Alan Boyd

Founder’s Letter

By Alan Boyd | Published on 03/21/2023

Dear Reader,

We’re excited to introduce you to The Bottom Line, a new newsletter designed to help small and medium business leaders stay ahead of the curve and stay informed about the biggest news in AI. Our goal is to help you learn how businesses like yours are using AI to grow and future-proof their businesses.

As leaders of small to medium businesses, you know how important it is to stay on top of the latest trends and technologies. However, we recognize that it can be challenging to keep up with the fast-paced world of AI, especially when much of the information out there is geared toward enterprise organizations with tons of first-party data.

That’s where The Bottom Line newsletter comes in.

Our newsletter distills down the most important and relevant information into easy-to-read, easy-to-understand content that speaks to you on your level. We provide a shining light as a guide to SMB leaders, highlighting major developments in the space, examples of how businesses are using AI to improve and grow, new AI tools that businesses are using, and helpful tips on mindset and overall a helping hand.

We want The Bottom Line to be more than just a newsletter. We want it to be a community of like-minded business leaders who are committed to using AI to drive growth and success. That’s why we’re asking for your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics to cover in future newsletters. We want to hear from you, and we want to make this newsletter as helpful and relevant as possible.

So, after reading the newsletter, we have two requests: First, please refer 3 to 5 people to the newsletter who you think would greatly benefit from the information provided. And second, reach out and ask questions and suggest topics to cover in the following newsletters. Our communication lines are always open, and we’re excited to hear from you.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We can’t wait to see how you use AI to grow and future-proof your business.

Looking forward,

Alan Boyd
https://www.thebottomline.ai/

Introducing The Bottom Line

By Alan Boyd | Published on 03/19/2023

Your Accessible AI Resource for SMB Growth.

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) and unsure of how it applies to your small or medium-sized business?

You’re not alone.

The rapid advancements in AI can be intimidating for business owners who are trying to stay ahead of the game but don’t have the technical background to decipher the jargon.

That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of The Bottom Line, a weekly newsletter designed to bridge the gap between the technical world of AI and the practical needs of small business leaders like you. Our mission is to provide easy-to-understand and approachable insights into the world of AI, focusing on how it intersects with marketing and sales to drive growth and success for your business.

Why The Bottom Line?

There’s no shortage of AI news and information available, but most of it is highly technical and geared toward industry experts. This can leave small business owners feeling lost and overwhelmed, unable to discern how AI can benefit their specific business needs.

At The Bottom Line, we believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize the way small businesses operate and that everyone should have access to the insights and knowledge needed to leverage this powerful technology. That’s why we’re committed to breaking down complex concepts into digestible, actionable tips and strategies that you can apply directly to your business.

What to Expect from The Bottom Line

By subscribing to The Bottom Line, you’ll receive a quick, informative email every Friday, packed with valuable insights into the latest AI trends, tools, and techniques that can help drive growth and improve efficiency for your small business.

We’ll explore topics such as:

How AI can optimize marketing campaigns and improve customer targeting
Leveraging AI for better sales forecasting and decision-making
Streamlining operations and reducing costs with AI-driven automation

Join the Community of SMB Leaders

We invite you to join hundreds of other small business leaders who are already benefiting from the insights provided by The Bottom Line.

To sign up for our weekly newsletter, simply visit thebottomline.ai and enter your email address. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stay informed, expand your knowledge, and harness the power of AI for your business.

Together, let’s unlock the potential of AI and drive your business to new heights!

AI in Marketing

By Alan Boyd | Published on 03/14/2023

Unleash your marketing superpowers – discover some of the ways generative AI tools are empowering marketers.

No theory here…this is a (partial) list of ways my team and I are *ACTUALLY* using AI tools today:

Content creation

Brainstorming content ideas
Performing research
Summarizing long documents
Proofreading and editing
Translating text into multiple languages
Drafting website disclaimers

Engineering

Coding website plugins
Coding excel formulas
Debugging code
Creating chatbots

Audio

Generating voiceovers and narration
Generating audio versions of text documents
Enhancing regular audio into studio-quality audio

Design

Designing custom illustrations
Designing banner ads
Designing user interfaces
Designing websites & apps
Designing memes
Designing PowerPoint presentations

Productivity

Creating content calendars
Scheduling & time tracking
Opportunity cost decision making
Taking and transcribing meeting notes
Transforming data to organized spreadsheets

There are many more ways they are being used but these are a few of our go-to’s.

What is ChatGPT?

By Alan Boyd | Published on 03/14/2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic lately, with the rise of machine learning algorithms leading to exciting tools like ChatGPT.

This AI model shocked the world with its ability to process massive amounts of data and generate human-like text.

But what is AI, and how does it work?

AI is a field of computer science that aims to create machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. Machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on algorithms that can learn from data. ChatGPT is an AI model that uses machine learning to generate text in response to prompts. It was pre-trained on massive amounts of text data and can generate human-like text in various languages.

However, despite its impressive capabilities, AI has its limitations.

ChatGPT’s neural network is a simplified version of the human brain, with fixed connections and weights. In contrast, the human brain is much more adaptable and constantly changing. AI requires massive amounts of energy to run and train, whereas the human brain is highly energy-efficient.

In terms of advantages, AI can process vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, making it a valuable tool for various industries.

It can also automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for humans to focus on more creative and complex tasks. Additionally, AI models like ChatGPT can provide personalized responses and recommendations to users, enhancing the user experience.

AI is a powerful tool that has the potential to transform industries and improve our lives. However, it is important to recognize its limitations and continue to work towards making AI more adaptable and energy-efficient. As we continue to develop and refine these systems, they will undoubtedly have a profound impact on our lives.

Fractional CRO

By Alan Boyd | Published on 03/13/2023

What is a fractional Chief Revenue Officer?

A fractional Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is a consultant who provides part-time, on-demand leadership and expertise to help organizations drive revenue growth.

According to a study by Frost & Sullivan, companies that invest in revenue growth strategies see a 2-3x higher growth rate than their competitors. Additionally, a report by Deloitte found that revenue growth is a top priority for 94% of companies, highlighting the importance of this area for businesses of all sizes.

A fractional CRO can help businesses achieve these goals by providing strategic guidance and support to optimize their revenue-generating activities.

Why hire a fractional CRO?

Fractional CROs are often hired by small to mid-sized businesses that may not have the resources or need for a full-time CRO, but still require expert guidance to develop and execute effective revenue growth strategies.

By working with a fractional CRO, companies can access the expertise and guidance of a seasoned revenue growth professional without the overhead costs associated with a full-time executive-level employee.

What services can a fractional CRO provide?

Fractional CROs can provide a range of services, including:

Market analysis
Sales and marketing strategy development
Customer relationship management
Revenue optimization
Working closely with existing sales and marketing teams to align strategies and optimize performance.

Benefits of working with a fractional CRO

Working with a fractional CRO offers several benefits, including:

Access to the expertise and guidance of a seasoned revenue growth professional
Cost savings compared to hiring a full-time CRO
Flexibility to adjust the level of engagement and services as needed
Alignment of revenue-generating activities with broader business strategies
Increased revenue growth, profitability, and long-term success.

Overall, a fractional CRO can help businesses achieve their revenue growth goals, as demonstrated by the Frost & Sullivan study and the Deloitte report. By providing valuable insights and recommendations, a fractional CRO can help companies optimize their revenue-generating activities and achieve long-term success.