As a small business owner, you wear a lot of hats: accountant, inventory manager, customer service rep, and probably even installer. With limited time and resources, keeping up can feel overwhelming. That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in. Tools like ChatGPT, Photoshop AI, and Midjourney are making it easier than ever for jobbers to streamline tasks, save time, and grow their businesses creatively and efficiently.
Here’s how you can get started using AI right now:
1. Write & Edit
Need to write social posts, emails, or flyers but struggle with what to say? ChatGPT is your on-demand writing assistant.
How jobbers can use it:
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Social media: Promote a seasonal rebate or clearance sale in seconds.
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Email blasts: Announce a product launch, event, or holiday hours.
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Website copy: Clean up your “About Us” or service pages.
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In-store signage: Draft quick, persuasive signage for the counter or display wall.
Example Prompt: “Write a Facebook post promoting a summer hitch step rebate. Keep it friendly and under 75 words.”
2. Generate Eye-Catching Images
Your marketing needs great visuals, but not every jobber has access to a professional designer. Image-generation tools like DALL-E and Midjourney make it easier than ever to create high-quality visuals alongside Adobe Photoshop’s AI tools. Whether you’re creating a Facebook ad, a flyer, or a homepage banner, AI image tools make the design process easy and professional.
Midjourney or DALL·E (Text-to-Image Tools):
These tools let you type in a description, and they’ll generate custom images to match.
Great for jobbers who want to:
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Create social graphics that feature specific vehicles or parts.
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Visualize a shop-branded truck or seasonal promotion.
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Post visual tips or reminders (like winter tire checks or tool storage ideas).
Example Prompt: “A lifted F-150 with aftermarket wheels parked outside a garage, golden hour lighting.”
Photoshop AI (Generative Fill):
Use it to:
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Remove cluttered backgrounds from product photos.
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Replace a generic product photo background with your shop’s location.
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Add lighting or branding effects to inventory shots.
Real example: Got a picture of a bumper that doesn’t quite pop? Use Photoshop AI to drop it in front of a rugged off-road scene.
3. Organize & Automate
AI isn’t just for marketing—it can help with the behind-the-scenes work, too.
Email Automation:
Platforms like Total Truck Centers Email Center, Constant Contact, or Mailchimp can use AI to:
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Suggest the best time to send your emails for open rates.
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Recommend subject lines likely to catch attention.
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Auto-segment your list based on customer behaviors.
Tip: Total Truck Centers members can send professional emails to 1,000 customers for only $9.99/month through our in-house Email Center. AI helps ensure you’re reaching the right people at the right time.
Inventory Management:
Modern inventory or POS systems often include AI features to:
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Forecast restocks based on past sales.
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Suggest slow-moving products for clearance.
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Send alerts for high-demand seasonal items.
This can reduce stockouts and free up shelf space for hot movers.
Design Without a Designer:
Canva’s Magic Write uses AI to create taglines, captions, or product highlights—right inside their drag-and-drop design templates.
Use case for jobbers: Create a “Father’s Day Gift Guide” flyer in under 10 minutes using Canva + Magic Write.
4. Content Creation
Video is powerful, but editing is time-consuming—unless AI is helping. AI-powered tools let you turn simple text or product info into short, polished videos with music, captions, and stock footage.
Tools to Try:
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CapCut – Quick TikTok/Instagram reels.
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Lumen5 – Turn text into video slideshows.
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Pictory – Automatically turn product specs into short promotional clips.
What jobbers can create:
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A video showcasing how a tonneau cover looks installed.
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A “before and after” clip of a lifted truck build.
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A step-by-step “how to use our online order form” tutorial.
Tip: CapCut is perfect for social media—even if you’ve never edited a video before! Here’s a simple tutorial to get you started.
5. Level Up Your Customer Service
You can’t be at the counter 24/7, but AI can be. AI chatbots (like Pure Chat or Chatfuel) can be added to your website or Facebook page to help customers in real-time, even after hours.
How it helps:
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Answers FAQs: “What time do you open?” “Do you install hitches?”
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Book services: Schedule installs or consultations.
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Collects leads: Capture phone numbers or emails for follow-up.
Tip: Are you an Aftermarket Websites® customer? You can add a customer service AI tool to your site! Just reach out to your customer service representative to get started.
Start Small, Stay Consistent
You don’t need to master every tool at once. Start with ChatGPT and AI-generated images to boost your content and expand from there. AI won’t replace your expertise—it enhances it, freeing you up to focus on what you do best: building relationships and growing your business.
