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AI Marketing Tools Worth Using in 2026.
- Hollie Brown
- Dec 3, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 22
Why Strategy Still Matters More Than Software
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now—especially in marketing. Tools promise faster content creation, better customer insights, automated workflows, and more leads with less effort. For busy small-business owners, it can feel tempting to subscribe to the newest AI platform and hope it solves everything. But here’s the truth:
AI tools only work when they’re built on a real business and marketing strategy.
Without a clear understanding of your goals, customers, and growth priorities, even the best AI software becomes expensive noise.
At JoyWorks Marketing, I see this every day. Small businesses jump into AI before clarifying what they’re actually trying to grow, fix, or streamline. The result? Frustration, wasted time, and unused subscriptions.
AI seems like it's changing so fast, because is it, but I promise you if you stick to your strategy, using and selecting AI tools is much easier and less stressful. My hope is that my experiences and failures (they are the best way I learn) can help provide your business with clarity and strategy to select AI tools in 2026. Stay with me and we'll cover:
Why strategy comes before tools
Where AI actually can make a difference in small-business marketing
The top AI marketing tools for small businesses worth using in 2026 to support your marketing - I recommend them because I've used them. Surprise they are the same tools that have been around for a while but now they have AI built in!
How a Fractional CMOÂ can help you formalized the strategy, choose the right tech and train your team
Strategy First: Don’t Let AI Lead the Way
Your core marketing strategy
What are you trying to achieve in 2026? Growth? Efficiency? Better customer experience? If you don’t have a defined roadmap, start here → Marketing Strategy & Planning
Your current challenges
Is it lead generation? Follow-up? Content production? Data analysis? Customer retention?
Your capacity
Who will actually use these tools? Do they need training? Do you have time to maintain them? I've seen it enough to say that the tools won't do it all for you, most of them require humans in the loop. In fact, human-in-the-loop is my preferred way to use AI. Without humans, most tools are ineffective.
Your revenue priorities
AI should support revenue drivers—not distract from them. If you’re not sure how to evaluate any of this, that’s where a Fractional CMO can help you build a strategy, audit your systems, and choose only what moves the needle.
Where AI Can Actually Help Small Businesses in 2025
Not every marketing task needs AI—but these areas consistently deliver real ROI for small and mid-sized companies:
1. Content Creation and Repurposing
AI tools can speed up blogs, social posts, email drafts, video scripts, and content recycling.
2. Paid Ads Optimization (Meta, Google, YouTube)
Machine learning can improve targeting, keyword selection, and bidding strategies.
3. Customer Insights & Analytics
AI can analyze behavior patterns, segment audiences, and identify missed revenue opportunities.
4. Systems + Workflow Automation
AI can cut hours of admin time by automating follow-ups, reporting, scheduling, and task routing.
5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
As search evolves, AI-driven platforms help ensure your website is visible across Google and AI search engines. If you don’t have these foundations in place, my Growth Engine framework helps you build them in the right order—strategy, systems, marketing, and measurement.
The Best AI Marketing Tools Small Businesses Should Consider in 2025
Here are the AI tools that consistently deliver value for me —when used intentionally and strategically. Most of these have been around for several years, but now have AI built into them!
These tools are always open for me. I have different uses for each, but I use them personally and for marketing.
They are perfect for:
Drafting content
Repurposing materials
Customer service scripts
Brainstorming
Competitive research
Internal communications
AI writing assistants can save hours each week, especially for small teams that need consistent content but don’t have full-time marketing staff.
2. Canva AI (Branding, Design, and Social Graphics)
Canva is the go-to for small marketing teams with limited time and resources to create branded materials.
It's perfect for:
Social media posts
Brand templates
Logo variations
Short videos
Ad creative
Canva’s AI features help small businesses produce professional visuals quickly—without needing a designer on staff.
3. Surfer SEO or Clearscope (SEO + Content Optimization)
If you're working on improving your website or content search rankings, these tools are perfect for:
Making blogs more rankable
Improving existing content
Identifying SEO keywords
Beating competitor pages
These tools provide data-backed recommendations on how to improve content, so it actually ranks. If you want help improving your organic visibility, see Digital Marketing ServicesÂ
I love both of these tools, they have so many functions and are ideal for lead generation, nurturing and sales. If you're doing lead generation, either of these tools will make your life easier.
They are perfect for:
Lead tracking
Automated email sequences
Forecasting
Sales pipeline visibility
Customer segmentation
AI-enhanced CRMs help owners stay organized and keep leads from slipping through the cracks.
5. Meta & Google Ads AI Tools
These platforms now have AI embedded into them, helping:
Lowering cost per lead
Testing creatives
Running smart campaigns
Automated reporting
AI in these tools can analyze thousands of variables at once—something humans simply can’t replicate.
6. Jasper
This tool makes me smile whenever I think of it. Jasper was the first AI tool I ever used for writing content, and that was back in 2020, before the other large language models hit the market! I remember the first time I used it my mind was blown! Jasper is easy to use and is great for marketers looking for:
Faster content workflows
Maintaining brand voice
Multi-channel publishing
It's good for businesses that want AI support but prefer a training-focused platform built specifically for marketers.
7. Zapier AI (Automation + Integrations)
Similar to Jasper, I remember when I built my first zap on Zapier! I thought I was pretty impressive when the credit was all due to Zapier. It is useful for so many things in the marketing space! My first use (this will date me a bit) was using Zapier to send information from a website form to Hubspot so I could add the contact to a workflow.
Perfect for:
Automating tasks between apps
Scheduling
Notifications
Reporting workflows
Lead routing
This is one of the easiest ways to create efficiency using AI.
So… Do Small Businesses Actually Need AI?
Yes—but only if it’s aligned with your business goals.
AI can help you:
Save time
Increase consistency
Strengthen your presence
Improve performance
Make data-driven decisions
Scale without hiring a full team
But it will never replace a strong marketing strategy. That’s why the first step isn’t subscribing to a tool…It’s building the plan. And that’s exactly what a Fractional CMO provides.
How a Fractional CMO Helps You Choose the Right AI Tools
A seasoned marketing leader can help you:
Evaluate your real needs - Not every business needs every tool.
Choose only the software that supports your goals - No wasted subscriptions. No tech overwhelm.
Build the strategy your tools will support - AI strengthens a system—it doesn’t create one.
Train your staff on how to use AI effectively - So tools get used, not forgotten.
Create repeatable, scalable marketing systems
Your Growth Engine becomes stronger and more efficient.
Final Takeaway
AI marketing tools are powerful—but they aren’t magic. The businesses that win in 2025 will be the ones that:
Start with strategy
Choose tools intentionally
Build a repeatable Growth Engine
Understand their customers
Use AI to enhance—not replace—their marketing
If you want to make 2025 the year your marketing becomes simpler, smarter, and more effective, I’d love to help. Just let me know when you’re ready to dive in.