5 Common Content Creation Mistakes Businesses Make with AI (And How to Avoid Them)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way businesses approach content creation, offering innovative solutions to generate ideas and streamline marketing efforts. However, while AI can be incredibly helpful, it’s not without its pitfalls. Misusing AI can potentially harm your brand and alienate your audience.
Case in point: In January 2024, retail giant Amazon faced backlash when several of their products were listed with nonsensical names like “I Cannot Fulfill That Request.” The issue occurred because some Amazon sellers relied too heavily on AI (providing only minimal input and oversight) to generate product titles and descriptions. The result was a series of gibberish listings that confused customers and damaged the brand’s reputation. Amazon quickly addressed the problem, but it serves as a stark reminder of the downsides of depending too much on AI without proper human input.
How can you prevent similar faux pas from happening to your brand? Here are five common mistakes businesses make when using AI for content creation and practical tips for avoiding them.
Don’t Make These Five Missteps When Using AI to Create Content
1. Over-relying on AI for Original Ideas
Why This is a Problem: AI lacks the nuanced understanding and emotional depth human creators bring. Over-reliance on AI can result in content that feels impersonal and fails to connect with your audience on a deeper level.
How to Avoid It: Think of AI as a tool in your toolbox, not the entire workshop. AI can churn out a lot of ideas, but it lacks the nuanced understanding and emotional depth that you bring to your brand. Use AI to supplement, not replace, your brainstorming sessions. Blend AI-generated ideas with your own insights and experiences. This way, you’ll get the best of both worlds—AI’s efficiency and your creativity.
2. Not Providing Enough Detail in AI Prompts
Why This Is a Problem: Without clear and detailed prompts, AI struggles to produce content that meets your specific needs. This can lead to posts that miss the mark and fail to engage your audience effectively.
How to Avoid It: Be precise with your prompts. The more detail you provide, the better AI can deliver relevant content. Think about the context, tone, target audience, and key points you want to cover. For example, instead of saying, “Write about summer trends,” say, “Write a fun, engaging post about the top five summer fashion trends for 2024, focusing on eco-friendly options for our eco-conscious audience.” See the difference?
3. Neglecting Ethical Considerations
Why This Is a Problem: AI can perpetuate biases present in the data it’s trained on, leading to content that could be unfair, offensive, or misleading. This can hurt your brand’s reputation.
How to Avoid It: Make sure the data you feed into the AI is diverse and free from biases. Always review AI-generated content for accuracy and fairness. Set up guidelines and oversight mechanisms to monitor and address any ethical issues. It’s about maintaining your brand’s integrity and trustworthiness.
4. Taking AI Responses at Face Value Without Editing
Why This Is a Problem: AI-generated content often lacks the polish and brand-specific nuances needed to resonate with your audience. Publishing raw AI outputs can result in content that feels generic and off brand. Plus, it can lead to copyright issues if AI inadvertently uses protected material without proper citation. Without careful review, you might unknowingly publish content that infringes on someone else’s intellectual property. This can result in legal repercussions and damage to your brand’s reputation.
How to Avoid It: AI can produce good content but often needs a human touch to truly shine. Treat AI outputs as first drafts. Review and edit the content to align with your brand’s voice and standards. Add your unique perspective and polish the text to ensure it resonates with your audience. Remember, your brand’s voice is irreplaceable and nobody knows it better than you.
5. Failing to Provide Constructive Feedback to AI
Why This Is a Problem: The great thing with AI is that it learns from your previous content and continues to improve each time you use it to maximize your reach to your target audience. Without feedback, AI won’t improve its outputs to better meet your needs. This can result in a repetitive cycle of subpar content that fails to evolve and enhance your brand’s messaging.
How to Avoid It: Don’t just accept what the AI spits out—critique it! Look at what works and what doesn’t and give precise feedback. Tell the AI exactly what it got wrong and what needs to be improved. This iterative process helps the AI learn and improve, ensuring future content aligns more closely with your brand’s standards and expectations. And isn’t that exactly what you want to happen?
Strike the Right Balance:
Maximize AI’s Potential with Human Oversight
While AI has the potential to significantly enhance content creation processes, it’s crucial to recognize its limitations and the need for human oversight. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can harness the power of AI while maintaining your brand’s integrity and connection with your audience. Remember, AI should be a tool that complements your creative process, not a replacement for your unique human touch. By integrating AI thoughtfully and strategically, you can create compelling, authentic content that resonates and strengthens your brand’s presence. And always remember, you can enlist the help of professional companies who specialize in writing content to get even better results.
Rachel Strella, Founder and CEO of Strella Social Media, is celebrating 15 years of success with her expert team. Strella Social Media is a regular contributor to Small Business Trends and has been featured in prominent publications such as Social Media Today, Forbes, PR Daily, SmallBizDaily, Business Insanity Radio, and CEOMOM Magazine. A crucial member of the team is Laney Goff, EVP and TikTok Specialist. She is a renowned content creator, influencer, and social media consultant. Her work has been highlighted in the Scary Mommy Blog, INJOY Success podcast, and the Online Teacher Podcast.
