5 Dos and Don’ts of Using AI for Blogging
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AI tools like ChatGPT have made it easier for busy wedding pros to create content. But these tools can’t replace you as the expert.
As an SEO consultant for wedding pros, there are some common mistakes I see when business owners try to use AI tools to create blog posts and rank on Google.
Let’s dive deeper into the do’s and don’ts to get the most out of AI and also help your SEO.
1 - Don’t Write Short Prompts and Expect Awesome Responses
You might be tempted to type in something simple like, “Write a blog post about wedding seating charts,” and hope the AI will generate a brilliant, detailed post.
The reality? Short prompts lead to shallow content that’s no different than what’s already on the internet (and Google hates that).
AI needs context, guidance, and new ideas to deliver quality results.
For example, don’t just tell ChatGPT to “Write 500 words about Greenwood Estate wedding venue.”
Instead, provide extensive source material, including text pasted in from the venue’s website and a list of your favorite things about the venue.
Why this works:
The more specific you are, the more unique and on-brand the response will be. Think of AI like an assistant – the clearer your instructions, the better the output.
Actionable Tip:
Treat AI as if it’s a new team member who needs your guidance. Give it as much context as possible, and don’t be afraid to give it feedback to get the results you’re looking for. It won’t complain when you ask for that third revision.
2 - Don’t Assume Everything It Writes Is Factually Accurate
AI can be incredibly convincing, but it’s not always accurate. It pulls from a wide range of sources to create content, and sometimes it "hallucinates" facts that aren’t true.
For example, I recently asked AI to write a blog post about a popular wedding venue, and it confidently provided details about an “outdoor ceremony space with breathtaking views” — at a venue that didn’t have an outdoor space at all!
If you assume everything AI writes is accurate, you could end up publishing false information on your website.
Actionable Tip:
Always fact-check AI-generated content. Cross-reference with trusted sources or your own expertise before publishing.
You can also tell the AI tool to use only the source material you provide, so it is less likely to make up its own facts that sound good but aren’t true.
3 - Don’t Assume It’s Doing Your SEO for You
AI is not an SEO expert. It can be helpful for generating ideas, but it won’t automatically optimize your content for search engines.
For example, if you ask AI to write a meta description, it might produce something that’s too long, doesn’t include your keyword, or doesn’t actually reflect the content of your post.
I recently asked AI to write meta descriptions for a series of blog posts. When I checked them, most were over 200 characters (too long!) and didn’t include my target keywords. If I hadn’t edited them, they wouldn’t have been effective for SEO.
Actionable Tip:
Use AI to generate ideas for your SEO elements, but be ready to tweak them yourself. Make sure your meta descriptions are between 135-155 characters, and double-check that your focus keyword is included in your headings, title, and in the post.
4 - Do Use AI as a Writing Assistant
AI is fantastic for brainstorming, outlining, and generating content. If you’re not sure what to write or where to get started, ask ChatGPT to help you generate some ideas based on your business and target client.
Actionable Tip:
One of my favorite ways to use ChatGPT as my writing assistant is to start with a rough outline of my topic and let AI expand on it. Then, I go through and refine the ideas, adding my own expertise, voice, and experience.
If you use it this way, you’re not relying entirely on AI to start from scratch but using it to start or enhance your own ideas.
5 - Do Use It to Write the Tough Parts of Your Blog Posts, Like Introductions and Conclusions
It’s the worst: staring at a blank screen, trying to write an interesting introduction or wrap up your thoughts in a conclusion.
This is where AI can be super helpful to pull your thoughts together.
Actionable Tip:
Once you’ve written the main body of your blog post, paste it into your AI tool and ask it to write an introduction or conclusion that ties everything together. It can make these sound a lot more exciting and get you to the finish line.
AI is a great helper for blogging, but it’s not perfect.
The key is to use it as a tool – one that enhances your process but doesn’t replace your expertise, experience, or unique perspective.
Want to learn more about blogging specifically in the wedding industry? Check out my course, Wedding SEO Bootcamp! I offer a special AI Workshop add-on with exact prompts to help you fast forward through each of my ‘Big 4’ blog strategies.
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Still overwhelmed?
Consider learning SEO basics at Wedding SEO Bootcamp (open to go at your own pace year-round, or live with Sara next in January 2025. Or, connect with Sara’s to learn more about her fully managed wedding SEO Services.
