By Bill Mathews, Curious Robot Whisperer
A quasi-retired consultant living in Ohio, Bill is a fan of photography, technology, and writing. Learn more about him here: https://billfordx.medium.com/
I get it—running a business doesn’t leave much time for crafting that super content you’ve been dreaming about. What if I told you AI could help you create it while keeping your unique voice intact?
Here’s the truth: AI won’t magically preserve authenticity automatically, but it can get you close and it can learn.
Let’s break it down so you can see how to use AI to write content that still feels like you.
Starting With the Seed
Every piece of content starts with a seed—that initial idea. It’s your foundation. Let’s say you’re working on a short blog post or product description. Start by giving your AI assistant clear instructions.
For example:
All right, that’s not bad–but we can do a little better. Let’s give it more than 100 characters and more detail about what we want.
Functional, but let’s be honest. It feels a little flat. It’s a start, but it doesn’t sound like our brand.
AI is great for getting the ball rolling, but this is where your input turns a generic draft into something great.
Teaching AI Your Voice
Does that first draft feel robotic? Probably. To fix that, you need to help your AI assistant learn your tone and language. AI can mimic your voice—you just have to teach it how.
Here’s how to do it:
- Define Key Terms: Share how your brand refers to specific concepts or products. For example:
Setting these ground rules ensures your content stays consistent.
2. Share Your Style: AI doesn’t intuitively know your tone. Use examples from your existing content to guide it:
- Provide a few sample blog posts, emails, or product descriptions that reflect your style.
- Note things like, “We write casually, with a friendly, conversational tone and avoid jargon.”
In our prompt, we told AI to examine our website and learn how we write to our customers. It then rewrote our blog post in our style to fit right in. If you don’t think that’s awesome, I’m out of tricks.
Once AI gets a sense of your preferences, ask it to rewrite drafts using your brand’s terms and tone.
Now that it knows our rules, let’s make it write like we do.
Refining the AI Output
Writing isn’t a one-and-done task. AI is a tool, but the final touch comes from you. Here’s how to take its output to the next level:
- Critique the Output: Ask AI to analyze its own work. Try something like:
- “Critique this blog post as if you were an editor for a business website.”
- Use its feedback to tweak and polish the content.
- Request Rewrites: If something feels off, prompt AI for adjustments:
- “Rewrite this with a friendlier, more conversational tone.”
AI helps with structure and ideas, but your edits ensure the content truly resonates with your audience.
Automating the Process
No time to guide AI every time? Automate it:
- Save your brand guidelines and tone preferences in your AI tool.
- Use templates for recurring tasks, like email campaigns or social media posts.
This setup lets your AI assistant replicate your style without constant back-and-forth.
Bonus Tip: Make AI Your Critique Partner
Here’s a game-changer: use AI as your personal editor. Ask it to critique your work like a pro. For instance:
- “Critique this from the perspective of a content strategist focused on engagement.”
- “Evaluate this draft as if you’re a reader looking for practical takeaways.”
The feedback you get often includes actionable suggestions, like reorganizing ideas or simplifying phrasing. Even better? You can ask AI to apply those changes directly, no guess work needed.
Staying Authentic
Above all, your voice matters. AI can tackle repetitive tasks and spark ideas, but your unique perspective is what sets your content apart. Always review and refine to make sure your message feels genuine and aligned with your brand.
Using AI isn’t about handing over the reins. It’s about speeding up your process and helping you focus on what truly matters—connecting with your audience. With the right approach, AI becomes a creative partner that helps you craft content faster, without losing your personal touch.
Ready to dive in? Start small. Use AI to draft an outline or brainstorm ideas. Refine the results until they reflect your voice. With practice, you’ll develop a workflow that blends AI efficiency with your authentic creativity. The outcome? Content that feels like it’s undeniably yours—because it is.