatbots are destined to save solopreneurs valuable time on many fronts.

Below, find five go-to uses for AI that you can integrate, today, into your day-to-day business. In fact, we’ve created a free downloadable PDF with suggested AI prompts to solicit this content.

But first? 

AI is a Tool. With Strengths – and Limitations.

The companies behind the leading AI resources are quick to offer words of caution. The AI chatbots are characterized as ongoing experiments, which occasionally produce incorrect information. 

That alone should grab your attention as a small business person. It’s up to you to preview (and correct) any draft content that you get from ChatGPT, Bard, or any other AI writing assistant. In other words, don’t mindlessly cut, paste, and send an AI-written email to your client. 

For one thing, it won’t sound like you. Yes, yes, the text provided by an AI chatbot is amazing. But let’s take a hard look at this example, produced when Bard was asked to “write a past due email reminding a small business client to pay his or her bill”:

Dear [client name],

I hope this email finds you well.

I’m writing to follow up on invoice [invoice number], which is now 30 days past due. The total amount due is [amount].

We understand that things can get busy, and we’re always happy to work with our clients to set up a payment plan or discuss other options if needed.

However, we do need to receive payment for this invoice as soon as possible. If we don’t receive payment within 7 days, we will be forced to take further action, which may include late payment fees and/or collection agencies.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Does it sound a little formal, maybe even “robotic”? Does the “collection agency” bit seem super-aggressive for a first nudge email? (My answers would be “yes” and “absolutely.”)

The point is, take what AI generates as a starting point. Fix any missteps. (Like threatening to call the collection agencies if a bill has reached the 31-day mark.) Tweak the language to make it more conversational. (In the example above, I would lose “However,” for instance – too formal.) And add personal touches to make it your own. (Maybe replace the generic “Sincerely” closing above with something that’s more your style.)

Of course, you can always ask the AI chatbot itself to improve on its first draft. That points to the importance of the “prompts” that you feed to ChatGPT or an AI-writing assistant. Make your requests as precise and descriptive as possible.

In the example above, you could ask Bard to try again, making it “less formal” or “more friendly.” The sites where you access these AI chatbots include best practices for soliciting output that’s closer to what you’re looking for.

Five Content Ideas + Free Prompts Download

Here are five ways to get started with AI. These are everyday content needs, and an AI chatbot can give you a time-saving head start. (By the way, you can try ChatGPT and Bard for free, as of this writing.)


Speaking of free, you can download sample prompts for the content listed here. We’ve created a free PDF with language tailored to produce a solid starting draft. Find it here.  

Consider AI resources for:

  • Emails. As illustrated above, you can ask chatbots to create client-facing emails. Once you have an edited version that you’re happy with, remember to use 17hats to save it as a reusable email template – another huge time-saver.
  • Blogs and website copy. You can assign the AI chatbot the topic, length, and SEO (search engine optimization) words you want to include. Here again, it’s best to use the AI-produced content as an outline or rough draft, making suitable changes before you post a blog under your own byline, for example.
  • Social posts. Coming up with new social posts for your business every week can become a chore. Turn to AI for novel ideas or fresh language: “Write a clever Facebook post for an after-school math tutor. Appeal to parents. Make a math joke.” AI chatbots don’t mind facing the same task over and over!
  • Lead Capture Forms. You need to know key things about leads. Wondering what to ask? Yep, you can ask AI, specifying what field you’re in. By the way, Lead Capture Forms are a particular strength of 17hats – you can embed your Lead Capture Form on your website, in emails, or within your social media presence. (See this blog on best practices for your Lead Capture Form.)  
  • Questionnaires. Questionnaires are an important part of the onboarding process. Turn to AI for a list of the (for example) “top seven questions to ask a prospective bookkeeping client.” You may be amazed at the starting point that AI gives you. Add or subtract questions based on your personal experience, and the needs of your business. (Also see this blog for helpful guidance on questionnaires.)

You may notice that I haven’t included contracts in the list of five above. That’s not because AI won’t offer an opinion – it will. Just ask for a “sample contract for a newborn photographer,” and the chatbot will happily oblige.

But, personally, I’m not comfortable relying on the legalese produced for free by an AI chatbot. For legal matters, I always recommend consulting an attorney, paralegal, or a professional in your field. You can also find sample contracts for certain fields in the 17hats Template Marketplace.

AI Opens Doors For Small Business

This is such an exciting time to be a small business person! Once again, advances in technology promise time savings and greater efficiency.

As a starting point with AI, you can experiment with chatbots to generate the kind of content you need day in and day out. It’s another tool in your toolbox, and one that has great potential to benefit small business people in the future.


The preceding is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice.

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