How To Blog Using AI And Actually Enjoy It: Top 10 Problems With AI Blogging & How To Fix Them

At AppSalon, I’ve been writing gen AI assisted articles and product descriptions for years now, old tools like Jasper were mostly unimaginative, but sometimes brilliant, generators of filler content, structure and ideation.

This is super important when writing monotonous marketing content. I found that I can only write so much that doesn’t light the soul on fire. With Jasper, and then ChatGPT 3.5, we could churn through 10x the work.

According to MarketSplash [1], AI content generation tools have been reported to reduce content production costs by roughly 40% and save about 50% of the time usually spent by human content creators. So, I’ve got to keep up with the Jones’ as an SEO content specialist, and so AppSalon and other client blogs have been using a great deal of very sophisticated, bespoke AI solutions. We write, sure, but only after thorough, editing and analysis from the AI tools. And yes, we’ve succeeded with producing tons of traffic for some niche topics, but at what cost?

The cost = enjoyment, and because of that, consistency. Sure, when starting out AI gen is exciting, but after a while I found it becomes a process and data equation, not an expression of the soul or artistic venture. So, we’ve constructed this little guide, to ensure we bring back the joy of producing the written word.

Problem 10: The “ouch” moment of realising your blog isn’t getting traffic

Every beginner blogging has this ‘ouch’ moment of realising they have potentially wasted time on an article nobody will read. Here’s how to navigate yours:

• SEO in 2023 – Not as scary as it sounds: Think of SEO like a friendly neighbourhood spider – it helps catch your audience if you provide useful content, but a spider is its own beast. Use AI tools to get those SEO basics right, simply concentrate on producing readable content first and be patient.
• Keep it real: Your blog should sound like you, not a robot who had too much coffee. Let your quirky personality shine and keep a personal touch.

Problem 9: Your blog is losing its soul – How to produce content like a king

Content is king no longer, it is peasant. But a King needs what to rule? Peasants!

Rule your peasant content wisely and harshly:

• AI-assisted creativity: Let AI be your ideation machine. Throw ideas at it and see what sticks and produces. Boss it around, don’t meekly go along with every piece of peasant AI gen suggestion. Destruction is creation.

According to HubSpot’s 2023 AI Trends for Marketers report [2], 96% of the time, AI content is not complete enough to publish on its own, so be prepared to wrangle and edit the AI content to fit your own blog, brand, style, and audience.

• Curate like a pro: Use AI to sift through content like you’re panning for gold. Share the very best nuggets with your audience, but also add your sparkle. This way, its 100% original and real.

Problem 8: Your audience doesn’t resonate with your content

Understanding your audience doesn’t require a detective hat and monocle, just some street smarts. Here’s the lowdown:

• Speak their language: If your audience loves memes, don’t bombard them with long paragraphs. Use AI to help you catch the right tone as well – think of it as your digital thesaurus.
• Platform-specific prep: Not all platforms are created equal. Your Instagram audience will likely not love what your LinkedIn folks do. Use AI to help you tailor your content but keep it real.

Problem 7: The AI tools are too hard to use

The classic “I’m not a tech guru” conundrum. You’re here to blog, aren’t you? Not to crack the Da Vinci Code of AI tools. Remember that.

Embrace simplicity. Pick AI tools that are user-friendly and don’t require you to learn a new language (unless you’re into that). Remember, the best tool is the one you can actually use without battling confusion and losing clarity.

Problem 6: Your blog is beginning to sound like everyone elses

This is called the “echo chamber effect”. You’re so tuned into AI suggestions that your blog starts sounding like an echo of every other AI-assisted blog out there.

Let your unique voice ring loud and clear even if it’s not 100% optimised. Use AI as a spice on the side, not the main ingredient. Your readers come for your flavoury spiced meatballs of wisdom anyway, not the same pea and ham soup.

Read our blog post to learn more: How to build trust with your customers

Problem 5: You can’t keep up with the trends

You’re so worried about keeping up with future AI trends that you’re considering building a chrome plugin in Python just to alert you when the matrix shifts.

Relax, you don’t need to be a time traveller. Focus on the present. Trends come and go, but your authentic voice is quite timeless.

Problem 4: The editing process is never-ending

You’re editing your blog post for the 100th time because the AI suggested ‘just one more tweak.’

Set a limit. Three edits and then it’s showtime. Your blog is not a Hollywood movie that needs endless cuts. It’s a reflection of you – and hey, you’re pretty awesome as you are.

Problem 3: You over analyse your blog post

You spend so much time analysing AI data that you forget what your blog was about in the first place.

Step back and take a deep breath. Blogging is about expressing, not just impressing. Use AI for insights, but don’t let data become your blogging ball and chain. Sometimes, the best ideas come when you’re not overthinking.

Problem 2: You focus too much on the data

AI throws so much data at you, you start dreaming in numbers and graphs.

Focus on key metrics that actually matter to your blog. Use AI to sift through the data deluge and present you with digestible insights. Remember, you’re a blogger, not a data analyst (unless you are, then hats off!).

Problem 1: There are too many AI tools to choose from

With so many AI tools out there, it’s like standing in the cereal aisle – overwhelming!

Start simple. Look for user-friendly AI tools that don’t require a tech wizard’s hat. Go for ones with good support and community forums. Remember, you don’t need the fanciest tool; you just need the right spoon for your cereal.

Rediscovering the joy in AI-assisted blogging

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the data and lost in automation. But remember, the heart of your blog isn’t in the numbers – it’s in your stories and your experiences. AI tools? They’re just our companions on this journey, helping us navigate the blogging landscape more efficiently. They don’t replace the spark of your unique voice and the personal touch that connects with your readers.

As discussed by Optimizely [3], “Only humans possess the ability to relate to audiences on a personal level and understand their needs, desires, and pain points, which is critical for creating compelling content that resonates and engages.”

So, here’s my advice. Embrace these digital helpers, but don’t forget to infuse your personality into every post.

Sources

[1] MarketSplash: https://marketsplash.com/ai-content-generation-statistics/

[2] HubSpot: https://offers.hubspot.com/ai-marketing

[3] Optimizely: https://www.optimizely.com/insights/blog/why-ai-generated-content-still-needs-the-human-touch/