7 Smart Ways to Write Better Content with AI!

If we publish content, using artificial intelligence isn’t just an option—it’s necessary.

Think of it like this: telling a writer not to use AI is like telling a carpenter not to use a drill. Sure, the job can be done without it, but why make things more complicated than they need to be?

Writers have always adapted to new tools to enhance their craft. AI is simply the next step in that evolution.

The challenge, however, lies in our tendency to look for shortcuts. It’s tempting to rely on technology to do all the work. And while AI is great for producing average content quickly, it won’t magically create something exceptional.

The truth is that creating high-quality content is still hard work—regardless of the tools we use.

Even when leveraging AI throughout the writing process, producing something valuable takes time, focus, and skill. That’s because AI doesn’t replace good writing—it supports and amplifies it.

AI has clarified how much potential there is to elevate our work when we use it wisely.

With that in mind, here are seven timeless writing practices AI can help us improve—starting with how we plan our content.

1. Leverage AI to Understand Your Audience Better

Even the most well-crafted content can miss the mark if it doesn’t resonate with the intended audience. That’s why audience understanding is the foundation of exceptional writing.

Artificial intelligence simplifies this critical step. Instead of spending weeks conducting interviews or analyzing surveys, we can use AI to sift through thousands of real online conversations in minutes—giving us faster and deeper insights into what readers care about.

A Smarter Approach to Audience Research

Let’s say we want to explore public opinion about using AI for writing. One way to do that is by searching platforms like Reddit, where users share unfiltered opinions. A simple search such as “Reddit using AI to write good content” can uncover dozens of relevant discussions.

With the help of AI-powered tools, we can:

• Scan multiple threads at once
• Identify recurring themes and concerns
• Extract quotes that reflect real emotions and language

These insights allow us to create content grounded in user experiences—not just assumptions.

Different teams may use other platforms or tools. Still, the goal remains: to process large volumes of audience data, recognize key patterns, and bring authenticity into our content through authentic voices.

By integrating AI into this process, we save time and create content that speaks directly to our readers’ needs and expectations.

2. Use AI to Discover a Unique Perspective

In today’s crowded content landscape, it’s tempting to follow trends and remix ideas that are already popular. That’s precisely what most AI tools do by default—pulling from existing content to generate new versions.

But to truly stand out, we need to go beyond the obvious. The goal is to find angles and perspectives that others overlook, giving our content a fresh and engaging twist.

Here’s a simple three-step method for using AI to uncover that unique angle:

Step 1: Collect High-Performing Source Content

Start by gathering the top 3–5 articles, social media posts, or emails related to your topic. These can be from competitors, industry blogs, or internal campaigns. Once collected, compile the text into a single document or text file for easy reference.

Step 2: Ask AI for Patterns and Insights

Feed the content into an AI tool and prompt it to summarize the main themes, highlight similarities, and suggest content gaps. This step helps surface what’s already been said—and what hasn’t.

Step 3: Refine the Angle Through Analysis

Use the AI-generated summary to explore new directions. Often, the first round of ideas will need refinement. It’s a back-and-forth process—analyzing, tweaking, and adjusting until a fresh angle emerges.

For example, during this process, we may realize that while most content focuses on tools and shortcuts, few discuss the deeper truth: creating exceptional content is still hard work, with or without AI. That insight can guide a new direction—one that’s more strategic and reflective of the real challenges writers face.

By leveraging AI this way, we don’t just copy what’s popular—we create content that’s original, thoughtful, and more impactful.

3. Collaborate with AI to Build a Solid Outline

Every strong piece of content begins with a well-structured outline. Yet, many teams rush into writing without a clear roadmap—often leading to wasted time, confusion, and misalignment with the original brief.

That’s why outlining should never be skipped.

AI can play a valuable role in this process—but not by replacing our thinking. Instead, we can treat it as a collaborator, helping us strengthen our ideas and structure.

We begin by creating a rough framework based on research and intent. This helps us preserve our unique voice and ensures our work stays grounded in real insights. Once the core outline is established, AI can assist by suggesting additional angles, reorganizing sections for clarity, or highlighting gaps.

For example, a foundational outline may include categories like:

• Audience understanding
• Content angle
• Research
• Structure
• Visuals
• Enhancements
• Editing

When we combine our expertise with AI’s analytical ability, the result is a strategic, detailed outline that makes the writing process smoother—and the final content stronger.

4. Use AI Strategically to Deepen Topic Research

Quality research is the foundation of exceptional writing. But in the digital age, we often face the challenge of too much information rather than too little. That’s where AI becomes a valuable research assistant.

Rather than relying solely on traditional search methods—or worse, skipping research entirely—we can use AI to explore topics more efficiently and uncover insights that are easy to miss manually.

AI assists throughout the research process. For secondary research, it can summarize complex material, compare perspectives, or break down dense reports. But it can also help improve our primary research—like surveys, interviews, and data collection.

One key use? Planning better research questions. Before conducting interviews or surveys, we can use AI to test and refine our questions. This helps ensure we’re asking what truly matters to our audience.

By integrating AI from the start—not just during analysis—we make our research faster, smarter, and more impactful. And in turn, we create content that stands apart.

5. Guide AI to Write in Your Voice and Style

Large language models (LLMs) can produce fairly solid content with just a few prompts. But crafting writing that’s truly engaging and aligned with your unique voice? That’s where things get tricky.

Most AI tools tend to default to a specific writing style—often leaning heavily on common patterns like “Not this. But that.” They also favour buzzwords like transform, leverage, and game-changing, which may dilute the authenticity of your content if overused.

Create Custom Reference Materials

To get better results, giving AI more specific guidance is essential. That starts with defining the content style you want it to follow. We recommend building detailed reference materials that may include:

• Defined reader personas
• Desired reading level (e.g., Grade 8)
• Tonality guidelines (conversational, technical, persuasive, etc.)
• Headline templates
• Preferred hooks and intro styles
• Sample pieces that reflect the desired voice

The clearer the input, the closer the AI will get to matching your content style.

Build Context as You Go

Treat AI as a long-term collaborator—not a one-time tool. As your content develops, your AI prompts should evolve with it.

For example, when creating a new section, we often start a dedicated AI thread and share previous sections, survey data, or initial outlines. This helps maintain continuity and voice consistency throughout the content.

Embrace Collaborative (and Sometimes Messy) Workflow

AI works best through an ongoing exchange of ideas. Don’t hesitate to feed it rough drafts, pose follow-up questions, or challenge its outputs. This back-and-forth helps refine direction and produce more thoughtful writing.

If an initial prompt returns vague results, keep pushing. For instance, rather than settling for generic tips on “improving tone,” we might request specific examples that compare generic AI output with our preferred writing style.

Use AI to Source Strong Supporting Examples

One area where AI truly shines is generating relevant case studies, scenarios, or analogies to illustrate a point. These examples can add clarity and strengthen your message—especially when tailored to your audience’s needs.

By clearly defining our voice, refining prompts as we go, and engaging in iterative collaboration, we can guide AI to produce content that feels truly human—and truly ours.

6. Use AI to Develop Practical Content Assets

Content assets such as checklists, calculators, and infographics transform written content into actionable tools that enhance the reader experience.

These assets clarify complex ideas, support decision-making, and improve learning outcomes. In the past, creating them often required professional designers or developers. With AI, that’s no longer the case.

Design Visual Assets That Stick

Not all readers consume content word for word. Many skim for key takeaways, and visuals help guide that journey.

Studies show that the human brain processes visuals far faster than text. This makes strong visual elements essential for engagement.

Traditionally, producing quality graphics involved:

• Mastering design tools
• Understanding design theory
• Spending hours creating visuals
• Hiring costly design support

AI allows teams to create polished visuals without a design background quickly.

Build Interactive Checklists

Turning step-by-step instructions into checklists helps readers apply insights in real life.

But great checklists are more than bullet points. They require:

• Simplifying complex workflows
• Sequencing steps for ease of use
• Including validation tips or reference links
• Accounting for different user needs

AI can assist with each of these elements—mainly when prompted after completing a full draft. This context allows for highly relevant, accurate checklists.

For interactive assets, no-code tools like Calculator Studio can help. AI assists by:

• Mapping out logic or formulas
• Suggesting layouts or UX flows
• Providing draft interfaces to build upon

7. Use AI to Edit and Refine Drafts

Editing takes content from good to great—but it’s often the most time-consuming step.

Traditional editing workflows can involve:

• Paying freelance editors
• Delayed feedback cycles
• Losing objectivity when self-editing

AI introduces a faster, more efficient layer of review—without replacing the need for human insight.

Run High-Impact Quality Checks

Before moving into final editing, performing a structured quality check is helpful.

At Backlinko, we use metrics such as:

• Single-Sentence Paragraph Percentage – Ensures content is digestible
• Visual Break Density – Measures visuals per 1,000 words for better scannability
• Grade Level Readability – Keeps language accessible, typically Grade 7 or lower

AI can quickly analyze these metrics and suggest improving clarity and flow.

It can also check for:

• Repetitive language
• Overuse of passive voice
• Weak transitions
• Brand tone inconsistencies
• Technical inaccuracies

Blend AI Suggestions with Human Judgment

While AI improves speed and consistency, human editing remains essential for nuance and voice.

A balanced process includes:

• Using AI for the first round of revisions
• Reviewing suggestions with editorial discretion
• Testing alternative phrasing or structures
• Verifying facts independently
• Preserving the unique voice of the brand or author

Write Smarter, Not Harder!

Choose one content project scheduled for this week.

Then, apply just one of the AI-supported practices—such as outlining, researching, or drafting assistance.

Even a small change can lead to noticeable improvements in efficiency and output.

Ready to take the next step? Explore our guide on how to write a high-performing blog post.

It shows how to integrate AI techniques with proven content strategies to create posts that attract, engage, and convert.