If you want to get the best content out of generative AI, here’s a simple truth: Human + AI always beats AI alone.
One of the biggest mistakes people make with tools like ChatGPT is treating it like a vending machine: “Write me a post about Topic X.” Then they complain the result is boring or generic. But guess what? If you only give AI a half-baked idea, you’ll get a half-baked result.
✅ Try This Instead: Have a Conversation With Your AI
The real magic happens when you treat ChatGPT like a brainstorming partner — not a robot.
Next time you want to write a blog post, talk to it. Here’s how:
1️⃣ Start by typing out your raw thoughts.
Literally just write whatever’s in your head about the topic:
“I want to write about why local businesses should use content marketing. I want to cover benefits, common mistakes, maybe a checklist. Not sure how to open it yet.”
2️⃣ Ask ChatGPT for input.
“What points do you think I should include? Do you see anything I’m missing?”
3️⃣ Go back and forth.
Respond to its ideas. If you disagree, say so! If you like something, ask it to expand.
✅ Why This Works
This process does three things:
✔️ It helps you clarify what you really want to say.
✔️ It uncovers angles, examples, or orderings you might not think of alone.
✔️ It gives the AI way more context — so when you finally ask it to draft the post, it’s pulling from your brain and its knowledge.
✅ A Quick Outline Example
You can even ask:
“Suggest three different outlines for this post — one short, one detailed, and one listicle.”
Then discuss which structure makes the most sense.
ChatGPT is surprisingly good at rearranging ideas once you give it feedback.
🔑 Doesn’t That Take Longer? Not Really!
Before you think, “Wow, that sounds like extra work!” — here’s the truth: it can take as little as 10–15 minutes to hash out your ideas this way.
You don’t need perfect grammar or fancy formatting. Dump your thoughts, ramble a bit — AI loves a brain dump. Its real superpower is turning messy ideas into something clear and organized.
And because you’re guiding the conversation, you’ll almost always get an outline or draft that’s closer to what you actually want — so you spend less time rewriting.
✅ Remember: AI Isn’t Psychic
Even as large language models get more advanced, they still can’t guess what’s in your head. They can only work with what you give them.
The more context you share — your goals, your audience, the style you like — the more you get content that feels like you.
🗒️ Try It Next Time
Next time you open ChatGPT, don’t just say “Write a post about [X].”
Try:
📝 “Here are my thoughts. What do you think?”
📝 “Anything missing?”
📝 “How would you structure this?”
📝 “Does this angle make sense for a beginner audience?”
Enjoy the back-and-forth. You’ll be surprised how much better — and faster — your content gets when you treat AI like your brainstorming buddy.
🚀 Bottom Line
Human input + AI support = your best possible content.
Use the conversation — don’t skip it. Your readers (and your business) will thank you for it.
✅ Appendix: Example ChatGPT Brainstorm Conversation
📝 Topic: “Why Local Businesses Should Use Content Marketing”
🙋♂️ Writer:
Hey ChatGPT — I want to write a blog post about why local businesses should care about content marketing.
I know I want to talk about how it helps them get found online, build trust, and compete with bigger brands.
Not sure if I should include common mistakes or a simple checklist too.
What other points do you think are important?
🤖 ChatGPT:
Great topic! In addition to the points you mentioned, you could cover:
- How content marketing helps local businesses appear in local search results.
- The role of customer reviews and user-generated content.
- Tips for repurposing content across social media.
- A short case study or example of a local business that benefited.
I agree that a common mistakes section or checklist would add practical value too.
🙋♂️ Writer:
Love the idea of a case study — maybe just a short one.
Can you suggest a basic outline for the post?
🤖 ChatGPT:
Sure! Here’s a simple outline:
1️⃣ Introduction — Why local businesses often overlook content marketing.
2️⃣ What content marketing is (briefly).
3️⃣ Benefits:
- Getting found online
- Building trust and loyalty
- Competing with larger brands
- Showing local expertise
4️⃣ Real example or mini case study.
5️⃣ Common mistakes to avoid.
6️⃣ Quick action checklist.
7️⃣ Conclusion with a call-to-action.
🙋♂️ Writer:
Nice. What do you think about swapping the benefits and the definition?
Like, lead with the big benefits, then explain what content marketing is for anyone who’s new to it.
🤖 ChatGPT:
That’s a good call! Leading with the benefits can hook the reader faster.
Here’s the revised order:
1️⃣ Intro
2️⃣ Benefits
3️⃣ What is content marketing?
4️⃣ Mini case study
5️⃣ Mistakes to avoid
6️⃣ Checklist
7️⃣ Conclusion/CTA
🙋♂️ Writer:
Perfect. Let’s stick with that.
Now, can you draft the intro for me?
I want it to be friendly and reassuring, speaking to small local business owners who might think “this sounds too complicated.”
🤖 ChatGPT:
Of course! Here’s a sample intro:
“Many local business owners think content marketing is just for big brands with huge budgets and marketing teams. But the truth is, creating helpful, relevant content can be one of the most cost-effective ways for small local businesses to stand out — even if you’re just starting out. In this post, we’ll break down why content marketing works, what it looks like in practice, and how you can get started without feeling overwhelmed.”