20 Things You Can Ask AI to Do for Your Business Right Now

Most people who try AI use it for one thing — usually asking it to write something. It produces a mediocre result, they shrug, and they never come back.

That's like buying a smartphone and only using it as a calculator.

AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can handle a surprisingly wide range of business tasks — and the quality of the output depends entirely on how you ask. This guide gives you 20 specific, practical things you can ask AI to do right now, with a ready-to-use prompt for each one. No theory, no jargon — just tasks you can copy, paste, and adapt to your business in minutes.

If you've read our guide on why AI gives bad results, you already know the secret: specific prompts produce specific results. Every prompt below follows that principle.

Writing & Communication

1. Rewrite a customer email you're stuck on

We've all stared at an email for 20 minutes trying to find the right tone. AI handles this in seconds.

Prompt:

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I need to email a client who's unhappy with a project delay. The delay was caused by their late feedback, but I don't want to blame them. Rewrite this email to be empathetic, professional, and solution-focused. Acknowledge the frustration, briefly explain the cause without pointing fingers, and propose a new timeline. Keep it under 150 words.

Then paste your rough draft below the prompt. AI will restructure and soften the tone while keeping your message intact.

2. Write your Google Business Profile description

Most GBP descriptions are either empty or painfully generic. A good one tells customers exactly what you do, where, and why they should choose you.

Prompt:

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Write a Google Business Profile description for [your business name], a [your service] based in [your location]. Our ideal customers are [describe them]. We're different because [your key differentiator]. Include the suburbs/areas we serve. Keep it under 750 characters. Tone: professional, direct, no buzzwords.

3. Draft a week of social media captions

Instead of one generic post, get a full week planned in one prompt.

Prompt:

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I run a [your business type] in [location]. Create 5 social media posts for LinkedIn — one for each weekday this week. Topics: Monday (industry tip), Tuesday (behind-the-scenes of our work), Wednesday (client result or case study), Thursday (answer a common customer question), Friday (personal reflection or lesson learned). Tone: conversational and authentic — not corporate. Each post should be 80–150 words. No hashtags in the body text — put 3 relevant hashtags at the end of each post.

4. Create a polished response to a negative review

Negative reviews are stressful, and it's easy to respond emotionally. AI helps you respond professionally without sounding defensive or robotic.

Prompt:

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A customer left this 2-star review on Google: [paste the review]. Write a professional response that: (1) acknowledges their frustration without being defensive, (2) briefly explains what we're doing to address the issue, (3) invites them to contact us directly to resolve it. Keep it under 100 words. Tone: calm, genuine, solution-focused.

Planning & Strategy

5. Build a 90-day marketing plan

You don't need a 50-page strategy document. You need a focused plan for the next quarter.

Prompt:

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I run a [business type] in [location] targeting [audience]. My monthly marketing budget is approximately $[amount]. My primary goal for the next 90 days is [your goal — e.g., generate 20 new leads per month / increase website traffic by 30% / launch a new service]. Create a 90-day marketing plan with specific monthly actions across these channels: website/SEO, Google Ads, email marketing, and social media. Be specific — don't just say 'create content'; tell me what content to create and why. Format as a month-by-month table.

6. Brainstorm new service offerings

AI is excellent at structured brainstorming when you give it enough context about your business and customers.

Prompt:

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I run a [your business] and currently offer [list your services]. My best customers are [describe them — industry, size, common needs]. Based on these services and this customer profile, suggest 5 new service offerings or packages I could realistically add. For each one, explain: what it is, who it's for, why there's demand, and what it would take to deliver. Focus on services that complement what I already do — not entirely new directions.

7. Create a content calendar for the next month

Stop staring at a blank content plan. Let AI build the structure; you fill in the specifics.

Prompt:

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Create a 4-week content calendar for a [your business type] targeting [your audience]. I want to publish 2 blog posts per week and 5 social media posts per week (LinkedIn and Instagram). Each blog post should target a specific question my customers ask. Each social post should support the blog content or share a standalone tip. Present this as a table with columns: Week, Day, Channel, Topic, Format (blog/carousel/text post/video idea), and Target Keyword or Theme.

Data & Analysis

8. Summarise a long document in 2 minutes

Instead of reading a 30-page report, upload it and get the key points.

Prompt:

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Summarise this document in 3 sections: (1) Key findings — the 5 most important points, (2) Recommendations — what actions are suggested, (3) Risks or concerns — anything flagged as a problem. Keep each section to 3–5 bullet points. Use plain language — this summary is for a business owner, not a technical audience.

Then upload or paste the document. This works with PDFs in ChatGPT and Claude, or you can paste text from any document.

9. Analyse a spreadsheet and find the story in your data

You can drag a CSV or Excel export directly into ChatGPT and ask questions about it — no formulas, no pivot tables, no BI tools.

Prompt:

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This is a [describe the data — e.g., Google Ads performance export for the last 6 months]. Analyse it and tell me: (1) Which 3 campaigns have the best cost per conversion? (2) Which campaigns are spending the most with the worst results? (3) Are there any month-over-month trends I should know about? Present the findings in a summary table, then give me 3 specific actions I should take based on this data.

10. Compare two quotes or proposals side by side

Instead of switching between two PDFs trying to spot differences, let AI do the comparison.

Prompt:

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I've received two proposals for [project type]. Compare them across these factors: total cost, scope of work, timeline, what's included, what's not included, and payment terms. Present the comparison as a table. Then give me your assessment: which proposal offers better value and why? Flag anything that looks like a red flag or missing item in either proposal.

Upload or paste both proposals below the prompt.

Operations & Admin

11. Write a job description that actually attracts good candidates

Most job ads are lists of demands disguised as opportunities. AI can help you write one that sells the role.

Prompt:

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Write a job description for a [role] at [your business]. Location: [location/remote]. The role involves [2–3 key responsibilities]. The ideal candidate has [key skills or experience]. What makes this role attractive: [what you genuinely offer — flexibility, autonomy, interesting work, growth, culture]. Write it in a way that sells the opportunity, not just lists requirements. Tone: professional but human. Include a section on what a typical week looks like. Keep it under 500 words.

12. Create an onboarding checklist for new staff

Every business needs this. Almost none have it documented.

Prompt:

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Create a first-week onboarding checklist for a new [role] joining a [your business type]. Include: Day 1 (admin setup, introductions, tools access), Day 2–3 (role-specific training, shadow sessions, key processes), Day 4–5 (first tasks with support, check-in meetings, feedback). Format as a day-by-day checklist with specific items they need to complete. Include a section for tools and accounts they'll need access to.

13. Draft a company policy or process document

Whether it's a social media policy, work-from-home guidelines, or a customer service procedure — AI can draft the structure and language in minutes.

Prompt:

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Draft a [policy type — e.g., social media policy / refund policy / work-from-home guidelines] for a small business with [number] employees in Australia. It should be clear, practical, and written in plain English — not legalese. Include: purpose of the policy, what's expected, what's not acceptable, how to report issues, and who to contact. Keep it under 800 words. Note: this is a starting point — I'll review and adjust for my specific business before implementing.

14. Build a FAQ page for your website

A good FAQ page answers real customer questions, reduces support enquiries, and improves SEO. Most businesses don't have one because it takes too long to write. Not anymore.

Prompt:

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I run a [business type] in [location]. My customers most commonly ask about: [list 3–5 common questions, or say "I'm not sure — suggest the most likely questions based on my business type"]. Write a FAQ page with 8–10 questions and answers. Each answer should be 40–80 words — direct and helpful, not waffy. Use a conversational tone. Structure each Q&A so the answer can stand alone without needing context from the question above it.

Customer & Sales

15. Write a follow-up email sequence for new enquiries

Most businesses lose leads because they don't follow up fast enough — or at all. AI can draft your entire follow-up sequence in 10 minutes.

Prompt:

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I run a [business type]. When someone submits an enquiry through my website, I want to send a 4-email follow-up sequence over 14 days. Write all 4 emails:

Email 1 (sent immediately): Acknowledge the enquiry, set expectations for response time, briefly introduce what makes us different.
Email 2 (Day 3): Share a relevant client result or testimonial that builds confidence.
Email 3 (Day 7): Address the most common objection or concern our prospects have: [state the objection].
Email 4 (Day 14): Gentle check-in — offer to answer questions and provide a direct way to book a call.

Each email should be under 120 words. Tone: helpful and personal, not automated or pushy. Use my name [your name] as the sender.

16. Create a customer feedback survey

Getting feedback is essential but writing a good survey is harder than it looks. AI can create one that's concise and actually gets completed.

Prompt:

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Create a short customer feedback survey for a [business type]. Maximum 8 questions. Mix of rating scales (1–5), multiple choice, and one open-ended question. Focus on: overall satisfaction, quality of communication, likelihood to recommend, and one area for improvement. Write a brief introduction (2 sentences) explaining why their feedback matters. Keep the language simple and friendly. Format it so I can copy it into Google Forms or Typeform.

17. Draft a proposal or quote cover letter

The cover letter is often the difference between winning and losing a project. AI can draft a compelling one in seconds.

Prompt:

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Write a cover letter for a project proposal. I'm [your name] from [your business]. The project is [brief description] for [client name or type]. The key reasons the client should choose us: [2–3 differentiators]. The proposal is attached separately — this cover letter should introduce it, highlight the key benefits, and close with a clear next step (booking a call to discuss). Keep it under 200 words. Tone: confident but not arrogant.

18. Write responses to common customer questions

If you answer the same questions repeatedly — by email, phone, or message — turn them into templates you can reuse.

Prompt:

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I run a [business type]. Here are the 5 questions I get asked most often:
1. [Question 1]
2. [Question 2]
3. [Question 3]
4. [Question 4]
5. [Question 5]

For each one, write a clear, helpful response I can copy and paste when the question comes up. Each response should be 50–100 words, sound natural (not robotic), and include a call to action where appropriate (e.g., 'Feel free to book a call if you'd like to discuss further'). Tone: friendly, professional, helpful.

19. Build a simple sales script for phone or video calls

Not a word-for-word script — a framework that keeps the conversation on track.

Prompt:

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Create a sales call framework for a [business type] speaking with a prospective client who has enquired about [service]. The call should follow this structure: (1) Opening — build rapport in 30 seconds, (2) Discovery — 3 questions to understand their needs, (3) Positioning — how to explain what we do and why it's relevant to them, (4) Handling objections — responses to the 2 most common objections: [state them], (5) Close — how to move to the next step. Keep it conversational — bullet points and talking points, not a script to read word-for-word.

20. Summarise your competitor's website in 60 seconds

Want a quick competitive overview? Give AI a competitor's URL (or paste their homepage copy) and get an instant analysis.

Prompt:

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Here is the homepage content from one of my competitors: [paste the text]. Analyse their positioning: What are they selling? Who are they targeting? What's their main value proposition? What are they doing well? What gaps or weaknesses do you notice? How does their positioning compare to mine? (For context, my business does [brief description of what you do]). Keep the analysis under 300 words.

How to get the most out of these prompts

These prompts are starting points — not rigid scripts. To get the best results:

Replace the brackets. Every prompt has [placeholders] for your specific details. The more specific you are, the better the output.

Iterate. If the first result isn't quite right, give feedback. "Make it shorter." "More conversational." "Focus more on the pricing angle." A 30-second follow-up prompt usually gets you to a great result.

Save the ones that work. When a prompt gives you a great result, save it somewhere — a Google Doc, a note app, wherever. Over time, you'll build a personal library of prompts that work for your business.

Try them on different tools. These prompts work on ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. If one tool gives you a result you're not happy with, try the same prompt on another — you might be surprised at the difference.

For a deeper dive into why prompt quality matters and how to structure prompts for any task, read our guide on why AI gives you bad results and how to fix it.

Key takeaways

• AI can handle far more than content writing — data analysis, strategy, operations, sales, admin, and customer communication are all on the table
• Every prompt in this guide is copy-paste ready — adapt the bracketed sections to your business and try it now
• Specific prompts produce specific results — the more context you give, the better the output
• Save prompts that work — build a personal library you can reuse and refine over time
• All 20 tasks work on free tiers of ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini — you don't need a paid subscription to start
• AI output is a first draft, not a finished product — always review, edit, and add your expertise before using it