Oh my gosh, I did something with AI this week that saved me a $1,000 expense in 2025. As I integrate ChatGPT more and more into my daily work, I decided to add a new feature — What I Did With AI This Week.

I answer The Hotline with something my mail carrier delivered the other day. Plus, get a 60-second marketing idea and read what’s on this week’s Shortlist.

I’d love it if you could forward this email to a friend who's in business and interested in content to help their marketing. I would appreciate it. And if you’re that friend? Subscribe today.

— Ann Gynn

My business is digitally based, and my clients can be anywhere in the world. How can I build a stronger relationship with them without in-person interactions so they remember me as a person and a business?

One answer arrived in my mailbox this week. Author Kathi Daley sent me her annual Christmas card. And here’s the real kicker: I asked her to send it. 

Kathi writes cozy mysteries, but she also offers a masterclass in building relationships as a solo entrepreneur.

Kathi Daley’s simple holiday card is a perfect reminder that thoughtful, human moments can still make you and your internet-based business unforgettable.

Got a question you’d like me to answer in a future edition of The Hotline? Call or text Marketing By One Hotline: +1.440.661.3984.

This week: Make a plan to mail something. It could be a New Year’s message, a thank-you note, or a fun little gift. One of my clients skipped the December card rush and chose Groundhog Day instead. Guess whose card everyone remembered? 

If your customer base is big, pick 20 of the most frequent or high-ticket buyers or engaged community members. Don’t have their mailing addresses? Ask them and add the addresses to your database.

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My laptop has been sounding like a tiny jet engine. Pages loaded slowly. Video calls buffered. I did not want to buy a new one.

So I asked ChatGPT for help.

We went back and forth: It asked for details, like the laptop’s age and screenshots of my task manager. After troubleshooting together, it gave me a verdict: I didn’t need a new computer — just a handful of fixes. And it walked me through each one. Best of all? It worked. A laptop won’t be included in my 2025 expenses.

Have any AI tricks of your own? Hit reply, call, or text the Marketing By One Hotline: +1.440.661.3984.

Record a 60-second tip or lesson of the week — something that would be helpful or entertaining for your audience. Post it to one social media channel where your audience is active, such as LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube.

🔮 What’s up for 2026? This week, I shared a prediction for the Content Marketing Institute’s annual trends article. (And yes, I apologize for my enormous headshot — a reminder to always send one or two images with multiple cropping options.)

📚 The real foundation of entrepreneurship
According to a Harvard professor and entrepreneur, business success isn’t about textbook knowledge — it’s something far more practical.

🚀 Starting without a plan? Or operating without one? Check out this start-up guide from Business News Daily.

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Got a question you’d like me to answer in The Hotline? Email me or DM me on LinkedIn. Even better: Text or leave a message on the Marketing By One Hotline: +1.440.661.3984.