Stop Wasting Time Thinking and Start Getting Customers
If you’re running a business in Brisbane—whether you’re a sparky in Coorparoo or running a boutique in Paddington—you know you need to be "out there." You know that if you don't show up on Facebook, Instagram, or Google, your competitors will.
But let’s be honest: sitting down at the end of a 10-hour day to "create content" is the last thing you want to do. Most business owners I talk to tell me the same thing: "I just don't know what to say."
So, you turn to AI tools like ChatGPT. You’ve heard they can save you time. But then you see the results: boring, robotic, and full of Americanisms that make you cringe.
I’ve seen dozens of local businesses make the same mistakes with AI. They end up with a website or social media page that sounds like a textbook, and then they wonder why the phone isn't ringing.
Here is how to use AI for ideas the right way, so you actually get more enquiries and stop wasting your precious evenings.
Mistake #1: Asking AI to "Write My Marketing"
This is the biggest trap. If you ask an AI to "write a Facebook post for a plumber," it will give you something generic like: "Flowing with excellence! We handle all your plumbing needs with professional care. Contact us today!"
Nobody in Brisbane talks like that. It’s white noise.
The Fix: Use AI for the ideas, not the final product. Instead of asking it to write for you, ask it to brainstorm.
Try this: "I’m a landscaper in Chermside. Give me 10 questions my customers usually ask about pool fencing regulations in Queensland."
Now you have 10 real topics that your customers actually care about. This is a much better way to start using AI for marketing because it’s based on solving customer problems, not just filling space.
Mistake #2: Forgetting Who You Are Talking To
AI doesn't know your business. It doesn't know that your customers in Ascot have different concerns than your customers in Logan.
When you use AI to come up with ideas, you have to feed it the "Local Context." If you don't, you'll get content that feels cold and disconnected. People buy from people they trust. If your website sounds like a robot, they’ll move on to the next guy.
The Fix: Tell the AI exactly who your customer is.
Don't just say "homeowners." Say "Busy mums in the western suburbs who are worried about their electricity bills." When the AI gives you ideas for that specific person, the suggestions will be much more likely to turn a visitor into a customer.
Mistake #3: Not Using Your Own Success Stories
I see this all the time. A business owner uses AI to generate generic tips, but they ignore the goldmine sitting in their phone: their photos and recent jobs.
AI can't see the amazing renovation you just finished in Bulimba. It can't hear the glowing testimonial a customer gave you over the phone.
The Fix: Use AI to help you tell your real stories.
Take a few bullet points about a job you just did—what the problem was, how you fixed it, and how happy the customer was—and ask the AI to turn those points into a short story. This keeps the heart of your business (the real work) at the centre, while the AI does the heavy lifting of putting the words together.
This approach is great for finding your best customers because it shows you actually do the work you say you do.
Mistake #4: Ignoring the "So What?"
Marketing only works if it answers one question for the customer: "What's in it for me?"
AI loves to list features. It will tell people you have "24/7 service" and "highly trained staff."
Customers don't care about your training; they care that their toilet isn't overflowing at 2:00 AM. They care that they won't have to take a day off work to wait for a technician who never shows up.
The Fix: When AI gives you an idea, ask it to "Make this about the benefit to the customer."
- Bad Idea: "We use the latest diagnostic tools." - Good Idea: "We find the leak fast so you don't have to tear up your whole driveway."
Mistake #5: Setting and Forgetting
Some business owners think AI means they never have to look at their marketing again. They set up automated posts and walk away.
But what happens when a customer actually responds? What happens when they comment on a post or send a message? If you aren't there to answer, that lead is dead.
Marketing is about starting a conversation. AI can help you start it, but you (or a smart system) need to be there to close it. We've seen businesses lose thousands of dollars in bookings simply because they weren't handling customers 24/7 when the interest was high.
How Much Does This Cost?
Setting up a solid AI ideation process doesn't have to cost a fortune.
1. The Tools: You can start with the free version of ChatGPT or Claude. If you want the more powerful versions, it’s about $30 AUD a month. 2. The Time: Expect to spend about 2 hours at the start of the month. Use that time to generate 20-30 ideas, pick the best 10, and rough them out. 3. The Result: Instead of spending 5 hours a week struggling to write, you spend 2 hours a month. That’s a massive win for your sanity.
Your Action Plan for This Week
Don't try to overhaul everything at once. Just do these three things:
1. Stop trying to be a writer. Accept that you’re a business owner first. Use AI to get the "blank page" out of the way. 2. Pick 5 common problems. Ask AI: "What are 5 common problems my customers face with [Your Service] in Brisbane? Give me 3 tips for each." 3. Add your local flavour. Take those tips and add one sentence about a local suburb or a specific job you did recently.
If you do this, your website will start working for you, your social media will actually get engagement, and most importantly, you’ll get more phone calls.
Look, I get it. You’re busy. You’d rather be on the tools or helping customers than playing around with computer programs. But the reality is that the businesses using these tools correctly are the ones growing while everyone else is struggling to find the time.
Most of what you read about AI is over-complicated rubbish. It’s just a tool, like a drill or a ute. Use it to get the job done faster so you can get back to what actually makes you money.
Want to stop guessing and start growing?
At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses stop wasting money on marketing that doesn't work. We set up systems that bring in more leads and more bookings without you having to become a tech expert.
Contact Local Marketing Group today and let’s get your phone ringing.