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AI is becoming a big part of our everyday lives; we see how AI works in our phones, different websites, and even social media. Artificial intelligence has helped me with everyday tasks, such as using voice commands on my phone, keeping track of deadlines, and sending texts faster. I have even used it to plan meals, and to create a workout plan (I know, it sounds funny, but it works!). I have learned that AI can help make life easier and is a great tool if used correctly. But what about small businesses? If AI is already changing our routines, it could help small businesses, too, especially with marketing. My research is focused on implementing AI for small businesses, and small business owners should learn about all the technologies available to them.
Clodagh O'Brien (2024) stated, "With so many ways to use AI in social media marketing, it can be overwhelming. That's where AI skills and knowledge come in. Experimenting with AI tools and platforms can help you see what you can do with your social media, whether generating and optimizing social content, conducting social listening, or automating advertising on platforms." This week, I read an article that pointed out something important. Many small business owners know about AI but need to learn how to use it. AI can do more than automate basic tasks. It can help small businesses improve their marketing strategies. These tools can help small businesses learn more about their customers by finding trends in their data. Also, AI tools can show small businesses owners which parts of their strategy are doing well and what needs to be improved so they can make changes fast and keep up with the competition. As stated by Arce et al. (2024), "AI is not just limited to campaign personalization and optimization. It can also help improve brand recognition by analyzing engagement data and developing more effective branding strategies" (p.199). The article I analyzed this week shared simple strategies for small businesses to use AI when working on marketing strategies. For example, AI tools can manage social media, analyze customer data, or create targeted ads that can make a real difference without being too complicated. One of the findings of the study conducted by Arce et al. (2024) was that "93.5% of people surveyed chose that choosing the right artificial intelligence tools for marketing will depend on marketing objectives, how easy it is for the marketing department to use it, and how well it integrates business strategies with applications" (p.198). This means that choosing AI tools is not just about what is popular but about what matches the business needs and is simple for a team to work with. The researchers emphasized the need for ongoing learning and staying updated with new technology. While many small businesses have started using AI, there is still plenty of room to grow and improve.
According to Arce et al. (2024), these are other strategies for making marketing more effective when using artificial intelligence:
Business owners need understand that AI is not going anywhere; it is only getting stronger. The best part is that it is not just for large companies with huge budgets. Small businesses can use these tools, too, and see accurate results. It is okay to start small; the main thing is to begin to use them. Artificial intelligence is a game changer for everyone, so small businesses should take advantage of it too.
References
Arce, C. G. M., Valderrama, D. A. C., Barragán, G. A. V., & Santillán, J. K. A. (2024). Optimizing business performance: Marketing strategies for small and medium businesses using artificial intelligence tools. Migration Letters, 21(S1), 193-201.
O’Brien, C. (2024, May 1). Ai in Social Media. Digital Marketing Institute. https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/ai-in-social-media
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