™Much of the writing in a small business isn't creative work. It's the same kinds of documents, rewritten from scratch each time: quotes, proposals, follow-up emails, job descriptions, social posts and newsletters.
What it looks like
- Quotes and proposals written fresh for every customer
- Follow-up emails after calls and meetings
- Social posts, newsletters and website updates
- Reports that describe the same kind of numbers each month
- Job descriptions, policies and internal announcements
An example
The owner of a small marketing agency spends an hour on each proposal. Most of it is rewriting the same sections (about us, approach, timeline, terms) and adjusting them for the client. The thinking that wins the work takes fifteen minutes. The rest is typing.
What AI can do
AI is at its best with first drafts:
- Turn your notes from a call into a draft proposal in your usual structure
- Draft quotes from a short description of the job and your price list
- Write follow-up emails that recap what was agreed
- Turn one idea into a social post, a newsletter section and a short email
- Rewrite anything for a different audience or tone
The key is giving it your material: past proposals you're proud of, your price list, your tone of voice. Then a person reviews and finishes every draft.
A simple first step
Collect three examples of a document you write often, ones that went well. Remove anything confidential. Those examples are the most valuable thing you can give an AI assistant, because they show it your format and voice far better than any description.
What to watch for
- Check every fact, number and promise before anything goes to a customer.
- Keep your voice. If drafts sound generic, give it more examples of your writing.
- Watch for confident filler. AI can pad a document with sentences that sound good and say nothing.