From Instructional Design to Marketing: How AI Tools Save Time and Money
When I launched Juniper Consulting LLC in 2023, my mission was clear: create professional development (PD) training that was not only impactful but also high-quality and efficient to produce. My background as an instructional coach in public education had taught me that time and resources were always in short supply. PD often felt rushed, with limited tools available to craft engaging training, and the skills needed to create standout content were largely self-taught.
Starting my own business gave me the opportunity to approach things differently. AI tools like ChatGPT, Play.ht, and Synthesia became invaluable resources, helping me create content more efficiently and higher quality while exploring new creative possibilities. Here’s how I’ve used AI to improve my instructional design process and how other small business owners or instructional designers can benefit from these tools as well.
Creating Training Videos with Synthesia and Play.ht
One of the biggest challenges in instructional design is creating high-quality, engaging videos. In the past, this required hours of filming, editing, and voiceover work, but with AI tools like Synthesia and Play.ht, the process has become faster and more efficient. All which costs money. Money that schools and small businesses starting out often don’t have.
Video Creation with Synthesia
Synthesia lets me create professional training videos using customizable avatars and voices. If you’ve ever made a PowerPoint presentation, you can create a video in Synthesia—it’s that easy. The tool allows me to turn a simple script into a polished video in minutes.
For example, when I needed to create a training module for educators in multiple languages, Synthesia made it seamless. I simply uploaded my script, chose avatars to match the tone of the content, and selected voices in different languages. What would have taken hours—or even days—with traditional methods was completed in under an hour.
Voiceovers Made Simple with Play.ht
Play.ht is another tool that has completely streamlined my workflow. By uploading my script, I can have professional-quality voiceovers ready in minutes. Even better, Play.ht allows me to use my own voice, creating a natural and personal touch.
For instance, when producing training videos with multiple speakers, I can assign different voices to each section of the script, creating a dynamic, multi-character narrative. This eliminates the need to hire voice actors or spend hours recording and editing audio myself. If I’m creating a module for diverse audiences, Play.ht also offers a variety of accents and tones to suit the content’s needs.
ChatGPT: My Instructional Design and Professional Development Co-Pilot
ChatGPT has been an invaluable tool in my instructional design process, supporting everything from brainstorming to refining content and creating assessments. But I’ve also taken my use of AI a step further by building custom ChatGPT tools tailored specifically to professional development (PD) needs. These tools save time, improve efficiency, and enhance the user experience for both educators and administrators.
Here’s how ChatGPT supports my work:
Streamlining Lesson Planning and Content Development
ChatGPT has become my trusted partner in structuring lesson plans and refining content. For example:
Building Lesson Plans: Whether I’m designing a digital literacy course or compliance training, ChatGPT helps structure objectives and activities in clear, logical ways. It takes abstract ideas and transforms them into practical, actionable plans.
Refining Content: ChatGPT ensures my scripts are concise, engaging, and accessible to a wide range of audiences.
Creating Assessments: From quizzes to discussion prompts, ChatGPT generates creative ways to check for understanding and promote interaction.
Custom AI Tools for Professional Development
In addition to using ChatGPT for my instructional design work, I’ve created custom versions of it to support specific professional development projects. Here are two examples:
Voyage Horizons: This custom ChatGPT assists with professional development for instructional coaches and school leaders. It provides guidance on creating effective PD sessions, strategies for improving teacher support, and insights into aligning PD with organizational goals.
Report Card Comment Generator: Designed specifically for educators, this ChatGPT streamlines the often time-consuming process of writing personalized and constructive report card comments. Teachers can input key student details, and the AI generates professional, individualized comments in seconds, ensuring that feedback is meaningful and tailored.
Why Custom ChatGPT Tools Matter
These tools go beyond general-purpose AI and address specific pain points in education and business. By tailoring ChatGPT to the needs of instructional designers and educators, I’ve been able to create resources that are practical, efficient, and highly relevant to their daily challenges.
Expanding Small Business Capabilities with AI
As a small business owner, AI has been a game-changer for managing tasks beyond instructional design, from marketing to enhancing client engagement. Here are some ways I’ve integrated AI into my business, along with ideas for how others can do the same.
Content Marketing Made Easy
ChatGPT simplifies creating marketing content like blog posts, email campaigns, and social media captions. For example, when launching a new professional development course, I’ve used AI to draft targeted email sequences tailored to specific audiences, such as school administrators or classroom teachers.
Interactive Website Chatbots
On my website, I’ve developed custom ChatGPT-powered chatbots designed to engage visitors and streamline communication. For example:
Voyage Horizons ChatGPT: A chatbot I designed to guide users through professional development content, answering questions and helping educators apply what they’ve learned.
Report Card Comment Generator ChatGPT: Another chatbot I created to assist educators in writing personalized, professional report card comments in less time.
These AI tools provide immediate, helpful responses to visitors while freeing up my time to focus on developing new courses or engaging directly with clients.
Custom AI Chatbots for Business Applications
If you’re a small business owner, consider how chatbots could work for you. Ideas include:
E-Commerce Support: Use a chatbot to answer FAQs about products, track orders, or recommend items based on customer preferences.
Appointment Scheduling: An AI assistant can help clients book services directly through your website, reducing the need for manual follow-ups.
Interactive Resources: Create chatbots that serve as educational tools, helping users explore your offerings, like workshops or training modules.
Streamlined Customer Support
Chatbots powered by ChatGPT also handle common customer questions, like pricing or service availability. Adding an FAQ feature ensures clear, accurate information is readily available, enhancing the user experience while reducing repetitive inquiries.
Professional Proposals and Communication
AI tools like Play.ht and Synthesia extend beyond training content into client communication. I’ve used them to create:
Polished Video Proposals: Synthesia allows me to present ideas visually, adding a personalized touch to client pitches.
Dynamic Email Campaigns: AI-generated voiceovers from Play.ht bring a professional quality to multimedia emails, helping me stand out in crowded inboxes.
Creative Marketing Content
AI tools also inspire creativity in marketing campaigns. For instance:
Interactive Blog Content: ChatGPT can generate blog ideas that address common client pain points or answer frequently asked questions.
Personalized Ads: Create targeted ads for specific demographics using AI to write compelling copy and suggest engaging visuals.
AI tools have become essential to my business, helping me save time and deliver a better experience for my clients. From creating interactive chatbots to producing polished marketing materials, these technologies empower small business owners to scale their efforts and focus on what matters most: growing their business.
Whether you’re using AI to enhance your website, streamline customer communication, or generate marketing content, it’s a powerful ally in managing the many demands of small business ownership.
Why Small Business Owners Should Embrace AI
AI isn’t just a tool for large corporations—it’s an accessible solution for small businesses looking to grow creatively and efficiently on a budget. Here’s why:
Cost-Effective Solutions: AI tools like Synthesia and Play.ht eliminate the need for expensive production teams or freelancers.
Time Savings: Automating tasks like video creation, voiceovers, and content generation lets you focus on strategy and growth.
Enhanced Creativity: With AI, you can experiment with new ideas, from creating multilingual training videos to crafting personalized marketing campaigns.
AI has transformed the way I run Juniper Consulting LLC, from instructional design to marketing and beyond. By integrating tools like Synthesia, Play.ht, and ChatGPT, I’ve been able to deliver high-quality training programs while managing the daily demands of a small business.
For instructional designers, AI opens the door to more engaging, interactive content. For small business owners, it provides scalable solutions that save time and resources. Whether you’re designing courses, creating marketing materials, or streamlining operations, AI is a powerful partner that helps you do more with less.
