Make It Your Own, And Keep It Simple!

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2 hrs ago

(Title image by DALL-E 3)

Hi WA Friends!

Have you noticed that there are two types of approaches people are taking in the world of online marketing with regard to artificial intelligence?

Approach One: Reading AI "Auto-Generated" Content For Quick Answers

People who do online research know that AI creates this content automatically, but they may still trust it, even if it's not totally up-to-date or perfect. They use it to make their lives easier and get quick, straightforward answers.

There isn't usually a sales pitch, but there might be ads or links to other content.

Examples of things that create this kind of content in web browsers are Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) and Bing Chat/Copilot.

There are also a variety of AI apps that generate answers to queries. The younger generations in my family mainly search online using the OpenAI app on their smartphone.

Approach Two: Reading Human-Written Content

When people read content written by humans, they want to see evidence of real experience and knowledge. They want to know that the author genuinely understands what they are talking about, not just presenting information that could have been generated by AI.

Readers often look for and appreciate personal stories that demonstrate real knowledge, unlike when they are using the AI auto-generated content mentioned above.

A Bit Of A Wake-Up Call

Now that AI-generated content is everywhere you look online, people have become so suspicious about an article's authenticity that they are questioning content that is entirely human-written.

I received a comment last week on a scientific post I created in 2021 on my LinkedIn physician account. The reader said, "This article was updated by AI!"

I have never updated it, and AI was not available for general public use when I created it! This really demonstrates how skeptical people have become when reading information online and the need to make content sound human, even if you actually wrote it!

Competing With User Generated Content (UGC)

These days, many readers are skipping things like online product reviews and going directly to user-generated content platforms like Reddit and Quora, where people give their honest opinions (right or wrong) about products they own or have used.

People are now commonly entering search terms like:

"Best X for Y Reddit"
"Is Product X any good? Quora"

UGC content can appear more genuine and helpful than AI-generated review articles on affiliate marketing sites designed to sell products, especially when there is no obvious evidence that the author has actual experience with the product being reviewed.

Strive to create AI-assisted reviews that go beyond the product description, specifications, benefits, and pros & cons. People are reading your article and want to know your personal experience with it!

Many of the most popular review websites and YouTube channels get products mailed to them by various manufacturers for online review. This creates a tremendous amount of reader confidence in the usefulness of the review, which can compel the sale of the item through an affiliate link or increase ad income.

In my guitar niche, I have the luxury of playing with all the guitars, amplifiers, effects units, etc., at the local Guitar Center before I review them. You may need to be creative by borrowing items to be reviewed from family and friends or trying them in stores.

Being Transparent With AI-Assisted Content

In the end, readers are more likely to trust content from humans if it feels real, relatable, and based on true experience instead of something that feels like just another AI-generated article.

Although AI is a great tool for brainstorming, researching, and structuring an article, I think it's important to be transparent when using AI-assisted content.

For example, if you read the articles I post on WA, you'll notice that I label sections "Courtesy of ChatGPT" and even estimate the amount of human-written content at the end of the article.

I find that this can lead to more reader trust and loyalty.

As AI continues to evolve, I believe this transparency will become essential!

Simplicity Matters

It's important to know your audience, target user intent in your content, and keep things as simple as possible. Even complex subjects can be simplified to make them fit a long-tail search term.

We live in an on-demand world and most people have very little patience wading through content that doesn't address their query or solve their problem immediately!