Over the past year, artificial intelligence (AI) tools have exploded in popularity.
ChatGPT took just two months to reach 100 million users, helping people do everything from debugging complex code to creating customized recipes.
But that’s just scratching the surface of what AI can do.
You see, content marketing is another area where AI is set to revolutionize the game.
Imagine inputting three variables: topic, tone of voice, and desired word length. Press “Enter”—then BOOM! You’ve got yourself some landing page copy, a full blog article, or some social media content.
That’s exactly what AI and machine learning can do.
But, the truth is, you don’t want to use what it spits out verbatim just yet… or maybe ever.
In this post, we’ll go over how automation can improve your content marketing process, what AI’s limitations are, and a few awesome content creation tools to get you started.
How to Use AI for Content Marketing: 6 Areas Where It Can 10x Your Process
Any SEO, copywriter, or content marketer will tell you that there are a lot of boring, mundane tasks that come with creating content.
However, if you skip out on doing these things you can say “Adios” to high-quality content. Gone are the days of leisurely writing a blog post and then waiting for organic traffic to roll in.
Now there’s tons of competition and many niches are a red ocean. You need to create better content at a faster rate to stand out from your competitors.
In fact, most experts say that blogging two to four times a week is ideal. Even more than that if you’re in a competitive niche.
So, to help keep up the pace in this evolving content marketing landscape, marketing teams are turning to AI.
Here are a few ways AI can help:
1. Do Faster Research
Before AI, research meant spending hours scouring articles and studies. Sifting through irrelevant information manually just to find a few specific pieces of information that add value to your post.
Today, AI-powered research tools can drastically speed up this process. They can scan and understand vast amounts of information in a fraction of the time it would take a human.
Imagine you’re writing an article on the latest sales technology. If you’re in the sales space then you probably know a thing or two about the latest and great sales tech, but chances are, AI can help you dig deeper and faster.
Ask it to find the top sales enablement tools, it’ll do that. Ask it to compile the key features of each of these tools, it'll do that too.
But just remember—AI isn’t foolproof. Yes, it can do research a lot faster than you can but you also need to double-check it for accuracy.
2. Compile a Fast First Draft
The first draft of any article is often the stage where you're laying out your thoughts, trying to figure out the best structure and flow.
AI can significantly speed up this process by generating a rough draft based on your guidelines and chosen topic.
AI-powered writing tools use natural language processing (NLP) to understand your instructions and create coherent, readable text. While these drafts may still need refining, having a solid starting point can make the writing process much smoother.
3. Create SEO-based Listicle Content
Who doesn’t love a good list?
We use lists every day. From grocery lists to to-do lists, they help us organize information in an easily digestible format. The same principle applies to content marketing.
AI tools are great for creating SEO-based listicle content or “SEO food.” These are the “X way to achieve a healthier gut” or “X natural headache remedies” articles that search engines love.
However, creating a listicle that's both engaging to readers and SEO-optimized can be time-consuming. Not only do you have to ensure your content is informative and engaging, but you also need to make sure it's packed with relevant keywords and topics that will catch the attention of search engine algorithms.
With the vast amounts of data AI tools have at their disposal, they can help automate this process and take the grunt work off your shoulders.
Use them to come up with that list of “X things” or tell you how many times you should be adding a specific keyword (use my free keyword research tool for more guidance here).
4. Complete Editing and Grammar Checks Faster and More Accurately
The English language can be tricky at times.
Figuring out the proper wording, sentence structure, or even punctuation can sometimes be a struggle, even more so if English isn’t your first language.
Thankfully for content writers, AI-powered editing tools can automate this process, scanning your content for errors and providing suggestions for improvement.
Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway App can check for grammar and spelling errors, readability, and even tone of voice. More than just a spellchecker, these AI tools can help elevate the quality of your content.
5. Get More Action-based Reporting
Strong reporting is arguably one of the most important pieces of any strategy.
It provides you with insights into what’s working and what needs to be improved. For content marketing specifically, AI tools can analyze your content and see where you need to make changes.
You might be missing certain sections that your competitor discussed, your keyword density might be too low, or your article might be way too short.
These AI tools certainly can’t promise you that your content will shoot up to the number one spot every time. But what they can do is optimize your workflow and point you in the right direction—showing you what’s already working.
6. Generate New Ideas
Do you ever find yourself racking your brain trying to come up with fresh new ideas to write about?
It’s a time-consuming process that doesn’t always deliver the best results.
AI is great for generating new content marketing campaign ideas you might not have thought of on your own. It's like having a dedicated brainstorming partner.
It'll bring a mix of wild, crazy, innovative, practical, and (sometimes) ridiculously brilliant ideas to the table.
It can get as “out there” as you like but can also stick to the basics if you’re just starting to blanket a niche with relevant content.
You might also find yourself using it to kickstart your own ideas in a sense. Maybe AI gives you a few quirky ideas, and that sparks something completely new in your own mind.
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Source: RyRob.com
What AI Can’t Do for Your Content Marketing Process
So, we've established that there are a lot of use cases when it comes to AI and content marketing.
So much so that 85.1 percent of marketers are using AI in their content marketing strategy, according to a study done by Authority Hackers.
But AI can’t do everything.
AI Can’t Create from the Heart
AI doesn’t have a unique perspective, it hasn’t had unique experiences, it doesn’t have feelings, dreams, or a beating heart.
Sure, it can create a fictional story that reads well, but it lacks a human touch. It lacks the raw and complex emotions, the personal growth, and the shared experiences that make us all unique.
It's you, with your heart and soul, who brings life to words, infuses stories with passion and character, and connects with readers on a deeper, emotional level.
AI is a tool—a powerful one at that, but it's not a substitute for the human spirit. It doesn't create from the heart, but it can help you find new ways to express what's in yours. It's your ideas, your emotions, your experiences, and your heart that form the foundation of truly compelling content.
Always read through the content that AI generates and do a quick gut check. Does this feel right? Would I say it this way? Does this truly convey what I'm trying to express?
AI Doesn’t Give You That Human Connection
AI has exponentially increased the amount of content generated online. Some even predict 99.9 percent of content will be AI-generated by 2025.
The thing is, you should never just go from prompt to publish.
That is, when AI generates your content based on the prompts given, you need to go through it and inject your own soul into the content.
Of course, you could specify it to write in a certain tone of voice, but after a while, it becomes repetitive. You begin to pick up on patterns and realize that the AI is more or less saying the same thing.
This is where you need to add your own flavor, talk about your own experiences, and add your unique human touch.
AI Will Not Solve Your Quality Problems
If you’re creating content without providing any real value, then don’t expect that to change by solely using AI.
AI knows what it knows because it’s analyzed billions of pieces of content. Essentially, it’s regurgitating what’s already out there.
As search engines shift toward rewarding content written for humans rather than search engines, you have to understand that AI, in and of itself, isn't going to magically skyrocket your content to the top of search engine results pages (SERPs). (In fact, relying solely on AI for quality content may hurt rankings for your entire site.)
The winning formula isn't just about hitting a keyword count or writing words for the sake of writing words. It's about crafting content that resonates with your audience, speaks to their needs and interests, and provides genuine value.
AI Is Picking Up the Pace: Are You Keeping Up?
If you’re thinking about using AI in your digital marketing strategy, then you’re probably wondering where it fits in.
Well, first and foremost, AI can shoulder the burden of brainstorming. Use it to generate fresh content ideas or develop a solid first draft for that new article you’ve been planning to write.
Next, go through the article with a fine-toothed comb. Does it reflect the angle you wanted it to? Is it using a tone of voice that will resonate with your target audience? Can you inject real-life experiences into the article to add a human element?
On top of that, you’ll want to adjust the article to improve its readability and credibility. Things like:
- Fact-checking
- Adding images
- Inserting external links to back up claims
- Inserting internal links
- Formatting lists
- Adding headers
One key thing to remember is that AI doesn't replace your role as a content creator: it enhances it. It's there to handle the heavy lifting, leaving you with more mental energy to focus on what humans do best: create, empathize, and connect.
The 6 Best AI Tools for Content Generation and Optimization
Like I said before, marketers are quickly adopting this new technology, and AI tools are playing an increasingly important role in content generation.
They empower content creators to produce better work in less time.
So, let's dive into six of the best tools to help you supercharge your AI content creation process.
1. RightBlogger
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RightBlogger is a powerful suite of AI-powered tools that make content generation faster and more effective. Choose from 60+ different AI-powered blogging tools to do everything from generating a full-length article to fixing your grammar and spelling.
Best feature: The Article Writer Tool is great at generating long-form content with a click of a button—and I have a free article writer you can try out too. All you need to do is enter a keyword/topic, select a writing style, choose a language, and voila, a full-length article is written for you. You can also specify whether you want it to include real-time data or add images and links automatically.
Pricing: $29.99/month
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Blogger focused (aka I built this for myself and my blogger friends)
- No pricing tiers or caps on usage
Cons:
- You can’t input a detailed command
- Unable to train it on your style guide
2. Jasper
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Jasper is an AI writing assistant that comes with 50+ built-in templates to help you start generating content. Jasper extends beyond just content generation and also offers AI art and AI chatbot features.
Best feature: Its SurferSEO integration offers real-time content optimization suggestions—making your content more engaging and SEO-friendly.
Pricing: Starts from $39/month for their Creator plan, $99/month for their Teams plan, and custom pricing for Business plans.
Pros:
- Offers a variety of writing templates
- Ability to mimic your brand’s voice
- Provides SEO recommendations with SurferSEO integration
Cons:
- Pricing is more expensive than alternative solutions
- The learning curve can be steep for beginners
3. Clearscope
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Clearscope helps content teams streamline their SEO strategy, providing keyword recommendations and content grading based on SEO best practices.
Best feature: Its detailed content grading system provides real-time feedback to improve SEO performance.
Pricing: Plans start at $170/month.
Pros:
- Comprehensive keyword analysis
- User-friendly reports
- High-quality SEO suggestions
Cons:
- Higher pricing point compared to some competitors
- Limited to five languages (Deutsch, English, Español, Français, Italiano)
4. MarketMuse
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MarketMuse uses AI to accelerate content planning and optimization. It won’t create an entire AI-generated article for you, but it does use AI to analyze your website and pinpoint which pieces of content you should be optimizing and prioritizing.
Best feature: Its content cluster tool builds comprehensive, interconnected topic clusters so you can be sure you cover all areas of your niche.
Pricing: MarketMuse offers a free tier, a Standard tier for $149/month, a team tier for $399/month, and a Premium tier with custom pricing.
Pros:
- Comprehensive topic coverage suggestions
- Generates detailed content briefs
- Speeds up the content planning process
Cons:
- The interface can be a bit overwhelming for beginners
- Pricing is on the higher end
5. GrowthBar
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GrowthBar combines the power of AI with keyword data to provide users with an easy way to generate content while optimizing for SEO. With it, you can create full-length blog posts and keep tabs on keyword usage, word count, readability, and more.
Best feature: Its SEO suggestions are built directly into the AI article generator.
Pricing: Plans start at $29/month.
Pros:
- Easy integration with WordPress via Chrome extension
- Built-in keyword research data and analysis
- Provides content ideas and interlinking suggestions (be sure to try my free blog idea generator too)
Cons:
- The standard plan is limited to just 25 articles or audits per month
- It comes with a lot of features, resulting in some being basic
6. Grammarly
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Grammarly is a popular AI-powered writing assistant that corrects grammar errors, enhances clarity and engagement, and detects plagiarism in your content. Their GrammarlyGO product offers the ability to compose, ideate, rewrite, and reply in a matter of seconds with the help of generative AI.
Best feature: Its advanced grammar, spelling, and punctuation checker.
Pricing: Offers a limited free version. Premium plans start from $12/month.
Pros:
- Excellent for proofreading and enhancing readability
- Detects potential plagiarism
- Provides vocabulary enhancement suggestions
Cons:
- The free version has limited features
- Doesn’t compare to other full-article AI blog generators
AI Is a Tool: Learn How to Use It
While AI can take over mundane content creation tasks, you need to remember that it is, at its core, a tool. It's a means to an end, not the end itself.
The most effective content doesn't just come from hitting a keyword count or structuring an article perfectly. It comes from the heart. It carries a human element that can never be replicated by a machine.
No AI can encapsulate the depth of human experiences, the breadth of our emotions, or the nuances of our personal journeys. These are the unique aspects that breathe life into content, helping to create a genuine human connection.
When everyone else is frantically pressing the “Generate AI Article” button, and we’re all drowning in a sea of AI-generated content, being human may be the ultimate competitive advantage.
