AI Utilization Techniques for Service Businesses: Breaking Free from "I Know I Should Do Instagram, But..."
I know social media is important. But I don't know the right way to do it, so I get stuck.
These are words I have heard very often while working with over 700 sole proprietors and business owners to date.
I've started Instagram, but I'm not sure if posting will actually lead to attracting customers.
With labor shortages, I have almost no time to spend on social media—
I think this is the honest feeling of many business owners.
Today, I will share what I have actually seen in the field regarding how to lighten that burden with the "power of AI."
Why AI and Social Media Management Now?
I'll start with a question.
When people search by region and genre, like "Takasaki City Yakiniku Restaurant" or "Fujioka City Confectionery Store," does your shop appear in the map list?
MEO (Map Engine Optimization) is, honestly, quite important.
If you don't appear in this list, the chances of being chosen by customers drop significantly from the start.
And even if you do appear in the list, if your star rating is less than 4, you will hardly get any attention.
If customers are going to pay money to eat (or make a purchase), they will inevitably choose a shop with 4 stars or more.
Isn't that true for you as well?
At one business I actually supported, by improving these numbers (number of reviews and ratings), the traffic from MEO increased by approximately 25 times.
Case Study: 3 Things That Changed with AI
1. Replying to Reviews
Honestly, you should definitely reply to reviews.
It leads to customer trust and is also effective as an MEO measure. It makes it easier to appear at the top of search results.
However, there are really many people who spend too much time on this reply work.
According to interviews, it was not rare for people to spend 20 or 30 minutes on a single reply.
If you use AI, this can be finished in just a few dozen seconds.
Even for complaint comments that are difficult to reply to, you can create a heartfelt response that won't make the customer feel uncomfortable in about 30 seconds.
2. Creating Instagram Posts
Once you get used to using AI, it is possible to create 10 feed posts in about a minute.
If you create 30 posts at once when you have time and schedule them with a date and time, a month's worth of posts can be completed in one hour.
After that, you only need to do minor tasks like checking comments and DMs during your spare time.
3. Repeat Customer Attraction via Official LINE
It costs less to have existing customers come back again than to acquire new customers.
Have them register for your Official LINE from Instagram, and lead them to repeat visits by announcing coupons and campaigns.
Setting up this flow is also a theme worth working on in conjunction with AI utilization.
Not so much "another staff member" as "another me"
I am cultivating a note-taking tool called Obsidian as my "second brain."
By automatically recording and cultivating the history of my daily work in this second brain, using AI becomes even easier.
This is because it can create posts and reply with the same thinking as me without me having to give detailed instructions.
(I use it in combination with an AI called Claude.)
That is why, for me, AI feels more like "another me" than a "support staff member."
Something I want you to try as soon as you get home today
Finally, there is one thing I want you to try.
Please search using your 'location' and 'industry'.
For example, 'Takasaki City Yakiniku Restaurant' or 'Fujioka City Confectionery Shop'.
Does your shop appear in the map search results?
How many reviews are displayed?
What is the average star rating?
If you are not on the list, unfortunately, it is difficult to acquire new customers.
Even if you are listed, if the star rating is less than 4, it is safe to assume that the chances of being chosen here are low.
Start here first.
Knowing the current situation will lead to your next step.
And let's make great use of AI.
Experience at a publishing company that produces free papers in Takasaki City
Experience supporting over 700 sole proprietors
And experience implementing digital marketing at a business corporation
From these three perspectives, I am helping local business owners attract customers with the power of AI.
Please feel free to contact me.