Are you a small business owner feeling overwhelmed by AI? You're not alone. While enterprise companies throw massive budgets at custom AI solutions, you're wondering how to get started without breaking the bank or spending hours learning complex prompts.

In this episode, I sit down with Phil Pallen, author of AI for Small Business and creative branding expert, who reveals the simple framework that's helping small business owners find immediate AI wins. Phil shares his journey from studying media and entertainment business to starting his own branding agency in 2011 when his first three clients - a makeup artist, real estate agent, and jewelry designer - all needed help with social media. He also tells the fascinating story of how a client's suggestion to put his tutorial videos on YouTube led to a major publisher reaching out about writing a book on AI.

But here's what makes this conversation different: Phil isn't selling you on the latest shiny AI tool. Instead, he's sharing a practical time-tracking method that helps you identify exactly where AI can make the biggest impact in YOUR business - starting with the tasks you hate doing most.

You'll discover why custom GPTs aren't the answer for 95% of businesses, how to use AI projects to organize client conversations for better brand storytelling, and Phil's controversial take on why perfect prompts are a myth. Plus, he reveals the email automation system that saves him hours every week (hint: it's not just AI).

Whether you're just getting started with AI or feeling scattered across multiple tools, this episode will help you create a sustainable, systematic approach that makes you better at what you already do - not just faster.

What You'll Learn:

• The 3-question framework for identifying AI opportunities in your business
• Why tracking your time is the secret to finding AI quick wins
• How to organize AI conversations using projects (and why custom GPTs usually aren't worth it)
• Phil's email automation system that handles affiliate pitches automatically
• The tools Phil uses daily for client work and content creation
• Why AI should enhance your excellence, not replace your expertise
• Common pitfalls small business owners make when implementing AI

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Phil Pallen's Book: AI for Small Business (Available at all major bookstores)

Time Tracking Tools:

• EverHour: everhour
• Rize: rize

Email Organization Tools:

• SaneBox: sanebox
• Serif: serif

AI Tools Discussed:

• ChatGPT Projects: chat.openai.com
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Learn More:

• Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon
• Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon
• Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/
• Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo
• Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/
• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer
• All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Most entrepreneurs are obsessing over the perfect AI prompt when they should be building systems instead. In this episode, I share the game-changing framework I taught at a workshop recently at Chapman University that helped students create compelling, targeted content in under 30 minutes. Discover why context beats prompts every time and learn the same 3-pillar system I recommend to my Fractional CMO clients.

What You'll Learn:

• Why treating ChatGPT like a "vending machine" kills your content quality
• The 3-pillar framework that transforms generic AI output into brand-specific content
• How to build an Ideal Customer Profile that makes AI content 10x more effective
• The brand voice development process that ensures consistency across all content
• Why most AI content fails (and how to avoid these critical mistakes)
• The "library of content" strategy for long-term SEO and authority building
• How to scale one blog post into 10+ pieces of repurposed content
• Real examples from student startups (safety translation software, career guidance platforms, and more)

Key Takeaways:

✅ AI isn't creative until you teach it your context

✅ Specificity in your Ideal Customer Profile is what makes AI come alive

✅ Your brand voice becomes your secret weapon for unique AI content

✅ Pain points should drive your content topics, not random keyword research

✅ Search engines need to recognize you as an authority through consistent, expert content

Perfect For:

• Entrepreneurs struggling with content creation
• Small business owners wanting to compete with bigger brands
• Marketing professionals looking for scalable content systems
• Anyone tired of generic, obvious AI-generated content
• Startups needing to establish thought leadership quickly

Learn More:

• Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon
• Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon
• Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/
• Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo
• Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/
• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer
• All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com

Are you spending hours every week creating social media content with little to show for it? You're not alone. The average business owner wastes over 3 hours weekly on social media that doesn't generate leads or sales.

In this game-changing episode, I sit down with Katie Brinkley, founder of Next Step Social and author of "The Social Shift," who reveals her proven 4-post strategy that cut her content creation time from hours to just 40 minutes per week - while dramatically increasing her results.

Katie's journey from sports reporter for the Denver Broncos to successful agency owner gives her a unique perspective on building community and fan loyalty that translates perfectly to social media marketing. You'll discover how to stop posting random content and start creating strategic posts that guide your audience through a customer journey.

What You'll Learn:

• The 4-post strategy that transforms social media from time-waster to lead generator
• How to create "problem aware" content that hooks your ideal customers
• Why community-building beats going viral every single time
• The secret to showing up authentically without looking "polished"
• How to leverage short-form video even if you hate being on camera
• Why most businesses fail at social media (and how to avoid their mistakes)

Whether you're a corporate marketer, entrepreneur, or small business owner, this episode will completely shift how you approach social media strategy.

Connect with Katie Brinkley:

• Website: https://katiebrinkley.com
• Book: The Social Shift
• Agency: Next Step Social

Stop wasting time on social media that doesn't work. Start implementing Katie's proven system today.

Learn More:

• Buy Digital Threads: https://nealschaffer.com/digitalthreadsamazon
• Buy Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: https://nealschaffer.com/maximizinglinkedinamazon
• Join My Digital First Mastermind: https://nealschaffer.com/membership/
• Learn about My Fractional CMO Consulting Services: https://nealschaffer.com/cmo
• Download My Free Ebooks Here: https://nealschaffer.com/books/
• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/nealschaffer
• All My Podcast Show Notes: https://podcast.nealschaffer.com