AI is becoming an increasingly prevalent part of business operations, particularly when it comes to developing creative content and analysis.  The team at Content Savants judiciously leverages AI in the development of client materials, enabling our turnaround time to shorten, and in the ever-competitive market of creative writing – keeping prices down.

At the same time, many businesses are leveraging AI to develop their own in-house capabilities in developing online content and promotional materials.  Following some coursework that has been developed for clients seeking input into their own effective use of AI, we have put together a short guide in how to effectively use this tool.  And yes, some of this text was originally generated by AI.  And yes, all of it has been vetted, reviewed, edited and streamlined for rationality and conformity to the Content Savant style of writing.

Businesses are learning more and more how AI can be incredibly helpful when it comes to brainstorming content creation ideas. Let’s walk through how you can use AI to come up with fresh, engaging, and relevant content for your marketing strategy.

1. Start by Defining Your Niche

Before you jump into the world of AI, it’s important to get clear on what specific areas of business strategy and marketing you want to focus on. This could be anything from content marketing to social media strategy, customer retention, or even marketing analytics.

Once you have a clear focus, you’ll be able to use AI in a way that aligns with your goals. Think of it as setting a compass—AI will be much more helpful when it knows exactly where you want to go.

For example, if your blog focuses on widget repair services, you’ll want your AI prompts to be about trends in widgets, use of widgets, repair of widgets and overall widget strategy. 

2. Ask the Right Questions

As the team at Content Savants has found out through (sometimes painful) trial and error, AI works best when you ask specific, targeted questions. The more detailed your prompts, the better the responses you’ll get. Here’s a good rule of thumb: Think of the kinds of blog posts that would interest your audience, then let AI help you break those down into workable ideas.

Let’s say you want to write a post about “Innovative Marketing Campaigns.” Instead of asking, “Give me ideas for marketing campaigns,” try a more focused approach like:

• “What are the top marketing campaigns that have used artificial intelligence in 2024?”
• “How can small businesses use influencer marketing to boost brand awareness?”
• “What are the key elements of a successful email marketing campaign?”

With a little tweaking, you can generate several angles on the same topic. AI can help you refine your questions to open up new opportunities that you might not have considered.

3. Use AI to Generate Blog Post Outlines

Once you have a basic idea or question, AI can help you structure your blog post. You don’t have to sit there staring at a blank screen wondering where to start. Simply ask AI to generate an outline for you.

For example, if you wanted to write about “The Importance of Personalization in Marketing Campaigns,” you could ask AI:

• “Can you generate an outline for a blog post on the benefits of personalized marketing?”

The result might be something like this:

1. Introduction: Why personalized marketing is a game-changer
2. What is Personalized Marketing? A quick definition
3. The Benefits of Personalization: Increased engagement, loyalty, and ROI
4. Case Studies of Successful Personalized Campaigns
5. How to Implement Personalization in Your Marketing Strategy
6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
7. Conclusion: How personalization shapes the future of marketing

By using AI to generate an outline, you now have a framework to flesh out your content without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, the outline gives you a sense of direction, which is crucial for staying on track.

4. Generate Specific Blog Ideas from AI-Powered Trends

Sometimes, the hardest part of writing is coming up with a relevant topic. Sure, there are timeless subjects in business strategy and marketing, but you want to keep your content fresh and timely.

This is where AI-powered tools like trend analyzers or content generators come in handy. These tools can scan recent developments in the marketing world and highlight trending topics that your audience will care about.

For example, you could ask AI:

• “What are the emerging trends in business strategy for 2024?”
• “Can you list popular topics in digital marketing that are currently trending?”
• “What marketing technologies should businesses adopt in the next year?”

The AI might generate insights like:

• Artificial Intelligence in Marketing Automation
• Voice Search Optimization for Businesses
• Interactive Content in Marketing Campaigns

Not only will this give you fresh content ideas, but you’ll also be staying ahead of the curve and offering your readers valuable, up-to-date insights.

5. Use AI for Idea Refinement and Enhancement

Sometimes you’ll have an idea, but it’s not quite fully fleshed out. Here’s where AI can help you polish those ideas. For example, you might have a vague idea about “Social Media Strategies for 2024,” but you’re not sure what angle to take.

AI can help you brainstorm related subtopics by asking follow-up questions like:

• “What are some unique social media strategies businesses are using in 2024?”
• “Can you give me statistics that show the effectiveness of TikTok marketing?”
• “What are some challenges businesses face with social media marketing in 2024?”

You can then take those ideas, combine them, and refine them into a full blog post. AI can help you see what’s missing or suggest related concepts to make the blog even more valuable.

6. Brainstorm Alternative Angles or Formats

Maybe you’re stuck in a rut of writing long-form blogs and want to try something new. AI can help you explore alternative formats for the same topic. For instance, instead of a traditional blog post, you could try:

• Listicles (e.g., “5 Marketing Trends You Need to Know in 2024”)
• Interviews with experts (AI can help you generate potential questions for experts in the field)
• Infographics (AI can help you figure out how to visually represent data or strategies)
• Case Studies (Ask AI to suggest examples of companies who nailed their marketing strategy)

AI can also help you think about different angles on the same topic, such as presenting a “controversial” view on a widely accepted marketing tactic or exploring a niche aspect of a bigger trend.

What NOT to do

Amid the excitement and potential of AI, there are a few areas where AI can trip up its user.  This is where real-people content development becomes really valuable.  Remember to NOT do the following:

• Rely Too Heavily on AI:  AI can assist with generating ideas or organizing thoughts, but it shouldn’t replace your own creativity or critical thinking. Always review and refine AI-generated content to make it more personalized and relevant.
• Use Vague Prompts:  Giving AI broad or unclear instructions leads to generic responses. Be specific in your queries to get more accurate, useful results. The more context you provide, the better AI can assist you.
• Ignore Ethical Considerations:  AI can inadvertently produce biased, insensitive, or unethical content. Always double-check outputs, especially when dealing with sensitive topics, and ensure the content aligns with ethical standards.
• Overlooking Originality:  Don’t let AI copy content or generate ideas without making them your own. Plagiarism or over-reliance on AI-generated text can hurt your brand’s credibility.
• Neglecting Fact-Checking:  AI isn’t always correct or up-to-date. Cross-reference information and statistics provided by AI to ensure accuracy, especially when writing about business strategies or marketing trends.

Wrapping Up

AI isn’t here to replace your creativity—it’s here to enhance it. By using AI to generate blog post ideas, outlines, trending topics, and content refinements, you can save time and bring fresh perspectives to your business strategy and marketing campaigns blog.

The key is asking the right questions, refining your prompts, and allowing AI to spark your creativity. With these tools in your back pocket, you’ll have a steady stream of exciting, well-thought-out content that’ll keep your readers engaged and coming back for more.