
What Exactly Is AI?
To put it simply, AI is basically a really smart computer program that can synthesize a lot of information without taking a coffee break. It doesn’t have emotions, it won’t judge your taste in music, and it won’t take over your business. You can use it as much or as little as you choose.
Related Article: Where to apply AI in your business
How to Use It
First of all, give yourself some time to learn AI, because there are several things you need to know. Requests for information are done in “chats,” and honestly, it gives me such great responses, it feels like a really smart expert conversation for whatever question I ask. I even find myself typing “thank you” when I am impressed with the results! It’s really good at providing all the results it can find on the internet. The catch? Remember: Not all info online is current or true and must be checked!When you ask for something, include these three parts to the prompt:
- The expertise it should pull from (i.e., retail marketer, life coach or social media expert, etc).
- The very specific question, with location, categories and any relevant brand details. (i.e., a marketing strategy, an email, social media prompts, etc).
- The format you want your answer in (i.e., checklist, email draft, chart, report, etc).
For example, instead of asking it to create a Marketing Plan for 2025, try the following prompt in a chat, filling in your details:
3 Simple Tips to Get Started Here are a few suggestions on how to get started using AI for your coastal retail business.
- Practice your prompts. Without the right information as a prompt, you might not get the answers you were looking for. Even if the response is good, it might not be right for your brand. You can also ask for a re-write or use pre-written prompts you can find online. For example, continue the “chat” to refine a request, (i.e. simplifying the tone of an email or reformatting a list.)
- Start small. Pick one thing you hate doing (i.e., writing emails or social media posts), and find an AI tool to handle it.
Try ChatGPT (the most common free one) for writing content, email subject lines, or a marketing plan, and work up to adding in a chatbot app to your website to answer from a list of FAQs you give it. New AI programs are popping up every day, so the idea is to get started! - Test and tweak. Be sure to tweak the responses. With so many people using AI for similar tasks, the writing style is becoming very generic. Tweak the copy to make it your style and your voice before using it.
Should I use it?
AI is helpful, but it’s not perfect. It can write a product description, but it can’t replicate your brand’s unique personality. It can analyze sales trends, but it won’t have a gut feeling about the next big trend in coastal fashion. And while chatbots can answer FAQs, they can’t offer the personal touch that keeps customers coming back.Melissa Steadman owns Moonbridge Consulting where she helps business owners find balance and time for growth by helping them streamline their marketing and operations systems. She can be reached at melissa@moonbridgeconsulting.com.