AI Content Creation: The new way of Content Marketing

AI Content Creation

Welcome to the third part of my series on AI-powered content creation! In the previous blog posts, I provided an overview of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) impacts the Marketing Technology (Martech) stack and we had a closer look at how it changes the world of digital advertising. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend checking them out.

In this blog post, we’ll continue with AI in content creation, focusing on its impact and some of the best tools available for generating content. We will also discuss how to effectively integrate AI tools into your content creation strategy, factors to consider when choosing the right tool, and the ethical considerations that come with AI-driven content creation.

By the end of this blog post, you’ll have a solid understanding of the benefits and potential drawbacks of AI content creation tools on your marketing strategy and tactics. You’ll be equipped with the knowledge to choose and incorporate the right tools into your martech stack. So, let’s dive in and discover the exciting world of AI content generators (a.k.a generative AI)!

The Impact of AI on Content Creation

In recent months especially, AI has made significant inroads in content creation, bringing a handful of benefits while also raising some concerns. Although the topic is still hotly debated, here’s a brief overview of what I think is the impact of AI on content creation:

Benefits of AI for Content Marketing

  1. Efficiency and speed: AI-powered tools can generate content quickly, saving time and allowing marketers to focus on other aspects of their content strategy.
  2. Personalization: AI can analyze large amounts of data to tailor content for specific audiences, leading to increased engagement and conversions.
  3. Cost-effectiveness: An AI content generator can help businesses cut down on expenses associated with content production, such as hiring writers, designers, or videographers.
  4. Scalability: AI enables businesses to create large volumes of content without sacrificing quality, helping them reach wider audiences and grow their online presence.

Potential Drawbacks of AI Content Creators

  1. Lack of, or limited human touch: AI-generated content may lack the emotional depth, details, and nuances that a human content creator provides, leading to a potential disconnect with the audience.
  2. Ethical concerns: Issues like plagiarism, authenticity, and the balance between human and AI input need careful consideration when using AI-driven content creation tools.
  3. Over-reliance on AI: Businesses must avoid over-dependence on AI, as it’s essential to maintain human oversight and input for the best results.

Understanding the impact of AI (positive and negative) on content creation is crucial for marketers who want to make the most of these emerging technologies. Given the current development stage of artificial intelligence, I don’t recommend allowing AI tools to work in a fully automatic manner. Based on my own experience, I would say generative AI works great for providing a starting point and also for the heavy lifting (drafting) of content creation. The human touch is mandatory for guidance and refinement. In the following sections, I’ll provide a selection of great AI content creation options for text, images, and video. Some of them I tested/used myself, and some I researched while considering the best options for me and my team. 

Top AI Writing Tools

While a large group of copywriters already embraced it, their counterpart is (still) resisting it. But no matter which group are you in, Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we write and optimize text content. With powerful language models and AI-driven SEO tools, creating compelling, relevant, and SEO-friendly content has never been easier. Here’s a set of top AI content writing tools:

  1. GPT-4: The GPT-3, OpenAI’s GPT-4 is an advanced AI language model (surprisingly) capable of creating refined pieces of text. I used it to draft blog articles and social media posts but can deliver even more artistic copies (like poetry). It’s a versatile tool for all types of text content.
  2. Jasper.ai: Jasper is a robust AI writing assistant that can generate high-quality content pretty effectively. Its long-form assistant is particularly useful for creating lengthy pieces of content.
  3. Copy.ai: Copy.ai is a great tool focused on creating marketing content. Whether you need product descriptions, ad copies, or social media captions, it is worth looking at Copy.ai.
  4. MarketMuse: This is an interesting content strategy tool that uses AI to identify content gaps and provide suggestions for improving your content. I personally use MarketMuse for content strategy and SEO-focused content creation.
  5. Frase.io: Frase excels at creating AI-driven content briefs and optimizing existing content for SEO. Its AI content tool can also answer visitor questions, offering a seamless user experience.
  6. Content Villain: Content Villain uses AI to generate a wide variety of content, from blog posts to social media content. It offers various templates to streamline content creation and ensure relevancy.
  7. Outranking.io: This tool combines SEO with AI content creation. It offers features for content briefs, competitive analysis, and AI writing that can help you outrank competitors.
  8. Lately.ai: This platform uses AI to create social media content. It can transform long-form content into dozens of social media posts to optimize social media engagement. I plan to spend more time testing this tool in the near future.
  9. CrawlQ.ai: This tool uses AI to create content that resonates with your target audience. It focuses on creating personalized and engaging content that drives conversions.
  10. NeuralText: NeuralText uses AI to generate content ideas, write compelling copy, and optimize content for search engines. It’s a powerful tool for content marketers and SEO professionals.

Each of these tools brings unique features and capabilities to the table. Depending on your specific needs, some may be more appropriate for your content creation strategy than others.

Integrating AI Tools into Your Martech Stack

Now that we’ve covered some of the top AI content creation tools available for text (similar lists are available online for images and video), let’s explore how to integrate these tools into your content creation strategy. I’m a big fan of step-by-step guides so here are the steps you should consider taking.

  1. Evaluating the role of AI in your strategy: Start by assessing your current content creation process and identifying areas where AI tools can enhance efficiency, creativity, or personalization. Consider the types of content you create and the channels where you distribute it to determine which AI-powered tools are most relevant to your needs.
  2. Identifying the right tools for specific tasks: Not all AI tools are created equal, and some may be more suited to specific tasks than others. For example, if your primary focus is on writing blog posts, GPT-4 or Jarvis.ai might be the best fit. If you need to create engaging visuals, tools like Midjourney and DALL-E can help. Make sure to choose the tools that align with your content goals and requirements.
  3. Combining AI tools with human creativity: While AI-powered tools can greatly enhance your content generation process, it’s essential to maintain a balance between automation and human creativity. Use AI tools to generate ideas, draft content, or create visuals, but remember to infuse your unique brand voice and personal touch to ensure authenticity and relatability.
  4. Measuring and optimizing content performance: As you integrate AI tools into your content creation strategy, you should monitor the performance of your content and adjust your approach accordingly. Use analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) like engagement, conversions, and shares, and iterate on your content strategy to maximize results.

How to Choose the Right AI Content Creation Tool for Your Needs

With so many AI content creation tools available, it’s essential to select the one that best fits your specific needs and content marketing goals. Based on my own and my team’s experience, here are some factors to consider when choosing an AI-powered content creation tool:

  1. Functionality: Determine which aspects of content creation you want to enhance or automate with AI. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Do you need assistance with writing, image generation, video creation, or a combination of these tasks? Consider the features and capabilities of each tool to ensure it aligns with your requirements.
  2. Ease of use: Some AI tools are more user-friendly than others, so consider the learning curve and ease of use when selecting a tool. This is even more important when you want to integrate an ai content generation tool in a larger team with members of diverse experience and capabilities. Make sure the platform is intuitive and doesn’t require extensive technical knowledge to navigate and utilize effectively.
  3. Integration with existing tools (martech stack): If you’re already using a suite of content creation and marketing tools, consider how well the AI-powered tool integrates with your existing stack. Seamless integration can streamline workflows and improve overall efficiency.
  4. Pricing: AI content creation tools come with varying price points, so assess your budget and the tool’s pricing structure. Some tools require a flat subscription (like ChatGPT Plus) while other implement a per-use model. Choose a tool that offers the features you need at a price that fits your budget.
  5. Customer support and resources: Evaluate the level of support and resources provided by the tool’s vendor. Look for a responsive support team, comprehensive documentation, and a user community that can assist with troubleshooting and best practices.
  6. Reviews and testimonials: Research reviews and testimonials from other users to gauge the effectiveness and reliability of the tool. User feedback can provide valuable insights into the tool’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you make a more informed decision.

Consider these factors and asses your content marketing goals to guide your choice. The right AI content creation tool will enhance your strategy execution and help you achieve better results.

Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Content Creation

As AI continues to advance, ethical considerations become increasingly important. Here are some essential points to keep in mind when using AI-driven tools for content creation:

  1. Plagiarism and originality: While AI tools can generate unique content, there’s a risk of unintentional plagiarism or copyright infringement. Limit the automated use of any generative AI tool to ensure the content produced by AI tools is original.
  2. Authenticity and brand voice: Maintaining a consistent brand voice and authenticity is crucial for successful content marketing. Ensure that the content generated by AI tools reflects your brand’s tone and values, even when using automated content generation. Combining human creativity with AI-generated content can help strike the right balance.
  3. Striking a balance between AI and human input: While AI can significantly streamline the content creation process, relying solely on AI-generated content can result in a lack of human touch and empathy. Use AI tools to augment and enhance your content creation efforts, but don’t replace the valuable human perspective and creative input.
  4. Bias and fairness: AI models can inadvertently perpetuate biases present in the training data, leading to biased content. Be aware of potential biases and take steps to minimize their impact on your content. Utilize diverse training data and review the content generated by AI tools to ensure it’s fair and inclusive.
  5. Transparency and disclosure: Be transparent about your use of AI-generated content with your audience, especially when it comes to content that could be mistaken for human-created content. Some jurisdictions have legal requirements for disclosure, and being upfront about the use of AI can help maintain trust with your audience.
  6. Data privacy and security: AI-powered content creation tools often rely on user-generated data to train their models and provide personalized content. Ensure that the AI tools you use comply with data privacy regulations and have robust security measures in place to protect data.

Be mindful of these ethical considerations and proactively address the potential challenges, you can responsibly use AI-driven content creation tools to enhance your content marketing strategy while maintaining the trust and loyalty of your audience.

Conclusion

AI-powered content creation tools have undoubtedly transformed the way we create and consume content. As we’ve explored in this blog post, AI tools are offering numerous benefits such as increased efficiency, reduced costs, and personalized content. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between AI-generated content and human input, ensuring the content remains authentic and engaging.

By integrating AI tools into your content creation strategy, you can harness their potential to improve your content marketing efforts. It’s crucial to choose the right tools for your needs, considering factors such as your content marketing goals and available resources. Keep ethical considerations in mind, such as plagiarism, originality, and data privacy, to ensure the responsible use of AI in content creation.