How to use AI for branding.

Recently, we've been playing around with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to learn how it can support start-ups in the creation of their branding plans. What I've found is this – AI can be a fantastic idea generator and a good starting point but it won't replace the work of a real human any time soon – that is unless you want the results to be super generic or very weird.

I was optimistic about using the free AI tool OpenArt for generating visual assets for websites or blog posts but found the results to be kind of bizarre and it was very time consuming to dial in what I was looking for.

I asked for 3-D renderings of interiors, logos, mood boards, photorealistic images and illustrations. It takes time to play with the prompts and while you may be able to some generate ideas, using stock imagery sites would still be a better bet at this point - but it was fun!

I played with generating art for a fictional children’s dance studio using OpenArt.

I then explored the free tool ChatGBT for creating verbal branding assets and for marketing support. When I prompted ChatGBT to write a, "Blog post on how AI can be used for small business," the opening paragraph went like this...

In the dynamic realm of small businesses, where adaptability and innovation are key, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a game-changer, reshaping the way entrepreneurs operate and thrive. In this digital era, harnessing the power of AI has become not just an option but a strategic imperative for small businesses aiming to stay competitive and flourish.

I don't know about you, but it was a bit heavy-handed and put me to sleep. I continued to fine-tune it, adding prompts related to branding and marketing, and the result was usable as a framework.

"How AI elevates Small Business Start-Ups through Intelligent Marketing and Branding.

1. Crafting a Unique Brand Identity: For small business start-ups, establishing a distinct brand identity is paramount. AI assists in this process by analyzing market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor strategies.

2. Personalized Customer Experiences: AI enables small businesses to deliver personalized and targeted experiences to their customers. From AI-driven chatbots on websites to personalized email marketing campaigns, these tools use machine learning to understand customer preferences and behaviors.

3. Data-Driven Marketing Strategies: In the realm of marketing, data is gold. AI empowers small businesses to harness the power of data for informed decision-making. Through predictive analytics, AI algorithms analyze customer data to forecast trends and identify potential opportunities.

4. Social Media Optimization: Social media is a cornerstone of modern marketing, and AI adds a layer of sophistication to social media optimization for small businesses. AI tools can analyze social media trends, identify optimal posting times, and even suggest content that resonates with the target audience.

5. SEO Enhancement: AI is a game-changer in the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Small businesses often struggle to compete for visibility online, but AI algorithms can analyze search patterns and optimize website content for better search engine rankings.

6. Cost-Effective Advertising Campaigns: Budget constraints are a common challenge for small business start-ups. AI mitigates this challenge by optimizing advertising campaigns for maximum impact.

7. Streamlined Marketing Automation: Time is of the essence for small business start-ups, and AI-driven marketing automation becomes a valuable ally. From automated email campaigns to personalized content delivery, AI streamlines marketing processes, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on core business activities."

All good points, and I could use this as a framework for the blog post if I wanted to, doing some research to add more depth. Unfortunately, while AI can do all those things, it also come at a cost. Each platform has it's own pricing structure which adds up fast!

So as a small business, with a limited budget, how can you use the free AI tools available today to save time as you craft your own personalized branding plan and create digital marketing content?

8 Ways to use AI for small business.

ChatGBT is a free tool that can provide significant support to small business and save some time. It's important to always use the results as a starting point, eliminate the generic, expected, and superfluous words, use a tone that is authentic, and add content that is substantive. Here are 8 ways to use AI for content creation and brainstorming;

  1. Brainstorm business names.

    Put in keywords as your prompts and you will get different combinations that might spark an idea. For a children's dance studio, my prompts were – children, dance studio, and the styles of ballet, hip hop, and modern dance. Some of the results included: TinyTwirl, HappyHop, Kiddo ChoreoCraft, WhirlWonders, and GrooveGalaxy. A good start!

  2. Generate a Mission statement.

    Again, by adding relevant prompts, the AI tool will get you started as you craft your mission and vision statements providing a framework for your edits.

    For the dance studio, my prompts yielded;

    "Empowering young hearts with creativity, harmony, and confidence, [Your Dance Studio Name] fosters a vibrant community where every child discovers the joy of movement. Through the artistry of ballet, hip hop, and modern dance, we cultivate a colorful and inclusive space, nurturing not only exceptional dancers but also confident, expressive individuals. Our mission is to enrich lives through the transformative power of dance, fostering joy, discipline, and teamwork that extends beyond the studio."

  3. Generate an elevator pitch

    Once you have honed your brand story enter the key phrases and ask the AI tool combine them in 2 or 3 sentences.

  4. Craft a Bio

    Have a hard time writing about yourself? List your your key points as prompts and the AI tool will put it all together and give you a starting point. Here's mine:

    "Meet Petra Geiger: a seasoned design and branding expert with 25 years of experience, weaving creativity and strategy into every project. Having left an indelible mark on diverse sectors, from retail to technology, I currently call Los Angeles home, drawing inspiration from its vibrant energy. Beyond design, I'm an avid writer and vintage camera enthusiast, capturing moments both visually and through words."

  5. Keyword brainstorming

    Add some prompts and see what AI recommends. Always, follow up with your own keyword research, this is just a starting point.

  6. Blog post content

    Have an idea for a blog post but not a lot of time to write it? Ask AI to write a blog post on the topic, and use that as a template to start.

  7. Social post captions

    Need some help generating captions? Here's what AI gave me for this blog post.

    "Empowering small businesses with the endless possibilities of AI. 🚀✨ Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of entrepreneurship on the blog. #SmallBusinessInnovation #AIforSMBs #TechRevolution"

  8. Hashtags

    Generate ideas for hashtags. Ask AI to generate relevant hashtags for your social posts.

AI for small business is definitely a useful tool, especially for brainstorming and creating a framework for content such as blog posts and branding assets like mission and vision statements. It may seem daunting at first but it's really not. Give it a try, it may save you some time and it is definitely worth playing with!