How to Use AI for Writing Exceptional Content (7 Best Practices)

In the event you publish writing, you’d be loopy to not use synthetic intelligence.

It’s like telling a carpenter to not use a drill. You possibly can construct a deck with out one. However why would you?

Writers have at all times embraced new instruments to enhance their craft.

The problem with AI, or any know-how, is that we wish the simple method out.

We hope the tech will magically automate all the things. And for mediocre content material, AI is the proper resolution.

However creating distinctive content material is HARD. It doesn’t matter what device you utilize.

For instance, I used AI extensively to put in writing this text.

But, it nonetheless took me 40+ hours to supply.

Why?

AI has made me understand how a lot I can enhance my content material. And you’ll, too.

Under are seven timeless writing practices supported by AI.

Let’s begin with planning your writing challenge.

1. Use AI to Outline Your Viewers

With out a deep understanding of your viewers, even good insights can fall flat.

AI makes reader analysis method simpler.

You possibly can analyze hundreds of actual conversations in minutes. No must spend weeks on interviews or surveys.

A Sooner Technique to Do Viewers Analysis

Utilizing this text for instance, I needed to know how individuals felt about utilizing AI for writing.

The very best place for unfiltered ideas? Reddit.

So, I Googled “reddit utilizing ai to put in writing good content material” and located dozens of threads.

I gathered a handful of neighborhood discussions and exported them as PDFs.

Then I gave Claude the next immediate:

The outcome was eye-opening.

The evaluation revealed patterns I hadn’t thought of.

It additionally included quotes that captured the viewers’s uncooked feelings and language.

This helped me floor my writing in actual experiences.

You don’t must observe my actual course of. As an example, Kate Starr, our senior author, makes use of varied sources for viewers analysis:

The bottom line is to make use of AI to:

1. Course of massive quantities of viewers information shortly
2. Determine patterns you may miss manually
3. Join insights to actual human experiences via quotes

2. Use AI to Discover Your Distinctive Angle

It’s straightforward to get impressed by standard content material in your subject and remix these concepts.

That’s precisely what AI does by default, too.

A greater strategy?

Discover views that different content material and most LLMs overlook. This makes your writing contemporary and interesting.

Right here’s find out how to do it in three easy steps.

Step 1: Collect Your Supply Materials

Discover the highest 3-5 posts on your subject.

You are able to do this for social media posts, articles, and emails (if in case you have entry).

As an example, I discovered three posts on AI writing and copied them to a Google Doc earlier than exporting the textual content file.

Step 2: Get AI to Summarize the Knowledge and Counsel Concepts

Take your supply supplies from Step 1 and ask AI to create a complete evaluation.

Right here’s a immediate:

Right here’s the output for utilizing AI in writing:

After analyzing, ask the AI for brand spanking new concepts based mostly on the alternatives it discovered.

Right here’s what Claude got here again with for this text:

Step 3 – Analyze and Refine Your Angle

Generally, the angles are usable with the primary output.

However usually, it’s a dance between you and the robotic to seek out one thing compelling.

Right here’s how this course of formed this text:

Whereas loads of device comparisons and primary workflows existed, few posts supplied strategic frameworks for utilizing AI successfully.

As I dug deeper, I seen one thing extra basic.

Everybody was targeted on making writing simpler. Instruments, prompts, shortcuts.

However they have been lacking the powerful actuality:

Creating top-notch content material is tough. With AI or not.

That turned my angle: Easy methods to use AI thoughtfully whereas embracing the required work of writing nice content material.

3. Use AI to Create An Define

Almost each distinctive piece of content material begins with an in depth plan. However many writers skip this step.

You danger losing hours writing in circles or lacking the transient completely.

That’s why our crew by no means writes a draft with out a thorough define.

With AI, creating that define simply bought so much simpler.

Strengthen Your Draft Define By way of Collaboration

It’s tempting to ask AI to create your whole define (shedding your distinctive perspective). Or ignore AI utterly (lacking precious insights).

A greater strategy?

Deal with AI as a considerate dialogue accomplice.

Our senior editor, Chris Shirlow, emphasizes utilizing AI strategically throughout outlining:

The bottom line is to start out with your individual analysis. This ensures the inspiration displays actual experience. Then, use AI to refine and increase your considering.

With this text, for instance, I began with some unfastened structural notes:

1. Demand
2. Viewers
3. Angle
4. Construction
5. Analysis
6. Writing
7. Visuals
8. Enhancements
9. Modifying

Then, I prompted Claude with some hooked up reference materials.

Claude’s evaluation (I’ve summarized the output):

From the AI’s first output, we began our collaboration.

Claude helped me identify every aspect “practices” as an alternative of “ideas.

We challenged one another on the substructure of every follow.

Then it instructed H2s—lots of which I didn’t like.

By way of a LONG chat and plenty of pauses of me returning to my doc, we landed on a top level view.

Right here’s how the construction advanced via dialogue:

This iterative course of helped me:

1. Make headings extra action-oriented
2. Create a constant sample (“Use AI to…”), which additionally helps for SEO

Let’s take a look at how AI will help you flip this define into content material via analysis.

4. Use AI to Analysis Your Matter

Analysis has at all times been the inspiration of fantastic writing.

Pre-internet, analysis meant hours in libraries digging via catalogs, journals, and textbooks.

Then, digital modified all the things. But it surely created a brand new drawback:

Data overload.

Now you’ve instantaneous entry to hundreds of thousands of sources.

Weblog posts. Tutorial papers. Group discussions. Skilled interviews. Analytics information.

However do you’ve time to course of all of it?

That’s the place AI shines.

It may scan hundreds of sources in seconds, serving to you catch insights you may miss.

Let’s discover find out how to use it successfully.

Utilizing AI for Main Analysis

If you do interviews, collect uncooked information, or run surveys, you create distinctive content material that’s exhausting to repeat.

The trick is to make use of AI all through the analysis course of—not only for evaluation.

Planning Higher Analysis Questions

The standard of your analysis will depend on asking the precise questions.

For instance, when writing this text, I initially deliberate to make use of solely my very own AI experiences as examples. However one thing felt lacking.

So, I began a dialogue with Claude:

With Claude’s validation, I developed survey questions via an iterative course of.

If you wish to do that strategy, right here’s a template to get began:

Then, the analysis questions:

Lastly, check your questions:

Instance:

After a number of rounds with AI, my authentic concept of “let’s survey the crew” modified to:

• A targeted survey utilizing conditional logic
• Clear examples of what I wanted
• A pleasant, collaborative introduction
• Particular prompts for AI utilization

The outcome? Wealthy insights from the crew that enhanced this text.

Getting Extra from Skilled Interviews

Need to totally interact along with your interview topics whereas capturing all the main points? AI will help.

Begin by recording your conversations (with permission, in fact). Have an actual dialogue. Observe attention-grabbing threads. Then, let AI make it easier to extract each precious perception.

Listed below are some easy prompts:

Put together your interview.

Course of the recording.

Validate insights.

Making Sense of Uncooked Knowledge

The problem of analysis isn’t gathering information—it’s discovering the story in it.

When our editorial crew completed the AI utilization survey, I confronted this actual state of affairs.

I needed to course of the responses shortly, but additionally to seize each precious perception.

Right here’s how AI helped me analyze the responses:

Get a high-level overview.

Drill right down to the specifics.

Extract supporting materials.

This evaluation revealed that our crew makes use of AI in another way for every follow. Some excel at analysis, others at enhancing.

As an example, everybody burdened the necessity to use AI rigorously. And never totally rely upon it.

Utilizing AI for Secondary Analysis

Secondary analysis meant spending hours studying papers, stories, and discussions.

Not anymore.

AI reshapes how we course of current content material.

Let’s take a look at some use circumstances.

Extracting Audio and Video Content material for Gems

A few of the finest insights are buried in hour-long podcasts and convention talks.

Founders share behind-the-scenes tales. Consultants reveal their frameworks. And business veterans focus on tendencies they haven’t written about but.

However watching hours of video isn’t at all times sensible.

AI can save time right here.

Right here’s how I used AI to extract highly effective insights from founder interviews for my ecommerce growth strategies article:

First, I discovered a podcast the place Who Is Elijah’s founders shared their journey to $20M in income.

Then, I used Rev AI to transcribe the complete interview.

As an alternative of studying via 19,000 phrases of transcript, I had Claude analyze the dialog with this immediate:

The evaluation revealed an enchanting story about operational effectivity:

• They lower their crew from 44 to 21 individuals
• Shifted from full-time specialists to company partnerships
• Rebuilt their methods from scratch
• Turned unprofitable (-60%) campaigns into winners

This single podcast gave me each a compelling case research and sensible classes readers may apply.

Synthesizing Advanced Paperwork

Tutorial papers and business stories include precious information. However they’re usually dense, jargony, and exhausting to use virtually.

Shreelekha Singh, our senior author, makes use of detailed context to get higher analysis outcomes from AI.

One other instance:

When writing an article about information gain, I wanted to wrap my head round Google’s patent utility.

But it surely’s written in technical language that will make your eyes glaze over.

As an alternative of getting overwhelmed, I used AI to assist me interpret this complicated materials.

I uploaded the patent utility to Claude and requested about data achieve alerts.

Claude helped establish and clarify related metrics like “UserActionSignals” and “ClickSatisfaction” in plain language.

I shortly realized Google’s course of for evaluating and testing new data.

The identical strategy works for:

• Tutorial papers and research
• Technical documentation
• Trade stories
• Authorized paperwork
• Analysis information

The takeaway?

Consider AI as your research accomplice. One that may learn a 100-page doc in seconds and clarify the important thing factors in plain English.

5. Use AI to Write Partaking Content material

LLMs generate fairly good output with minimal prompting.

However producing partaking writing in your genuine voice? That’s the place AI may be reasonably underwhelming.

I’ve been attempting to put in writing with AI since 2021, and I’m satisfied the fashions have a default writing model.

AI LOVES writing in contrasting pairs: “Not this. However that.”

It additionally enjoys phrases like “rework,” “game-changing,” “leverage,” and “optimize.” (Not that there’s something unsuitable with these phrases.)

And if AI may write your whole challenge in an inventory, it will.

In the event you’re usually dissatisfied with the output, let me present you find out how to get higher outcomes.

Create Glorious Reference Supplies

The extra particular context you may give AI, the higher the output matches your model.

This implies defining your writing model clearly.

How?

Create detailed pointers, together with:

• Reader personas
• Goal grade stage
• Headline formulation
• Tonality
• Examples
• Opening hooks

Along with your pointers, make it your mission to create the proper article or chapter to make use of as a writing pattern.

After getting your pointers and examples, you’ll be extra happy with the AI output.

For instance, I’ve created a devoted challenge in Claude for Backlinko. It has over 20k phrases of reference supplies.

Each time I begin a brand new dialog, Claude has this context available.

There’s no want to elucidate our model necessities again and again.

Construct Progressive Context

Your dialog with AI ought to evolve as your content material develops.

Take this text part for instance. I began a devoted chat on “Utilizing AI for Writing.” I shared:

• The define
• The article draft thus far
• Staff survey responses
• My targets for this part

After I write the subsequent part about supporting components, I’ll begin a brand new chat. However I’ll embrace this accomplished part as reference materials.

This progressive strategy helps AI keep consistency whereas adapting to every part’s distinctive wants.

Shreelekha makes use of the same technique.

Relying in your LLM, this sectional strategy will assist handle your day by day credit as lengthy chats burn via your utilization.

Embrace Messy Collaboration with AI

The very best AI writing output occurs via dialog.

Share your half-formed concepts. Query its ideas. Problem it to suppose deeper.

As an example, when scripting this part, I requested AI to increase on my define. However I didn’t simply settle for the primary response.

As an alternative of settling for common recommendation about “prompting for a selected tone,” I requested for concrete examples of how AI’s default writing differs from Backlinko’s model.

This led to figuring out particular phrases and patterns.

As an example, right here’s how my opening hook advanced via AI collaboration:

You may go sentence for sentence, concept for concept, till you strike gold.

It may be tedious, but it surely’s higher than doing it alone.

Discover Good Examples (When You Want Them)

LLMs excel at suggesting related examples and case research to strengthen your writing.

Shreelekha makes use of AI to brainstorm examples when she’s caught:

Chris Shirlow emphasizes this balanced strategy:

6. Use AI to Create Content material Belongings

Content material belongings like checklists, calculators, and infographics flip your writing into sensible instruments for readers.

The appropriate asset can make clear complicated ideas, assist studying, or information vital selections.

Creating these sources as soon as required designers and builders.

AI makes it attainable to create with out these expertise.

Create Visible Belongings

Many readers don’t eat each phrase you write.

They scan. They skim. They search for visible anchors to information them via your concepts.

A study by MIT discovered that the human mind can course of photos in as little as 13 milliseconds. That’s as much as 600 occasions quicker than textual content.

However creating skilled graphics used to imply:

• Studying design software program
• Understanding design rules
• Spending hours on every visible
• Hiring costly designers

Not anymore.

AI will help you create compelling visuals in seconds.

For instance, in our 4 P’s of Marketing article, our senior author, Yongi Barnard, used a graphic to elucidate why personalization issues.

The visible tells a compelling story at a look.

To recreate this, collect your information.

Then, give AI parameters:

Then, you simply must refine the ending touches (colours, spacing, and so forth.).

Our senior editor, Chris Hanna, places it effectively:

Create Good Checklists

Changing processes into checklists makes your content material extra actionable.

However creating an efficient guidelines isn’t so simple as writing bullet factors. It is advisable to:

• Break down complicated processes
• Put steps within the optimum order
• Embody validation checks
• Add useful resource hyperlinks
• Think about completely different person situations

That is the place AI will help.

The bottom line is to immediate AI after you’ve written your draft.

This fashion, the LLM could have full context on your content material and may create extra detailed, related checklists.

For instance, our senior editor, Shannon Willoby, made a 12-month guidelines to assist together with her article on starting a blog.

She prompted AI to create the guidelines based mostly on her article content material. Fairly easy however efficient.

Right here’s a template to get began:

Construct Interactive Instruments

Interactive instruments like calculators, analyzers, and determination bushes flip your data into helpful options. Readers can use these instruments instantly.

There are lots of alternatives, no matter your business:

Say you write about productiveness. You possibly can create a workload capability analyzer that helps readers stability their initiatives.

In the event you’re a wellness author, you may develop a habit-stacking planner to assist individuals create wholesome routines.

Or, if you happen to’re a gardening professional, you possibly can create a seasonal planting calculator.

For my ecommerce development methods article, I used AI to construct an interactive profitability calculator.

As an alternative of explaining formulation, readers can discover completely different situations to know how variables like value of products bought (COGS), delivery, and advertising and marketing bills influence their backside line.

The very best half?

You possibly can deliver these AI-designed instruments to life utilizing no-code platforms like Calculator Studio. Right here’s how:

1. Determine calculation wants in your content material
2. Ask AI to assist construction the logic and formulation
3. Design the person interface (AI can mock this up)
4. Construct it in your no-code device of selection

As an example, when constructing the profitability calculator, I prompted AI with:

Begin easy.

A primary calculator that solves one particular drawback effectively is healthier than a posh device that confuses customers.

7. Use AI to Edit Your Draft

Modifying is the distinction between good content material and distinctive content material.

However getting high quality edits may be costly and sluggish. You both:

• Pay editors by the hour
• Lose billable time as a freelancer
• Wait via prolonged overview cycles
• Miss points when enhancing your individual work

AI modifications this dynamic.

You will get fast, unbiased suggestions and check out completely different variations earlier than your editor opinions a draft.

Let me present you ways to do that successfully.

Get Strategic Enter First

It’s tempting to leap proper into line enhancing—fixing grammar and sharpening sentences.

However begin with the large image.

Right here’s how Chris Hanna makes use of AI for strategic enhancing:

AI will help by:

• Evaluating your piece towards profitable examples
• Figuring out patterns and gaps
• Suggesting structural enhancements

This strategy saves revision time. Why polish paragraphs you may lower or rewrite anyway?

Create Fast High quality Checks

After getting your construction stable, create systematic high quality checks.

You wish to confirm your content material hits key engagement metrics.

At Backlinko, we monitor three readability metrics:

1. Single-Sentence Paragraph Share: The ratio of paragraphs with only one sentence.
2. Visible Break Density: Variety of visible components per 1,000 phrases. Greater density means higher scannability.
3. Grade Stage: We goal Grade 7 or under for accessibility.

AI can calculate these immediately and counsel particular fixes. Right here’s how:

1. Share your metrics targets with AI
2. Paste in a bit of your content material
3. Ask for each evaluation and particular fixes

Past metrics, use AI to test for:

• Redundant concepts and phrases
• Passive voice overuse
• Transition effectiveness
• Model voice consistency
• Technical accuracy

Take a look at Important Parts

Some elements of your content material matter greater than others.

Your headline determines whether or not individuals click on.

Your introduction decides in the event that they keep.

Your calls-to-action affect in the event that they convert.

These components deserve further consideration.

Utilizing headlines for instance, I observe 3-5 potential titles.

I Google the subject I’m writing about and screenshot the search outcomes.

I add the screenshot to Claude. Then, I ask how my title concepts examine to the highest articles.

Claude will make ideas based mostly on our title steerage, finest practices, and differentiators.

Yongi makes use of the same course of for introductions:

You too can check:

• Part transitions
• Examples
• Proof level placement
• Technical explanations
• Closing arguments

Steadiness AI and Human Modifying

AI accelerates the enhancing course of, however human judgment stays important.

Right here’s find out how to make this work:

1. Begin with AI for broad evaluation and fast fixes
2. Apply your judgment to AI’s ideas
3. Take a look at variations of vital components
4. Confirm technical accuracy independently
5. Preserve your distinctive voice and perspective

Chris Shirlow helps this stability:

Begin Writing Smarter, Not Tougher

Decide one challenge you could write this week.

Apply simply certainly one of these practices—perhaps getting AI’s assist with viewers analysis or outlining.

That’s all you could do to start out seeing outcomes.

Able to put these practices to work? Take a look at our information on how to write a blog post.

You’ll see find out how to mix these AI methods with confirmed writing rules to create content material that ranks and converts.