The prevalence of AI content creation tools has skyrocketed in recent times. And it looks like they are here to stay. It can be tempting to shy away from implementing AI technology, instead opting for tried and tested methods. However, by embracing AI you could save your organisation valuable time and resources. 

You may be wondering where to start, but don’t worry. Although AI technology is a powerful tool, the implementation process doesn’t have to be complicated.  

In this guide, we’ll present you with a clear path to introducing AI to your daily tasks. We’ll also discuss the many uses that your AI could have within a content creation team.

What do you want to achieve?

The first step towards successfully integrating AI into your existing workflow is to identify your goals. 

For instance, do you want to increase efficiency, improve accuracy, or something else entirely? It’s important to keep this goal as your focus. That way, you can start planning with a clear vision on how best to change and adapt your workflow. 

Once you know what you want to achieve, you can take the next steps. It will become clear what solution would work best for you.

Analyse your current workflow

Before making any drastic changes to how your team works, it’s important to take a close look at your current workflow. 

Through analysing how you work, you can identify areas where AI could streamline processes or reduce errors. Ask yourself and your team about pain points in the content creation process. 

Analyse your existing content creation process, including types of content, production time and team roles. Try to identify bottlenecks, repetitive or time consuming tasks and areas where AI content generation could be beneficial. 

Choose an AI solution that works for you

With so many AI content management tools available, it can be difficult to know which one is right for your needs. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. As a result, it can seem like a daunting process. 

However, with some careful consideration and planning you can implement this complex technology with lasting positive results. Keep an eye out for features like content creation, topic ideation or content analytics. If you’re still unsure, take advantage of free trials and demos. This will allow you to test the overall functionality of each tool and whether they fit your requirements. 

As a starting point, these are a few factors to consider:

• How much does it cost?

It may seem like an obvious question, but understanding your budget is crucial. Be mindful of any fees associated with certain options. Otherwise, you may end up overspending on something you don’t need, or not having enough funds for something essential. 

• How easy is it to use?

Will your team quickly learn how to use AI for content creation, or will they need in depth training? If your team needs extensive training, it could be a costly exercise that takes up too much time for it to be worthwhile. Make sure the end decision takes into account the overall user experience. 

It is probably wise to allocate some resources to training your team on how to effectively use these new tools. After all, they will have a huge influence on the overall success of the project.

• Is it scalable? 

The demands placed on your new system may seem constant at the moment, but can potentially change from one moment to the next. It’s best to make sure from the outset that it can handle large amounts of data without crashing or slowing down. 

• Is it compatible with your existing technology?

Before you fully commit, make sure you find out whether any existing infrastructure could help reduce your overall costs. Of course, you should still expect this to support modern AI solutions. If not, you may be creating performance issues for your team down the line.

Implementing your chosen AI solution

Once you’re confident that you have made the right decision it’s time to implement your chosen AI into your workflow. 

Before going ahead with a full overhaul of your processes, why not consider a phased approach to AI integration? By starting with using AI tools for one or two tasks in your workflow, your team will soon get used to the new technology. 

Creative teams can now go ahead and use AI to improve or save time on a host of daily tasks. We have outlined a selection to provide inspiration:

• Generating content strategies and outlines

AI tools for content writing can analyse your input and suggest organised outlines, headings and even brief overviews. Tools such as ChatGPT can save both time and resources when brainstorming ideas and provide a structured starting point for your writing. 

• Creating first drafts

An AI writing tool is an ideal assistant for putting together general information when creating a first draft. It could also provide a boost to content creators suffering from writer’s block. 

You can use the time saved from coming up with basic ideas to refine the content and add further insights from trusted sources. 

• Speeding up content research

Content marketers acknowledge that writing one blog post can take up to 3 hours and 51 minutes. But with AI tools, you could save the time spent on initial research and let AI scan online data for you. 

AI can collect relevant facts and background information in a matter of seconds. This means you will have the time to focus on improving your finished content and flexing your creative muscle. 

• Getting instant feedback on content

If you need instant feedback on a piece of content, where do you turn if your team is busy or unavailable? You can use AI tools.

In just a few moments, AI can automatically generate detailed and objective feedback and suggest recommendations. If you require quick feedback on a draft, it can be a useful signifier of how to move forward with it. 

• Repurposing existing content

AI tools can take your original piece of content and reformat it with ease. For example, turning a blog post into engaging content for social media. By tailoring the language, structure and style to suit different platforms, your content can have a wider reach.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that each platform will have its own consumption patterns and audience expectations. You will still need to change your approach depending on what you want to achieve. 

• Clustering keywords

Clustering keywords is an effective way to create more focused content strategies. AI tools such as ChatGPT can quickly organise and brainstorm content centred around clustered themes. This can save a great deal of time when compared to sorting relevant keywords into groups and themes manually.

• Streamlining the editing process

A typo or grammatical error can undermine all of your hard work. But, sometimes finding the time to proofread effectively can be difficult. Things may slip through the cracks, especially during busy times. 

With the help of an AI editing assistant, you can quickly identify and correct typos and unclear phrasing. All while keeping the content in line with the brand style guide and tone of voice. 

• Personalising content for your target audience

Personalising your content to align with the preferences and interests of your target audience can greatly improve engagement. AI tools can analyse data to fine tune and adjust your messaging. This will make sure it resonates with the specific groups you are trying to appeal to. 

Monitoring the performance of your AI

Once you’ve implemented your AI, it’s important to measure whether it is actually helping you to meet your goals. Make sure you track metrics such as content quality, content production time and audience engagement. This way, you will be able to use data to continue to refine your workflow.

AI tools can be a helpful addition to your workflow, but they are not a direct substitute for human-written content. AI content may lack the emotional resonance and empathy to compete with human writers. Some elements may potentially need fact checking before the approval stage. 

Despite the limitations, you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with different AI tools in order to find the right one for your needs. 

What to avoid when changing your workflow

A common pitfall made by those wanting to optimise their workflow is not taking the time to plan thoroughly. Making changes without considering the outcome might lead to unforeseen issues and delays further down the line. 

It’s also best to try to avoid implementing too many new systems or processes at the same time. It can become difficult to track the success of multiple changes and team members may become overwhelmed. 

Key Takeaways

By implementing AI content technology at certain points in your workflow, you could save a wealth of time and resources. As AI technology continues to change and evolve, so do the number of ways in which content teams could use this tech. The potential for innovating content strategies and output grows with every development.

By introducing AI tools, you are complementing the existing skills and strengths of your team. And as these tools become more advanced, enhancing capabilities and streamlining tasks. 

At the moment AI generated content is most effective when it has human knowledge and creativity to guide it. But the time saved means other creative projects and strategies can flourish. By finding the right AI solution and monitoring the results, you could find your organisation becoming more agile. 

This blog was written for Adzooma with the support of CTI Digital, award-winning Content and SEO services agency. For more insightful tips, please head over to our blog, or get in touch to speak to our team if you have any questions!