5 AI Prompts Every Business Owner Should Try

You’ve probably heard that AI can help your business. But when you actually sit down to use ChatGPT or Perplexity, you stare at the blank text box and think: “What do I even type?”

That’s normal. The tools are powerful, but nobody teaches you how to actually use them. So here are five prompts you can copy and paste today, no tech skills required.

Treat each answer as a draft. Check names, facts and promises before using it in your business.

Prompt 1: Research Your Competition

Tool: Perplexity (free)

What it does: Gives you a quick competitive analysis without hours of Googling.

Example: “Who are the top pest control companies in Seguin, TX? What do customers say about them in reviews? What services do they offer that stand out?”

You’ll get a summary with sources, not just links to click through. Use it to see what competitors are doing well (and where you can beat them).

Prompt 2: Write This Week’s Social Media Posts

Tool: ChatGPT (free)

What it does: Drafts social posts for you to review.

Example: “I own a landscaping company in Seguin, TX. Write me 5 Facebook posts for this week that highlight our spring cleanup services. Keep them casual and friendly. Include a mix of tips, behind-the-scenes, and a soft sell.”

You’ll get five ready-to-post captions. Edit them to match your voice, add a photo, and you’re done.

Prompt 3: Respond to a Google Review

Tool: ChatGPT (free)

What it does: Writes a professional response to reviews, good or bad.

For negative reviews, add: Acknowledge the issue without being defensive. Offer to make it right.

Reviews matter for SEO and trust. But writing responses is tedious. This gives you a draft to review, and you still sound like a human who cares.

Prompt 4: Summarize a Long Document

Tool: Claude (free)

What it does: Reads contracts, policies, or reports and tells you what matters.

Claude can read PDFs and long documents. Use it for vendor contracts, insurance policies, or any wall of text you don’t have time to read line by line.

Prompt 5: Explain Something You Don’t Understand

Tool: Any of them (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude)

What it does: Gives you a plain-English explanation of anything.

Examples:

• “Explain SEO like I’m a small business owner with no technical background.”
• “Explain what a 1031 exchange is like I’m a small business owner with no technical background.”
• “Explain the difference between an LLC and an S-Corp like I’m a small business owner with no technical background.”

This is the single most underrated use of AI. Instead of pretending you understand something or spending an hour Googling, just ask. No judgment. Instant clarity.

Review the draft

Here’s the thing about AI that most people miss: it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be fast.

AI can give you a starting point. Your job is to check the details, add your voice and decide whether the draft is useful.

The time it saves depends on the task and how much correction the answer needs.

Want to Go Deeper?

For a version you can keep beside you, use my Seguin take-home packet as you try the prompts.

These five prompts are just the start. The real power comes when AI understands your specific business, your customers, your services, your voice.

I help local businesses figure out exactly where AI can save them time and money. Not theory, specific, practical wins you can implement this week.

If you want to see what’s possible for your business, talk through your website with me. I’ll show you exactly where the opportunities are, no pitch, no pressure, just clarity.

Or if you’re not ready for a call, send me a message and tell me what you’re working on. I read every one.

Ryan Johnson
RJ Digital • Seguin, TX