Informational content, which simply presents facts, is easily commoditized by AI. To create value and build trust, content must educate. It should leave the audience knowing how to do something they couldn't do before, providing a tangible and memorable outcome.
The best use of AI in content creation isn't for writing the first draft. Instead, apply it to the tedious parts of the process you dislike, such as data processing, topic ideation, or even editing, to accelerate the path to a high-quality, human-created piece.
Brands, especially founder-led ones, mistakenly make their own journey the focus of their story. The most effective brand narrative positions the target audience as the hero, with the brand acting as a guide or tool that helps them succeed. The story is about them, not you.
AI can generate output, but it cannot discern what is truly 'good.' To create high-quality, differentiated content, humans must cultivate their own sense of taste by actively consuming excellent writing and journalism. This discernment is the key human advantage over automation.
While it seems harder to stand out, the opposite is true. Because AI forces brands into a predictable, homogenous box, the playbook for 'sameness' is now public. This makes it easier than ever to differentiate by intentionally breaking that mold and zagging while everyone else zigs.
AI makes it easy to generate mediocre content, shrinking the gap between bad and passable. However, the effort required to create truly good, differentiating content has increased, widening the gap between what is passable and what is excellent, making true differentiation more difficult.
Don't expect customers to become evangelists based on their initial purchase. To earn their advocacy, you must continuously provide new value. Before asking for a review or referral, ensure you have a strong, recent answer to their implicit question: 'What have you done for me lately?'
While a structured question list is a helpful start for brand discovery, the most potent insights come from unscripted follow-up questions driven by genuine curiosity. This is not a trainable skill; you must hire people who are naturally curious and can dig deeper to uncover a brand's emotional core.
The most impactful content, from a cold sales email to a marketing blog post, starts with an emotional goal. Don't just think about the information you want to convey. First, ask yourself, 'How do I want the person consuming this to feel?' This intention will guide every choice you make.