AI tools like ChatGPT have completely reshaped how I approach content creation for my business and clients. From producing high volumes of SEO-targeted copy to streamlining revisions and exploring new ways to communicate, the impact has been undeniable—but not without some trade-offs. For the record, this is a ChatGPT produced article with a custom outline, edit prompts, and final human revision.
Production & Workflow: I Produce More Copy Than Ever Before
More Content, Faster
Thanks to ChatGPT, I’ve dramatically increased the amount of content I write. Blog posts, social media updates, and email campaigns happen faster and with less effort. This newfound efficiency has allowed me to post more frequently for my own business and provide clients with the content they need—oftenon the fly.
Clients Bring Prompts, Not Copy … Sometimes
Interestingly, while clients used to send me fully written content, now it all magically appears from the air using AI. They might provide a few bullet points, but now I’m doing the writing prompts and edits through ChatGPT. It’s faster, sure, but fundamentally, copywriting continues to be a challenge for clients.
Missing the Copywriters
One downside? I don’t hire copywriters as often anymore, really almsot ever. It’s bittersweet because their expertise brought a level of style and creativity that’s hard to replicate, even with the best AI tools.
Learning the Ropes: I’ve Gotten Faster at Prompting AI
Tone and Reading Level
Prompting ChatGPT effectively starts with setting clear expectations. I always define the tone (casual, professional, etc.) and the reading level (Grade 8 is my go-to). This ensures the output matches the audience. Finally, define the tense (first, second or third person).
We are in Canada, Silly
I often forget this one, but reminding to use Canadian or British english is also key.
Be Specific About Length
Whether I need a short blurb or a 1,000-word article, being upfront about length saves time and ensures the result fits the purpose. Asking for SEO-focused elements like meta tags also streamlines optimization. The more of an outline you can produce, the better the copy will be. I seem to say “Make this 2x longer”, or “Make this much shorter”.
Refine, Re-prompt, Repeat
One of my favorite tricks is generating multiple drafts with slight variations. This lets me cherry-pick the best ideas and refine them into a final product that I actually like. “Write three variations of …” is a common prompt. Another common one is “use way less adjectives”.
Learning from the Competition
AI’s ability to analyze existing online content has been a game-changer. Whether I’m scanning my own website or a competitor’s, ChatGPT helps me identify stylistic patterns and content gaps to target. I often start with “scan this url and then write … ” this vastly increases the input source data to glean from. But 90% of the internet is wrong or propoganda, so use with caution.
Somethings Never hange: Always Read, Always Edit
AI Isn’t Perfect
No matter how polished AI content seems, it’s not infallible. ChatGPT often misses small details, and those errors can ruin an otherwise excellent piece of copy.
Garble Must Go
AI-generated content sometimes includes awkward phrasing or overly generic language. Careful review and editing are non-negotiable to ensure every piece aligns with your brand’s voice and intent.
Testing with AI Detectors
For added confidence, I’ve tried tools like Writer’s AI Content Detector and Content at Scale. While helpful, they’re not perfect. Ultimately, my own editing is what ensures it don’t sound like C3-P0 after a long night at the oil baths.
Results: What I’ve Gained
More Writing, Better Results
ChatGPT has dramatically increased my writing output, both for my own business and for clients. This boost in productivity means I can do more without sacrificing quality. If I use my own super power of writing on-brand headlines and pullquotes with an AI powered copy workflow, it’s a huge win.
Stronger SEO Strategies
With AI’s help, I’ve been able to target keywords more effectively, leading to noticeable improvements in traffic and rankings for client websites. On the SEO front, coupling this with analysis tools like Semrush and Ubersuggest are extremely effective.
Rapid Revisions
AI allows me to experiment with different styles and writing tones. By combining the best ideas from multiple drafts, I can create polished, content much faster.
A Case Study: What I’ve Lost
My Unique Voice
I’m known for witty, on-brand messaging and punchy headlines [cough cough]. The more I rely on AI, the less I use those skills—and I worry some projects lose a bit of their sparkle without my personal touch. I need to make sure I build those strengths into my prompts and outline.
Less Collaboration
I miss the creative back-and-forth with professional writers and other collaborators. If AI-driven copy is a standard service, we don’t realize the expertise needed to refine it.
A Case Study: Learn to Climb Steep Ice
The Experiment
For the climbing blog on Girth Hitch Guiding, I tasked ChatGPT with writing an article on steep ice climbing techniques. My prompt was simple: “Scan the entire internet and write about steep ice climbing.” It was almost a joke—but the result surprised me. Seriously. I told it to scan the entire internet.
What Worked & What Didn’t
The article ChatGPT produced was remarkably detailed and accurate, covering movement techniques, gear, and safety. It only made minor errors, such as misunderstandings about rope techniques and how gloves work, and a laughable reminder to “use a rope.” You are climbing STEEP ICE, silly ChatGPT.
The Result
Tim [the client] reviewed the content, and we were shocked how post-ready it was. After polishing the content, we had an article that felt professional and well-informed. It stands as one of the fastest posts I’ve produced. You can read the finished piece here: How to Climb Steep Ice.
In Summary
100% recommend using AI tools to write for my business and yours, but you cannot ever, ever, let copy be used without an edit.
ChatGPT has been a transformative tool for my design business. It’s increased my output, improved SEO performance, and made revisions faster and easier e. However, it’s no replacement for human creativity, collaboration, or the personal touch that makes content truly shine.
If you’re considering using AI tools like ChatGPT, I recommend it. It’s a powerful addition to any workflow—but remember, it’s just that: a tool. The real magic happens when you combine AI’s efficiency with your unique expertise and creativity.
Are you stressed out trying understand where you need to go next with your creative?
Bonus: My outline and initial ChatGPT prompt
For fun, here is the initial prompt I input into ChatGPT for this article, though I did many iterations after this:
Blog Article: How using Chat GPT has changed my Design Business
Tone: Grade 8 Level, casual, but not glib.
Length: 1000 minimum
Include meta title and a short description
Scan https://www.redpointcreative.ca/blog/ and match style of the older articles
Sub heading: I produce a lot more copy now than I ever have before
> easier, faster
>I write more for my own business (I post more regularly)
>I write A LOT more for clkients, though where tehy used to never supply me with copy, they now never supply me with details to build prompts. So nothing really changes, I guess
> Sad for the copy writers I used to hire that don’t anymore
Sub Heading: I’ve gotten much faster at prompting writing aids like AI
> Ask for a tone (casual, businesslike, excited)
> Ask for a reading level (grade 8 is fairly standard)
> keep prompting for length and re-prompt
> Ask for SEO optimizations for target keywords (or ask it to define a keyword, though this is best defined through your own research and analytics)
> make sure to note the length: “A short excerpt”, “ A 1000 word article” or “Meta tags for title and description targeting X keywords”
> You can ask AI to scan a webpage for sources and watch the writing style and glean details. (including competition!)
Sub Heading: Always read, always edit
> AI tools like ChatGPT will almost always get the details a little wrong. Makes sense. It’s not you. It doesn’t know what you know.
> Therefore you always need to read and edit and remove the garble machine-speak
> can try AI detectors, but who knows how well they are doing today: https://writer.com/ai-content-detector/ or https://contentatscale.ai/ai-content-detector/ are examples I’ve used
Subhead: What I have lost
> I am pretty witty and very good at brand flavour, and catchy headlines. The less I do that, the more projects miss out on my pithy humour. Seriously, It is one of my superpowers
> COllaboration with other professionals like writers, and clients ultimately just expect the service (something they used to pay extra for)
Summary:
> Summarize the above briefly
> I am really happy with the improvements in my workflow (faster, smoother – I hate writing anything other than brand pillars and catchy headlines)
> 100% recommend using AI tools to write for my business and yours, but you cannot ever, ever, let copy be used without an edit.
> I hope this helps!
