It’s a really exciting time to be alive. many of us lived through the dot-com boom and didn’t realize just how much the world was about to change. With the onset of AI, I believe it’s even bigger.

I’m confident in this because AI is not only transforming industries but also reshaping the way we interact with technology and one another.

The possibilities seem boundless, from healthcare advancements and personalized education to smarter cities and more efficient resource management. AI’s potential to revolutionize sectors like finance, transportation, and entertainment is unparalleled.

As AI continues to evolve, it brings both challenges and opportunities, prompting society to rethink ethics, job markets, and the nature of innovation. Embracing this change could lead to breakthroughs we can only begin to imagine today.

However, it’s completely natural to have concerns about these shifts. Many people worry about the implications of AI on jobs, fearing that automation could lead to unemployment or drastic changes in the workforce.

Others might be anxious about maintaining privacy and security in an increasingly digital world where AI systems can gather vast amounts of data.

Ethical considerations also arise, as we navigate questions about bias, decision-making, and the role of machines in our daily lives. It’s important to listen and address these fears with empathy, acknowledging the challenges while working together to create solutions that ensure a future where technology benefits everyone.

The possibilities opening up for millions of people are mind-blowing.

We live in an era where creativity and innovation are at the forefront The fusion of technology and creativity is where true magic happens. The digital landscape offers unprecedented opportunities for individuals to express themselves, connect with audiences around the globe, and make a significant impact.

This period of transformation requires us to be agile, imaginative, and open-minded. It’s about leveraging the tools at our disposal to enhance human potential and foster a world where creativity flourishes.

The democratization of technology allows for greater inclusivity, providing more people the means to tell their stories, share their visions, and drive change. As we look to the future, the key will be to harness AI in ways that empower creators and innovators, using technology to augment human capabilities rather than replace them.

By fostering a mindset of curiosity and adaptability, we can navigate these exciting times and embrace the endless possibilities that lie ahead.

Many people might believe that this new era of AI is going to cause us to be less creative. The believe we’ll begin to rely too much on AI to replace what would otherwise be creativity-stretching work.

But I think that’s a shallow view.

In truth, AI can serve as a powerful catalyst for creativity, offering new tools and perspectives that can inspire and enhance human ingenuity. By incorporating AI into our creative processes, we have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what’s possible, exploring new forms of expression and innovation. Rather than stifling creativity, AI can empower us to think differently, experiment, and reach new heights in our creativity.

Simultaneously, you hear people complain that AI is going to flood the internet with bad content. And I think there’s truth to that.

The fact of the matter is that if you’re already bad at making content, AI will only help you make slightly better content. And as for the people who are already good at making content, they will create even better content.

The cream always rises to the top.

Lazy people will continue to make lazy, uninteresting content. People with something important to say, and a unique way to say it will thrive.

Don’t fear AI. Learn to use it to make what you’re already doing better.

Ready to take your content marketing game up a notch (or ten… or eleven)? Let’s dive into the futuristic world of ChatGPT, a cutting-edge AI language model that will have you feeling like Tony Stark. Using ChatGPT for content marketing will revolutionize the way you create content and engage with your audience.

Developed by OpenAI (based in San Francisco, Ca), ChatGPT uses the magic of artificial intelligence to generate rich, contextually relevant text in the form of a natural language chatbot. The user inputs a text request, the AI interprets it and responds, just like a human might. Consider it your virtual genie, granting wishes for captivating social media posts, blog content, and marketing campaigns.

This technology is already being used by hundreds of millions of people. And while Google is also working to build their own AI chatbot, OpenAI seems to have a heavy lead.

Picture this: generating more engaging captions, bidding farewell to writer’s block, and continuously refreshing your content strategy—all with the click of a button. No DeLorean or flux capacitor required.

In this post, I’ll show how you can harness the power of ChatGPT in various aspects of social media marketing, blogging, and content marketing. So fasten your seatbelts and prepare for blastoff as we transform your online presence with the limitless potential of AI!

Quick Note: I’ve developed my own ChatGPT app called Magai. It uses OpenAI integration to give you access to ChatGPT, but with more features. Throughout this article I will be using Magai for all the examples. But, for the most part, using native ChatGPT should work just fine.

If you want to try Magai for free, there is a 7-day free trial available after you sign up.

Using ChatGPT for Social Media Marketing

Enhancing your social media presence has never been easier, or more fun. It used to be a grind to come with content ideas day after day. But with a super intelligent AI assistant, it’s a breeze.

Below are several ways ChatGPT can help with your social media marketing tasks.

Enhance social media captions and headlines

Clutching your head in frustration while trying to craft the perfect caption? Fret not! ChatGPT can generate catchy and creative captions that resonate with your target audience. Say goodbye to caption-induced headaches and hello to increased engagement and traffic.

The best way to go about this is to start with a prompt that describes:

1. Your specific target audience
2. The general subject(s) you want to cover
3. The social platform you want to post to

So you could open up a new chat and say something similar to the following:

Please create some Instagram captions for my business. My target audience is women in their 30’s who want to stay in shape. I want them to cover different subjects, including: fitness tips, nutrition planning, simple exercise suggestions you can do at home. Also include relatable challenges women have when trying to stay in shape.

Using Magai—my ChatGPT-powered app of choice, I used this exact input and this is what it gave me:

1. "Morning workout done ✅ Time to conquer the day with a smile! 😊💪 #FitMomLife"
2. "Small changes = big results. 💪🍏 Remember, ladies, every decision counts. #FitnessTips"
3. "💡Quick nutrition tip: meal prep is key 🥗 Plan smart, eat healthy, stay in control. #MealPreppingQueens"
4. "Got 10 minutes? Time for a quick home workout! 🏡 Planks, squats, and lunges – let's do this! 🔥 #QuickFit"
5. "When life gives you lemons, squeeze them on a salad! 🍋🥗 Choosing healthy means choosing happiness. #FitFoodie"
6. "Pouring love into my body with a refreshing morning smoothie. 🍓🍌🥝 Cheers to good health! #SmoothieAddict"
7. "No gym? No problem! 🚫💪 Let's turn our living room into a workout studio! #FitnessAnywhere"
8. "Juggling work and workouts! 🏋️‍♀️👩‍💼 Tag a superwoman who knows the struggle is real! #FitGirlProblems"
9. "Good nutrition doesn't have to be complicated 🍽️ Simplify it: colorful plates are where it's at! 🌈 #EatTheRainbow"
10. "Stronger than my excuses 💥 Remembering my 'why' keeps me going forward! 💕#MotivationMonday"
11. "Treat your body like a temple 🏛️ and your mind like a treasure chest 🔒 Nurture both to be the best version of you. #SelfLove"
12. "💦 Hydration is key. Don't forget to drink, beauties! Show that water bottle some love 💕 #H2O"
13. "Constantly reminding myself that progress is a journey, not a destination. 🌟 Stay patient & focused, ladies! #FitnessJourney"
14. "Home workout essentials 🏠🧘‍♀️ Comfort, determination, and your favorite playlist! 🎶 #HomeFitClub"
15. "Here's to the days when we're too busy to workout but still find the time ⌛ Cheers, ladies! We've got this! 💪 #GirlPower"

While some of the captions it created may be great to use as-is, it’s important to remember that AI still needs a human touch. You’ll want to audit each output to make sure they match your tone of voice.

The other great thing about having a chat-like interface is that you can have it make changes. The AI can understand the context of the whole conversation. Just type your desired changes just as you would to a real assistant, and see what it comes up with!

Generate engaging conversation starters

Coming up dry with a stubborn, unresponsive audience on social media? ChatGPT to the rescue! Let it whip up interesting questions or prompts for your followers, sparking lively conversations and fostering stronger connections with your audience. Virtual high-fives all around. 🖐️

But seriously—creating content that your audience responds to is hard. So having additional perspective can be a life-saver.

Try crafting an input such as the following:

What are some easy-to-answer questions for moms in their 30’s who are interested in staying healthy?

Here’s what Magai was able to come up with for me:

1. What are your favorite quick and healthy meals for busy weeknights?
2. How do you find time for self-care and exercise in your daily routine?
3. What type of workout do you prefer – cardio, strength training, or a mix of both?
4. Which healthy snacks do you rely on to stay energized throughout the day?
5. How do you stay motivated when you hit a plateau in your fitness journey?
6. What are some ways you involve your kids in your fitness routine?
7. How do you balance meal planning and grocery shopping with your busy schedule?
8. What are your favorite online resources for fitness tips and healthy recipes?
9. How do you keep yourself accountable for exercising regularly and eating well?
10. What are your go-to methods for staying hydrated and ensuring proper nutrition daily?
11. How do you handle temptations and cravings for unhealthy foods?
12. What's your favorite form of stress relief or relaxation that also benefits your health?
13. How important is it for you to set a good example of a healthy lifestyle for your children? 
14. What was your biggest challenge in beginning your fitness journey, and how did you overcome it?
15. Share your favorite easy and effective at-home exercise that requires no equipment.

Another idea would be to ask for hot discussion topics:

What are some hot topics that health-conscious women in their 30’s like talking about on social media?

Have a look at the results I got with Magai—they were pretty interesting.

1. Intermittent fasting: Sharing experiences, tips, and benefits of incorporating fasting periods into their routine.
2. Plant-based diets: Discussing favorite plant-based recipes, meal planning, and health benefits.
3. Mindfulness exercises and meditation: Sharing personal experiences and guided sessions for better mental health.
4. Active wear fashion: Posting workout outfits, discussing trends, and recommending favorite brands.
5. Home workouts: Sharing YouTube videos, fitness challenges, and tips for exercising without a gym membership.
6. Workout playlists: Discussing the best and most motivating songs to listen to during workouts.
7. Mental health and self-care: Talking openly about mental well-being, coping strategies, and the importance of self-care.
8. Weight loss transformations: Sharing personal stories and progress to motivate others in their fitness journey.
9. Supplements: Discussing the effectiveness and usefulness of various supplements for health and wellness.
10. Fitness trackers and health apps: Sharing experiences with wearable gadgets or mobile apps that help track and optimize workouts, sleep, and nutrition.
11. Balancing career, family, and fitness: Providing tips and discussing personal experiences in maintaining a healthy lifestyle amidst juggling responsibilities.
12. Clean eating and meal prepping: Sharing recipes, tips, and how-tos for planning healthy meals ahead of time.
13. Sustainable and eco-friendly living: Discussing the connection between personal health and the environment, and promoting responsible habits like recycling and reducing plastic waste.
14. Body positivity: Encouraging self-love and acceptance, regardless of shape or size, and promoting open discussions about body image. 
15. Group fitness classes and experiences: Sharing personal experiences and favorite group workout classes, like HIIT, yoga, or spin sessions.

As you can see, there are a lot of possibilities here!

Create persuasive ad copy and call-to-action statements

Watch out, Mad Men! ChatGPT can quickly take your ad copy and CTAs to new heights! It can custom-tailor persuasive messaging to your objectives to ensure your ads outshine the competition.

Just as with social media posts, you can simply ask the AI to create an ad for you based on your criteria. Be sure to include the following in your prompts:

• Product or service you’re promoting
• Brief description of the product or service
• Target market
• Goals for the ad
• Platform the ad is for

So an example might be something to this effect:

Please create an ad for my new line of sneakers. They are called Vessi Shoes, and they are the world’s first waterproof shoes. Our target market is millennial men who live an active lifestyle. Our goal for the ad is to get them to click through to view our latest collection. This ad will be for Facebook.

Here’s what ChatGPT (via Magai) was able to come up with for that prompt:

**Introducing Vessi Shoes: The Ultimate Waterproof Sneakers for Millennial Men**

🌊💦💪 Conquer any weather in style with the all-new Vessi Shoes, the first-ever fully waterproof sneakers perfect for your active lifestyle!

🏃🏽‍♂️🏋️‍♂️ Designed for millennial men who never settle, these sneakers offer unbeatable performance and comfort without compromising the sleek, modern look you love.

🔥👟 The innovative waterproof material keeps your feet dry all day long, no matter the conditions, whether you're hitting the gym or exploring the city in a downpour.

🌎🌱 With a commitment to sustainability, Vessi Shoes are eco-friendly and ethically produced, meaning you can feel good about making a difference while staying stylish.

🚀 Be among the first to experience the versatility and unmatched performance of Vessi Shoes!

Don't wait, step up your sneaker game today! 📈👟

🖱️🛍️ Click the link to view our latest collection and join the Vessi Shoes community! #ActiveLiving #WaterproofSneakers

**[Shop Now 🛒]**

Since it’s a chat, you can simply ask the AI to make any changes you would like to see. Such as this one:

You can even ask the AI to provide several variations for you to work with. This way you have more variety to choose from or have different copy to run in split testing.

Improved customer service

ChatGPT moonlights as an empathetic online buddy, crafting personalized messages to enhance your customer service and increase satisfaction. While AI might not replace the warm fuzzies of genuine human interaction, it’s a fantastic sidekick for writing quick answers.

In other words, if you’re not sure how to respond, just ask ChatGPT to come up with a response for you. Simply start your prompt with something to this effect:

Please come up with a friendly and helpful response to the following customer message: [paste customer message here]

And here’s an example of that:

Hello,

I'm sorry to hear that you're not satisfied with our product. We always aim to provide the best possible experience for our customers, and it's disappointing to know that we weren't able to meet your expectations this time.

To further understand the situation and find a solution, could you please provide some specific details about the issues you faced while using the product? This will help us identify any areas where we might need to improve.

Regarding your request for a refund, I would be happy to guide you through the process. To initiate the refund, kindly provide the necessary information, such as your order number and date of purchase, and any other relevant details. Once we receive this information, we will review your case and proceed accordingly.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We appreciate your feedback and will continue to work hard to improve our products and services.

Best regards,

[Your Name]
Customer Service Team

As you can see, ChatGPT’s response was empathetic and helpful. I gave it zero context for the product or company the customer was complaining about. Now just imagine if you first gave it information about your product and refund policies before asking it to respond. The results would be even better!

ChatGPT for Blogging and Content Creation

ChatGPT isn’t just a one-trick pony—it’s also a game-changer in the world of blogging and content creation. Let’s uncover how this AI wizard can help you charm your readers.

Overcome writer’s block with content generation

Even a master marketer can encounter creative blocks.

When writer’s block strikes, summon ChatGPT like an AI knight in shining armor! It can generate content ideas, paragraphs, or even entire articles to break the ice or pave the way for your literary masterpiece. *Cue the dramatic entrance music.* 🎶

Just open up a new chat with something similar to the following prompt:

I need some ideas for blog content. My target audience is young dads who have kids under the age of 7. What are some blog posts that might interest them?

As you have probably learned by now, including the target audience is always a good idea. Here’s what Magai came up with for this prompt:

1. "10 Fun and Easy Bonding Activities for Dads and Their Kids"
2. "Navigating the School System: A Guide for First-Time Dads"
3. "Age-Appropriate Chores: Fostering Responsibility in Young Children"
4. "The Importance of Father-Child Playdates and How to Organize Them"
5. "Tech Time: How to Limit Screen Time and Encourage Active Play"
6. "7 Must-Read Children's Books to Share with Your Kids and Foster a Love of Reading"
7. "How to Create a Stress-Free Bedtime Routine for Your Little Ones"
8. "Balancing Work and Family Life: Tips for the Busy Dad"
9. "Teaching Emotional Intelligence: Why It Matters and How to Nurture It in Your Kids"
10. "The Benefits of Outdoor Play and Exploring Nature with Your Kids"
11. "‘Dad’ Recipes: Easy and Nutritious Family Meals Even Kids Will Love"
12. "Navigating Common Parenting Challenges and Seeking Support"
13. "The Role of Fathers in Encouraging, Supporting, and Modeling Healthy Relationships" 
14. "Stay-at-Home Dads: Tips for Success and Handling the Stigma"
15. "Dad Hobbies: Finding Personal Fulfillment and Sharing Passions with Your Kids"

You now have loads of content ideas to begin working on. And if that’s not enough, just ask for more!

Develop blog post outlines and titles

Capture your reader’s attention with captivating titles and cohesive outlines, courtesy of ChatGPT’s content crafting prowess. Your reader’s journey will be smoother than a freshly Zamboni-ed ice rink.

Once you have your ideas, it’s great to be able to “workshop” those ideas into full-blown blog post outlines.

I like to have Magai write several versions of the blog post title. It’s as simple as:

I’m writing a blog post titled [working title]. Please come up with several different versions of that title that would be more click-worthy.

Here’s what ChatGPT produced inside Magai:

1. 10 Unforgettable Dad-and-Kid Bonding Activities You Need to Try
2. The Ultimate List of Fun Father-Child Activities for Unbeatable Bonding
3. Bond Like a Pro: 10 Entertaining Activities to Strengthen Your Kid-Dad Connection
4. Create Lasting Memories: 10 Exciting Bonding Activities for Modern Dads
5. Dad Goals: 10 Amazing Bonding Activities to Keep Your Kids Smiling
6. Unleash the Fun: 10 Irresistible Activities for Dad-and-Kid Bonding Time
7. Boost Your Dad Game: 10 Epic Activities for Strengthening Father-Child Bonds
8. Level Up Your Dad Skills: 10 Jam-Packed Bonding Activities You Can't Miss
9. Become Your Kid's Hero: 10 Must-Try Bonding Activities for Super Dads
10. Unlock the Magic of Fatherhood: 10 Joyful Bonding Experiences to Share with Your Kids

Try mixing up your instructions also. If you want something more exciting, or maybe something more emotional, just ask ChatGPT to make it so!

Fine-tune blog post structure and flow

Channel your inner wordsmith with ChatGPT’s help. Have it suggest transitions or rephrasing for better narrative flow. Your polished content will practically sing to your readers. *Cue the orchestra. 🎻*

Paste your epic blog post into the chat and simply ask ChatGPT to give you suggestions for improving the structure and flow. Here’s an example prompt:

Read the following blog post and suggest ways I can improve the structure and flow of the piece. Do not modify it, just tell me where and how it can be improved. [Paste blog post here.]

You’ll be amazed at how well it does—especially if you’re using the GPT-4 model of ChatGPT.

Enhance the overall content quality

Think of ChatGPT as that honest, grammar-loving friend who won’t let you send a typo-ridden text message. Use it to proofread your work and refine your writing. Soon, your content will be sharper than Sherlock Holmes’ wit.

Bid adieu to writer’s block and embrace a brave new world of captivating, impactful content. *And they lived happily ever after.*

Content Strategy with ChatGPT: Your AI Secret Sauce 🌟

Using ChatGPT for content marketing can transform your content strategy. Here’s how to channel your inner marketing maestro using the Content Strategy Symphony in AI Major.

Research and develop new topic ideas

Exhausted from endless brainstorming? Striking out on ideas? Hand the research baton to ChatGPT and watch it compose a list of innovative content topics, as effortlessly as Mozart creating a symphony.

This is similar to the idea of generating ideas—as discussed above. But there’s a slightly different approach you can take here to help get outside your typical topical bubble. Provide the AI with a prompt such as this:

The following is a list of my recent content topics for our brand. Our target audience is [insert target audience]. Please suggest additional topics we could potentially create content around that we haven’t yet used. [Paste in recent topics you’ve covered.]

You’ll be simply stunned at what can come out of this. Ideas you may have never thought of suddenly delivered to you on a silver platter.

Identify keywords and phrases for SEO optimization

Don’t let SEO give you nightmares. ChatGPT, your trusty AI Sherpa, can identify the optimal keywords and phrases, guiding your content to the summit of search engine rankings.

Simply say something like this:

Our company blog needs some fresh search engine optimized content. We want the topics to be related to [insert your industry]. Please give us some SEO keyword ideas for content related to our industry.

But one small caveat I will make here—which most of the ChatGPT gurus are getting absolutely wrong so far. They fail to recognize the limitations in ChatGPT’s knowledge.

ChatGPT is trained on an incomprehensible amount of publicly accessible information. But that data it gathered was only up until the year 2021. That means it’s knowledge is based on data at least 2 years old.

This is why ChatGPT should not be seen as a great SEO companion. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it for ideas. What it can do is help you identify keywords or phrases that are common to your industry or target audience. It can provide ideas, but not up-to-date analysis. But if you want truly up-to-date search engine optimization, you’ll need a tool that is on top of current trends.

For this, I highly recommend using INK. It’s an AI-powered SEO writing tool that is absolutely unmatched in its abilities. It finds the real-time search engine ranking factors you need to compete, and tells you exactly how to use them in your article.

While ChatGPT is a great tool to come up with keyword ideas, it should not be seen as a true SEO assistant.

Analyze competitors’ content

Go undercover with ChatGPT’s help, investigating your competitors’ content and uncovering their strengths and weaknesses. Use these priceless insights in devising a content strategy that makes Sherlock Holmes proud.

Now, since ChatGPT can’t currently browse the internet, this is where a tool like Magai comes in handy. With its link-following ability, you can paste a link to any page on your competitor’s website and allow ChatGPT give you competitive insights.

Try this:

The following is a link to my competitors article about [subject matter]. Please read the article, and tell me what is missing from it. Make suggestions for how I could improve upon the article to make it better, more comprehensive, and more helpful to my audience. [Paste link here.]

You can really have a lot of fun with this. You might even try using their landing pages in a similar way.

The following is a link to my competitor’s landing page. Please suggest how this page could be improved, what’s missing, and some ways to differentiate our product from theirs. [Paste link here.]

By having Magai’s ability to read web pages, you can gather some great competitive insight in no time at all!

Generate new marketing campaign concepts

Think outside the box with fresh, inventive campaign ideas from ChatGPT. This AI-driven creativity booster ensures your marketing stands out like your favorite fluorescent shirt at an 80s party.

Try this for fun:

I need some outside the box marketing campaign ideas for [product name]. Here’s a brief description of our product: [Product description.] Please give me several wild ideas to create some viral buzz about our company.

I tried this for Death Wish Coffee, and the things it came up with were absolute fire! 🔥

1. "Caffeinate the Dead" - Organize a massive zombie-themed flash-mob event in a prominent city location. Participants will dress up as zombies and perform a choreographed dance routine. Hand out free samples of Death Wish Coffee and merchandise to the crowd. Live stream the event on social media and encourage everyone to use a unique hashtag to create buzz.

2. "Awaken your Inner Beasts" - Partner up with local gyms and fitness centers to create an exclusive Death Wish Coffee workout. Offer free coffee to gym members and organize caffeine-fueled contests and challenges to showcase the energizing effect of the coffee. Promote the event by creating high-energy videos and share them on social media platforms.

3. "Coffee that Survives Death" - Collaborate with escape rooms and haunted houses to create a unique and suspenseful "Death Wish Coffee Escape Room" experience. Hide coffee-related clues and puzzles throughout the room for participants to find and use to unlock a final "Death Wish Coffee Lounge" room, where they can relax and enjoy the product.

4. "Fuel your Art" - Organize an art contest in which artists must create masterpieces inspired by Death Wish Coffee and its energizing properties. Host a public exhibition showcasing the submitted artworks along with booths to serve free coffee. Encourage attendees to vote for their favorite art piece and share their experience on social media.

5. "Energize with the Stars" - Reach out to celebrities and influencers who are known for their busy and active lifestyles. Collaborate with them to create a series of experiences and challenges while incorporating Death Wish Coffee. Document the experience and chat with the influencer about how Death Wish Coffee fuels their everyday life. Share these videos on social media platforms and create a unique campaign hashtag.

6. "Caffeine Rush" - Organize a flash giveaway of Death Wish Coffee at various iconic locations in the city. Announce the locations on social media 30 minutes prior to the giveaway. Hand out merchandise like T-shirts, reusable cups or totes with the coffee sample to further increase brand visibility.

7. "Death Wish Coffee vs. Sleep" - Create a humorous web series or commercial series where Death Wish Coffee battles against sleep in various scenarios. Use eye-catching visuals and humorous characters to capture the audience's attention and create shareable content.

Remember to keep track of the engagement and reach of these campaigns to measure their success in generating buzz for Death Wish Coffee. Tailor future campaigns based on feedback and the success of previous initiatives.

If you know anyone from the Death Wish Coffee brand, please tell them to try some of these. 😂

Tips for Effectively Using ChatGPT: Your AI User Manual 📖

Want to make the most of your newfound AI sidekick? Here are some top tips for achieving maximum creative harmony with ChatGPT for content marketing.

Establish clear objectives and goals

Just like ordering at your favorite coffee shop, be specific with your requirements. Include your target audience, tone, and desired outcomes to ensure you get the perfect blend of AI-generated content.

The more clearly you articulate your goals, the better results you will get. The more narrowly you focus your text prompts, the more focused the outputs will be.

Bottom line, be specific and it will lead to better results.

Customize and personalize

Think of ChatGPT’s output as your cake mix—delicious, but likely needing a few personal touches. Add your brand’s unique flavor to AI-generated content, making it truly “baked with love” for your audience.

While AI will make your job 100x easier, you—the user—are still the most valuable part of the creation process. This technology is a human enhancer, not a human replacer.

Proofread and review

Remember, even AI technology isn’t infallible and doesn’t always give accurate information. It can also contain biases that you may not want in your brand’s content.

Channel your inner perfectionist and give ChatGPT-generated content the final once-over before sharing it with the world.

Track performance metrics

Just like a fitness tracker on your wrist, monitor the performance metrics of your AI-generated content. Every smart marketer knows that you can’t improve what you can’t measure. So be sure you have some tools in place to process your results and gather insights.

Use ChatGPT for Content Marketing Superpowers! 🚀

Using ChatGPT for content marketing isn’t a guaranteed ticket to success. But it is a huge help in getting things done faster, and with less creative burnout. It’s another tool in your toolbox that can help you be more effective, efficient, and creative.

With your marketing savvy and AI’s potential, there’s no limit to what you can create!

So, dear content creator, set sail on a thrilling journey of AI-driven creativity, unlocking new potentials and transforming your online presence. Prepare to dazzle your audience and leave digital footprints that even Neil Armstrong would envy.

Don’t forget to share your ChatGPT experiences, breakthroughs, or questions with me. I’d love to hear how you’re using ChatGPT for content marketing! Together, we’ll forge a future where creativity and AI coexist in harmony.

A list of go-to sites guaranteed to spark your creative juices.

The demand being placed on your creative capacities are ever-growing. The content monster needs to be fed. Your social stream needs to be supplemented.

To keep the supply of creativity going you need inspiration. You need to constantly refill your creative tank.

So I’ve curated this list of 15 sites that I go to regularly for inspiration so that you might also find some yourself.

Websites for Inspiration

The following is a list of websites that I’ve found a great deal of inspiration on. I’ve also split them into categories to ensure you get the right kind of inspiration.

Photography

Stuck In Customs

Stuck In Customs was featured in my last version of inspiring websites. It is the personal site of Trey Ratcliffe, one of the best photographers in the world (IMO).

In it he shares his personal work, recommendations, lessons and more about photography.

VSCO Grid

VSCO Grid, from the makers of my favorite mobile photo editing app, allows you to publish your work on what they call “the Grid”. That has a very Tron sound to it, but that’s not what you’ll experience when you go there.

The Grid is a feed of all the work published by users. You can catch some really beautiful stuff there. On top of that, you can click on individual images and use the ‘…’ underneath to see what they used to create each image.

Design Inspiration

Abduzeedo

Abduzeedo is a creation of Fabio Sasso. More than just a place where inspirational design pieces are shared, it also houses a growing archive of great Photoshop, Illustrator and Pixelmator tutorials.

I’ve not only gained a fair amount of inspiration from this site, but it was a critical part in my learning Photoshop and Illustrator myself.

Niice.co

Niice is essentially a search engine and simple moodboard for inspiration. According to it’s home page the results are “hand-picked” from the best sources.

The ease of creating moodboards is also a great way to capture inspiration and save it into boards for later.

Designspiration

Designspiration is very much like Niice, but it’s been around for a bit longer. You can create an account and seek out the things that inspire you.

They also have additional filters on the side so you can see Everything, Popular, or Random pieces. Very cool way to just browse for something that catches your eye.

Company Folders (Sponsored)

Company Folders is a great place to find a limitless supply of design ideas to help spark your creative juice if you’ve run out of steam on your own. You can browse through their galleries and get ideas for days.

And if you want to save yourself some time, they even download their templates to recreate exactly what you’ve been inspired by! This is great for designers and non-designers alike who want to save time on the design process and still get great results.

Writing Inspiration

Brain Pickings

Brain Pickings is just one of those sites that makes you think. Random yet stimulating and addictive articles that share inspiring, informative, educational, or otherwise just interesting things.

If you’re looking to get your intellectual brain working, this is where I’d begin.

Jeff Goins Blog

I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jeff Goins’ blog go from “I would really like to be a professional writer some day” to “I’ve made it as a professional writer and I want to teach you how to do it too!” It’s truly inspirational to me.

Jeff is living his dream as a professional writer and teaching others to do the same.

Jon Acuff’s Blog

Jon Acuff’s blog has gone through a lot of changes over the years. You know the one thing that hasn’t change though? His ability to pen a captivating, insightful, and hilarious story.

His subject matter varies from motivational to educational and always adds a bit of humor to make it all go down smooth.

Web Design/Development Inspiration

Codrops

Codrops is where I go to find the best tutorials and inspirational concepts for future (or current) web design projects. The site itself is beautiful and their articles are always well written.

Codyhouse

Codyhouse is a newer site, similar to Cordons, that contains tutorials and demos for cool web design and development projects. Their library may not be huge, but the stuff they’ve got so far is awesome.

CSS-Tricks

CSS-Tricks has a fantastic community of helpful designers and developers contributing to a giant database of articles, code snippets and forums. Be careful though, it’s easy to get sucked into that place for hours.

Social Networks

For most people, the most convenient and accessible ways to find digital inspiration is right inside their favorite social networks!

Below are the ones I use regularly and how you can find the inspiration you’re looking for in them.

Google+ Collections, Communities, Circles

On Google+ it’s incredibly easy to create an inspiration feed for yourself. Use any/all of the following features to fill your Google+ experience with more inspiration than you can handle:

Collections: Using Google’s newest feature you can search out and follow Google+ Collections that are filled with the things that inspire you.

Communities: Search for and join active communities that are being filled with inspirational content.

Circles: As I’ve recently iterated, if you manage Google+ circles effectively you can easily dictate your experience browsing through your stream. Set up a circle of people who post inspiring things and visit it frequently.

Twitter Lists and Collections

Lists: Using Twitter’s lists feature, you can set up a list of people who share inspirational links, quotes, images or videos. There’s also other great uses for lists, but let’s stay on track.

Collections: An underutilized tool that Twitter has is the ability to go beyond Favorites and actually add tweets to a collection. This can only be done using Twitter’s TweetDeck app.

Whenever you come across something on Twitter that inspires you just place it into a collection. Then, whenever you’re creativity is running dry, visit your Twitter collection and be re-inspired!

Pinterest

Much like Google+ Collections, you can follow Pinterest boards that contain inspiring things. Just do a quick search on Pinterest for the things that inspire you (try adding the word ‘inspiration’ at the end) and you’ll find loads of good stuff.

Here are some recommended boards:

• Inspiration
• Typography
• Life Quotes
• Board of Happiness (Peg Fitzpatrick)
• Visual Content Creators (Donna Moritz)

If you have any inspiring boards yourself, tweet them at me.

Tumblr Tags

If you type in /tagged/KEYWORD you will get a stream of all the posts on Tumblr tagged with whatever keyword you’ve used. So you can experiment with searching through tags such as:

• /inspiration
• /positivity
• /creativity

Or any other keyword you think will help boost your creative juice. Just type it in after tumblr.com/tagged/ and you have an instant inspiration feed!

Your Turn!

Well you’ve seen my top sites for creative inspiration in 2015— now how about showing me yours?

Our system is broken. Our culture is suffering. And the solution is more accessible than ever. So why are so many people not doing what they love?

More than ever before we’re seeing that the old advice of “Go to school, get a degree, and you’ll get a good job,” just doesn’t work for the majority of people. Reports keep coming out about how millennials are unemployed or taking jobs that have nothing to do with what they went to school for.

Raise your hand if you know someone who got a degree in a field they wanted to work in and is not working in that field. Or how about someone with a college degree that just isn’t working at all?

Yea, I thought so.

So what’s the problem? Well, I’m no expert but I have a theory. I think what our current system is teaching us is that we need permission.

The Process

In school, our teachers give us our assignments. In the workforce, our employer gives us our job description and assigns us specific tasks. But when we don’t have someone else telling us what to do, we spend all our time looking for someone who will tell us what to do.

The mentality is “I need to find a job so I can do what I love.” College grads are too busy filling out applications and mailing out resumes to realize that they don’t need someone else to give them permission to do what they love to do.

This sort of inaction can be a killer.

The Solution

Thanks to technology, the internet, social media, and the ease of access there is no excuse for not doing work you are passionate about, especially if you’re the creative type. You can press start today.

So you want to be a designer? Don’t wait for a creative agency to hire you according to your college portfolio. Start creating your own design projects and sharing them online.

You want to be a writer? Don’t wait for a publisher, agency, or magazine to hire you. Start a blog and get to writing.

You want to be a radio show host? Don’t wait for a station to accept your application. Start a podcast.

You want to be a reporter or journalist? Don’t wait for a studio to give you an assignment. Start a YouTube channel and start interviewing people about interesting things.

You want to be an actor? Don’t wait for your “big break”. Find some people who want to make films, and go tell some great stories.

I could go on and on here, but the point is to decide what you want to do, and go do it. Press start. You don’t need permission. You don’t need an assignment. Go create.

Disclaimer

Now, I understand that there are some professions that have limitations, and couldn’t necessarily be “started” on your own. For instance if you want to be a surgeon, please don’t go out and just start operating on people. That could have some negative repercussions.

Or, if your dream is to be in the secret service, please don’t go find the president and try to jump in as a bodyguard– I don’t think that will turn out well for you.

But if there is a way for you to start doing the thing you want to do, just start doing it! Take action toward your dreams every day.

Being Active Helps Land the Gig

Even if your ultimate profession isn’t something that is entrepreneurial and requires an employer, you can still be active. Here’s a few ways to be active in your industry, even if you don’t have a job:

Social media

Filling out your LinkedIn profile isn’t enough. To stay sharp in your industry, I assume you’re reading articles and news about the industry on a regular basis. Why not grow your social media presence as a resource for your industry?

Example: If you’re an IT professional, use social media to share the articles you’re reading about IT. Networks like Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, or even Facebook can help you become recognized as a resource in that industry.

Blogging

Odds are you have some thoughts, ideas and perspectives on your industry. Having a personal blog where you share these thoughts and ideas can be a great way of showing potential employers how qualified you are.

Meetups

Find a local meet up of people in your industry. Odds are, they’re either working in the field, or looking to make connections in that field. This is a great way to network and gain exposure to opportunities.

Press Start

Creativity thrives on action. So press start. Go do what it is you want to do and share it with the world. You don’t need someone else to give you permission. All you need is the desire to make it happen.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs

As a bonus, you can listen to a similar rant from Chris Brogan from his Human Business Way podcast. I actually had started brainstorming this blog post back in June when Chris released his podcast rant about this same topic. It’s only 4 minutes long and definitely worth the listen.

What action are you going to take today for something you’re passionate about?

There is a great divide when it comes to the topic of ‘change’. For some, it’s exciting and energizing. For others, it evokes passionate opposition.

Just take a look at any time a social network makes changes. A new layout, a new look, an added feature and you will get a handful of people who are elated and can’t wait to experience it. Then there’s the other group of people who grab their digital pitchforks and start making as much noise as they can.

Hating Change

Some people hate change. The very thought of change causes a visceral reaction. Even the slightest hint at change causes sharp defensive reflexes like a horse pinched in the rear. Stand clear.

These people will fight desperately to hold onto the way things are. They fight back with vigilance and conviction, making assertive claims which would sound as if they’ve been informed (even if they clearly haven’t been).

I saw this first hand when I started talking about Google+ being the future of social media. There were some who violently opposed it. They ridiculed and criticized it because something in them knew something was changing. Even if they didn’t recognize it, their reaction was telling.

Why?

There is security in the familiar. People get comfortable when they have a handle on things. They feel safe.

Introduce something new, and insecurity sets in. Suddenly, their secure environment is about to have unfamiliar variables. They don’t have total control. What if they can’t keep up? The fear of failure begins to pollute their judgement.

The Problem

Life is change. There is nothing in nature that stays the same. Everything that has life is in a constant state of change: growing or dying.

“Living things change. Dead things don’t change.” – Mark Driscoll [Dead in Sardis]

Look at plants– they grow, ripen, and then they die. Once it stops growing it dies. There is no such thing as ‘stagnant’.

People are no different. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. Stagnant is an illusion.

If you’re not growing creatively, you’re creatively dying. If you’re not growing intellectually, you’re intellectually dying. If you’re not growing spiritually, you’re spiritually dying.

Examples from the Business World

This infographic speaks volumes about the changing state of the world. I saw it months ago and I think it is what started my thought process on this post.

Pay particular attention to the “Refusal to Adapt Resulted in a Failure to Thrive” section.

The old cliche, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is no longer relevant. When I hear that phrase uttered all I hear is, “We’re fine with status quo. We don’t need to innovate. We don’t need to grow. Don’t mind us, we’ll just be slowly dying over here.”

Embrace It

Whether good or bad, change is an opportunity to grow. Resisting it is a waste of energy when you can’t control it.

Embrace change. Embrace growth. Embrace life.

The fear of failure is something we can all relate to. It can stop us from reaching our greatest creative potential and stifle our dreams. And if we let it conquer us, we can end up looking back on our life with a pain greater than that of any failure we could encounter.

I have found one thing that has helped me to kick the fear of failure once and for all, and I hope it helps you do the same.

Have you felt the sting of failure before? I have. It’s not fun, and seldom pretty. I’ve failed more times than I can remember. But I continue to push through those failures because there is something I fear more than failure. In fact, this one thing scares the crap out of me.

The thing I fear more than anything else, and you should too, is looking back on my life and seeing that I was only successful at things that didn’t matter.

You Were Created to Matter

Can you imagine looking back on your entire life and thinking to yourself, “I wish I had played it safer.” I don’t think so. And if you do end up thinking that, the nearest person should punch you right in the stomach.

You have passions rooted deeply to the core of who you were created to be. There are things that bother you, that compel you to act. There are things that light you up inside and make you feel alive.

These passions carry with them the greatest significance, and they also carry with them the greatest risk. They will expose you and make you vulnerable. They will rip your heart out and push you to the very edge of sanity.

And it will be worth every second. You must risk it.

Turn Failure On It’s Head

Michael Jordan has missed more shots, lost more games, and let more people down than you or I ever have. Because of that, he’s inspired millions.

Walt Disney’s first animation studio went bankrupt in a year. How did he respond? He moved to California to try again. I’m glad he did.

When Thomas Edison’s first attempt at creating the light bulb failed, he tried again. His second attempt failed also. His third, fourth, fifth attempt– all failures. You’d think by the time he got to his 9,999th failed attempt in creating a light bulb the guy would go, “Okay, maybe this whole light bulb thing isn’t my deal.”

Nope, good ol’ Tom pushed for one more attempt and on his 10,000th try he failed again. Then, after 10,000 failures, he finally got it to work.

Because he refused to let failure slow him down, the lightbulb is now one of the most significant inventions of all time.

“I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” -Thomas Edison

In Craig Groeschel’s talk from R12, he talked a lot about failure. In fact, Craig insists that failure is a necessity! Don’t believe me? Read my notes here. His formula is this:

Try, learn, fail, adjust. Repeat.

Failing should not be an end point, but a catalyst for getting better. Keep moving forward.

Coming Full Circle

Take the risk and pursue things that matter most. Don’t waste your time becoming successful at things that don’t really matter. The following quote is what inspired me to kick the fear of failure once and for all:

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding in life at things that don’t really matter.” -Francis Chan (Crazy Love)

As a reminder, I’ve created a set of wallpapers that you can download free and use as you wish. Let them be a reminder that you are created to matter, and to not fear failure. Pursue the things that matter.

You can see them in the gallery at the bottom.

If you appreciated this post, I would love it if you shared it with others via the social share buttons below. You never know who might need to hear this message at the right time to give them the kick they’ve been waiting for.

I’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Tell me what the fear of failure has been holding you back from– what’s the one thing you’ve been thinking about starting that you’ve just haven’t yet?