Rebecca Hegeman, AI expert at Localsearch, shared some recommendations to help small business owners effectively leverage AI tools. Her insights come in response to research findings from Deloitte and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) that show a gap in AI adoption between Australian SMEs and larger corporations.
According to Deloitte data, only 1.4% of Australian businesses are officially using AI, rising to 9.5% of larger businesses with over 200 employees. The CBA survey also showed that more than half (56%) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) believe investing in AI is essential to growing their business. However, 80% of these businesses face barriers to adopting or further investing in AI technologies, with 28% citing a lack of understanding of the new technology.
Hegeman emphasizes the importance of an initial time investment in understanding your AI tools. “To set yourself up for success, it's important to spend at least 10 hours familiarizing yourself with your AI platform. It may seem like a long time, but this first step allows you to become familiar with the AI and see what it can do,” she explains. As an example, she suggests using a generative AI like ChatGPT to create recipes, then meal plans and shopping lists.
As for AI tools suitable for small businesses, Hegeman recommends upgrading to the paid version of ChatGPT. “The free version is powerful, but the paid version is super intelligent and acts like a personal assistant, so it pays for itself as an investment. As a small business owner, it's hard to express your ideas when you're busy, stressed, or tired. ChatGPT helps you overcome blank page syndrome, manage communication, and even respond to difficult emails,” she points out. Additionally, she suggests using ChatGPT to brainstorm, find inspiration, and organize your schedule to boost your productivity.
Hegemann also praises Claude, another AI tool for content creation. “Claude offers a different personality and approach to ChatGPT. I would encourage you to start with the free version and then, if you find it useful, upgrade to the paid version for more intelligent and nuanced content creation,” she advises.
Providing context is essential when using AI tools, according to Hegeman. She likens it to briefing an intern: “Start by clearly stating the nature of the job, what the company does, and the objectives of the task. For example, explain that you're creating marketing content for small businesses in Australia to attract local customers.” She also recommends specific instructions like outlining the type of content needed, using Australian English, and setting a desired word count.
Hegeman warns of common pitfalls when using AI-generated content: “Don't skip the important step of thoroughly reviewing your AI-generated content to ensure the messaging is clear and concise. Just because it's made by an AI doesn't mean it's perfect. These tools can sometimes be vague and repetitive, so it's important to edit your content to keep it engaging and to the point,” she advises. She also stresses the importance of double-checking facts and details to maintain your audience's trust and credibility.
These practical steps and recommendations from Hegeman provide small business owners with a foundation for integrating AI tools into their operations, filling the current knowledge and resource gaps facing many businesses.
