AI Tools I Actually Use and the Ones I Dropped

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Imperfect Marketing, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I’ve actually been using AI in my day-to-day marketing work—beyond the hype, beyond the shiny tools. I share what’s in my current tech stack, what didn’t live up to expectations, and what genuinely made me more efficient (and what didn’t). If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the constant stream of new AI tools, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.The Reality of Today’s AI Landscape New AI tools are launching constantly—sometimes faster than we can evaluate them  It’s easy to get distracted by “shiny object syndrome”  You don’t need every tool—you need the right tool for the job  The goal isn’t to use AI everywhere, but to use it where it truly helps What’s in My Current AI StackI break down the tools I’m consistently using and why:Claude: My main workhorse for writing, strategy, and even presentations Perplexity: Go-to for research, comparisons, and step-by-step answers ChatGPT: Primarily for building and sharing custom GPTs with clients NotebookLM: Powerful for handling large amounts of context and research Built-in AI (Loom, Riverside): Helpful for content production workflows Surprising AI Tools Worth ExploringSome tools exceeded expectations:Branding 5: A strong positioning tool that helps clarify messaging Vocable AI: Useful for generating social content ideas (especially for clients) NanoBanana Pro: Solid for image generation Claude for presentations: Surprisingly powerful—even rivaling tools like Gamma What Didn’t Work (or Didn’t Stick)Not every tool is a win—and that’s okay:AI assistants that lacked context or usefulness Asana AI: Underwhelming (possibly due to limited input/context) Ubooks: Poor experience for nonfiction writing Gamma.app: Still useful, but possibly being replaced by Claude Microsoft Copilot: More of a habit issue than a tool issue Key insight: Sometimes it’s not the tool—it’s fit, timing, or how you’re using it.How to Actually Use AI Effectively Test tools on real work, not demo projects  Compare tools against each other to find the best fit  Give tools a fair shot—but don’t force them into your workflow  The best tools become invisible—they just workAI Isn’t Replacing You—It’s Enhancing You AI won’t replace thinking—it enhances it  Use AI for:  Brainstorming  Strategy pressure-testing  “Shadow boxing” ideas to find gaps  Your expertise and judgment still matter more than ever Practical Advice to Get StartedIf you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed: Pick one task that drains you each week  Test one AI tool on that task  Don’t try five tools at once  Give yourself permission to drop what doesn’t work Key Takeaways You don’t need one perfect tool—you need the right mix  AI should support your thinking, not replace it  Efficiency comes from alignment, not accumulation  The goal is smarter work, not more tools Curious how AI could fit into your workflow without adding more overwhelm?&nbsp Looking to leverage AI? Want better results? Want to think about what you want to leverage?Check and see how I am using it for FREE on YouTube. From "Holy cow, it can do that?" to "Wait, how does this work again?" – I've got all your AI curiosities covered. It's the perfect after-podcast snack for your tech-hungry brain. Watch here