How to Use AI —
in 15 minutes, without the hype.
A free, no-fluff starter guide for marketers, business owners, and total beginners. Learn the 5 steps, the prompt formula that actually works, and 10 workflows you can steal today.
- The 5 steps to using AI at work
- The 4-part prompt formula
- 10 copy-paste workflows
- Best AI tools for beginners
- Where to go next
The 5 steps to using AI (start here)
Most people jump straight to ChatGPT and give up in a week. Follow these five steps in order and you will get more done in a single afternoon than you did in the last month.
Pick the right AI tool for the job
Start with ChatGPT (writing & thinking), Claude (long documents), Gemini (Google Workspace), and Perplexity (research). You do not need all of them — pick one and go deep for two weeks.
Learn the 4-part prompt formula
Role + Task + Context + Format. Example: 'You are a senior marketing strategist. Write a 5-email welcome sequence for a chiropractic clinic. Audience is new patients. Format as subject line + 120-word body.'
Use AI for research, not just writing
Ask AI to summarize competitors, cluster customer reviews, extract objections from sales calls, or turn a webinar transcript into 10 social posts. This is where most of the ROI hides.
Always fact-check and add your voice
AI hallucinates. Verify stats, dates, and quotes. Then rewrite in your voice — the best AI content still sounds like you, not a chatbot.
Turn one-off prompts into repeatable workflows
Save prompts you use twice. Build them into templates, GPTs, or automations. This is what separates people who 'try AI' from people who 10x their output with it.
Role · Task · Context · Format
Every good AI prompt has these four pieces. Miss one and you get generic output. Include all four and AI feels like a $200/hour specialist.
Write a 5-email welcome sequence.
Audience: new chiropractic patients, ages 35–65.
Format: subject line + 120-word body + CTA.
10 AI workflows you can steal today
Copy any of these into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. Adjust the details to your business. Done.
Draft an email in 60 seconds
Feed AI the last message + your goal + tone. Ship the reply.
Turn a blog post into 10 LinkedIn posts
Paste the article and ask for 10 hooks + posts in your voice.
Summarize a 90-minute meeting
Drop the transcript, ask for decisions, owners, and next steps.
Generate 50 SEO title ideas
Give it the keyword, audience, and 3 examples you like.
Create on-brand social graphics
Use ChatGPT + DALL·E or Midjourney with a saved style prompt.
Analyze a spreadsheet
Upload the CSV and ask for trends, outliers, and a chart.
Brainstorm 20 offer angles
Describe the product + customer + pain point. Rank the winners.
Learn any topic in 10 minutes
Ask AI to explain it like you're 12, then like you're an expert.
Write a proposal
Paste the discovery notes + your pricing framework. Edit and send.
Build a 30-day content calendar
Give it your niche, pillars, and cadence. Done in 5 minutes.
Get certified. Build a real AI marketing system.
The AI Marketing Certification is a live cohort taught by Michelle Hummel. You'll leave with prompts, workflows, templates, and a certification recognized across the industry.
- Live monthly cohorts with Michelle Hummel
- 50+ prompts and templates you keep forever
- Industry-recognized certification
- Private community + office hours
Frequently asked
What is the easiest way to start using AI?+
Pick one tool (ChatGPT is the best starting point), one task you do weekly, and rebuild it with AI. Once that saves you time, add a second workflow. Compounding beats overwhelm.
Do I need to know how to code?+
No. Modern AI tools are chat-based. If you can write an email, you can use AI. Coding only matters if you want to build custom automations.
Which AI tool should I use first?+
ChatGPT (free or Plus). It's the most versatile and has the widest ecosystem of prompts, GPTs, and integrations for beginners.
How long does it take to get good at AI?+
About 2 weeks of daily use for basic fluency. 90 days of intentional practice to become genuinely productive. A structured program like our certification cuts that curve in half.