Professional writers vs AI
Author: Skye Cusack
Artificial intelligence. Can’t live with it, can’t live without it, right?
Many creatives have felt the effects of a rise in AI generated content. From plagiarism to fear of unemployment, the mass disruption of the creative space is undeniable. Many writers now believe that their talents will be rendered obsolete.
But not me!
When I first started talking openly about launching BluSkye, a few people offered me this idea: write about why people should pick copywriters over AI. But this isn’t what I’m going to write about. Because I don’t believe it.
Whoa - stay with me for a second. I know that sounds terrible. But hear me out.
I don’t believe that everyone has to pick human talent over artificial intelligence. It would be a lovely world if they did, but that isn’t reality. Many business owners and content creators simply don’t have the time or budget to commission professional writers.
There is always more than one correct answer in marketing. Truthfully, you can do whatever the hell you want. It may not resonate with your customers, or it could be the best thing to happen to your business. Either way, just do whatever is best for your circumstances.
But how do you make the decision? You know you need copy, for whatever reason, and you don’t have the confidence or time to write it yourself. Now you’re faced with the choice: hire a copywriter or use an AI tool.
Which should you pick? Well, let’s weigh the pros and cons of both.
5 reasons to use AI generated copy:
You’re already a copywriting superstar. If you’re a copy whizz, but just don’t have the time or the brain power to write, there may not be much point in going through the process of selecting, contacting, hiring and then paying a writer. Generating some copy and then tweaking it where needed can do the trick.
You’re on a super tight budget. AI content is very cost effective. Freelance writing is a service with value that should be compensated fairly. If you don’t have the cash flow to pay a copywriter’s rates, AI is a more affordable alternative.
You only need a little bit of copy. Refer back to point 1 - if you’re only after a paragraph for a product page, or a sentence for a social post, it’s not always worth going through the process of hiring a copywriter.
You’re curious about the hype. Maybe you’ve seen all the buzz online about AI generated content and you want to see if it really can improve your comms strategy. Or maybe you just want to be able to say you’ve done it.
It can be speedier. If you’re on a strict timeline and have a clear brief in your head, generating copy with AI is a very quick process, because you’re not waiting for human beings to do human being things, like eat and sleep and rest.
5 reasons to hire a copywriter:
You don’t have enough time. I know I just said AI can be speedier, but this is only if you already have a clear plan. Generating the copy is only one part of the task - there’s so much more that happens behind the scenes to make the magic happen. This takes time and knowledge only copywriters have.
We write for your target audience. An AI can understand a target audience in a general sense, but copywriting is more than data. Demographic stats are important, but authentic human connection is the key ingredient. It’s a variable that artificial intelligence just can’t replicate, no matter how advanced it may be.
We won’t give you plagiarised content. Imagine publishing amazing copy, making sales… and then finding yourself knee deep in a lawsuit. This kind of controversy can cause irreparable damage to a brand’s reputation. And even if your plagiarised content stays under the radar, your competitors have the upper hand with original content tailored specifically to their brand and target audience.
You’re too close to your business. One of the biggest reasons copy doesn’t convert is because it’s full of industry specific jargon. I see it all the time - business owners working in technical fields (think finance, science, logistics) write their own copy, but it reads like a foreign language to those not in the know. Professional writers can work with you to make your copy more accessible, without sacrificing any key messaging.
We work holistically. If you ask us to write a blog post, we know how to convert that to a social post, Instagram story, TikTok, and email/newsletter. Copywriting is more than just saying the right words, it’s about strategically adapting it for all your channels.
So there you have it! Basically, what I’m trying to say is, in current times there is no right or wrong way to source copy for your business. If you’re just looking for something quick and cheap, AI could be great for you. If you want something that is pricier but has more of an ethical human element, hire a freelance copywriter.