5 Dos and Don’ts for Incorporating AI into Your Small Business
- Donna M. Kerr
- Dec 18, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 17
(Without Losing Your Voice, Your Values, or Your Sanity)
by Donna M. Kerr
Your Content Queen - Quality Website Copy that Rules!
Artificial intelligence is one of those buzzwords that can make or break a conversation. You’re thinking about scrolling on right now, aren’t you? What if I told you AI could change your life in ways you cannot begin to imagine?
I am a professional writer. That’s just who I am, and it’s who I’ve always been. Writing is the foundation of everything I do professionally.
Oh, happy day—not
Imagine my delight recently when my favorite full-time client of 16 years sent a link to my phone and followed it up with an excited phone call. He barely waited for me to answer. “I am going to change your life,” he said. He introduced me to ChatGPT. His discovery was thrilling. Two technology superfans shared a magical moment.
I gasped, “That’s crazy.” Then, my heart sank to my knees. I whispered into the phone, “OMG. This could replace me.”
He said, “Donna, it just did.”
He laughed. I laughed. We had a good laugh over that. Within six months, I had begun to doubt my power to compete. When it was released to the general population, AI had harsh limitations. It still has limitations, but they are increasingly difficult to identify. The intelligence grows by the nanosecond. That’s what scares us. A person doesn’t usually mind a little change, but every nanosecond?
What is AI, anyway?
“AI is a tool that helps entrepreneurs think faster, work smarter, and scale insight. It analyzes patterns, organizes information, and supports decision-making. AI doesn’t replace judgment or creativity—it amplifies them, giving business owners leverage where time, clarity, and consistency matter most.”
--ChatGPT (AI), Dec. 18, 2025
By December 2024, I was tired. I left the world of business and technology to the young whipper snappers and backed slowly away from my computer. I semi-retired on January 1, 2025, and have spent the last year living like a monk, reflecting on and processing my life choices.
Among a million other golden nuggets, I have learned:
It is no longer enough to be really good at one thing (i.e., writing, plumbing, technology, landscaping, filing, customer service). If you own or operate a small business, you'd better know how to deliver your product or service to a discerning public. We now live in a culture that demands to be dazzled, entertained, and spoon-fed. Boutique-style services are on the menu, and you are the waiter/waitress. Note: “They” want it fast. There are plenty of other places they can get it if you blink. You’re doing business in a global economy now.
Resistance to change is costly.
You need to learn to use technology before it learns to use you.
AI was never meant to replace humans. It was always meant to augment them.
Times they are a-changing—this is no time to be set in your ways.
Ignoring AI won’t make it go away
AI by any other name might seem less daunting, but it would still be just as complicated as it is today. And, it would still be stupid simple.
The term artificial intelligence is commonly known as AI. It’s an umbrella term. Like the word “neurodivergent,” it means nothing without context. What the user brings to the table is context. Every human being is different. Every AI system driven by a human is different, too.
Yes, okay, AI could help create an army of soldier-like machines that rise and claim control of the planet. I should warn you that this would be more of an advanced AI task. If building destructive beings isn’t your ultimate goal, maybe start by asking AI to write an email to your colleague. Gosh, ask it to be your Cyrano de Bergerac. Just play with it. Get comfortable.
Remember when small business owners scoffed at the need for a new-fangled website? Websites were few and far between. Can you imagine operating a business without a website today? Websites have gone from a luxury marketing tool to an absolute necessity with warp speed.
Ever done business without a phone? Only the coolest people used to have big box-like communication devices strapped to their bodies. Now, kids the world over are expecting their own mini-minds under the Christmas tree, for Easter, and on birthdays.
Running water, an indoor toilet, a microwave, television for heaven’s sake! There are a million inventions today that people didn’t know they had to have—until they did.
I get that you don’t want to be caught colluding with Big Brother. The only truth I know for sure is that nothing ever stays the same. Also, AI really is so freaking cool, and you have to try it. Eeeeek! I am no expert yet. I will be. It’s my new passion. Use it a little or use it a lot. Just use it. I will change your life in fewer than five minutes.
Today, AI makes my writing process faster, more accurate, creative, and very entertaining for me. Don’t be afraid. Go forth into the future (or at least catch up to the rest of us).
For me, AI is like having my own mini-assistant that I don’t have to be nice to, but am anyway because - you know, manners.
You don’t need to ‘keep up’ with AI
You don’t need to “keep up” with AI. You just need to use it wisely. Below are five simple dos and don’ts to help you incorporate AI in a way that supports your business instead of overwhelming it. If the following section appears to have been written by AI, it was. BTW, it took less than five seconds.
✅ DO: Use AI as a Helper, Not a Replacement
AI works best as a support system. It can help you brainstorm ideas, organize thoughts, and speed up repetitive tasks—but it can’t replace your experience, intuition, or voice.
DON’T: hand over your brand or messaging completely. Your personality is what builds trust. AI just helps you get there faster.
❌ DON’T: Start With the Most Complicated Tools
Many business owners freeze because they think AI means expensive software or steep learning curves.
DO: start small. Try using AI for:
drafting emails
outlining blog posts
rewriting website copy for clarity
If it feels manageable, you’re doing it right.
✅ DO: Use AI to Save Time—Not Create More Work
AI should reduce decision fatigue, not add to it.
DON’T: over-edit or chase perfection.DO: use AI to get to a strong starting point, then refine as needed.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
❌ DON’T: Assume AI Understands Your Business Automatically
AI doesn’t know your audience, tone, or goals unless you explain them.
DO: give clear guidance. The more context you provide, the better the results.
Think of AI like a new assistant: once trained, it becomes incredibly efficient.
✅ DO: Stay Human on Purpose
The most effective content still sounds like it came from a real person.
AI can help with structure. You provide the heart.
A Final Thought
AI isn’t about replacing people—it’s about supporting them. When used thoughtfully, it can free up time, reduce stress, and help you show up more consistently in your business.
And if you’re unsure where to start, that’s okay.
Want Help Using AI Without Losing Your Voice?
I work with small business owners who want to use AI strategically and ethically, without sounding robotic or generic.
Whether you need:
help refining AI-assisted content
website copy that still sounds like you
or guidance on using AI in a way that fits your workflow
I’m happy to help.
👉 [Contact me here] or explore my services here.
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