Machine learning, simply explained
Machine learning received two Nobel prizes this fall. We explain what it is, in plain language, for people who use AI tools at work.
By Robert ScalesBlog · 2024
17 posts published in 2024.
Narrative games and AI game masters
Two years of using AI as a game master for solo role-playing. What this experience has taught us about memory, rules and surprise, and about business chatbots.
By Robert ScalesThe two-minute pitch: a practical structure
Pitch competitions, bank meetings and networking evenings all call for the same skill. We present a two-minute structure that is effective in each of these settings.
By Robert ScalesQuebec's Law 25 in full effect: what a small website must do
The final phase of Quebec's Law 25 came into force this September. We present the five points a small business website should address first.
By Robert ScalesLaunching a health care business in Quebec
A clinic, a home care service or a wellness business requires more in its plan than most startups. Regulation, insurance, privacy and trust must be addressed first.
By Robert ScalesAutomation for small businesses: Zapier, Make and AI
Zapier and Make now allow an AI step in the middle of a workflow. We present five ordinary automations worth setting up, and how to prevent them from failing unnoticed.
By Robert ScalesWhat is customer discovery, and why should it come before you build?
Before the logo, the website or the loan, we recommend speaking with twenty potential customers. Here is how to ask questions that produce honest answers.
By Robert ScalesHow does business development work in a small region?
In a small region, a business's reputation precedes it. We share what we have learned about rural business development, from a small island to rural Quebec.
By Robert ScalesHow can AI be used for SEO? A practical workflow
Since Google's March spam policies, sites that mass-produced AI content have been losing ground. We present a workflow that uses AI effectively, along with the steps that must remain human.
By Robert ScalesMarketplace or your own store: Etsy, Amazon or Shopify?
Marketplaces bring buyers but take a share of each sale and keep the customer relationship. Your own store preserves the margin but must generate its own traffic. We recommend using both.
By Robert ScalesWhat do AI Overviews mean for the SEO of small sites?
Google has just placed AI-generated answers at the top of search results. We explain what this changes for small sites and which steps we recommend taking now.
By Robert ScalesHow can AI help you write a business plan?
AI can produce a complete business plan in a minute, but most of its content is not grounded in fact. We explain how to use it instead as a sparring partner that strengthens your plan.
By Robert ScalesFunding a small startup in Quebec: where to start
Loans, local funds and programs for Quebec entrepreneurs, and what a lender examines before approving a request.
By Robert ScalesClaude, Gemini and ChatGPT: choosing an AI assistant
This spring, three serious AI assistants are available at the same time. Here is how to compare them on your own work, and why the method matters more than the winner.
By Robert ScalesFrom business plan to action plan: the first 90 days
A business plan explains the idea. An action plan sets out who does what, and by when. Here is how to move from one to the other.
By Robert ScalesGreen Fins: the first zero-score member in Indonesia
In February 2024, Ceningan Divers became the first zero-score Green Fins member in Indonesia. The result reflects six years of consistent practices.
By Robert ScalesE-commerce trends for small Canadian businesses in 2024
What is changing in online sales this year for a small Canadian shop, and which practices remain as effective as ever.
By Robert ScalesYour business deserves to be found.
Tell us about your project. We answer in English or French, and we travel anywhere in the MRC de Papineau.