Good Fish in Baskets

The phrase good fish in baskets appears in the Bible in the parable of the fishing net in Matthew 13:47-50. In the parable, a net is cast into the sea and catches many types of fish. When the net is full, the fishermen pull it to shore and sort the fish—placing the good fish in baskets and throwing the bad fish away.

Fishing best represents digital marketing, specifically social media marketing. Like the vast and dense ocean, social platforms are teeming with countless individuals to engage. Similarly to fishing, effective marketing requires research, planning, and the right tools to reel in your target audience.

If we put Matthew 13:47-50 into perspective:

Good fish represent your potential customers—leads that convert—and loyal customers, those repeat buyers who sustain your business over time. And of course, baskets are your customer segments, and the boat is your entire business, navigating through the waters to reach the right audience and achieve growth.As a Faith-driven business, marketing without a social media strategy is like jumping on a boat without a basket, a net (or hook), and bait—lacking the essential tools to reach and engage your audience.

Not so productive, right?

But let’s say you had all the right tools and information at your disposal—what would that look like?Let’s take a scenario:

If you were to set the price of a wig (or hair products) at KSh 1,000 each, and you successfully convert just 0.007% of the social media population in East Africa—nearly 21 million people—you would have converted 1,470 customers. With each customer paying KSh 1,000, your total earnings would amount to KSh 1,470,000…

And that’s not even factoring in your repeat customers.

As an entrepreneur, learning to foster customer relationships is key to success. Just like in the parable of the Good Fish, it's important to recognize your potential customers—those leads that convert and loyal customers who stick around. These good fish are the lifeblood of your business, and you can nurture them by delivering value, engaging consistently, and building trust over time.

Here’s how you can leverage AI to help in this process:

1. Dynamic Content Personalization

With AI-powered tools, you can craft personalized content that speaks directly to your audience’s needs and desires. It’s like having a hook perfectly designed to catch the right fish—your ideal customers.

If you’re growing a start-up, don’t underestimate the power of AI in crafting meaningful, personalized interactions. Remember, you can only keep your good fish through consistent value, engagement, and relationship-building to encourage loyalty…

And that’s where the real growth happens.

2. Predictive Customer Insights

Another powerful way to stay ahead is by harnessing predictive customer insights. Imagine being able to anticipate your customers' needs before they even ask. Sounds like a game-changer, right?With predictive insights, you can gather data on customer behaviors, preferences, and trends, and then use that information to forecast what they’ll need next. It’s like having a spiritual gift of discernment in the business world—giving you the ability to make informed decisions that lead to stronger relationships and more sales.

Here are some free tools I use for myself, and my clients:

Google Analytics

• Features: Tracks user behavior, demographics, and conversion trends.

• How It Helps: Provides historical data to predict customer behavior patterns.

Bigin by Zoho CRM

• Features: Leverage Bigin's email and pipeline tracking to analyze trends in customer responses.

• How It Helps: Sync Bigin with sentiment analysis platforms or APIs for real-time insights. For example:

  • Zapier Workflows: Automate the transfer of feedback to a tool like MonkeyLearn for sentiment analysis, then bring results back into Bigin.

3. Enhancing Customer Support

Customer support is the backbone of any successful business, and AI can significantly enhance this experience. For example, in WhatsApp Business, you can provide instant, 24/7 support to your customers…If you're wondering how?

The simple answer is through automated messaging and AI-powered chatbots. They can quickly respond to inquiries, resolve issues, and answer questions—no matter the time of day… it will feel like you who’s talking to them!If anything, by incorporating AI into your customer support strategy, you ensure that your customers feel heard and valued. This level of responsiveness builds trust and satisfaction, showing that you care about their experience.

Bonus: Crafting Compelling Business Emails and DM Messages

If you’ve often struggled with writing business emails or automated messages for your DM’s—trust me, you're not alone! You can use tools like Claude AI to craft compelling copy. Whether you're sending a follow-up email, a customer inquiry response, or a promotional message, AI can help you communicate clearly and professionally. With Claude, you can tailor your messaging to match your brand’s voice and tone, ensuring every interaction feels personal and impactful. From my experience, this tool can generate responses in seconds, saving you time and effort—while improving the consistency and quality of your communication.

While many might argue that ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are better options… when it comes to business-related copy like emails and documents, Claude takes the crown.

While most generative AI tools are powerful for crafting copy—Claude AI tends to focus on concise, professional communication, making it ideal for business use cases that require clarity.

So, whether it’s a quick reply on DM or a detailed business email, Claude can help you say the right words with confidence. This way, nurturing your good fish is more efficient, convenient, and easy.

Framework for Claude AI Prompts

1. Specify the Purpose: Clearly define the intent of the message (e.g., order updates, feedback requests).

2. Set the Tone: Choose between professional, friendly, empathetic, casual, or formal tones based on your audience.

3. Define the Structure:

   1. Opening: Acknowledge the recipient or situation.

   2. Body: Provide the main message concisely.

   3. Closing: End with a call-to-action, gratitude, or contact information.

4. Set the Voice:

   1. Business-to-Customer (B2C): Use a conversational and customer-focused voice.

   2. Business-to-Business (B2B): Maintain a formal yet approachable tone.

5. Include Variables: Use placeholders like [Customer Name], [Order ID], or [Event Date] for personalization.

6. Specify Word Count or Length: E.g., "Write a message under 50 words."

Example Prompts with Instructions

Customer Support

• Prompt: "Write a professional and empathetic WhatsApp message to a customer who reported an issue with their order. Use a polite tone, include an acknowledgment of the issue, and an apology, and assure that the issue is being resolved. End with an invitation to contact support if needed. Keep it under 50 words."

Order Updates

• Prompt: "Create a friendly order update message for WhatsApp. Start by greeting the customer using their name, inform them that their order has been shipped, and include the tracking link. Use a conversational tone and keep it brief and to the point."

Appointment Reminders

• Prompt: "Generate a concise WhatsApp appointment reminder message. Use a polite tone, include the appointment details (date, time, location), and offer an option to reschedule. End with a warm closing. Keep the message around 30 words."

Promotions and Marketing

• Prompt: "Write an engaging promotional message for a limited-time sale. Use a lively and upbeat tone, highlight the discount percentage, and include a clear call-to-action with a link. Structure the message in 2-3 short sentences."

Event Invitations

• Prompt: "Draft a casual WhatsApp invitation for a product launch event. Start with an enthusiastic greeting, mention the event details (date, time, location), and highlight the key benefits of attending. Use an inviting and inclusive tone."

Feedback and Surveys

• Prompt: "Create a polite WhatsApp message requesting feedback from a customer. Use a friendly and appreciative tone, mention how their feedback helps improve the service, and include a clickable survey link. Keep it under 40 words."

Payment Reminders

• Prompt: "Write a professional and friendly payment reminder message. Acknowledge the customer’s name, state the amount due and the due date, and include payment methods. Close with a thank-you note and contact details."

Tips for AI Prompts

1. Keep it Simple: Avoid jargon or overly complex language.

2. Stay Action-Oriented: Always guide the recipient toward the next step (e.g., clicking a link, or replying to the message).

3. Use Natural Language: Make it sound like a human wrote the message.

4. Test Variations: Experiment with different tones or structures to find what resonates with your audience.