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In this episode of Imperfect Marketing, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I’ve actually been using AI in my day-to-day marketing work—beyond the hype, beyond the shiny tools. I share what’s in my current tech stack, what didn’t live up to expectations, and what genuinely made me more efficient (and what didn’t). 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the constant stream of new AI tools, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.

The Reality of Today’s AI Landscape

•  New AI tools are launching constantly—sometimes faster than we can evaluate them 
•  It’s easy to get distracted by “shiny object syndrome” 
•  You don’t need every tool—you need the right tool for the job 
•  The goal isn’t to use AI everywhere, but to use it where it truly helps 

What’s in My Current AI Stack

I break down the tools I’m consistently using and why:

• Claude: My main workhorse for writing, strategy, and even presentations 
• Perplexity: Go-to for research, comparisons, and step-by-step answers 
• ChatGPT: Primarily for building and sharing custom GPTs with clients 
• NotebookLM: Powerful for handling large amounts of context and research 
• Built-in AI (Loom, Riverside): Helpful for content production workflows 

Surprising AI Tools Worth Exploring

Some tools exceeded expectations:

• Branding 5: A strong positioning tool that helps clarify messaging 
• Vocable AI: Useful for generating social content ideas (especially for clients) 
• NanoBanana Pro: Solid for image generation 
• Claude for presentations: Surprisingly powerful—even rivaling tools like Gamma 

What Didn’t Work (or Didn’t Stick)

Not every tool is a win—and that’s okay:

• AI assistants that lacked context or usefulness 
• Asana AI: Underwhelming (possibly due to limited input/context) 
• Ubooks: Poor experience for nonfiction writing 
• Gamma.app: Still useful, but possibly being replaced by Claude 
• Microsoft Copilot: More of a habit issue than a tool issue 

Key insight: Sometimes it’s not the tool—it’s fit, timing, or how you’re using it.

How to Actually Use AI Effectively

•  Test tools on real work, not demo projects 
•  Compare tools against each other to find the best fit 
•  Give tools a fair shot—but don’t force them into your workflow 
•  The best tools become invisible—they just work

AI Isn’t Replacing You—It’s Enhancing You

•  AI won’t replace thinking—it enhances it 
•  Use AI for: 
  •  Brainstorming 
  •  Strategy pressure-testing 
  •  “Shadow boxing” ideas to find gaps 
•  Your expertise and judgment still matter more than ever 

Practical Advice to Get Started

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed:

•  Pick one task that drains you each week 
•  Test one AI tool on that task 
•  Don’t try five tools at once 
•  Give yourself permission to drop what doesn’t work 

Key Takeaways

•  You don’t need one perfect tool—you need the right mix 
•  AI should support your thinking, not replace it 
•  Efficiency comes from alignment, not accumulation 
•  The goal is smarter work, not more tools 

Curious how AI could fit into your workflow without adding more overwhelm?
 

Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?

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From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain.

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