Running a small-town business means wearing a lot of hats. One minute you're helping customers, the next you're updating your website, designing flyers, posting on social media, and trying to make sense of what’s actually working. Things were going fine, but I had this nagging feeling that I could be doing more. I wasn’t struggling, but I wasn’t exactly standing out either. I wanted to grow, reach more people, and spend less time guessing.
One evening, I opened up ChatGPT mostly out of curiosity. I typed in a question that had been on my mind for a while: how do I grow a local business without spending a ton of money? The first response was pretty generic. Things like improving customer service, building a website, and posting regularly on social media. All solid advice, but nothing I hadn’t already heard before.
So I decided to dig deeper. I asked a follow-up question: what would you do if you were a business owner in a small town, with no big marketing budget and no time to waste? That’s when things got interesting. The ideas became more specific and surprisingly creative. It suggested writing helpful blog posts for locals, posting practical tips in community Facebook groups, offering a free downloadable resource to build an email list, and even running a referral challenge with a fun twist to get people talking.
At first, I wasn’t sure if any of it would actually work. But I figured I had nothing to lose, so I tested a few of the suggestions. I created a simple guide aimed at older business owners called “5 Easy Ways to Use AI Without Losing Your Mind” and offered it for free. I posted bite-sized business tips in a few local Facebook groups without promoting anything, just sharing ideas. I built a clean landing page to collect emails, and I even wrote a lighthearted article about common local marketing mistakes that got people laughing and sharing.
Within a couple of weeks, I saw more engagement on Facebook than I had in months. I started getting comments from people I didn’t even know, thanking me for the tips or asking for advice. A handful of people downloaded the guide, and a few of them actually reached out about my services. It felt like the community finally saw me, not because I was pushing hard to sell, but because I was showing up with something useful.
What surprised me most wasn’t the tools or templates. It was the way ChatGPT helped me think differently. Instead of getting stuck in my usual routine, I started asking better questions. It helped me look at my business from the outside, the way someone new might see it. And it gave me just enough structure to move forward with confidence instead of overthinking everything.
I didn’t make a million dollars or go viral overnight. But I did grow my reach, attract new attention, and feel more energized about the future. Not because I had a fancy marketing plan, but because I was willing to try something different and see where it led. ChatGPT didn’t run my business for me, but it definitely helped me think like a sharper version of myself.
If you’re curious about using AI for your business, don’t wait for things to go wrong. Use it to get ahead, explore new ideas, or spark momentum when you’re feeling stuck. It might just become the most valuable brainstorming partner you never knew you needed.
Have you ever asked ChatGPT for help with your business? I’d love to hear what happened.
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