Ep 43. Listed Isn't the Same as Discoverable — What 2,000 Businesses Get Wrong About Getting Found

So I think this kind of talks to some of what came out of your report.

There was a stat in there, 60% of businesses mentioned that they're already using AI.

but only one in 10 describe themselves as fully automated.

Do you think business owners or small businesses are becoming overwhelmed with the different tools that are out there and that sort of thing? And they're kind of just using them ad hoc versus something that's genuinely transforming businesses?

I completely agree with you.

So I think First and foremost, I don't think people understand how many tools have got AI embedded in them.

So if you're using an accounting software to support your small business, chances are there's probably some AI embedded in the back of that tool.

If you're using online banking platforms, they're very much harnessed and powered by AI.

So there is a lot of AI out there today that business owners are using and probably not realizing they're using.

One of the pieces at the moment that I think is a real hard one is there's something almost catchy about AI.

So there are a lot of business owners that get very excited.

They sign up for free trials for tools that might be a sort of a new CRM tool or an email marketing tool.

And they'll sign up for tools that are sometimes disconnected from their business processes.

And they can end up in a scenario where they've got lots of bits that they're kind of trying out there and things that they're playing with.

But really... there's time and effort spent in all of those things.

And sometimes it is hard to quantify the results.

So I think for business owners, it's really taking stock.

And the piece that I always like to say is pick that one or two things in your business.

David, what is that thing at three o'clock in the morning that's keeping you up at night that's really a pain point and a blockage in your business? And really use that as the starting point to the thing that you want to go and solve.

Because I think If you can lighten the load and lighten the burden for some of the biggest problems in your business, you'll absolutely be able to drive some really solid results on the other side and also give you confidence around the art of possibility.

Yeah, you're right.

You've got to start with that one concrete thing and free up your time because that's how you get that snowball rolling.

So let's step away from the AI space.

I'm really interested in what you hear small business owners giving you and your team for why they don't invest time in marketing or their online presence.

And do you actually think those reasons are true?