Why Most AI Advice for Small Business is Rubbish
If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen some “guru” telling you that AI is going to replace your entire staff and make you a millionaire overnight.
I’ve been working with Brisbane business owners for years—from electricians in Coorparoo to law firms in the CBD—and I can tell you the reality is much different. Most of the AI tools released this year are, quite frankly, a waste of your money. They are built for tech nerds, not for people who have to actually go out and quote jobs or manage a shop floor.
At Local Marketing Group, we spend our time testing these tools so you don’t have to. We want to know one thing: Does this tool put more money in your bank account?
If the answer is no, we bin it. This year, we binned a lot. Here is the honest truth about the AI tools that disappointed us, and what you should actually be doing to get more customers.
1. The "Robot" Customer Service Chatbots
You’ve seen them—those little bubbles in the corner of a website that try to talk to you. This year, everyone went mad for AI chatbots that supposedly "learn" your business.
The Promise: You’ll never have to answer a customer enquiry again. The AI will do it all. The Reality: They frustrate your customers and lose you jobs.
We tested these for a local landscaping business. A potential customer asked, "Can you do a retaining wall on a steep slope in The Gap?" The AI responded with a 400-word essay on the history of retaining walls but never actually asked for the customer's phone number or booked a site visit.
The Verdict: If a tool doesn't make it easier for a customer to give you money, it's a failure. Most AI chatbots are currently too wordy and don't focus on the sale. Instead of fancy bots, you should focus on saving time and winning customers by using simple automations that notify you the second a lead comes in.
2. Fully Automated Social Media Posting
There are dozens of tools now that promise to write your posts, create your images, and post them to Facebook and Instagram without you lifting a finger.
The Promise: A hands-off social media presence that brings in leads. The Reality: Your feed looks like a generic, soulless mess that people scroll straight past.
Google and Facebook are getting very good at spotting content that was churned out by a machine with no human oversight. When you post generic AI images of "a happy family in a clean house," people in Brisbane know it’s fake. They want to see your actual team, your actual ute, and the actual work you did in Carindale last Tuesday.
The Verdict: Using AI to help you come up with ideas is great. Letting it run your brand on autopilot is a mistake. It won't get you more phone calls because it lacks the "local feel" that makes people trust a small business.
3. Generic AI Content Writers
This is the big one. Everyone is using AI to write blogs and website pages to try and show up higher on Google.
The Promise: Free website content that ranks #1. The Reality: Google is cracking down on low-quality, AI-generated fluff.
We’ve seen businesses lose half their website traffic because they filled their site with AI articles that didn't actually help anyone. If your website just repeats what every other website says, why would Google show yours?
If you want to use technology to actually grow, you need to understand the basics of marketing automation for SMBs before you start clicking "generate" on random articles. You need content that answers the specific questions your Brisbane customers are asking.
4. AI Meeting Summarisers (For Small Biz)
There are tools that join your Zoom calls or listen to your meetings to take notes.
The Promise: You’ll never forget a detail again. The Reality: For a small business owner, it’s often more admin than it’s worth.
If you’re a solo operator or have a small team, you don't need a 5-page transcript of a 10-minute chat. You need to know: What is the job? What is the price? When do we start? Many of these tools are designed for big corporate boardrooms, not for someone trying to close more deals while driving between jobs.
What Actually Works? (The Common Sense Approach)
I don’t want to sound like a luddite. We love technology at Local Marketing Group, but we only love it when it works. If you want to use AI to actually grow your business this year, stop looking at the "shiny" tools and focus on these three things:
1. Speed to Lead
If someone fills out a form on your site at 8:00 PM on a Sunday, an AI tool that sends them a text message immediately to book a quote for Monday morning is worth its weight in gold. That is AI that makes you money.2. Sorting Your Database
Most Brisbane businesses have a list of past customers sitting in an Excel sheet or a dusty CRM. AI can help you sort that list and identify who hasn't booked a service in 12 months, then send them a personalised offer. That’s how you get more sales without spending a cent on new ads.3. Basic Photo Enhancements
Don't let AI create fake photos. Use it to make your real photos look better. If you took a photo of a finished kitchen renovation but the lighting was poor, AI can fix that in three seconds. High-quality, real photos get more enquiries than anything else.The Cost of Getting it Wrong
I’ve seen business owners spend $500 a month on various AI subscriptions that they don't use, or worse, that actively drive customers away.
If you spend 10 hours a month trying to figure out a complex AI tool, that’s 10 hours you aren't on the tools or talking to customers. At a rate of $100/hr, that tool just cost you $1,000 in lost time before you even paid the subscription fee.
My advice? Pick one problem you have. Is it that you're too slow to answer the phone? Is it that you forget to follow up on quotes? Find a tool that fixes that specific problem. Don't buy a tool just because it says "AI" on the box.
How to Start (Without Wasting Money)
1. Audit your time: Where are you wasting the most time on admin? That’s where you look for a tool. 2. Test the customer experience: If you install a chatbot, try to use it as a customer. If it annoys you, it will annoy them. Delete it. 3. Focus on the phone: In Brisbane, most people still want to talk to a human or get a quick text back. Use AI to facilitate that, not replace it.
Most of what you read about AI online is rubbish designed to sell software. You don't need to be a tech genius to grow your business; you just need to make sure your website works on phones, your Google profile is updated, and you get back to people quickly.
If you're frustrated that your marketing isn't turning into actual phone calls, you don't need more "AI fluff." You need a strategy that works for a local business.
Want to stop guessing and start growing?
At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses cut through the noise and implement systems that actually bring in more customers. No jargon, no nonsense—just results.
Contact Local Marketing Group today and let’s talk about how to get your phone ringing.