Where Most SMBs Are Today: “Peak of Inflated Expectations”
Right now, many small businesses are experimenting with:
✨ Generative AI
✍️ Prompt Engineering
🧠 Foundation Models (like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini)
They’re often caught in the “wow phase”:
“Can AI write all my content?”
“Will this replace my admin team?”
“Can I just prompt my way to better marketing?”
🔵 Reality Check: Many are using AI superficially—copywriting, brainstorming, quick wins—but without strategy, context, or integration. Think: ChatGPT for Instagram captions, but not for monthly reporting, customer segmentation, or internal SOPs.
🛑 The Risk: Sliding Into the “Trough of Disillusionment”
Without a clear strategy, small businesses risk:
Burnout from AI hype that doesn’t deliver
Wasted time trying every new tool
Poor output from a lack of training/context
Frustration from inconsistent results
✅ Where SMBs Need to Be: “Slope of Enlightenment”
To truly benefit, small businesses should move toward:
📈 Intelligent Applications: AI integrated into CRM, email marketing, reporting dashboards
🔄 ModelOps: Systemising how AI is used across teams
🔍 Data Labelling/Annotation: Structuring their content, FAQs, or customer inputs to “train” AI agents
🧱 Cloud AI Services: Using platforms like Zapier, Make, or HubSpot AI to connect ChatGPT into business workflows
This means transitioning from “prompt tinkering” to “AI-enabled operations.”
🔁 How to Make That Shift with ChatGPT:
Use ChatGPT to do more than write:
Decision support – “What should I focus on in Q3 based on last quarter’s results?”
Customer segmentation – “Group my clients by industry size and value.”
Internal SOPs – “Write step-by-step guides from meeting transcripts.”
Automated content – “Turn our FAQs into SEO blogs and email scripts.”
✳️ Bottom Line:
Right now, most small businesses are riding the Generative AI wave, but to survive the crash and gain a real advantage, they must:
Treat AI as a team member, not a tool
Build strategy (use frameworks like the AI Strategy Canvas)
Systemise, integrate, and measure ROI
👉 Want to help your clients stay out of the trough?
Let’s turn these insights into a prompt pack or mini-course next.
