7 AI Image Generators Every Business Owner Needs to Know About
If you want your marketing to stand out – compelling visual content is no longer optional – it’s essential.
Let me guide you through seven powerful AI tools that could transform how you create visual content for your business, complete with their pricing structures and practical applications.
1. Midjourney (https://www.midjourney.com)
Starting at £10 monthly with no free tier, Midjourney leads the pack for photorealistic images. While this might seem an investment, consider how you could use it for:
- Product photography alternatives that would typically cost hundreds per shoot
- Lifestyle shots for your website
- Professional headshots and team photos
- Location-based marketing materials
- Event promotion imagery
One restaurant owner in my coaching network replaced their £2,000 quarterly photography budget with Midjourney, creating stunning food photography for their menu and website.
2. Adobe Firefly (https://www.adobe.com/uk/sensei/generative-ai/firefly.html)
Available free with an Adobe account, with a premium tier at £4.99 monthly, Firefly stands out for its ethical approach to AI. It’s perfect for:
- Social media content creation
- Brand-consistent marketing materials
- Product mockups
- Website banners and graphics
- Newsletter illustrations
The free tier is generous enough for small businesses to test the waters, while the premium version unlocks higher resolution outputs and more features.
3. Leonardo AI (https://leonardo.ai)
With a free tier offering 150 images and paid plans starting at £10 monthly, Leonardo provides excellent value for:
- E-commerce product images
- Social media campaigns
- Email marketing visuals
- Blog post illustrations
- Presentation graphics
The free tier alone could cover a month’s worth of social media content for many small businesses.
4. Ideogram (https://ideogram.ai)
Offering 25 free prompts daily and premium plans from £8 monthly, Ideogram excels at creating:
- Social media quote cards
- Event posters and flyers
- Promotional banners with text
- Email headers
- Instagram story templates
The free daily allowance is perfect for businesses just starting with AI image generation.
5. Google Gemini (https://gemini.google.com)
Completely free with a Google account, with additional generations available at £20 monthly, Gemini is ideal for:
- Quick social media graphics
- Simple marketing materials
- Blog post images
- Newsletter headers
- Website decorative elements
The free tier is particularly generous, making it an excellent starting point for small businesses.
6. DALL-E 3 via ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com)
Available through ChatGPT Plus (£20 monthly) with no free tier, DALL-E 3 provides:
- Concept visualisation
- Brand story illustrations
- Educational content
- Product concept designs
- Marketing campaign visuals
While pricier than some options, the natural language interface makes it incredibly user-friendly.
7. NightCafe (https://creator.nightcafe.studio)
Offering 5 free daily credits plus bonus credits for community engagement, with paid plans starting at £6 monthly for 100 additional credits, NightCafe is perfect for:
- Experimental marketing concepts
- Artistic brand elements
- Unique social media content
- Website artwork
- Creative campaign visuals
The credit system allows you to pay for what you need, making it cost-effective for occasional use.
Making the Right Choice for Your Budget
When selecting a tool, consider:
- Your monthly image needs
- Required image quality
- Integration with existing workflows
- Budget constraints
- Time available for learning the platform
Many businesses start with a free tier to experiment, then upgrade once they’ve identified their specific needs and potential return on investment.
Beyond Images: Creating Marketing That Truly Connects
While powerful visuals are important, truly effective marketing goes much deeper.
In my experience coaching business owners, I’ve noticed a common challenge – many struggle to define and understand their target audience. Without this crucial foundation, even the most stunning images won’t deliver the results you need.
Think about it: you wouldn’t have a conversation without knowing who you’re talking to, yet many businesses create marketing content without really understanding their ideal customer.
Who are they? What keeps them awake at night?
What problems are they trying to solve?
These insights transform good marketing into great marketing.
As your business coach, I can help you:
- Define your ideal customer profile with clarity
- Understand their true needs and pain points
- Create messaging that resonates deeply
- Develop marketing that speaks directly to their challenges
- Build a strategy that combines compelling visuals with powerful messages
Ready to make your marketing work harder? Let’s have a virtual coffee and explore how to transform your approach. We’ll discuss not just how to create beautiful content, but how to ensure it connects with the right people in the right way.
Book your free 30-minute consultation now. Together, we can turn your marketing from a cost into an investment that delivers real results.
