Trying to grasp the full scope of AI with the human mind alone is like attempting to cradle the entire ocean in a single seashell. Impossible. Even if you choose to focus on your industry alone, it’s a monumental task. So for just a few minutes right now: let’s explore a handful of ways that you can grow your business and make it more efficient and, thus, more profitable with some AI Marketing Strategies.
AI Marketing Strategies
Here are a few practical AI Marketing Strategies that any small business owner or nonprofit can leverage.
One of the most powerful ways to leverage AI in your organization is to create the position of a Chief Of AI: COAI. This person should be someone who is obsessed and fascinated with AI in general. You could actually create your own custom GPT or AI Agent to fulfill this position. Your very own AI Agent or AI Assistant, powered by hundreds of thousands of data points, ready to assist you. But for now, taking baby steps before we take quantum leaps: choose someone on your team who would be capable of guiding your company into the new age of Artificial Intelligence. Do the same for your Marketing Director. She or he should have been learning how to leverage AI in your marketing at least a year ago. But don’t worry: start today and you’ll be ahead of many others. Just don’t wait until tomorrow.
You can empower your COAI to create a practical plan to begin integrating AI into your company with the goal of making your company more efficient and profitable. Make a wish list of ways AI can help you and let your mission statement guide you so you never color outside the lines of your values.
Here’s an example wish list of practical ways a small business could begin to integrate AI:
- Customer Support Chatbots
- What to do: Use an AI-powered chatbot on your website or social media channels to handle common questions, direct customers to resources, and collect information.
- Benefit: Provides 24/7 support, allowing human agents to focus on more complex tasks.
- SaaS to try:
- Intercom – intercom.com
- ManyChat – manychat.com
- Predictive Analytics for Sales and Inventory
- What to do: Use AI tools to analyze sales data, trends, and customer behavior to forecast demand, optimize stock levels, and increase efficiency.
- Benefit: Reduces the risk of overstocking or shortages, saving time and money.
- SaaS to try:
- Pecan – pecan.ai (AI-driven predictive analytics)
- Automated Email Marketing
- What to do: Automate your email campaigns by segmenting customers based on behavior, purchase history, or demographics, and sending personalized content at optimal times.
- Benefit: Improves open rates, click-throughs, and conversions without constant manual input.
- SaaS to try:
- ActiveCampaign – activecampaign.com
- Mailchimp – mailchimp.com
- Social Media Listening and Analysis
- What to do: Monitor brand mentions, track industry trends, and analyze sentiment across social platforms using AI-powered tools.
- Benefit: Helps identify opportunities, manage reputation, and respond quickly to customer feedback.
- SaaS to try:
- Brand24 – brand24.com
- Mention – mention.com
- Simple Process Automation
- What to do: Automate repetitive tasks like data entry or invoice processing with AI-powered workflows.
- Benefit: Frees up staff for higher-value work, saves time, and minimizes human error.
- SaaS to try:
- Zapier – zapier.com
- Make (formerly Integromat) – make.com
Practically every SAAS you’ve already been using has most likely integrated AI into “itself” as of two years ago or more recently. You may have already been utilizing AI and not been aware. In fact, when it comes to consumers using AI, 33% of them believe they have used AI in some way, however, it’s likely that 77% of them have used AI.
Why Integrate AI?
Beyond the practical use cases listed earlier, the potential for growth and innovation is immense. According to a report by PwC, AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, underscoring the significance of adopting AI sooner rather than later. Moreover, an Accenture study revealed that 84% of business leaders believe AI will give their organizations a competitive edge, yet many remain unsure where to begin.
Here’s the good news: You’ve already made a fantastic start by reading this post. In fact, the simple truth is that you’re almost certainly already using AI. Whether it’s a built-in feature of your CRM, automated email segmentation, or spam filters in your inbox, AI quietly powers a host of daily tasks. A Pegasystems survey found that while 33% of consumers think they’ve used AI, 77% of them have actually interacted with AI-powered services in some form.
Taking Action Today
Empower a Chief of AI (COAI)
Even if this is just one person on your team with a passion for technology, give them the authority to explore, test, and implement AI solutions.
Start Small
Pick one or two areas—like chatbots or predictive analytics—to experiment with AI. This allows you to see immediate benefits without feeling overwhelmed.
Keep Learning
Encourage your marketing team (and anyone else who’s interested) to stay informed about new AI tools. Sign up for webinars, follow tech blogs, and network with peers who have already started integrating AI.
The Bottom Line
AI is no longer an abstract concept reserved for massive corporations. It’s a thriving, accessible technology that can help any business—big or small—stay competitive, save resources, and reach new heights of profitability. By choosing just a few of the strategies mentioned in this post and making a plan for your own “COAI,” you’ll find yourself well on the way to harnessing the incredible power of AI.
So go ahead: take that first step. Explore. Experiment. Because soon enough, AI won’t just be a differentiator for some; it’ll be a necessity for all. And the sooner you dive in, the sooner you’ll reap the benefits of a smarter, more efficient, and more profitable operation.
