Selling things online sounds easy, but anyone who’s done it seriously knows the reality: it’s a lot of tiny decisions, photo taking, descriptive writing, and odd messages. Some buyers are great. Some aren’t. Most of the headaches happen in the messaging, not the sale itself.
Over time, I’ve gotten better at handling this. One reason? I’ve been using AI to help me think through how I communicate in these situations.
Why bother?
Because writing clear, polite, professional responses over and over takes more energy than it should. And if you’re like me, someone who wants to be clear, fair, and firm but not rude, it helps to have a second brain that isn’t tired, annoyed, or in a rush.
AI doesn’t replace your judgment. It helps you slow down, think it through, and find the right words. That’s where it shines.
What It Helps Me Do
Here’s where AI has been practically useful in my online sales:
- Clarity: When a potential buyer sends a vague or pushy message, AI helps me write responses that are professional, clear, and polite, without opening doors I don’t want to open (like haggling in DMs).
- Boundaries: I can quickly write and refine messages that set expectations clearly, without sounding defensive.
- Efficiency: I keep a few AI-generated templates ready to tweak for common questions. It saves me time and makes my tone consistent.
Why This Matters
How you communicate online shapes how people treat you. Clear, polite, professional responses deter time-wasters and reassure serious buyers. AI makes it easier to keep your standards high, even when you’re tired or frustrated.
Not Magic, Just Practical
I’m skeptical by nature. I don’t think AI is going to change human nature or solve every problem. But used the right way, it’s a tool that helps you think, write, and communicate more clearly. That’s valuable, especially when small interactions add up to your reputation, your time, and your sanity.
If you’re in sales, communication, or customer-facing work of any kind, this is where AI actually earns its keep. Not by writing marketing hype. Not by pretending to be you. But by helping you show up consistently as your most professional, clear-headed self.
Disclaimer: I used the LLM GPt-4o to generate a draft of this post and to perform some of the tasks described. Ultimately I wrote most of this post and made the final edits. It’s based on my concepts and ideas.
Brian C. Russell 