Top 5 AI Tools for Small Business Marketing and How to Prompt Them Effectively

The Tools Are Only as Good as the Prompts

There’s no shortage of AI tools on the market—but if you’re a small business owner, the real question isn’t “which tool is best?” It’s: “Which tool will actually save me time and help me create something valuable?”

The answer lies not just in the tools themselves, but in how you use them. Prompts are the key to unlocking the full potential of AI for your marketing. Below, we’ve rounded up five AI tools that are easy to start with, affordable, and genuinely useful—along with prompt examples to help you get the most out of each one.

1. ChatGPT (OpenAI)

Best for: Content creation, email writing, customer communication, brainstorming
Why it works: ChatGPT is flexible and intuitive, making it a great entry point into prompt-driven marketing.

Prompt idea:
“Write a warm, welcoming email for first-time customers of a handmade soap brand.”

Pro tip: Be specific about tone, audience, and format. Add “Make it friendly and under 200 words” to refine the output.

2. Jasper AI

Best for: Website copy, ad writing, product descriptions
Why it works: Jasper offers pre-built templates tailored to marketing goals, so you don’t need to start from scratch.

Prompt idea:
“Create Facebook ad copy for a local café offering a weekend brunch special.”

Pro tip: Use Jasper’s tone sliders or brand voice feature to keep the content aligned with your personality.

3. Copy.ai

Best for: Quick captions, product blurbs, blog ideas
Why it works: Copy.ai shines when you need fast content in a pinch—especially social posts and short-form copy.

Prompt idea:
“Write 3 Instagram captions promoting a summer sale on handmade ceramics in a casual tone.”

Pro tip: Run multiple variations and combine the best parts to personalize the final copy.

4. Canva AI (Magic Write + Text to Image)

Best for: Visual content, design copy, post layouts
Why it works: Canva’s AI features help streamline both your design and your messaging—all in one platform.

Prompt idea:
“Suggest 5 caption ideas for a quote graphic promoting mindfulness and self-care.”

Pro tip: Pair Magic Write captions with Text to Image suggestions or your own product photos to make scroll-stopping posts.

5. SurferSEO (with AI Writing Integration)

Best for: Blog posts, website content, SEO optimization
Why it works: Surfer blends AI writing with keyword-driven structure, so you can create content that performs and reads naturally.

Prompt idea:
“Outline a blog post on eco-friendly gift ideas for the holidays, optimized for the keyword ‘sustainable gifts for small spaces.’”

Pro tip: Use the Content Editor to get a real-time score and make keyword tweaks as you write.

Bonus: Prompting Tips That Work Across Tools

• Include tone and audience. “Professional” or “playful” makes a big difference.

• Give context. Let the AI know what your product does, who your customer is, and where the content will live.

• Ask for variations. You’ll almost always get better results when you review multiple versions.

• Don’t skip the final edit. Even great prompts need a human touch at the end.

Try a Few, Keep What Works

You don’t need to master every tool or prompt to get value. Start with one or two that match your current needs, and build from there. Over time, your prompt-writing skills will naturally sharpen, and your content will start to feel easier—and more aligned with your brand.

If you’re looking to fast-track your workflow, check out the AI prompt packs, templates, and strategy guides in our shop. They're designed to help small businesses like yours save time, stay creative, and keep marketing human.