A question posed at my AI in marketing webinar this week prompted me to use it for The Hotline this week. So, thanks to ECDI Ohio’s Women’s Business Centers for having me and the attendee for the inspiration!
I’d love it if you could forward this email to a friend who's in business and interested in content to help their marketing. I would appreciate it. And if you’re that friend? Subscribe today.
— Ann Gynn
The Hotline
Does AI Have Your Show Bible?
🟩 ATTRACT → 🟧 convert → ⬜ retain → ⬛ amplify
Q: I tried AI to write social media posts for my business, but everything it gave me sounded generic — like it could have been written for anyone. How do I fix that?
Think of AI-generated content like the Law & Order franchise.
Both the original and SVU series are set in New York City. They share the same “dun-dun” sound in their openings. They also feature the police and the judicial system.
But each developed its own identity.
The original operates as a procedural drama — 30 minutes for order and 30 minutes for law. The crimes range from murder to embezzlement. The professional roles of the characters matter more than their personal lives.
SVU, in contrast, focuses on sex crimes. The characters matter as much as their jobs, especially Capt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). The show is more emotional and less detached than the original.
That’s the difference between generic AI content and branded AI content.
The framework may be familiar, but the perspective, tone, and emotional focus make it yours.
So, be the showrunner and educate the writer (i.e., AI) about the series. After all, Dick Wolf couldn’t expect the writing room to knock it out of the park without providing them a show bible — an explanation of the voice, tone, character dynamics, themes, pacing, recurring structure, world rules and what the show is and what it is not.
That’s what AI needs to craft content that gives your brand a unique, consistent, and recognizable voice.
Fortunately, you don’t need to create a full-blown show bible overnight. Start by completing this three-sentence brand prompt and provide it to the AI tool:
My business is ____________________________.
My ideal customer is ________________________.
I want my business to sound like _________________________.
A few other tips to get AI-created content to appear more like you:
Let AI help create a brand guide. Attach examples of existing content, such as social media posts, website URL, proposals, emails, newsletters, etc. Use this prompt: “Included are examples of my brand’s website, newsletter, and proposals. Please review and identify the tone, voice, and any other style elements that would help you create content that better fits my brand.”
Provide your logo, brand colors, and preferred fonts. In requesting visuals, ensure the AI tool starts with the foundational elements. Use this prompt: “Please use this logo, brand colors and preferred fonts for the basis of any visuals you create.”
Ask it to save the guidance. You don’t have to reshare this basic information every time AI creates your content drafts. Use this prompt: “Treat these notes like a style guide for future content,” or “Remember this as my show bible for future marketing content.”
Share your published, polished content with the AI tool so it can better learn your preferences and voice for the future.
One more thing: Keep working with the same writer (i.e., AI tool). The more you work together, the more it learns your brand and the less it sounds like everyone else's show.
Got a question you’d like me to answer in a future edition of The Hotline? Call or text Marketing By One Hotline: +1.440.661.3984.
The Challenge
This week: Write your three-sentence brand prompt, give it to an AI tool along with a content request.
Are you running your business on incomplete numbers?
Most business owners have financials. Few have financial clarity. BELAY's outsourced accounting team manages your books, tracks key metrics, and delivers timely reporting so you always know where your business stands — and what to do next.
What I Did With AI This Week
I used Claude to help me with my ECDI Women’s Business Center presentation on AI in marketing. I provided the outline, my brand identity info, and it created drafts of the slides. Claude’s design created a more elevated look than my old decks and populated the content into the slides so I didn’t have to (and it kept everything aligned and straight.)
BTW, if you want a copy of the slide deck that includes four areas where AI can help your marketing, some prompts and demos, just reply to this email.
Have any AI tricks of your own? Hit reply, call, or text the Marketing By One Hotline: +1.440.661.3984.
The Marketing Minute
Repurpose it
Repost your best-performing piece of content from three months ago — most people missed it the first time.
The Shortlist
🏆 Favored favorites: I’m compiling the Content Marketing Institute’s best blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and video series in the coming week. Nominate using this form.
✍️ Writing advice: In case you want some inspiration or practical advice, check out this recently updated 27 writing tips piece. It includes a lot of fresh examples. (Believe me, I spent a lot of time reading bad examples until I got these.)
💻 Put down the phone: Threads added direct messaging for desktop users. (I’m a big typing-on-my-laptop is better than typing-on-my-phone person, so I’m happy with this news.)
Join Us
Not a subscriber? Join the Marketing By One community today. Sign up for the free weekly newsletter!
Got a question you’d like me to answer in The Hotline? Email me or DM me on LinkedIn. Even better: Text or leave a message on the Marketing By One Hotline: +1.440.661.3984.