Copywriting With an AI Assistant

Understanding The Limitations of AI

We must recognize its strengths and weaknesses to harness AI’s potential in crafting humanlike copy. It’s crucial to realize that while AI can be a powerful tool, it isn’t a magic wand. For top-tier copy that resonates with readers and ranks well in search engines, view AI as a valuable ally rather than a standalone copywriting machine.

What limitations does AI have when creating copy?

Using AI to write copy offers numerous advantages, such as speed, scalability, and data-driven insights. However, AI also has several limitations. Here are a few to understand a little better.

1. Lack of Genuine Creativity: 

AI generates content based on patterns in the data it has been trained on. It doesn’t “think” creatively or produce genuinely original ideas. While it can mimic creativity by recombining existing theories, it doesn’t have the spark of genuine human creativity.

2. Context Misunderstandings: 

AI can sometimes misinterpret context or nuances, leading to content that might be technically correct but contextually inappropriate or tone-deaf.

3. OverReliance on Data: 

An AI-driven copy can become overly formulaic if it leans too heavily on data patterns. This can make the content feel generic or need a unique voice.

4. Potential for Biases: 

If the data AI is trained on contains biases, the AI-generated content might also reflect those biases. This can lead to content that is unintentionally offensive or perpetuates stereotypes.

5. Difficulty with Emotional Resonance: 

Crafting copy that resonates emotionally with readers requires empathy, a human trait. AI doesn’t possess emotions, so it might struggle to create content that genuinely connects on an emotional level.

6. Lack of Domain Expertise: 

While AI can be trained on specific domains, it needs to have the depth of expertise or years of experience that a human expert might have in a particular field.

7. Ethical Concerns: 

Using AI-generated content without disclosure can raise ethical concerns, especially if readers believe they are reading content written by a human.

8. OverGeneration: 

AI can produce vast content quickly, but more is sometimes better. There’s a risk of overwhelming readers or diluting the core message.

9. Dependency and Overreliance: 

Relying solely on AI for copy can lead to a lack of diversity in content and voice. It’s essential to have human oversight to ensure variety and quality.

10. Difficulty with Sarcasm and Humor: 

AI can struggle with understanding and generating sarcasm, humor, or other nuanced forms of communication. What might be funny or sarcastic to humans could be taken literally by AI.

11. Limited to Training Data: 

AI’s knowledge is limited to its training data and any real-time information retrieval capabilities it might have. It won’t “know” about events or developments beyond its last update unless it has tools to fetch current data.

12. Revision Limitations: 

While AI can generate copy quickly, it doesn’t inherently understand feedback as humans do. Iterative revisions require specific and detailed prompts.

In summary, while AI offers powerful tools for generating copy, it’s essential to be aware of its limitations. Combining AI’s strengths with human oversight, creativity, and expertise often yields the best results.

Having recognized AI’s limitations, it’s essential to adjust our expectations. Let’s shift our perspective rather than envisioning a single click that conjures a high-earning sales letter. Embrace AI as a tool to expedite research and content creation, leveraging it as a valuable resource to craft exceptional copy.

Using AI for Research and Outlining Your Project

AI has a broad knowledge base that covers a wide range of topics. If there are gaps, you can supplement it with specific online searches. This involves feeding it information from reliable sources, a method known as prompting or training the AI. The objective is to get detailed content that fits your requirements. Find the necessary information online, input it into the AI, and then instruct it to produce content in your desired style.

When working with an AI tool like ChatGPT, asking questions related to your topic is beneficial. For instance, if you’re curious about the demand for AI image generators, simply inquire. This approach clarifies your audience’s interests, guiding the AI’s content generation.

If you’re planning an article on WordPress plugins, you might ask the AI, “What are the key considerations for an article on the top 10 WordPress plugins?“. This aligns the AI with your intent and directs the content’s structure.

Once you’re ready, ask the AI to create an outline based on your discussion. Specify your requirements, such as the depth or style of the outline. Experiment with your requests to get the desired outcome.


Here are ten questions you can use to ask your AI to improve the content you receive.

1. Audience Insight: “Who is the primary target audience for this content, and what are their main interests or pain points?”

2. Content Objective: “What is this content piece’s primary goal or call to action?”

3. Tone and Style: “Can you provide examples of content written in a [casual/formal/humorous/informative] tone?”

4. Competitive Analysis: “How does my content topic compare to popular articles or sales copy in the same niche?”

5. SEO Optimization: “What are the relevant keywords or phrases I should include to optimize this content for search engines?”

6. Content Structure: “Can you suggest an outline or structure for this [article/website/sales copy] based on the topic?”

7. Engagement Tactics: “What elements can I incorporate to make the content more engaging or interactive for readers?”

8. Relevance Check: “Are there any recent developments or trends related to this topic that I should be aware of?”

9. Content-Length: “What’s the ideal word count or length for this type of content to maintain reader interest and optimize for SEO?”

10. Feedback Loop: “Based on the draft I’ve provided, what improvements or changes would you suggest for better clarity, engagement, and effectiveness?”

By posing these questions, users can gain a more precise direction, ensure content relevance, and optimize their content to better resonate with their target audience.


Expand Upon Your Outline With AI Background and Human Insights

Once you’ve settled on an outline and are gearing up to populate it with content, return to your goto AI for assistance in enriching your article with a human touch. A strength of AI is its vast knowledge of historical contexts. Leveraging this, you can request background details that will captivate your readers. For instance, by inquiring, “Who created the inaugural plugin for WordPress?” you can weave intriguing tidbits to enhance your article’s depth and appeal.

Incorporating personal insights into your content can significantly enhance its connection with readers. Expressing personal experiences, like “I always find it thrilling to test new WordPress plugins and see their effects on my site,” lends a genuine touch. Adding lighthearted remarks like “This tool has powered award-winning website content, though my trophy seems to be lost in the mail…” brings a unique flavor. These personal touches not only humanize your content but also set it apart. After all, readers seek a distinct voice amidst the sea of AI-generated content available on countless other sites. They should feel they’re getting a unique perspective from you. 

A helpful strategy is to input your target keyword into Google and then navigate to the page’s end to view the related search queries. Inputting these terms into ChatGPT can yield insightful results. This method is an effective way to have ChatGPT address commonly asked questions related to your topic.


Use AI To Edit Itself

Now that you’ve created a unique article, it is time to edit and add finishing touches. Ask your AI to review any potential errors from the research and development phases to ensure accuracy and coherence. Initiate a fresh chat, paste your article, and prompt, “Could you review this article for errors or inaccuracies and offer feedback for improvements?” 

Take what you’ve learned from the AI and incorporate those changes into your article. Use other tools like Grammarly to smooth rough edges and correct lingering mistakes. The more effort you put into it, the better the result.

A strategy I’ve found effective while collaborating with AI is to have it evaluate your article for potential omissions. Just input your article and inquire, “It seems this article might be missing some details. What additional information can be incorporated to ensure comprehensive coverage for my readers?” This will give you any small details you may have missed, and the search engines will love you for the extra info.

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Miscellaneous Things To Consider

1. Ethical Dimensions: The ethics of AI-generated content should be considered. Should audiences be alerted when engaging with AI-crafted pieces? And what are the implications for professionals in the content industry?

2. Tailoring AI to Your Needs: AI models aren’t one-size-fits-all. They can be trained and fine-tuned to specific datasets, ensuring relevance to niche subjects or sectors.

3. Seamless Tool Integration: AI’s potential is magnified when integrated with other digital platforms, from CMS systems, SEO tools, and even analytics platforms that evaluate content’s impact.

4. The AI Horizon: As we look to the future, how will evolving AI technologies reshape the content landscape? The possibilities are both exciting and vast.

5. The Power of Partnership: The collaboration between humans and AI is pivotal. While AI offers efficiency, the human touch ensures content resonates with brand ethos and audience emotions.

6. Evaluating Costs: Beyond free tools, consider the long-term value of investing in premium AI solutions. Time savings, enhanced content quality, and reduced manual labor might offset the initial cost.

7. Real-World AI Successes: Highlighting case studies or examples can demystify AI’s role in content creation, showcasing tangible benefits and real-world applications.

8. Safeguarding Data: In an era where data is gold, ensuring security is paramount. Understanding their data handling and protection measures is crucial when leveraging cloud-based AI tools.

As you integrate AI into your content strategy, these considerations will ensure a more informed, ethical, and effective approach. The fusion of technology and human insight promises a dynamic future for content creation.

Final Thoughts

With its rapid generation capabilities, AI can lay the groundwork, but human oversight refines and elevates it. It’s akin to a sculptor using tools: the tools shape the sculpture, but the artist’s vision and touch bring it to life.

Moreover, a brand’s values, ethos, and goals are inherently human constructs. Ensuring content resonates with these elements requires human intervention. By collaborating with AI, content creators can harness the best of both worlds: AI’s efficiency and human creativity. This partnership streamlines the content creation process and ensures the end product is both high-quality and deeply resonant. In essence, human-AI collaboration is the future of authentic, impactful content.

FAQ: Using AI for Content Creation

Q1: How can I use AI to write content correctly online?

 A: Understand your AI tool’s strengths and weaknesses. Utilize AI for research, initial drafts, and editing, but always incorporate a human touch during the final revisions to ensure authenticity and relevance.

Q2: Are there ways to use AI for content creation for free?

 A: Although several AI tools are free, they might have limitations to features or usage. Always verify the content produced by free tools for accuracy and context.

Q3: What is a free AI writing generator?

 A: Tools like OpenAI’s GPT2 offer models for content generation. Some platforms provide limited free trials or features, allowing users to generate content without immediate costs.

Q4: How can I effectively use AI to draft articles?

 A: Begin with a clear outline. Let AI draft sections, then refine and tailor the content with human oversight to ensure it’s targeted and manageable.

Q5: What is ChatGPT?

 A: ChatGPT is a conversational AI model by OpenAI. While designed primarily for conversations, it can also be employed for content-generation tasks.

Q6: Can you recommend a free AI content generator?

 A: Several online platforms are offering free content generation services. While they can be helpful, always assess the quality and relevance of the generated content for your specific needs.

Q7: Which AI writer is considered the best?

 A: The “best” often depends on specific requirements. GPT3 by OpenAI is among the most advanced, but tools like Jasper, Sudowrite, and Writesonic cater to different writing needs with unique features.

Q8: Are there any top free AI tools for content writing?

 A: While many advanced tools come with a cost, some offer free versions with basic capabilities. Research and trial various tools to find one that aligns with your content objectives and budget.