How to use AI for the first time.

In today’s rapidly evolving business world, AI is no longer just a futuristic buzzword – it’s a practical tool that can help you reclaim precious time and focus on what truly matters. With so many options available, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin. My advice is simple: start with the free tools. Experiment with services like ChatGPT, claude.ai or Gemini to get a feel for what AI can do for you. Rest assured, AI isn’t here to take away your job; it’s here to tackle the repetitive tasks that bog you down, freeing you up to focus on creativity and strategic growth.

Key Summary

Start Small: Experiment with free AI tools before committing to a paid version.
Embrace Efficiency: Use AI to handle repetitive, time-consuming tasks that impact your day.
Set The Tone: Train AI to reflect your unique writing style, tone and personality.
Repurpose Content: Adapt your work for various platforms with ease.

Setting the Tone: Making AI Work for You

Most people struggle to make ChatGPT match their natural tone, but with the right approach, you can make AI-generated content feel like your own. Here’s how to get started:

Teach Your AI Your Language:
Begin by letting your AI tool learn your writing style. For example, try this prompt:
"Here is a piece of my writing (insert link); breakdown my tone, sentence structure, vocabulary patterns, and any regular expressions or typing quirks."
Test and Refine:
Once you receive a response that feels close to your voice, test it further with:
"Rewrite this text (insert the text) in my writing style. Keep the flow, tone, and structure true to my personal style."
Adjust the Personality:
Fine-tune the output by instructing your AI to modify the personality. For instance:
"Make this response [more confident/more humorous/softer] whilst keeping it engaging and professional."
Repurpose Across Platforms:
Finally, ensure your content suits various channels by asking:
"Rewrite this text for these platforms (e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn, X), maintaining my natural tone and adhering to the ideal word count for each."

This might take you a few attempts to get the feel and tone you’re after, don’t be discouraged if it wasn’t correct the first time. Keep going and helping to input on the type of response you want.

Harnessing AI for Commerce-Specific Tasks

For those working in marketing, trading, or any commerce-driven industry, AI can be a game-changer in streamlining tasks and boosting productivity. Here are some practical, commerce-specific examples of AI prompts designed for first-time users:

1. Product Descriptions and SEO

Optimise Your Product Listings:
If you have hundreds of products that need unique, engaging descriptions, use AI to generate SEO-friendly copy. For instance, try:
"Generate an engaging, SEO-optimised product description for [Product Name] that highlights its key features and benefits, while incorporating keywords such as [keyword1, keyword2]."

Find out how to create an SEO strategy here.

Meta Descriptions and Keywords:
Craft concise meta descriptions that capture your product’s essence:
"Write a 155-character meta description for [Product Name] that includes its main selling points and key SEO keywords."
You can also ask AI to suggest long-tail keywords for your product category to enhance online visibility.

2. Social Media and Marketing Content

Tailor-Made Social Media Posts:
Generate engaging social media content for different platforms. For example:
"Create a series (or add exact number) of friendly and professional social media captions for a new product launch, tailored separately for Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn."

Email Marketing Campaigns:
For effective email marketing, try:
"Write an email newsletter promoting [Product Name] with a focus on its unique benefits and a clear call to action, maintaining a conversational yet professional tone."

3. Customer Engagement and Analysis

Analyse Customer Feedback:
AI can help you sift through customer reviews and feedback to identify recurring themes. Use a prompt such as:
"Analyse these customer reviews for [Product Name] and summarise the main points of praise and concern, suggesting improvements where necessary."

Enhance Customer Surveys:
Draft follow-up survey questions with a prompt like:
"Generate a list of follow-up survey questions that help determine customer satisfaction with our product range, focusing on quality, service, and value."

4. Ad Copy and Campaigns

Crafting Persuasive Ad Copy:
Generate multiple headline options and body text variations for your ad campaigns. Consider:
"Write a compelling Google Ads copy for [Product Name], emphasising its unique features and offering a clear call to action."

5. Content Repurposing and Personalisation

Adapt Your Message for Different Platforms:
Transform a well-crafted blog post into engaging, platform-specific content:
"Rewrite this article for LinkedIn, transforming it into a concise, engaging post while keeping the key message intact."

Personalised Recommendations:
AI can also help generate personalised product recommendations based on customer behaviour. Try:
"Based on customer purchase history, suggest personalised product recommendations for our top-selling items."

The above are short prompt suggestion to get you started. Where possible, be as accurate as you can with what you’re asking, that way you’re more likely to get the response you’re after. If you’re unhappy with the response, just ask it to try and gain with the elements you’re looking for it to improve upon.

Conclusion

By experimenting with these prompts, you’ll not only become more comfortable with AI tools but also discover innovative ways to enhance your commerce tasks. The goal is to use AI as a supportive partner that saves you time on repetitive tasks, so you can focus on strategic initiatives and creative endeavours. Embrace the new world of AI with a curious and experimental mindset. Start small, build your confidence, and let these tools empower you to work smarter, not harder. Happy experimenting!

How to Get Started with AI in the Workplace