AI Explored Podcast

Episode: Building an AI CMO That Becomes Your Strategic Marketing Partner

Host: Michael Stelzner (Social Media Examiner)
Guest: Erica Stanley (AI strategist, founder of Mile End Digital & AI Queens Society)
Date: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode unpacks the concept of building an AI-powered Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for small businesses and solopreneurs. Michael Stelzner chats with Erica Stanley—an AI strategist who helps women business owners implement AI in practical, accessible ways—about the step-by-step process to create a strategic AI marketing partner. They dig into misconceptions around AI use, foundational steps to building an AI CMO, specific tools and workflows, and actionable use cases.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shift from AI as Intern to AI as Strategic Partner

• Common Misconception:
  Many see AI as a "marketing intern" doing basic busywork—drafting posts or brainstorming ideas—rather than leveraging it as a high-level strategist.
• Erica:

  “The biggest misconception...is that AI is best used as your intern. But...AI can be your strategic partner. Really like a second brain, your right hand person in your business.” (04:43)

• Michael:
  Advocates for reframing AI as a tool for deep insight, not just surface-level automation.

2. Why Build an AI CMO?

• Accessibility for Small Teams:
  Most solopreneurs and small teams can’t afford elite marketing talent, but AI can provide a knowledge advantage for as little as $20/month.
• Collective Expertise:
  The AI CMO can be configured to draw on the strategies of top experts (Seth Godin, Amy Porterfield, Rand Fishkin, etc.).
• Customization:
  It’s not just about generic knowledge—it’s about tailoring strategies and insight to fit your unique business, goals, and personality.
• Michael:

  “You can now have a strategic sparring partner, thought partner, who can help you identify problems with your current marketing, help you figure out paths forward, come up with strategic plans...” (07:33)

3. Expanding the Concept Beyond Marketing

• Versatility:
  The same process for building an AI CMO can be applied to other business roles (ops, sales, finance, research, etc.).

4. Step-by-Step: Building an AI CMO

a. Strategy First, Software Second (10:15)

• Erica’s Approach:
  Start with understanding and documenting your core brand before diving into tools.
• Three Key Foundational Steps:
  1. Document Your Brand:
     Include bio, about page, client testimonials, call transcripts, “word bank” of signature phrases, and your voice/values.

     “What makes you different from others in your market...those little magical puzzle pieces?” (11:40)

  2. Clarify Your Goals:
     Why do you want more followers? What are your real business objectives (e.g., conversions, revenue)?

     “You have to think about what’s the big picture...what is the end goal?” (15:24)

  3. Define the Ideal Role:
     What expertise should your AI CMO have? Identify dream experts, collect their best insights, and assemble them into your “Frankenstein” CMO.

     “If you could hire any expert...what expertise would you want them to bring?” (16:23)

     • Find pertinent blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos, even book excerpts to form a knowledge base.
     • Use AI tools to summarize or extract key insights from expert content.

b. Gather, Organize, and Feed Data (18:13–22:57)

• Collect and collate expert materials, testimonials, brand DNA, goals, process docs, etc.
• Create a “reference book” or digital repository to upload into your AI tool of choice.

c. Choosing and Using AI Tools (22:57–34:39)

• Custom GPTs (ChatGPT):
  Build custom instructions & knowledge bases. You can bring a CMO “into the room” mid-conversation using @ commands. (22:57)
• Claude Projects:
  Favorable for generating organized, separate artifacts (e.g., LinkedIn posts, newsletters).

  “I love the artifacts portion of working with Claude Projects.” (27:11)

• Poppy AI:
  For visual thinkers; drag, drop, and connect folders of content/multimedia. Can link to YouTube, TikToks, Instagram Reels, etc., and visually manage what’s presented to the AI for each campaign.

  “Being able to actually see what pieces are connected...helps me stay organized, ask better questions, and stay on task...” (27:42)

• NotebookLM:
  Data stays siloed to notebooks you create; good for focused reference but more limited than Poppy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’re creating a Frankenstein CMO...but much better outcome.”
  — Erica Stanley, explaining how to blend expert sources and unique branding into one AI entity (20:36)
• “When you treat it like an intern, you’re just leaving so much on the table.” — Erica Stanley (04:43)
• “What I like about what you’re saying is: If you can take someone who is known in public and has produced a lot of content...you can go into deep research...” — Michael Stelzner (19:48)
• “Push back if it’s seeming too positive, ask it to help find your blind spots.” — Erica Stanley on challenging AI for honest insight rather than flattery (40:49)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:43] AI: Beyond Intern – strategic partnership possibilities
• [10:15] Laying the Foundation (brand, goals, role definition)
• [14:10] Examples of gathering brand voice/values
• [15:24] Clarifying business objectives for AI
• [18:13] Building your CMO’s knowledge from expert materials
• [22:57] Transitioning from data gathering to tool setup
• [27:42] Using Poppy AI for visual management
• [34:39] How to query your AI CMO and the Poppy workflow
• [36:35] Use Case 1: Analytics—identifying high-performing content
• [39:11] Use Case 2: Advisory role—revenue and strategy planning
• [42:01] Use Case 3: Content creation with depth and voice
• [40:49] How to challenge AI to find your blind spots

Highlighted Use Cases

1. Analytics Auditor:
   Upload podcast/YouTube/blog/email analytics → have AI summarize best topics, highest-performing content, audience trends, and campaign gaps (36:35).

2. Strategic Advisor:
   Feed in your latest numbers, goals, and get concrete guidance on next steps, market analysis, and blind spots (39:11).

3. Content Creation Engine:
   Instead of asking for generic posts, leverage AI’s knowledge of your audience, tone, and expert strategies for deeply on-brand content and campaigns (42:01).

Practical Guidance on Prompting

• Start with “Learn about my brand” by uploading your brand board/folder to orient the AI each time (especially in Poppy, where memory isn’t persistent).
• Dictate what you want in stream-of-consciousness style, starting with context and what outcome you seek.
• Attach expert folders relevant to each inquiry for specialized campaigns.
• With custom GPTs/Claude, tap into persistent knowledge bases for deeper, ongoing conversations.

Final Takeaways

• Brand/voice + business goals + expert knowledge base = Strategic AI CMO
• AI’s value multiplies as you move from surface-level tasks to deep, context-rich strategic workflows
• Wide range of accessible tools can fit your process & skill level (from simple to advanced: custom GPTs, Claude, Poppy, NotebookLM)
• Regularly challenge your AI for honest, constructive feedback and blind spot identification
• Your AI partner adapts as your needs grow: from analytics and planning to sophisticated, on-brand content execution

Connect with Erica Stanley

• Website: aiqueens.com
  (Free custom CMO GPT: aiqueens.com/CMO)
• Podcast: aiqueenspodcast.com
• Instagram: @ericatheaiqueen
• LinkedIn: EJStanley

Episode Conclusion

A transformative, hands-on guide for any marketer, creator, or business owner wanting to uplevel their AI game—moving from tactical grunt work to having a personal, always-on, expert “CMO” at their side.