Google Digital Garage: The turning point for Clair's small business

For Clair Davis, the decision to start her own business wasn't just about independence – it was about playing to her strengths.

As the founder of Help With That, Clair offers virtual personal assistant services, helping business owners stay organised with tasks like managing their diary, co-ordinating projects and general admin.

"I'm really good at organising people," Clair says. "And I love helping others get things done. That's where I get a real sense of achievement."

After years of working as an employee, Clair took the leap in October 2022 and secured her first client. She hasn't looked back since.

But as many entrepreneurs discover, building a business brings its own steep learning curve, particularly when it comes to mastering digital marketing and staying ahead of evolving technology.

Facing the digital challenge

Like many small business owners, Clair's biggest challenge wasn't motivation or skill – it was navigating the overwhelming digital landscape.

Moving from a structured environment as an employee into entrepreneurship meant choosing her own tools and software – a task that quickly became daunting.

She explains:

"I'd grown up through the digital age using a set group of tools I was comfortable with. But as a business owner, I realised I was underutilising them.

"The marketing side especially was really tough for me, and I knew I needed help to bridge that gap."

When she heard about the Google Digital Garage event in Bury North, Clair jumped at the opportunity to improve her understanding of AI and digital marketing tools – and the experience was a game-changer.

"Aha" moments and lightbulb realisations

From the moment she arrived, Clair was immersed in insights she could put into action. Yet one of her biggest surprises was learning just how much she didn't know.

"I went in thinking I had a decent handle on my tech. But by lunchtime, I realised I might not even be using 1% of the tools available to me. It was both humbling and incredibly inspiring."

She was introduced to tools like Google's NotebookLM, which she'd never encountered before, and quickly recognised its potential to streamline and boost her productivity.

Meanwhile, the sessions on AI-powered marketing helped her realise the importance of writing more effective prompts for tools like Gemini.

"My prompts were sad," she jokes. "Now, I know how to ask better questions and get better results."

The event not only revealed new resources, but also boosted Clair's confidence in using them. She left with pages of notes, a to-do list of tools to explore and a renewed sense of direction.

Immediate applications and long-term transformation

Since attending the event, Clair has completely rethought her approach to digital marketing.

She scrapped her original strategy and went back to basics – rebuilding her brand plan from the ground up with the help of AI tools.

She says:

"I've already started implementing what I learned. I've reworked my prompts, started using NotebookLM and I'm now far more confident using AI day-to-day."

Though the measurable results – like web traffic or client engagement – will take time to reflect the changes, Clair notes that the personal growth she's experienced is already paying off.

"I'm now evangelical about it – I'm telling other entrepreneurs, 'Have you heard about this? You need to go to one of these workshops!'"

A ripple effect: Inspiring others to embrace AI

Clair didn't attend the Digital Garage alone. She brought a fellow entrepreneur with her – someone initially sceptical about AI, particularly within the creative industries.

Thanks to the sessions' balanced, inclusive tone, her guest left with a changed mindset and a toolkit of resources she never thought she'd use.

Clair explains:

"There's a lot of concern in creative fields that AI will replace people. But the event addressed that straight away and showed how these tools are here to support us, not push us out."

Clair herself has gone one step further by signing up to become a mentor through Enterprise Nation, aiming to pay it forward and help others navigate their own business journeys.

A call to action for other entrepreneurs

Would Clair recommend the Google Digital Garage to other small business owners?

"Absolutely – 100%. Even if your business is thriving, you'll get left behind if you don't keep up with tech. The event gave me practical, real-world advice I could take away and apply immediately."

Her advice to those thinking of attending?

"Go prepared. You'll leave with a to-do list a mile long – but in the best way possible. You don't know how much you don't know until you're there."

Ready to transform your business?

Google Digital Garage, in partnership with Enterprise Nation, offers free, high-quality training sessions across the UK – designed to give small business owners the skills and confidence they need to grow in today's digital-first economy.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, these events offer practical support, expert-led learning and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Sign up for a Digital Garage event near you and take the next step toward future-proofing your business.

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