Hey friends —
A while back I asked a business owner a simple question.
“What do you tell people when they ask what you do?”
The answer was technically correct.
It listed the service.
It sounded professional.
It checked all the right boxes.
And it sounded exactly like every other business in the category.
If you start paying attention, you’ll notice this everywhere.
A business owner says:
“I don’t know what to post.”
So they open ChatGPT and ask for marketing ideas.
And the AI responds with things like:
• “5 Tips for Choosing the Right Insurance Policy”
• “Why Professional Landscaping Matters”
• “3 Signs Your Car Needs Maintenance”
None of it is wrong.
But none of it is memorable either.
Because the problem usually isn’t the AI.
It’s the story going into the AI.
The Layer Most Businesses Skip
Most businesses explain what they do.
Customers usually connect with what changes because you do it.
An insurance agency doesn’t just sell policies.
They help families protect what they’ve spent years building.
A landscaper doesn’t just install plants.
They help people feel proud when they pull into their driveway.
A mechanic doesn’t just repair vehicles.
They help people keep their lives moving.
When that deeper layer becomes clear, communication gets easier.
Social posts get easier.
Website copy gets easier.
Ads get easier.
And AI becomes a much better assistant.
Because now it has something real to work with.
A Simple AI Exercise to Find Your Story
If your marketing has felt repetitive or generic lately, try this.
Open ChatGPT and paste this prompt.
Prompt
I run a [type of business].
Customers usually come to us when they are frustrated by [problem].
Our service helps them get to [result].
Help me uncover the deeper story behind my business.
Ask me 10 questions that will help identify:
• the frustration customers feel before they find us
• the moment they realize they need help
• the transformation after working with us
• why this work matters in their lives
Then answer the questions like you're talking to a real customer — not writing brochure copy.
You’ll usually discover things like:
• why customers actually call you
• what relief they feel after working with you
• what part of your work they value most
That’s where your best marketing stories live.
3 Story Prompts Every Main Street Business Should Try This Week
If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen thinking “What should I post?” start here.
These prompts help AI uncover the real story behind your work, which makes everything else easier.
You don’t need perfect answers. Just talk to the AI like you would explain things to a customer across the counter.
1️⃣ Find the Real Reason People Call You
Most businesses describe their service.
Customers usually show up because something is frustrating, stressful, or broken.
Try this.
Prompt
I run a [type of business].
People usually contact us when they’re frustrated by something, even if they don’t say it directly.
Help me identify the top 5 frustrations customers experience before they call us.
Then suggest 5 story ideas I could share that show how we help solve those frustrations.
Instead of generic posts like:
“5 Landscaping Tips”
You might get something like:
“Why homeowners suddenly panic about their yard the week before a graduation party.”
That’s a story people recognize.
2️⃣ Discover the Transformation You Create
Most businesses explain the work.
Customers remember the result.
Try this prompt.
Prompt
I run a [type of business].
Customers come to us when [problem].
After working with us, they usually feel [result].
Help me identify the transformation customers experience before and after working with us.
Then suggest 5 short marketing stories that show this transformation.
Often the real result isn’t the service itself.
It’s things like:
• relief
• confidence
• pride
• peace of mind
Those are the moments customers remember.
3️⃣ Turn Your Best Customers Into Story Ideas
Your best marketing usually comes from your best customers.
Try this.
Prompt
Here are 5 of my best customers and what they hired me for:
[brief descriptions]
What patterns do you see?
What do these customers actually value about my work?
Suggest 5 story ideas I could share that would attract more customers like them.
This is one of the fastest ways to stop marketing to “everyone.”
And when your marketing gets clearer, AI gets a lot more helpful.
Why This Matters
AI is a multiplier.
If the story going into it is generic, the content coming out will be generic too.
But when you get clear on:
• the frustration customers feel
• the transformation you create
• the people who value your work most
AI becomes a powerful assistant for expressing that story faster and more consistently.
One Small Note
These prompts are part of a broader framework we’ve been developing at Growth Forge Studio to help businesses clarify the story behind their work.
We recently turned the process into a half-day workshop called The Story Discovery Lab.
If you’re curious about it, you can learn more here:
Or submit this form if you'd like details about attending or hosting one:
When the story behind your work becomes clearer, marketing starts to feel different.
Less like guessing.
Less like pressure.
More like simply explaining why your work matters.
And once that part is clear, AI becomes a lot more useful.
— Ryan
Keep Main Street Strong
If this newsletter helped you think a little clearer this week, pass it along to another business owner.
Word of mouth is how this grows.
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No hype. Just practical systems for the people who keep Main Street running.