5 Ways to Use AI in Your Small Business

Running a small business means wearing many hats. But what if AI could take a few off your hands? From saving time to attracting new customers, AI tools are no longer just for large companies with substantial budgets. These tools can help small business owners stay organized, automate repetitive tasks, and connect with customers more efficiently.

1. Collect and respond to reviews automatically.

Imagine turning every happy customer into a glowing endorsement, with zero manual hassle.  That’s exactly what Thryv’s AI Review Response enables small businesses to do. It aggregates reviews from 24+ platforms, including Google Business Profile, Yelp, Trustpilot, and more, into a single dashboard, allowing you to view all your feedback in one place. When a new review arrives, simply tap the AI wand to generate three personalized response options. 

If you want a different tone or style, refresh the suggestions, complete with emojis to keep replies engaging, until it fits your brand voice. You can edit or send the AI-crafted responses instantly, helping you meet rising customer expectations (such as the 69% who expect a reply within a week), strengthen your reputation, and build trust. This smart automation ensures timely and authentic customer engagement.

2. Quickly generate content ideas and captions.

Keeping your social media content fresh and consistent is easy with ThryvAI’s CaptionAI and Content Assistant. Small business owners gain creative power and efficiency in one place, enabling them to focus on strategy rather than staring at a blank caption box. Simply enter a prompt, and it’ll quickly generate multiple captions, including hashtags and emojis, optimized for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. You can adjust the tone and style, or regenerate captions, until they match your brand’s voice. The platform also formats captions for length and style differences, specifically for each social network. Plus, you’ll have access to curated templates, visuals, and content suggestions from trusted sources like Google News and Pexels to jumpstart your creativity. You can also schedule your posts in advance with the integrated social scheduler, turning your social media into a streamlined, set-and-forget marketing channel.

3. Send targeted emails and texts on autopilot.

Stay connected with leads and customers without adding to your to-do list. Thryv’s AI-powered Automated Campaigns help you do this effortlessly. Set up emails and texts triggered by actions like appointment bookings, sign-ups, or inactivity, and watch your outreach happen automatically. The platform chooses the best delivery channel–email or text–based on the contact info. The AI Assistant crafts engaging, branded messages from simple prompts, which are also customizable. These smart campaigns nurture leads, speed up follow-ups, and help close sales while you focus on running your business. It’s like having a full marketing team working quietly in the background to deliver personalized and timely communication every time.

4. Attract leads and stay organized.

Thryv’s Ignite Bundle combines marketing and CRM tools, giving small businesses a seamless way to manage leads and clients. Choose between two powerful CRMs that integrate scheduling, payments, client communication, and AI-powered features like review responses and content creation. Both options offer AI-driven automations that save time by handling follow-ups, social content, and customer interactions. With a centralized dashboard for contacts, communications, bookings, and payments, you eliminate manual work and the need for multiple apps. Ignite is more than a CRM—it’s an AI-powered command center that helps you stay organized, close deals faster, and grow your business smarter.

5. Automated follow-ups.

Improve your customer engagement and never miss a lead with the Accelerate Bundle. This bundle offers powerful automation tools that keep your leads engaged. Use the versatile Automation Builder to create workflows that are triggered as soon as someone fills out a form or visits your landing page. Plus, it also delivers personalized nurture campaigns crafted with AI-driven templates tailored to your brand—such as welcome messages, appointment reminders, or promotions—via email or text. Choose from pre-built sequences like lead generation, welcome series, or re-engagement campaigns to get started quickly.

Unlock the Power of AI for Your Small Business

AI isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a game-changer for small businesses ready to work smarter and grow faster. Whether it’s collecting and responding to reviews, generating social media content, automating communications, staying organized with the right CRM, or setting up automated follow-up sequences, AI tools like those in Thryv’s bundles help you free up time to focus on what matters most: delivering great service and building relationships with your customers.