How To Use ChatGPT To Refine Your Voice And Enhance Your Brand Story
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How To Use ChatGPT To Refine Your Voice And Enhance Your Brand Story
I have a confession: I tend to be a bit long-winded when I write. It's like my thoughts spill onto the page, unfiltered, sort of like a conversation with you, the reader. (Is this weird? Do other people do this too??)
Editing down my ramblings for clarity and brevity? Nightmare fuel. I've got pages and pages of first drafts collecting digital dust in Notion.
But, I’ve got a little trick I call "ChatGPT backwards." It’s revolutionized my writing process, and helped me get more content out of the brainstorming and ideation phase and into the world. (Where… you know.. it’s actually helpful to people.)
Let me show you how it works.
Dumping Ideas: Letting Creativity Flow
First, you’ve gotta get your ideas out of your head. Dump all you ideas, words, and sentences onto the page without worrying if it's coherent or polished. The goal is to just get it (whatever “it” is) out of your head and onto the page. I like to use Notion, but maybe you’re a google docs type of person. It really doesn’t matter.
At this stage, I think a lot of people try to write and edit at the same time. This prevents you from getting your ideas fully out of your head because you’re worried about the writing being “good.”
Stop that. Let it flow. Dirty as hell.
You’re not going for polish here. You’re just trying to get all your ideas on a certain subject onto the page.
Preserving Your Voice Using The Power of ChatGPT Editing
After vomiting my chaos of ideas, I turn to ChatGPT with a straightforward prompt: "I'd like to give you an (email/ blog post/ caption) to rewrite. I'll provide the rough draft. I'd like it to be more concise, but still retain the same type of language, quirks in punctuation, tone-of-voice, and style."
And presto! It magically refines my draft into a more digestible form, preserving my unique voice, quirks, and storytelling style. Essentially, this stage is removing “the dirt.”
ChatGPT is helping to refine ideas while still maintaining your distinctiveness.
However, you may find that ChatGPT sometimes over-corrects, stripping away too much personality. But that's okay.
In the next stage, you’re going to put some of the “dirt” back in so the final piece doesn’t sound too robotic.
Maintaining Your Authentic Voice in the Era of AI
Some say starting with ChatGPT as your initial draft is the way to go. I've tried it myself (and still do sometimes), but honestly, it often leaves me with content that feels a bit bland- or clearly written by AI. At that point, I find it MUCH harder to go back in and add my own style and personality. Is it well written? Sure. Does it sound like me and/or is it interesting to read? Almost never.
However, this little trick I'm sharing with you today not only refines my writing but preserves the essence of who I am - my personality, stories, and anecdotes. All of the things that are the heart of brand building.
Let's face it: AI-generated content isn’t going away. In fact, the rate at which it’s being produced will only continue to escalate. We are (and will continue to be) swimming in it for the rest of our lives. This means the need for genuine personal branding is more important than ever. Your distinct stories, voice, and experiences are your secret weapons for fostering meaningful connections with your audience.
So yes- we need to embrace and leverage these new tools, but it's equally vital to do so without compromising our authenticity and integrity. THIS is how you will continue to stand out and foster genuine connection and loyalty with your audience, clients, and customers.
What are your thoughts on AI?
I get it - AI can be a polarizing topic. But it's a reality we can't ignore.
Instead of resisting, I’d rather explore ways to integrate these tools in a way that amplifies our uniqueness rather than diluting it.
It's akin to choosing between a daily donut binge or nourishing your body with a nutrient-packed smoothie - both are quick, but one sustains you for the long haul. (And makes you feel better about your choice.)
Since I began experimenting with these tools, my focus has been on utilizing them to bolster the long-term vitality of my business, rather than opting for quick fixes. And I want the same for you.
So, let's chat: Will you give this technique a shot? Or, perhaps you've discovered other methods yielding similar results? Share your thoughts below; I'm all ears.
Meet Sarah
Sarah is an award-winning Designer, Creative Director & Brand Strategist for global companies turned entrepreneur. From farm to fork & everything in between: she crafts irresistible brands & websites for businesses dedicated to nourishing bodies, minds, & the planet.