Content Marketing

Generative AI for Content Marketing — What It Can (and Can’t) Do

Discover how generative AI can streamline content marketing and SEO. Learn the pros and cons of AI content and craft winning content marketing strategies.

The rise of generative AI tools has been a game-changer for many businesses, although maybe not in the ways initially anticipated.

While many started sharing AI-generated content as quickly as possible, other content marketers waited to evaluate how generative AI could best support their content ideation and creation efforts.

Once you view AI tools as a support for overall strategy instead of a replacement for quality work, they are incredibly effective.

Take a look at what generative AI can do for content marketers and what it can't.

Short on time? Here are the key takeaways

  • Generative AI tools are fantastic assistants for brainstorming, fleshing out ideas, and creating content briefs.
  • An overreliance on AI tools can result in Google marking content as spam, which impacts search rankings and organic traffic.
  • Becoming a proficient AI prompt engineer is essential for any content marketer who wants to keep up with the latest technology.

Generative AI for Marketing Content Strategy

With the rapid rise of generative AI in content marketing and SEO, there are significant ways that generative AI tools can improve content marketing efforts.

Save time and resources

First and foremost, using generative AI tools effectively improves productivity and efficiency.

Rather than scouring the internet for information or waiting for a second opinion on a piece of work from a busy colleague, AI tools speed up your processes, saving valuable time and resources.

Streamline the brief creation process

One of the most impactful benefits of generative AI tools like ChatGPT is their capability to create briefs for articles or case studies for yourself or for your writing team.

Example: You want to write an article on '8 questions to consider when forming an LLC.'

Step 1: Head to Google and search for that exact phrase. Then, open the links for three to five of the top results in new tabs.

Step 2: Go to ChatGPT and locate the WebPilot GPT plugin. This plugin allows you to input URLs in prompts to create a fantastic brief based on what’s already ranking well in Google.

Example prompt:

"[3 Example URLs] Using the URLs above, please provide me with an article brief that covers everything these articles do while also leaving opportunities for me to add our own topical expertise to outrank them."

The results: As shown below, ChatGPT provided a very detailed outline, which is the perfect starting point for research and writing — without spending hours reading each page in detail.

Although amends are still needed, this process is still significantly quicker.

Identifying audience personas

ChatGPT and other AI content tools are also excellent for creating audience personas, a key component of many marketing strategies.

Audience personas allow writers to become more familiar with who they are writing for. They can refer back to these personas to create excellent content that resonates with their audience.

Here's an example:

Analyzing competitor content strategies

Going back to the WebPilot GPT plugin, AI tools are extremely effective for analyzing competitor content strategies.

Example scenario: A technology-based affiliate brand that wants to review the competitor's content strategy.

Example prompt:

"We run a technology affiliate website, and we are keen to write more content for our AI vertical. Using the two URLs below of our competitor's content, please analyze what topics they are writing about frequently and suggest ten topics that we should cover based on that information [2 Example Tech Company URLs].

This prompt provides fantastic insight into competitor content marketing and what topics the example brand should write about to compete effectively.

The Challenges and Limitations of Generative AI Tools

However, there are also several significant challenges and limitations when it comes to generative AI in content creation.

Here are some of the most significant limitations to be aware of.

Bland repetitive content

One of the biggest problems of relying too heavily on AI-generated content is that the output tends to be bland and repetitive. It also typically struggles to adapt to brand voice.

No matter how well you prompt tools, getting the tone just right is extremely tricky. 

That's why it's important to use AI tools as structural support rather than replacing writers who produce high-quality, people-first content.

Upholding quality standards and ethics

There's also a big question that hovers around AI content — is it ethically okay to use?

If you generate content with AI, it’s best practice to inform your audience. Transparency is an excellent way to make sure you, and your audience, are on the same page.

Google traffic could drop off

Last but certainly not least is the potential impact of generative AI content on Google rankings. When ChatGPT first burst onto the scene, many content marketers flocked to the tools, generating content rapidly to create new web pages with the hope of boosting organic traffic.

However, Google prioritizes high-quality content in search results with valuable insights, fresh perspectives, and helpful information. Mass-producing AI content that doesn’t comply with Google’s Scaled Content Policies could lead to a drop in traffic.

Top Generative AI Content Marketing Trends to Monitor

Finally, let's take a look at a few trends unfolding across the global content marketing landscape.

The rise of content creation centaurs

With the rise of generative AI for content marketing, it’s more important than ever to level up your AI prompt engineering skills.

Tweaking and adjusting prompts to extract better results from AI models is essential. Properly engineering prompts enables you to realize the full potential of artificial intelligence and significantly enhance the quality of AI-generated content.

Diversifying your AI stack is critical

While ChatGPT continues to be an extremely popular generative AI tool, there are a range of options available such as Google Gemini or Claude.

Beyond using AI for writing, AI art generators like MidJourney are also valuable AI content marketing tools. As the tools continue to improve, learning to use them will keep you ahead of the curve.

Then, there are also AI logo generators, AI audio generators, and AI search engines to consider.

Final Thoughts

In summary, generative AI for marketing content is incredibly useful. It can rapidly improve productivity and quality, leading to better results and more time for other projects.

However, leaning too heavily on AI tools can lead to challenges such as a drop in content quality and traffic.

Review whether the presence of AI in your content marketing with an Originality.ai Site Scan. Discover potential instances of AI in your content, so you can edit accordingly and produce content that maintains or improves search engine rankings.

FAQs: Generative AI Content Marketing Tools

What are AI content generation tools?

These are AI-powered apps that create written content. They can help you write blog posts, social media captions, or product descriptions.

How do AI content generators work?

How AI content marketing tools work varies based on the product and tool. Typically they receive extensive training so that when you give them a topic or prompt, they create content that follows instructions and mimics different writing styles.

What are the benefits of using AI content tools?

AI can save you time by generating drafts or overcoming writer's block. They can also suggest new ideas and write in various formats.

Is AI-generated content perfect?

No. AI content often needs editing for accuracy, fact-checking, and natural flow. It's best as a writing assistant, not a replacement for human writers.

Graeme

My name is Graeme, a passionate writer with a strong Content Marketing background. Over the last seven years, I have developed an extensive portfolio of SEO Content writing, helping various brands improve their organic traffic, customer experience, and, ultimately, profits!

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