Hey there. As a small business owner, the explosion of AI tools has created a new kind of problem: it's now easier than ever to generate content. That sounds great, right? But here's the catch—if you're relying on AI to churn out faceless, generic videos with voiceovers or flooding social media with mechanical posts, you're not really connecting with your audience. You're blending into the crowd, not standing out.

Why Generic AI Content Falls Flat

When you use AI without intention, just feeding it basic prompts and publishing whatever it spits out, your messaging feels hollow. It lacks the depth and authenticity that people crave. This is why so much of the content on social media today feels repetitive and uninspired—it’s just noise. People still want to hear from actual humans, not robots, and that personal touch matters now more than ever.

A Better Way to Use AI: Start With Your Words

Here’s what you should do instead: record your thoughts, ideas, and opinions in your own voice. Platforms like StreamYard make it easy to record and download a transcript of everything you say. Once you have that transcript, use it as a starting point. With AI tools like ChatGPT, you can transform your words into polished blog posts, emails, podcast descriptions, or even longer-form content.

This approach ensures the final product is uniquely yours. The AI becomes your rough draft generator, like a freelance copywriter you’re collaborating with. You’re still in control of the final edit, and over time, as you refine your prompts and feed the AI more of your own voice, the results will start to sound eerily like you—but in the best way possible.

Human Content, Robot Efficiency

Here’s the beauty of this approach: you let robots talk to robots while keeping the human-to-human connections intact. Your AI-driven content gets indexed by search engines, putting your business in front of the right people at the right time. Meanwhile, you maintain that authentic voice in your social media posts and customer interactions.

Instead of blasting generic content across platforms, focus on scaling the types of content that bring real value—like blog posts or email campaigns optimized for search engines. These are the pieces of content people actively seek out. And when they find you, they’re engaging with words that genuinely reflect your expertise and perspective.

Optimize Your Website for Connection and Conversion

Another tip: make sure your website is working for you. Every blog post should have a clear call to action. Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, scheduling a consultation, or checking out your services, guide your readers to take the next step. Many website platforms, like Squarespace, have features like related post recommendations that keep visitors engaged and exploring your content.

Use your tags strategically to ensure the related posts feature works effectively. For example, if a visitor is reading a post on AI content strategies, tags like "AI for Small Business" or "Content Marketing Tips" will direct them to similar topics they’ll find useful.

An Example Prompt for Using AI Effectively

To help you get started, here’s a simple example of a prompt you can use:
“Take this transcript of my recorded thoughts and turn it into a 650 to 850-word blog post. Focus on maintaining my conversational tone and making the content actionable. Include a clear call to action at the end.”

This type of prompt ensures the AI understands your goals and keeps the output aligned with your vision.

The Future of Content Creation

AI is a game-changer, but it’s not about replacing human creativity; it’s about enhancing it. Think of AI as a tool in your toolkit, not the entire workshop. It can’t replicate the unique perspective, humor, or nuance you bring to your business. By starting with your own words and using AI to refine and optimize, you get the best of both worlds: efficiency and authenticity.

That said, resist the urge to use AI for everything. Don't fall into the trap of churning out endless eBooks or keyword-stuffed social media posts. The internet is already oversaturated with content. Instead, focus on creating quality, purposeful material that serves your audience.

Content creation is evolving, but the principles remain the same: authenticity, clarity, and value. Use AI strategically to amplify your message, not replace it. Start with your own voice, let AI handle the heavy lifting of drafting, and refine the results until they truly reflect you.

Have questions about how to implement these strategies? Email me. Let’s chat about how you can level up your content strategy.