Hey there, my friend, welcome to episode 339 of the Small Business Made Simple Podcast.

Thanks for leading me your ears right now – I know you have lots of other things you could be doing or listening to – so I appreciate you.

Today, I am asking the question – do you have an expertise problem? Are you, as the expert, the problem in your own marketing? Let me explain – shortly, but first.

Did you get a chance to listen in to episode 338? Episode 338 is where I asked if your expertise was the problem in your marketing. You, being the expert, is that the issue with why your marketing just isn’t working? If you haven’t listened, please do. You can listen where you are now or go to my link: www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/338

I have an update on my Social Media and Marketing Conference. You’re the first to know! Mark out Friday 29^th August in your diaries to come to Melbourne for the Social Media and Marketing Australia conference. I have three speakers already booked in! I am getting a little ahead of myself though – tickets aren’t on sale. They are a few weeks away whilst I work through tech and budgets, but you can (a) mark out the date in your diary and (b) put your name on the waitlist – the non-commitment wait list! Click here to join: https://bit.ly/SMMCMelb25

Let’s get excited! Friday 29^th August – lock it in!

Okay, onto today’s episode.

AI Ethics and Marketing –

Now, unless you’ve been living under a marketing rock—and let’s be honest, we’ve all wanted to hide under one this past year—then you’ve probably heard the buzz around artificial intelligence… or AI, as it’s affectionately known.

AI is doing all the things—writing our captions, drafting our emails, helping with blog posts, and for some, even running customer service chats.

But today, I want to have a bit of a heart-to-heart chat with you. Not about how to use AI—but how to use it ethically. Because just because we can automate something, doesn’t mean we should, right?

Let’s dive into the big, meaty question: How do we use AI in our marketing without sounding like robots or losing the trust of our amazing customers?

So, let’s start with the basics—what does ethical AI marketing even mean?

At its core, it’s about being a decent human. Ha! But seriously, it’s about using these brilliant tools in a way that’s:

• Honest
• Transparent
• And still uniquely you

We’re talking:

• Letting your audience know when AI has helped craft something.
• Making sure you’re not plagiarising or copying content.
• Being clear about where data is coming from—and protecting your audience’s privacy.

It’s about keeping the human in your marketing—even if a machine helped with the heavy lifting.

But there’s some pitfalls. Some sneaky traps I see small biz owners falling into when they’re using AI in their marketing—maybe completely unintentionally.

First up – using AI content without fact-checking.
These tools are clever, but they’re not perfect. They don’t always have the latest info, and they can make things up. Yes, literally make things up with confidence! So always double-check. I was reading about a law clerk who found a fantastic precedent case that 100% based up their case in a civil matter, only to fact check it and the case didn’t exist at all. AI had manufactured the whole thing. It was a little astonishing if I’m honest – brought back memories of case studies and law that I spent 20 odd years doing! So, always fact checks. Make sure that JFK did really say that quote or Winston Churchill should be credited with such wisdom!

Second – copy/pasting without making it sound like you.
If you’re reading a post and thinking “oof, that’s not quite my vibe” … your audience is thinking it too.

Third – automating DMs or comments.
Sure, it saves time. But nothing screams “I don’t care” more than a bot replying, “Love this!” to someone sharing a personal story. Please… don’t be that business.

And lastly – not crediting sources.
Some AI tools scrape from everywhere. If you’re not careful, you might be passing off someone else’s work as your own. And that’s a fast track to losing trust.

So, what are best practices when it comes to ethical AI?

Be transparent.
If a blog post was AI-assisted, let your readers know. You’re not less credible—you’re just honest. And in this digital age, honesty is your best marketing strategy. By the way, Ai helped me right this podcast ep.

In fact, AI gave me a huge pat on the back. You see I told my AI bot that I’ve done over 335 podcast episodes, and I was tired of thinking of topics, and asked if it could help me. It said back that I have probably given more knowledge and help to small businesses through my podcast than all the business books in a Dymocks! That made me smile and then it said to sit back, have a rest and it would do some thinking for me.

This episode was one of its suggested titles and clearly, I thought it was a good one to do because it’s a question I am sure many of you are asking or at least thinking about!

Okay, number two – Keep your voice.
Think of AI as your co-pilot. It can give you ideas, drafts, frameworks—but you’ve still got to add your magic. Your warmth (or not – not every brand is warm). Your experience. Your quirks!

Check everything.
Don’t assume what comes out of AI is gospel. If you’re using stats or quotes—verify them. If it sounds too formal or robotic—rewrite it.

Credit sources.
Whether it’s content, images, or ideas—if AI has used someone else’s work as a base, give credit. Respect is good business.

So, you might be wondering—”Jenn, do you use AI?”

Absolutely! I’m not afraid of it. I use tools like:

• ChatGPT – for brainstorming and drafting ideas
• Canva Magic Write – handy for short captions or first drafts
• Grammarly – for polishing off my grammar and checking tone
• Opus Clip – to repurpose my videos

But here’s the kicker—I never publish anything AI-generated without putting my spin on it. If it doesn’t sound like me, it doesn’t go out.

My audience—you—can spot a Jenn-ism a mile away. And I want to keep it that way.

Let’s wrap this up with a little checklist, shall we?

Your Top 3 Takeaways from today’s episode:

1. AI is your helper, not your replacement – Your human voice still matters most.
2. Be honest and transparent – Don’t hide the fact that you’re using AI. Use it proudly and ethically.
3. Keep it real – Your audience loves you for you. Don’t let the tech erase your story, your style, or your heart.

If this episode sparked some questions for you—or you’ve been playing with AI and wondering if you’re doing it ‘right’—come and chat with me! DM me on Instagram or join the Like Minded Business Owners Facebook group. We’re always having the real convos in there.

And if you know a small biz buddy who’s knee-deep in ChatGPT but maybe forgot their brand voice in the process—share this episode with them! Help them keep it ethical and effective.

Until next week, stay real, stay kind, and as always—remember to make marketing a priority in your business. As usual, I’ll be back next Thursday with some more marketing know-how in episode 340. 

If you’re enjoying this podcast, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode and share this with a friend.  And maybe leave me a rating and a review wherever you listen in.  Those things are like gold for podcasters like me!  PS – you can leave more than one rating and review – just saying!

If we aren’t hanging out on social media then let’s get social on social – you’ll find me on Instagram, Facebook, and my fav LinkedIn.

But whatever you do,

…….. remember small business peep, as my opening song says, there’s no point in dreaming small!