Overcoming Challenges of AI in Content Creation
I’ve got to be honest—AI is impressive in content creation. It saves time, makes your life easier, and lets you crank out bulk articles, social media posts, newsletters...you name it.
But let’s keep it real: AI isn’t perfect. There are a few challenges regarding creativity, originality, and getting that brand voice right. And if you’re a small business owner or marketer, you’ve probably bumped into some of these issues.
Today, I want to discuss some common challenges you might face using AI for content creation. I'll share some tips to help you overcome those obstacles and, most importantly, show you how to balance AI efficiency with your unique human creativity.
Common Challenges of Using AI for Content
1. The Creativity
AI is great at producing well-written content quickly, but let’s face it—sometimes, it can lack that spark of creativity. If you’ve ever found an AI-generated post to be a little...well, boring or generic, you’re not alone. While it’s amazing at sticking to facts and structures, it might not always have that “wow” factor.
What to Expect:
Your AI-created content will be solid, informative, and get the point across, but sometimes it might miss that storytelling magic. Don’t worry; it’s just a foundation to build on!
Prompt Example for Adding Creativity:
“Take this paragraph and rewrite it to add excitement and a creative twist. I want the reader to feel inspired by this content! Do not include fluff or jargon”
2. Capturing Your Brand Voice
One thing AI struggles with is capturing the exact voice and personality of your brand. Maybe you’re casual and fun, or your brand is about professionalism and authority. AI tends to sound very formal or neutral—missing that special touch that makes your brand unique.
What to Expect:
You’ll get well-written content, but it might sound plain or mismatched with your brand’s vibe. This is your chance to add that touch of personality!
Prompt Example for Nailing the Tone:
“Rewrite this content with a playful and conversational tone that fits a pet care brand. Make it sound friendly like you’re talking to a friend who loves their dog.”
3. Balancing Efficiency with Human Touch
AI is all about efficiency—it gets the job done fast! But it’s important to remember that what makes your content special is you—your voice, ideas, and stories. AI might write a polished article, but it’s up to you to make it feel relatable, authentic, and engaging.
What to Expect:
AI will give you a polished draft, but you’ll need to step in to add those unique insights and a personal touch that make the content come alive.
Prompt Example for Adding Human Stories:
“Edit this content to include a personal story or real-life example that makes it relatable to small business owners.”
How to Tackle These AI Content Challenges
1. Mix AI with Your Editing
Think of AI as your content assistant. It’ll handle the first draft and get all the important info down, and then you can step in to enhance, rewrite, and make it shine. A little teamwork goes a long way!
Steps for Success:
Generate the Draft: Use an AI tool to create the basic content.
Add Your Touch: Read through and edit it to add your voice, personal experiences, and flair.
Refine and Polish: Make sure it’s original, valuable, and aligns with your brand.
Prompt Example to Improve Flow:
“Revise this article to include more of a storytelling element and connect with the reader personally.”
2. Give AI Creative Prompts for Better Output
The key to getting great content from AI is giving it detailed prompts. If you want creativity, you’ve got to ask for it! The more specifics you include in your prompt, the better the AI will understand what you want.
Prompting Tips:
Include details about tone, audience, and style.
Ask for multiple variations to see different angles.
Provide context or examples for the AI to build on.
Prompt Example for a More Creative Approach:
“Write an engaging blog post on how a morning routine boosts productivity. Use vivid language, include examples, and keep the tone inspiring and motivational.”
3. Stay Consistent with Your Brand Voice
To keep things aligned with your brand voice, you’ve got to guide the AI a bit. Think of it like training a new writer on your team—they must understand your tone, style, and message. Create a “cheat sheet” that outlines how your brand speaks, and then use that to shape your prompts.
Brand Voice Prompting Tips:
Tone: Specify if the tone should be friendly, serious, casual, or formal.
Keywords & Phrases: If your brand uses specific words often, mention them.
Audience: Include details about who you’re talking to—business professionals, new moms, tech geeks.
Prompt Example for Brand Consistency:
“Draft a LinkedIn post that sounds professional and helpful, highlighting how our digital marketing services can help startups. Keep it warm and inviting, ending with a call to action to connect with us.”
4. Keep an Eye on SEO—Without Overdoing It
SEO is important, but so is readability. AI can help you optimize for keywords, but make sure the content flows naturally. If you find that your keywords feel forced or disrupt the readability, edit for a more natural placement.
Balancing SEO and Readability:
Add keywords strategically, but don’t sacrifice tone or flow.
After the AI draft, read it out loud—does it sound like a human wrote it? If not, tweak it!
Prompt Example for Smooth SEO Integration:
“Edit this blog post to include the keyword ‘best running shoes’ naturally throughout the content while keeping the tone friendly and easy to read.”
Detailed Prompts for Improving AI Content
To Make the Content Engaging and Fun:
“Rewrite this section to include humor and light-hearted language. I want it to sound like a conversation with a friend sharing a funny story.”
To Focus on a Specific Audience:
“Write a Facebook post aimed at busy moms who want to find easy and healthy recipes for their kids. The tone should be encouraging and empathetic, focusing on time-saving tips.”
To Make the Content More Emotional and Relatable:
“Revise this email to sound more personal and heartfelt, speaking directly to our loyal customers and thanking them for their support over the years.”
What to Expect from AI Content & How to Make It Work for You
Expect to Edit & Improve
Your AI content will be a great first draft, but it’ll need your personal touch to bring it to life. Expect to spend a little time adding your voice, rearranging sentences, and making sure it sounds just right.
Expect a Solid Structure
AI will give you a well-organized draft with clear sections, bullet points, and headings—perfect for SEO and readability. Use this structure as a base, and fill in the details with your own insights and ideas.
Expect to Have Fun With It
Think of AI content creation as a collaboration. Let it do the heavy lifting, and you get to do the fun part—adding your creativity, personality, and that spark that only a human can bring.
Final Thoughts: Finding the Balance
AI is a fantastic tool for streamlining content creation and getting you to the finish line faster. But remember, your creativity and human touch are what make content memorable. Use AI to jump-start the process, and then let your ideas, stories, and personality take it to the next level.