Ten smart ways to use AI for your business
By Colleen Bryon
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into almost every industry, from healthcare to finance. Natural health retailers, take note: it might seem intimidating, but AI presents a huge opportunity for small businesses to succeed. Here’s how you can use AI to grow without needing more resources (yes, really!).
Test your ideas
Not sure which supplements to promote on your endcaps? Ask an AI tool for creative suggestions. Since 2024, ChatGPT is the most popular AI tool, used by 71 percent of marketers. The free version is surprisingly easy to use: treat it like an assistant, asking it for new suggestions, helpful lists, or criticism of your own ideas.
Refine your marketing
Among marketers, 83 percent report a productivity increase thanks to AI, and 84 percent see a performance increase. Consider using ChatGPT to help craft social media captions and even create or edit images. Just keep in mind that AI may lack up-to-date intel.
Draft newsletter copy
Newsletter marketing can be as time consuming as it is beneficial. Plug key points into an AI tool to generate simple newsletter content.
Here’s an effective prompt example: “From the perspective of a natural health retailer called [store name] in [location], write a friendly 50-word newsletter. Describe our current special on [amazing product details] to boost sales.”
Pair the generated copy with a photo of your store, staff, or products to add authenticity.
Generate growth ideas
If your business feels stagnant, AI can help shake loose new ideas for growth. Think of ChatGPT as your brainstorming partner. If you’ve been wanting to implement more in-store events or other promotions in 2025, it can help brainstorm practical and inventive ways to do so. Other tools are designed specifically for small business owners. DreamHost AI Business Advisor, for example, can provide actionable recommendations tailored to your specific needs.
Write professional emails
Raise a hand if responding to emails is the best part of your day. What’s that—no one? AI can help you craft professional emails in seconds, saving you time and brainpower for more valuable work. Pro tip: make your prompt as specific as possible. Tell the AI writing tool your desired email style (such as professional, friendly, or formal) and your role in relation to the recipient. Although AI’s language abilities are improving rapidly, always proofread the generated content.
Improve inventory management
AI can analyze your past sales to forecast future trends. Simply track daily sales, log the data in Google Sheets, and use an AI add-on like ChatGPT Sheets to generate reports. For example, if you want to plan for summer 2025 inventory, you could generate a report based on this question: “which products sold the most in summer 2024?”
Upgrade your website
You likely wear a lot of hats, from owner/operator to social media manager. Here’s one you can leave on the shelf: search engine optimization (SEO) expert. With AI, writing SEO-friendly content—which makes your site appear higher in search results—is easier than ever. If you already use a website builder like Squarespace, it may come with built-in AI tools to generate or refine your copy. Hats off for efficiency wins!
Enhance customer interactions
This tip is for tech-savvy retailers who dream of delivering 24/7 customer service. You can integrate an AI-powered chatbot into your site to automatically respond to common questions. HubSpot’s State of AI report listed this as AI’s biggest benefit for those in customer service. A word of warning: don’t rely completely on AI for customer interactions. Authenticity and community connection remain key advantages for small retailers.
Provide personalized communication
Personalization can drive revenue lift by 10 to 15 percent. For health retailers, some personalized services come naturally, from greeting regular customers by name to tailoring product recommendations. Use AI to extend this personalization to your website or newsletters. This can be as simple as using customers’ names in each newsletter. Just be sure to comply with data privacy regulations—for example, by allowing subscribers to opt out of receiving newsletters.
Embrace an experimental mindset
Keep in mind that AI is relatively new. Concerns around privacy, copyright, and environmental impact are still being explored. It’s wise to be cautious—for example, avoid sharing confidential information and read up on responsible AI use. Start dipping your toes into the AI water by plugging a few prompts into ChatGPT. When you’re ready to jump in, experiment with using AI to generate ideas, automate routine tasks, and even analyze data, and see what works best for your business.