#15 How to think with AI when solving complex marketing problems. Part 1
A practical guide to using AI as your reasoning partner. From generic copy to crystal‑clear positioning.
Here’s the truth: AI didn’t help me write taglines. It helped me stop chasing the wrong ones.
TL;DR
AI can do more than churn out copy. It can help you break down messy marketing challenges and make sharper decisions. I’ve done it, and so can you.
In this article, we explore how to use AI models to:
Cut through the noise and see what matters to customers.
Frame better questions that lead to meaningful results.
Test distinct angles before you spend.
Compare your options side by side so you can see the risks.
Catch blind spots before they cost you.
Why reasoning models matter
Models like GPT-4 with deep research, O3, and Claude Opus 4 don’t think like us. But they can connect dots faster than we can, spot patterns in the mess, and help map next steps.
Here’s what they’re good at:
Gathering information at scale without getting lost.
Processing it to surface what matters.
Proposing actions so you can move forward with clarity.
It’s not magic. It’s strategy fuel. Solving complex problems with strategic frameworks. And most marketers did it without AI (in a past and horrible time, haha...). Now we have a strategic partner to help us do it better and faster.
How I use AI to reason through positioning
Let’s break down into a real example:
We’re working on positioning an AI agent for startups. The market was loud. Every competitor promised to save time, boost productivity, and automate tasks. And they all sounded the same.
That’s when I stopped asking AI to draft headlines and started using it to help me think. Not as a tool to spit out words. As a reasoning partner to help me cut through the noise and build a smarter plan.
Synthesize what matters
The noise was intense. Every competitor sounded the same. Customer reviews were all over the place. I used AI to help me cut through it.
What I gave it:
20 competitor product pages.
500 customer reviews.
Summaries from 4 market trends reports.
What I got back:
“Competitors promise time savings. Customers care about mental load and ease of use. Startups want relief from overwhelm, not just speed.”
That became my north star. Before that, I was basically paddling in circles in a sea of “save time” promises.
Prompt:
“I’m launching a no-code AI agent product. I have competitor pages, reviews, and reports. Identify:
Common competitor claims
What customers praise or complain about
Emotional or practical needs are mentioned repeatedly
Return a bullet-point summary I can use for positioning.”
Reframe the question
At first, I kept asking: How should we position this product? The answers were generic.
When I asked AI: What emotional burden does this lift for founders and small teams?—The conversation changed. That’s when messaging like “Bring calm to your chaos” and “Your team’s invisible teammate” started to take shape.
Prompt:
“Based on summaries, suggest 3 smarter positioning questions that focus on:
Emotional tensions we relieve.
Customer pain points.
Outcomes that customers want beyond features.
What I got back:
How does our product help founders and teams feel less overwhelmed?
What key frustrations does it remove from their daily work?
What meaningful outcomes beyond time savings does it deliver?
Explore scenarios
I didn’t want to fall in love with my first idea. I asked AI to help me map distinct angles:
Instant clarity, zero learning curve for teams who need to move now.
The invisible teammate for founders who want help without hassle.
Built for scale for startups thinking ahead.
AI also flagged likely objections and channel fit. That saved time and sharpened the plan. It was like having a junior strategist who never gets tired. (Like me after hour thinking)
Theme: Instant clarity, zero learning curve
Sample message: Get started today, no manual required.
Best-fit channels: Product-led growth communities, startup Slack groups
Likely objections: Is it too simple to handle complex tasks?
Theme: Your invisible teammate
Sample message: Automate the busywork so your team can focus on building.
Best-fit channels: Founder newsletters, startup podcasts
Likely objections: Will it really save time, or just shift the work elsewhere?
Theme: Built for scale from day one
Sample message: Automation that grows as fast as your startup does.
Best-fit channels: LinkedIn, seed-stage VC content hubs
Likely objections: Is this overkill for where we are right now?
Prompt:
“Propose 3 distinct positioning angles. For each, give:
A theme
Sample message
Best-fit channels
Likely objections
Return as a table or list for easy comparison”
Compare options
I had ideas, but needed to see them side by side. AI helped me build this matrix:
Seeing this made the trade-offs obvious.
Positioning angle: Instant clarity
Brand fit: Strong
Audience resonance: Strong (small teams)
Differentiation: Medium
Conversion potential: High
Positioning angle: Invisible teammate
Brand fit: Strong
Audience resonance: Strong (founders)
Differentiation: High
Conversion potential: High
Positioning angle: Built for scale
Brand fit: Medium
Audience resonance: Strong (ambitious startups)
Differentiation: Medium
Conversion potential: Medium-high
Prompt:
“Build a comparison matrix table. Compare on:
Brand fit
Audience resonance
Differentiation
Conversion potential”
Spot gaps before they cost you
I almost ran with an invisible teammate as the lead angle. But AI challenged me:
“You don’t have data on what founders fear about AI agents. Consider validating this with interviews.”
That stopped me from assuming too much.
Prompt:
“Review the matrix. Identify:
Assumptions needing validation
Missing data or risks
2 or 3 next steps to strengthen the plan”
The bottom line
Speed + Scale: Identify top 3 emotional drivers in <10 minutes (vs. days of manual review).
Clarity: Compare options side‑by‑side to choose the highest‑impact message.
Risk Mitigation: Uncover hidden assumptions before launching, saving thousands in waste
AI didn’t hand me a magic answer. But it helped me think faster, frame better questions, and build a smarter plan. That’s the real win. AI can reason with you—if you let it.
This is part two of a series. If you’re working on positioning decisions, check out Part 2. Together, they’ll give you a complete picture of using AI as a reasoning partner.
If this helped you see how AI can think with you, share it with that teammate who still believes AI is just for cranking out social posts. We all know someone. Let’s help them use it to make smarter calls, not just faster drafts.
Tried something similar? Let’s swap notes. Drop a comment or reach out.
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