For months my clients, colleagues, and subscribers have been asking me:
What are your thoughts on AI?
And for months I’ve avoided answering the question because the honest truth is…
I was scared.
I was afraid that my job – the one I’ve put 10+ years of time, energy, and passion into – would disappear.
I felt anxious, worrying about what AI could mean for the future of my business.
And I felt pressured to immediately embrace a male-created technology that seemed intent on erasing me – and other women who rely on their communication skills to make a living.
But I’m also not someone who lets fear run my life.
So in January 2023, I participated in a multi-day workshop focused on copywriting and AI (thank you Sam Woods!) so I could understand the technology and how it would impact my industry.
When the workshop ended, I continued using various AI tools for months, not to “do my job for me,” but to understand how they worked – and IF they could be useful to me.
In the beginning, I was extremely skeptical. And defensive. I thought “there’s no way some stupid robot can do my job better than me.”
Well, after 8 months of using the tools consistently, I’m happy to report that my original belief is TRUE – however, I’ve found AI to be useful in a TON of other ways.
In this article I’m going to share a few of my favorite ways to use AI before, during, and outside of the copywriting process.
Let’s dive in!
How to use AI as a copywriter – 6 real-world examples
#1: Content Analysis
I use Bard to help me analyze hundreds or even thousands of customer testimonials and survey responses.
It helps me quickly identify the recurring themes and ranks them for me in order or priority, which saves me HOURS of time — and helps me make faster, more confident content recommendations.
For me, content recommendations usually means website or landing page structure, but I also use recurring themes to help me create more effective content strategies (like for email or other marketing channels).
Here’s an example of a prompt I might use:
I still manually review hundreds of testimonials/survey results to get copy ideas (and to familiarize myself with how the target audience communicates), but having the high-level themes identified for me is helpful.
This is probably my favorite way to use AI as it relates to my research-focused process.
#2: Keywords
If I’m writing a blog post or website copy that requires keywords, I now ask Bard to give me keyword ideas to help with SEO (I even used it for this blog post!).
Here’s the exact prompt I used for this article:
I just started doing this so I don’t know what the long-term payoff will be just yet, but I’ve found it really helpful in guiding my choice in content topics and language.
#3: Copy IDEAS (but not actual copy)
I’m a copywriter who, unlike most people, ENJOYS the writing process.
It’s just not something I personally struggle with, so I don’t usually need a ton of help when coming up with ideas or churning out copy (I’ve also been writing copy for 10+ years so that is part of it).
For that reason, I don’t rely on AI too much for copywriting.
HOWEVER, when I have asked asked ChatGPT (and similar tools) for copy, most of what comes out is generic and needs a lot of finessing (which requires time and effort, usually negating the “time-saving benefit” altogether).
In fact, over the last 8 months, the AI tools haven’t produced a single piece of copy that is both usable and up to my high standards.
That being said, I’ve found it somewhat useful as an “explorative” tool that can spark additional ideas, especially when I’m stuck.
For example, I might come up with a bunch of headline options and then ask ChatGPT for additional ideas like this:
It’s also been somewhat helpful when I’m trying to write in a specific tone or style.
For copywriting-related stuff, I think ChatGPT is better than Bard. I just started using Claude, too, but I don’t have a strong opinion on that yet.
#4: Finding specific information fast
I often use Bard like a search engine. But with Bard, I can get hyper specific with my questions, which saves me from having to sift through tons of search results.
For example, I’m working with a client right now who sells high-quality firewood – I needed some quick information on the flavor and aroma of a specific wood, so I went to Bard and asked:
While I could go to Google for similar information, Bard gives me what I’m looking for quickly and concisely; I don’t need to hunt through multiple articles to find the info I need (most of the time).
I know AI tools aren’t always 100% reliable with the information they provide, but I feel comfortable using it for certain things like the example above (and can always double-check with a quick Google search).
#5: Business advice
I talk to Bard like it’s my personal business consultant.
I ask it for things like industry predictions, ideas for how I can market my business, tips for content batching, or questions about projects I’m working on.
Again, similar to my note above, you can get hyper specific with your query, so the advice it spits out is targeted and relevant to your unique situation.
Here’s an example of a prompt I used recently (as you can see, I spared no detail and made it personalized to my specific situation):
Every suggestion it gave me was in line with what I was looking for and took my “constraints” into consideration. I’m not saying it works perfectly for every situation every time, but it can be useful.
#6: Personal use
I use AI a ton for personal use. Like way more than I ever thought I would.
For example, Bard helped me find a last-minute hair appointment with a master colorist who specializes in blondes in NYC (no easy task).
I ask Bard to interpret dreams. To build workout and stretching routines that target specific areas. Or to create cocktail recipes using the ingredients I have in my cabinet.
Here’s an example of a prompt I used recently with ChatGPT:
While this category isn’t exactly “copy specific” I’ve found that using AI for personal use helps you become comfortable with the tools – so when you do need to use it for work, you feel less intimidated and more confident.
How are you using AI to write copy? Are there any AI copywriting tools you love?
Do you have any tips for how to write better copy with AI?
I’d love to hear all about it! Share by commenting below or reaching out to me directly on LinkedIn.
If you’re a copywriter and you haven’t tried AI yet (or don’t feel comfortable with it yet), I get it. Seriously.
Learning something new is scary, especially if you’re not that “techy” or are worried about how AI will impact your copywriting career or business.
But the best way to overcome your fear is to face it – by simply using the tools, you can understand how they work and how they can be useful in your copywriting process (and in your life!).
Once you’re comfortable with AI, you’ll think less of it like a “threat” and see it for what it really is – a tool that makes your job faster and easier.
As always, thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this article, please share with a friend or colleague.
