How AI Can Supercharge Your Small Business

Running a small business can feel like wearing 10 hats at once — from marketing to customer service to operations. But what if you had a smart assistant that could handle some of the heavy lifting for you?

Enter AI tools — accessible, affordable, and increasingly essential for small business growth. Here’s how AI can help your business thrive, even if you’re not a tech expert.

1. Automate Repetitive Tasks

AI can handle repetitive tasks so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business.

• Email management – AI can draft, schedule, and even personalize emails for clients.

• Social media scheduling – Tools like Buffer or Later can suggest posts and post automatically.

• Data entry & reporting – Say goodbye to spreadsheets and hello to insights delivered automatically.

2. Improve Customer Experience

Your customers want quick answers and personalized service — AI can help deliver both.

• Chatbots – Answer FAQs instantly on your website or social platforms.

• Personalized recommendations – Suggest products or services based on customer behavior.

• Customer insights – AI can analyze feedback and reviews to spot trends and opportunities.

3. Enhance Marketing & Content

AI tools can help you create content faster and smarter.

• Blog posts & social copy – Tools like ChatGPT or Jasper can generate drafts or inspire ideas.

• Design & visuals – Canva’s AI features or Magic Media can help create graphics quickly.

• SEO & analytics – AI tools can suggest keywords, optimize copy, and track results.

4. Make Smarter Decisions

AI helps small businesses make data-driven decisions without hiring a full analytics team.

• Sales forecasting – Predict trends and prepare inventory accordingly.

• Customer segmentation – Target the right audience with tailored messaging.

• Competitive analysis – Quickly gather insights on competitors to stay ahead.

5. Save Time & Cut Costs

By automating tasks, enhancing marketing, and improving decision-making, AI frees you up to focus on high-impact activities.

• Spend less time on admin work

• Reduce trial-and-error marketing

• Maximize ROI from your existing resources

✅ Getting Started With AI

1. Identify repetitive tasks in your business.

2. Choose an AI tool that fits your budget and needs.

3. Test it in small doses before fully integrating.

4. Iterate based on what works best for your workflow.

💡 Bottom Line: AI isn’t just for big companies. Small business owners can save time, increase efficiency, and grow revenue by using AI strategically.

Want help implementing AI in your business?

Whether it’s automating your website, streamlining your marketing, or building a digital platform that works for you, we’re here to help.

→ Book a Free Discovery Call

→ Explore Design & Strategy Services

→ Visit the Creative Circle Hub

How I Illustrated My Children’s Book in Canva (with AI — No Art Degree Required!)

Creating my first children’s book, Tech Is Magic, was one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done — not just because it’s packed with STEM fun for curious kids, but because I got to bring the entire visual world to life myself, using Canva and a clear vision.

I didn’t hire an illustrator.

I didn’t spend thousands on design tools.

I didn’t go to art school.

And now, I want to show you exactly how I did it — step by step — so you can do it too.

Because now more than ever, it’s important for us to share what we know, support one another, and make sure every story — especially those that haven’t been told yet — has a chance to shine. 💛

🧑🏽‍🎨 No Design Degree Needed — Just a Vision + Canva Pro

Let’s break it down:

✅ Step 1: Launch Magic Media in Canva Pro

• Log into your Canva Pro account

• On the left menu, go to Apps

• Search for Magic Media

• Choose Text to Image

✍️ Step 2: Write a Great Prompt

This is where the magic begins. Your text prompt should clearly describe the scene — think about:

• Characters (Who’s in it?)

• Setting (Where are they?)

• Mood/lighting (What’s the vibe?)

• Style (Cartoon, 3D, etc.)

🧾 Prompt Examples by Style

✏️ Cartoon / Flat Illustration (Best for kids’ books)

• “A Black girl in a lab coat mixing colorful potions in a bright science lab — cartoon style”

• “Two kids building a robot out of cardboard in a garage — bright colors — flat illustration”

• “A classroom full of kids using laptops and VR headsets — smiling — flat style”

• “A group of animals (cat, dog, owl) having a tea party in the forest — illustrated, storybook style”

💻 3D / Realistic / Futuristic

• “A glowing robot holding a tablet — set in a high-tech futuristic lab — 3D render”

• “Cyberpunk city at night with neon lights and kids in tech gear walking through it — photorealistic style”

• “A close-up of a robotic hand building a circuit board — sharp detail — 3D style”

• “A drone flying through a modern cityscape — blue hour lighting — realistic 3D”

🔑 Pro Tip: The more detailed your prompt, the better your results. Don’t be afraid to include emotions, colors, or lighting details.

🎨 Step 3: Pick a Style That Fits Your Book

When you hit "Generate," Canva will give you 4 image results.

You can select different styles like:

• Watercolor

• Cyberpunk

• Photorealistic

• Cartoon

• Flat Illustration

• Neon or vaporwave

• 3D Render

For kids’ books, stick with cartoon or flat styles for consistency and accessibility.

🧹 Step 4: Edit, Regenerate, or Refine

Didn’t get what you were looking for? Try:

• Rewriting the prompt

• Changing the angle (e.g., “top-down” or “zoomed in”)

• Specifying age, ethnicity, or expression of characters

• Using style keywords like “minimalist,” “storybook,” or “hand-drawn”

You can also:

• Crop the image

• Layer with Canva graphics

• Add shadows or effects for depth

📖 Step 5: Design Your Pages in Canva

• Create a new 8.5x8.5" or 8.5x11" design

• Use Guides and Rulers (View menu) for layout

• Add your text box at the top or bottom

• Insert your AI-generated image

• Adjust for balance and readability

📌 I used Canva for both the illustration and layout process — no extra tools needed!

🎨 Step 6: Stay Consistent With Theme

To make your book feel cohesive:

• Use the same characters throughout (regenerate until you get the look!)

• Stick to a color palette

• Match the illustration style every time

You can even save your character’s look in a folder so you can regenerate them in future scenes.

📤 Step 7: Export + Publish

Once your book is done:

• Download as PDF – Print Ready

• Upload to:

  • Amazon KDP

  • IngramSpark

  • Your own website or digital store

❤️ Final Thoughts

You don’t need a design degree or thousands of dollars to create a powerful, beautiful children’s book.

You just need:

• A clear idea

• A Canva Pro account

• And a whole lot of heart

🎙️ And remember: your story deserves to be told. Whether you’re writing about robots, animals, space, or family — your perspective is unique and needed.

I’m sharing this guide not because I have it all figured out, but because I believe in lifting as I climb. We’re in a new era where creativity, accessibility, and AI can work with us — and there’s no limit to what we can create.

✨ Want more?

• Check out the Tech Is Magic Activity Zone for coloring pages and STEM games

🎨 Need Creative Support?

Whether you're launching a brand, auditing your website, or upgrading your digital presence, we're here to help:

→ Book a Free Discovery Call

→ Explore Design & Strategy Services

→ Visit the Creative Circle Hub

How to Prep Your Website for 2026

10 Things Every Business Owner Should Review Before the New Year

Your website isn’t just a digital placeholder — it’s your brand’s home, first impression, and often your hardest-working team member.

As 2025 winds down, now is the perfect time to take 20–30 minutes to step back and ask:Is my website really working for me — or just sitting there?

Whether you launched this year or your site’s been coasting for a while, this end-of-year audit will help you refresh, realign, and head into 2026 with confidence.

Let’s dive in.

✅ 1. Mobile Optimization

Over 60% of your visitors are coming from their phones.Pull up your site on a mobile device and ask:

• Is everything displaying correctly?

• Are buttons and menus easy to tap?

• Is the text readable without pinching or zooming?

🔧 Quick Fix: If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, prioritize this first — mobile UX directly impacts your bounce rate and conversions.

⚡ 2. Page Speed

A slow website = lost attention.Use PageSpeed Insights to check your load time.

Look out for:

• Large, uncompressed images

• Too many plugins or animations

• Slow-loading fonts

🎯 Goal: Under 3 seconds is ideal.

🎯 3. Clear Calls to Action (CTAs)

What do you want visitors to DO — and is that obvious?Every key page (especially your homepage) should feature 1 primary CTA:

• Book a call

• Join the waitlist

• Donate now

• Subscribe

✅ Make sure all buttons and links are working — and that the action they lead to still makes sense.

📅 4. Outdated Info

Take a few minutes to scan for:

• Expired event dates or promos

• Old services or pricing

• An outdated bio or brand story

• Footers showing 2024 or earlier

🧹 Update anything that feels off, irrelevant, or misaligned with where you’re going in 2026.

🖋 5. Copy & Messaging

Your messaging should evolve as your business does.Ask yourself:

• Does my homepage clearly explain who I serve and how I help?

• Am I speaking to my ideal client as they are now?

• Is my brand voice still aligned with how I want to show up?

✨ A few small copy tweaks can make a huge difference in clarity and connection.

🎨 6. Visual & Brand Consistency

Your site should look like an intentional extension of your brand — not a patchwork of templates.

Review:

• Fonts and color palettes — are they consistent?

• Are any images blurry, overly stock-y, or off-brand?

• Is your logo the latest version?

📸 Pro Tip: If it feels dated, it probably looks dated too.

🔍 7. SEO Check

Search engines still matter. Make sure your site can be found.

• Each page should have a unique title and meta description

• Use keywords naturally throughout your copy

• Images should have alt text

📈 This is the behind-the-scenes work that boosts visibility and traffic over time.

♿ 8. Accessibility

Your site should be usable by everyone.Check for:

• High contrast between text and background

• Alt text on all images

• Clear, descriptive link text (e.g., “Learn More About Our Services” instead of “Click Here”)

🌍 Accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about inclusion.

📊 9. Analytics & Data

What’s working — and how do you know?If you haven’t already:

• Set up Google Analytics (or use Wix’s built-in analytics tools)

• Track top pages, bounce rate, and conversion actions

• Use the data to guide next steps — more of what’s working, less of what’s not

🧠 Data > guesses.

🧩 10. Forms, Links & Integrations

Test every form and button on your site.

• Are contact or booking forms still working?

• Are automations or email responses firing properly?

• Do your email list or CRM integrations still connect?

🛠 Don’t assume — test it yourself or ask a friend to go through the process.

💡 Bonus: Use Our Free Website Audit Checklist

We created a streamlined Website Audit Checklist to help you walk through these 10 steps with ease. It’s available now inside your Creative Circle Hub (exclusively for TTC clients).

📥 Download the Checklist

🎉 Ready for 2026?

If your site’s feeling outdated, unclear, or just a little “meh” — don’t stress. A few smart updates can go a long way. And if a full refresh is on your mind, we’ve got you.

Here’s how TTC Agency can support you:

✅ Book a 1:1 strategy session

✅ Access done-for-you tools in the Creative Circle

✅ Join the 2026 Waitlist for a custom brand + website build

Let 2026 be the year your website finally reflects your brilliance.

💻✨You’ve got this — and we’ve got your back.

🎨 Need Creative Support?

Whether you're launching a brand, auditing your website, or upgrading your digital presence, we're here to help:

→ Book a Free Discovery Call

→ Explore Design & Strategy Services

→ Visit the Creative Circle Hub