The Beginner’s Guide to Using AI in Small Business Marketing

If you have been paying attention to marketing trends lately, you know that artificial intelligence is everywhere. From tools that write your social captions to software that promises to run your entire funnel, it can feel like you are being bombarded with promises of “plug and play” success.

But here is the truth: if you are a small business owner, you do not need to become an AI expert or a programmer overnight. You can utilize AI to simplify and enhance the effectiveness of your marketing, but you need to do so intentionally.

In today’s episode, I want to give you a realistic beginner’s guide to using AI in your marketing. We will discuss what these tools can do, where to start, and how to maintain your brand’s human-centered voice at the heart of everything.

👉 Before you dive in, be sure to download my FREE AI Marketing Readiness Checklist so you can see exactly where your business stands today → Click To Download

Let’s jump in.

Content Overview

What AI is great for (and what it is not)
How to choose the right first project
Why brand voice still matters
How to keep human reviews in the loop
Respect data and protect privacy
Bring your team into the process
Stay flexible and curious

Step 1: Understand What AI Can Do

Let’s start by busting a myth. AI is not a magic wand. It cannot do everything for you, and it definitely cannot replace your creative ideas or human empathy.

What it can do is save you a lot of time on repetitive tasks. For example, AI can:

Generate a rough first draft of a blog post
Suggest email subject lines
Summarize research
Schedule and repurpose content

Think of AI as a superpowered assistant. It can help you organize your ideas and move faster, but it will not create a perfect marketing strategy for you. That is still up to you.

💡 Pro Tip: Make a list of what tasks eat up your time each week, and see which ones might be a good fit for AI.

Step 2: Start with One Simple Project

I have seen so many clients get excited about AI, subscribe to five new platforms, and then never use any of them because they feel overwhelmed. You do not need to do that.

Pick one thing you want to try
Permit yourself to test it
Evaluate what works before adding more

For example, you could start by using AI to brainstorm 10 headline ideas for your next blog. Or test an AI caption generator to help fill your social calendar. Keep it small so you do not lose momentum.

💡 Pro Tip: Set aside one hour each week to experiment and explore. That is plenty of time to explore without feeling buried.

Step 3: Train AI to Sound Like You

If you give AI bland, boring prompts, it will spit out bland, boring results. So, how do you keep your brand personality shining through? You have to train your tools.

Collect samples of your best writing.
Note the language you use, the humor, the phrases, even emojis
Feed those examples into your AI tools

For example, if you always start emails with “Hey there, friend” or use casual, friendly language, teach your AI to include that in its tone. Think of AI like a brand-new intern — it cannot guess your style on day one, you have to show it.

💡 Pro Tip: Create a swipe file of your best work so you can quickly copy and paste examples anytime you use a new tool.

FREE RESOURCE: Brand Building Workbook

Step 4: Keep Human Checkpoints

Even if your AI is doing a great job, you still need to review it. AI can make mistakes, misunderstand context, or create awkward sentences that do not feel right for your brand.

Proofread everything
Fact-check the details
Confirm that it sounds like you

I recommend scheduling a 15-minute check-in each week to review any AI-generated content before it is sent out. Your audience deserves your best work, and you are still the editor-in-chief.

Step 5: Respect Data and Protect Privacy

Here is something most people overlook. AI tools rely on data. That means you must be a good steward of your audience’s information.

Never dump sensitive client data into random tools
Read the privacy policies of any platform you use
Be clear about how you collect and store data

Your clients trust you with their personal information. Do not break that trust by being sloppy with your data processes.

💡 Pro Tip: Set a recurring calendar reminder every quarter to review and audit your privacy practices.

Step 6: Bring Your Team Into the Process

If you have a team, do not keep them in the dark about AI. People often fear what they do not understand, and they might worry that their roles are at risk.

Host a short team meeting to explain how you plan to use AI
Show them how it can make their work easier
Invite them to help you test tools and offer ideas

When your team feels like they are part of the journey, they will get excited and help you make AI work better.

💡 Pro Tip: Let team members nominate one or two repetitive tasks that they would love to automate. That way, they will see the benefits firsthand.

Step 7: Stay Flexible and Curious

AI is changing all the time. The way you use it today might shift next year. That is okay. The key is to stay curious, keep learning, and keep experimenting.

Give yourself grace to make mistakes.
Try new prompts and approaches.
Keep asking what is working and what is not.

Progress matters more than perfection here. If you commit to testing new ideas and refining what doesn’t feel right, you will build a stronger, more resilient marketing system over time.

FREE RESOURCE: How to Use Our Digital Marketing Team

Final Thoughts

AI does not have to feel scary or overwhelming. You can start small, protect your voice, and utilize these tools to help you work more efficiently. As long as you stay intentional, human-centered, and creative, you will not lose what makes your brand special.

👉 Want to see if you are ready to take the next step? Download my FREE AI Marketing Readiness Checklist to get started today → Jennielyon.com/AI Let’s keep your marketing authentic and efficient, together.