Three updates from this week that change how small businesses and creators find customers and make content. Below: the news, two tools worth a look, the numbers so far, and a simple workflow you can use this week.

1. Top news from the past 7 days

OpenAI is testing Sponsored Agents in ChatGPT (September 16)

When someone clicks an ad in ChatGPT, they can start a clearly labeled chat with the business's own AI agent and ask questions before visiting the website. Sponsored Agents are being tested with select advertisers in the United States.

OpenAI also added campaign creation by prompt in ChatGPT Work, new AI creative tools in Ads Manager, and integrations with HubSpot (its first CRM partner) and Shopify (its first ecommerce partner).

Read OpenAI's announcement

HubSpot connects to ChatGPT Ads and launches an AI Growth Bundle (September 16)

HubSpot is the first CRM to integrate with ChatGPT Ads, and the integration is in public beta. You can build and launch a campaign from HubSpot, see results next to your other ad channels, and trace a closed deal back to the campaign that started it. You need a HubSpot Marketing Hub account (any tier, including Free) and a ChatGPT Ads account.

HubSpot's AI Growth Bundle, for new HubSpot customers, includes up to $750 in ChatGPT ad credit once you spend $750. New US advertisers who sign up by September 30 are eligible, and terms apply. HubSpot lists up to $500 after that date.

Read HubSpot's announcement | HubSpot Community post | See the AI Growth Bundle

Canva launches ProSuite (September 15)

Canva brought Affinity, Cavalry, Flourish, and Leonardo together as one connected suite with dozens of new features. The core Affinity and Cavalry apps stay free. Coming soon, you'll be able to choose parts of a Cavalry animation, like text or color, to edit directly in Canva while the main scene stays locked.

Read Canva's announcement

2. Two tools worth a look

Tool 1: ChatGPT Ads and Sponsored Agents

  • Conversational ads. Someone who clicks a Sponsored Agent ad can ask follow-up questions, like whether a dining table fits their space, before going to your site. That's OpenAI's own example, and it's still a test.
  • Campaigns by prompt. In ChatGPT, the Ads Manager plugin can turn a website or brief into a campaign and suggest copy and images based on your landing page and goal. You review and edit before anything runs. An opt-in setting adapts headlines to the conversation and translates ad copy.
  • Tracking in HubSpot. HubSpot adds tracking parameters to your ad links so clicks connect to contacts and deals. When a lead from a ChatGPT ad converts, HubSpot sends that signal back to ChatGPT Ads so targeting can aim for closed deals, not just clicks.

Best for: reaching buyers who are already asking questions in ChatGPT.

Worth knowing: ads currently reach people on ChatGPT's Free and Go plans, in the US, Canada, Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Japan. They aren't shown to subscribers on paid plans like Plus or Business. That could matter if your buyers mostly use ChatGPT at work.

Tool 2: Canva AI 2.0

Canva AI 2.0 launched in April as a research preview, so it isn't this week's news. It's the part of Canva most relevant to marketers, and it works alongside ProSuite.

  • Layered objects. Everything it generates is built from separate, editable objects instead of a flat image. Ask for one change and only that changes.
  • Brand memory. It applies your fonts, colors, and style automatically and remembers how you work. Canva says you can also ask it to apply your latest brand to existing work.
  • Campaigns in one request. Canva says you can ask for a multi-channel campaign plan and get content in each format, on brand.

Best for: making visual content for several channels without redoing the design each time.

3. Numbers worth knowing

These launches are days old, so there are no independent case studies yet. Here are the figures the companies have shared. All of them are self-reported.

  • OpenAI said its ChatGPT Ads business reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate by August 31, as reported by PYMNTS.
  • OpenAI also said tens of thousands of advertisers now use the platform.
  • HubSpot says weekly active users of its ChatGPT connector grew 250%.

4. A simple workflow: one idea, a week of posts

This four-step workflow turns one idea into posts for several channels. It takes about an hour.

  1. Start with one idea (about 15 minutes). Write a 300 to 500 word brief, or record a short voice note, about one lesson, client challenge, or industry change. Decide the main takeaway and who it's for before you open any AI tool.
  2. Adapt the copy (about 10 minutes). Ask your AI writing tool for three pieces: a LinkedIn post of about 150 words with a strong first line and three actionable bullets, a five-slide carousel script (hook, three slides of the framework, a save-or-share prompt), and a 45-second short-form video script with a hook in the first three seconds.
  3. Build the visuals (about 15 minutes). In Canva AI 2.0, paste the carousel outline and choose your Brand Kit. Because designs come as separate layers, you can change headline fonts, adjust spacing, or swap in your own screenshots without regenerating the whole design. Export at 1080 x 1350 for the carousel and 1080 x 1920 for stories and reel covers.
  4. Schedule and capture leads (about 10 minutes). Schedule the posts across your channels. Add a call to action that asks people to reply with a keyword or visit a landing page connected to your CRM, so inquiries land somewhere you can follow up.

5. Why this matters if you run a small business or create content

  • People now ask AI for recommendations, not just Google. Ads are showing up inside those conversations. Try asking ChatGPT the questions your customers ask and see whether your business shows up.
  • Running ads is getting easier. No agency and no extra dashboard. If you already use HubSpot, it's a few clicks. Start with a small budget and see what happens.
  • Your content matters more. An AI agent can only answer customers as well as the information you give it. Write down your pricing, your real FAQs, and what you actually offer.
  • Choose layered design tools. Being able to edit one element without redoing everything saves time and keeps your brand consistent.
  • Tie your AI experiments to customer data. If you use a CRM like HubSpot, you can see which ads led to contacts and deals, not just clicks.

Would you try ads inside ChatGPT? I'm curious where you land.

Sources