10 Must-Have AI Tools for Small Businesses in 2024 and How to Use Them

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become essential for businesses of all sizes. For small businesses especially, AI tools are a big help, increasing efficiency, saving money, and supporting growth. By 2024, an impressive 65% of small businesses worldwide have started using some kind of AI technology, and a recent Statista study shows that 89% of them have seen their productivity improve.

As technology becomes more accessible, small business owners are able to use AI to automate daily tasks, optimize marketing, and simplify customer service. Below, we explore the top 15 AI tools small businesses can use this year, with practical applications and real-world examples of how each tool is transforming small businesses.

What Are AI Tools for Business?

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are used by AI tools to help small businesses run faster and more effectively. AI can manage a lot of your daily responsibilities as a business owner, allowing you to concentrate on growing your company.

Almost any task can be completed with AI tools. Chatbots on your website can help with appointment scheduling and handle simple customer support inquiries. Through the evaluation of meeting notes and the creation of action items for prompt follow-up, AI meeting assistants can save time.

Product descriptions, blog entries, and social media updates may all be written in your own voice and style using content creation tools. Simply provide a few samples of your work, and the AI will figure out your style and continue to produce original content for you.

AI tools are now more affordable, accessible, and advanced, so even non-technical entrepreneurs can use them. With AI taking care of routine tasks, you can focus on growing your startup into a success.

The Best AI Tools For Small Businesses of 2024

The top 15 AI tools that every small business can use in 2024 are listed below. Ready to start? Let’s jump in!

1. ChatGPT: AI-Driven Customer Service

OpenAI’s ChatGPT will transform customer service with conversational AI. It responds to inquiries, assists in resolving issues, and engages with users in real time on social media and websites.

Best for: Customer service, content creation, and automation.

Features:

• Works with platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and email systems.
• Using natural language processing for customer service and support.
• Able to produce excellent blog entries, social media postings, and written content, among other things.

Limitation:

1. Needs fine-tuning for specific industries.
2. Can sometimes generate generic content or misunderstand nuanced queries.

Pricing:

ChatGPT offers a free plan with access to limited features. The Plus plan costs $20/month for premium features and faster response times.

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

ChatGPT is a virtual assistant that small businesses can use to reduce employment costs. It assists in providing prompt and correct answers to consumer inquiries, freeing up human agents to work on more challenging assignments. Also, this speeds up response times, which raises customer satisfaction.

Our Take:

ChatGPT is an excellent solution for small enterprises, particularly for content creation and customer service automation. Although it may require some modifications for more complex applications, it is adaptable and reasonably priced.

2. Jasper.ai – AI Content Creation For Marketers

One of the best AI tools for content production is Jasper, which assists small businesses in producing excellent blog entries, social media material, and ad text in a timely manner.

Best for: Content creation and marketing.

Features:

• An AI writing helper that creates text for emails, blogs, social media, and more.
• Supports multiple languages.
• Optimized for SEO to enhance content ranking.

Limitations:

1. Quality varies depending on input.
2. Advanced features are locked behind higher-tier plans.

Pricing:

Jasper offers a 5-day free trial. Paid plans begin at $49 per month for the Starter plan and $99 per month for the Boss Mode plan, which has more advanced features.

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

Jasper helps small businesses in expanding their content marketing efforts without requiring a full-time content workforce. It saves time and increases online visibility by producing SEO-friendly content quickly.

Our Take:

If you’re struggling with writing or need to create a lot of content fast, Jasper is a great tool to have. It will be very helpful to small businesses who want to consistently post high-quality content on their websites and social media accounts.

3. Grammarly – AI For Better Writing

Grammarly is an AI-based application that helps with grammar, tone, style, and clarity checks. It’s a helpful AI tools for small businesses who want to keep their communications professional.

Best for: Writing assistance and proofreading.

Features:

• Real-time grammar and punctuation checks.
• Plagiarism checker to prevent duplicate content.
• Tone detection helps ensure your message is communicated in the right way.
• Easily connects with word processors, social media, and email platforms.

Limitations:

1. Advanced features only available in premium plans.
2. Sometimes struggles with context-specific errors.

Pricing:

Essential functions are included in the free basic edition. Advanced tools like tone recommendations and plagiarism detection are included in premium plans, which start at $12 per month.

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

Grammarly helps companies in maintaining professional and concise communication in blog entries, emails, and social media posts. Businesses with limited funds that are unable to engage an editor or proofreader will find it extremely helpful.

Our Take:

A useful AI tools for raising the standard of writing in small businesses is Grammarly. It ensures that all emails, blog entries, and social media posts sound polished.

4. Lumen5

An driven by AI tool called Lumen5 assists companies in producing videos fast. It saves time while maintaining high-quality visuals by converting blog posts, articles, and other written content into videos. It’s ideal for social media marketers and companies looking to use video to improve their content strategy.

Best for: Video content creation and marketing.

Features:

• Video editing tool with AI capabilities that converts text to video.
• Wide selection of templates, music, and visuals.
• Easy-to-use interface for non-video creators.

Limitations:

1. Customization options can be limited compared to professional video editing software.
2. Videos may not always match brand aesthetics unless refined.

Pricing:

There is a free plan, but videos under that plan include a watermark. Paid plans for access to premium features start at $19 a month.

Why Your Small Businesses Need This:

Lumen5 is a great option for small businesses that want to use video marketing but don’t have the time or resources to create traditional videos. Its AI-powered engine effectively turns written content into engaging videos, making it perfect for social media posts, blog summaries, and marketing efforts.

Our Take:

For small businesses looking to produce captivating videos without the need for a video editor, Lumen5 is an excellent AI tools. Although the AI-powered method saves time, you may need to put in more effort if you want better finished videos.

5. HubSpot CRM

AI is used by HubSpot’s CRM to assist small businesses to track sales, automate marketing campaigns, and manage and analyze customer interactions.

Best for: Lead generation and marketing automation.

Features:

• AI-powered lead nurturing and scoring.
• Automated email marketing and campaign optimization.
• Customizing content to increase user engagement.
• Integration with over 500 apps to simplify operations.

Limitations:

1. Can be expensive for small businesses on a tight budget.
2. Requires a learning curve to master all features.

Pricing:

HubSpot offers a free CRM with essential features. Paid plans start at $45/month for advanced marketing and sales automation.

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

HubSpot CRM makes it simple for small businesses to automate follow-ups, manage sales pipelines, and customize marketing efforts by centralizing client data.

Our Take:

HubSpot is an excellent solution for small businesses trying to automate marketing operations. Even while its AI technologies are strong, they can be too much for very tiny enterprises with simple marketing needs

6. Canva

Small businesses will benefit more from Canva’s AI by 2024 since it can automatically edit photos, suggest layouts, and create presentations, logos, and social media graphics. It is ideal for businesses without a design team because to its ease of use

Best for: Graphic design, social media posts, and marketing materials.

Features:

• Access to thousands of templates for every design need.
• AI-assisted design suggestions based on your content.
• AI-powered photo editing and image strengthening tools.
• Team collaboration for designing assets in real-time.

Limitations:

1. The free plan has limited access to premium design elements and templates.
2. AI suggestions may not always align with a brand’s unique style without manual adjustments.

Pricing:

Free plan available. Paid plans start at $12.99/month for Pro users, offering access to more templates and advanced tools.

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

Canva helps small businesses create visually attractive content without having to hire a designer. Its AI capabilities make design simpler, allowing businesses to create eye-catching banners, social media posts, and other materials faster.

Our Take:

For small businesses looking to produce expert designs without hiring a designer, Canva is a useful tool. Businesses that want highly customized images may still need to make certain adjustments personally, even though its AI functions ease the design process.

7. SEMrush

SEMrush is a complete AI-powered SEO tool made to assist small businesses in improving their online visibility and search engine rankings.

Best for: SEO optimization, keyword research, and digital marketing strategies.

Features:

• AI-powered tracking and keyword research to improve search engine ranks.
• Backlink analysis to improve domain authority.
• Competitor analysis to understand market trends and stay ahead.
• Site audit tools to identify and fix SEO issues.
• Content recommendations powered by AI for better optimization.

Limitations:

1. The platform’s complexity can be overwhelming for beginners.
2. Higher-tier plans can be expensive for small businesses with limited budgets.

Pricing:

SEMrush offers a 7-day free trial. Paid plans start at $119.95/month for the Pro plan with full access to SEO and marketing tools.

Why Your Small Businesses Need This:

SEMrush’s AI-powered solutions enable SEO experts, marketing teams, and content producers to monitor SEO performance, develop data-driven plans, and ensure their websites are optimized for top ranks. Teams can identify trends, update content, and maintain an advantage in digital marketing because to its rigorous competitor analysis.

Our Take:

For small businesses trying to improve their SEO, SEMrush is a helpful tool. Small businesses could surpass competitors with the help of its AI-powered insights and competitive analysis. For companies with tighter budgets, the expense could be a problem.

8. Trello

Trello is a visually engaging project management tool that uses AI to automate task management, deadlines, and team collaboration for small businesses.

Best for: Project management, team collaboration, and task automation.

Features:

• Visual boards for organizing tasks and collaborating with the team.
• AI-powered recommendations for setting priorities and allocating tasks.
• Workflows that are automated to make repetitive project management duties more efficient.
• Integration of a calendar to monitor due dates and milestones.

Limitations:

1. Limited automation and functionality are available with the free plan.
2. Larger teams may discover that some of the more complex project management functions provided by more modern programs, such as Asana or Monday.com, are absent from the UI.

Pricing:

Trello provides a free basic project management strategy. For extra features like priority support and powerful automation, paid options begin at $10 per user each month.

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

Trello helps small teams organize their projects more easily. Its AI-powered automation ensures that everyone stays on task by reducing down on the time spent managing workflows and assigning tasks.

Our Take:

Businesses can manage projects and workflows more easily using Trello, an intuitive project management platform with AI automation features. Larger teams may require intricate capabilities, which are offered in higher-tier plans, but it’s excellent for smaller teams and projects.

9. Mailchimp AI

AI tools are used by Mailchimp to improve email marketing by recommending the optimal times to send emails, assisting with audience segmentation, and automating responses. For small businesses looking to increase consumer interaction, its user-friendly layout makes it an excellent option.

Best for: Email marketing and campaign optimization.

Features:

• AI-powered campaign optimization.
• Powerful analytics and audience segmentation.
• Automated marketing sequences for emails.

Limitations:

1. Can become expensive as your email list grows.
2. Limited customization options for advanced users.

Pricing:

Mailchimp offers a free subscription with limited features for up to 500 subscribers. Paid services that start at $11/month include more advanced tools, including audience segmentation, predictive insights, and automated workflows

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

Email marketing facilitates consumer interaction for small businesses. While automated and predictive features free up time for other duties, Mailchimp’s AI customizes campaigns to increase engagement and conversions.

Our Take:

Mailchimp is a useful AI tools for small businesses that want to automate their email marketing. It’s easy to use, but as your business grows, costs may increase, so it’s important to take your needs into account.

10. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is an AI-powered email marketing and automation application that helps small businesses create customized email campaigns and improve customer engagement.

Best for: Email marketing, customer segmentation, and customized campaigns.

Features:

• Email automation powered by AI for client retention and lead nurturing.
• Customized email messages according to user segmentation and behavior.
• Built-in CRM to track customer interactions and sales.
• Tools for thorough reporting that maximize campaign performance.

Limitations:

1. The learning curve can be steep for users new to marketing automation.
2. Despite the variety of options available, smaller firms could find that higher-tier plans are too costly for their requirements.

Pricing:

ActiveCampaign offers a free 14-day trial. Paid plans start at $29/month for businesses with basic automation needs.

Why your Small Businesses Need This:

ActiveCampaign helps small businesses enhance their email marketing by automating tasks and customizing messages. It would be perfect for businesses looking to increase customer retention and build closer relationships with their clients.

Our Take:

ActiveCampaign is a great AI tool for small businesses to automate marketing and create customized campaigns using AI. However, advanced plans may be costly for businesses with tight budgets.

Wrapping Up

AI is no longer just for large enterprises. These AI tools empower small businesses to operate more efficiently, improve customer service, and scale their operations without breaking the bank. Whether it’s content creation with Jasper.ai or design with Canva, each tool offers unique value. By adopting AI in 2024, small businesses can increase productivity, simplify processes, and stay ahead of the competition.

Let us know which AI tools you’re most excited to try!

Explore more about AI tools with YeasiTech, leave comments below with your ideas or questions, or get in touch with us to learn more!

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