How to Write Authentically in a World Dominated by AI Content: A Guide for Web Designers and Small Businesses
I can’t count the number of times I’ve Googled a specific topic, found the article I was looking for, only to be hit with an intro that starts with “In the realm of [insert niche/industry/field of study, etc.],” and felt utter disappointment. If you’re familiar with AI writing, you’ll quickly recognize this sentence as a dead giveaway of AI-generated content.
AI has disrupted every industry since ChatGPT’s debut in late 2022. It has revolutionized how businesses write, how we search for information, and how we study. I wasn’t immune to this disruption. My role as a minimal website designer gave me the chance to see how it strengthened my toolset. It streamlines my workflow by providing design feedback and solving coding issues. Occasionally, it even handles the kind of work I’d normally hire a VA to do.
With tools like ChatGPT now widely accessible, AI has become a staple for many industries, from content creation to web design. However, this widespread adoption of AI tools presents an issue for every business— whether you’re a Squarespace designer or a small business owner.
How do you stand out in a world saturated with AI content? In this article, I will share my insights on how to use AI while maintaining your authenticity and keeping your audience engaged.
The ‘Waldo Problem’: Avoiding AI-Induced Sameness in Content
Yes, the irony of an AI generated image isn’t lost on me.
One key challenge with standing out in an AI-saturated world is what Neil Patel, co-founder of NP Digital, refers to as the “Waldo problem”—when everyone follows the same path, everything starts to look the same. For example: If all blog posts about marketing are generated using the same AI prompts; you’ll start to see a pattern of repetitive posts, headings, and ideas.
If we’re all using the same technology, then everyone will be getting the same suggestions. This strips away authenticity from content while also lowering its value. If everyone is relying on language models for the same kind of content or designs, standing out means you need purposeful creativity. An internet landscape filled with AI tools without creativity is similar to a fully equipped kitchen with fancy gadgets. The tools alone won’t turn you into Gordon Ramsay. Let’s explore a case study on how this translates to the world of design.
AI in Web Design: Tools Alone Don’t Make a Creative Expert
This dilemma of sameness caused by AI saturation leads to a deeper issue: How do we use AI without diluting our creative human touch? A tweet I came across by Supafast on X serves as a perfect real life example of the issue:
AI tools can seem like high-end kitchen equipment—powerful, efficient, and capable of producing impressive results. Yet if there’s no skilled chef, the best equipment won’t create a memorable meal. In the same way, leaning entirely on AI can give you cookie-cutter content, bland designs, and lost chances to connect with your audience. Real creativity, not an algorithm, is what turns good work into great.
The tweet perfectly illustrates how relying solely on AI diminishes individuality. In fact, it does the opposite. You’ll fade what makes you unique and special. Now I’m not saying you should exclude AI from your tool set, on the contrary, you should adapt and use it. The solution to use it effectively is by creating content creation systems that prioritize your own thoughts, experiences, and expertise. AI is simply a tool to polish all of the above. To do this, I created a system that has worked for me and can apply to any type of content creation.
Steal from AI like an Artist — 5 Steps to Write Authentic Content Using AI
To address the 'AI Paradox' and find a balance between leveraging AI and maintaining creativity, I turned to my own experiences. As a Squarespace designer who specializes in minimal websites, I often have to come up with new content ideas for my blog. I initially tried to do what everyone else tried at some point which is use AI to generate full blog posts. The results were mediocre at best. The writing albeit excellent sounded redundant and lacked the value I strive to deliver to my readers. This presented a road block. I love technology and AI seemed like the perfect way to boost my creativity. Therefore, I had to pivot and not give up on AI.
My pivot was inspired by the book Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, specifically this quote: “The artist is a collector… Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.”. What I needed to do is create a human system aided by AI. In fact, this very article was written using the same process I share below!
Here’s my 5 step process on how to generate authentic content ideas:
Build an Idea Bank
Collect ideas from challenges you encounter in your work. For example, I save coding issues I’ve solved, unique client requests, or insights from books and videos in a folder labeled 'Idea Bank.' This way, I never lose a spark of inspiration.
Research
When ready to turn these ideas into articles I’d start my research process. I’ll look up YouTube videos about the topic at hand, read articles and write an outline of the key points I learned, in addition to what I already knew. Once I have my outline I’ll feed ChatGPT my outline, my personal insights, and content I learned from. I’ll then ask it to review the flow of my ideas, what I can improve upon and then to find sources that can help me learn more about my topic. This leads to more research subsequently leading to a smooth flowing outline.
Prompt for ChatGPT
Instead of asking Chat GPT to write the article for me, I’ll use it as a writing partner with a pair of fresh eyes. I do this by using the following prompt:
You're the world's best copy content writer. I have a blog that specializes in [insert industry or niche] The outline below is for an article I'm writing for my blog about [Insert topic name]. I'd like to you to read this outline in detail and give me 3 - 5 sentences for each heading that would help me develop my ideas into a well written segments. Your task here is to inspire and guide me in the paragraph development process. Focus on the following aspects when developing these sentences: 1- How can I bring value to my reader in this paragraph? 2- How is my experience and what I've learned from it relatable to my target market? 3- What are some things I may have missed in my outline that I could add and would elevate the quality of my content? 4- Your role here is inspirational. I don't want you to write this for me, I want you to guide me and be more of a writing partner/pair of fresh eyes.
TIP: Create a custom GPT and add this prompt to its knowledge base. You can enhance this further by finding quality articles or books about authentic copywriting and uploading them to the knowledge base. That way, you’ll generate a GPT that understands your goals, remains primed with the right information, and stands ready to spark your writing process.Writing
Now that I have my outline with my own ideas + the AI’s suggestion and insights I begin developing my ideas one paragraph at a time. This process is often easy and fun because I’m not starting from a blank canvas. I have the ideas, did the research, and my brain is urging me to translate my thoughts into a well written article that I can share with the world.
Refine and Polish
After completing the first draft, I ask AI to evaluate my writing—focusing on ideas, transitions, and diction—then refine accordingly. Each round of feedback guides me to a more authentic draft.
This writing system enables me to transform every challenge or solution in my idea bank into content that resonates. What makes it relatable is the focus on my personal touch at the heart of everything I publish. To maintain your authentic voice, stay open to feedback from AI without losing your unique style. In fact, this very article was written using the same process I’ve shared here, demonstrating how combining personal insights with AI collaboration can create impactful, authentic content.
A sense of curiosity will make your writing feel like a direct extension of your genuine experiences. Keep in mind that the finishing touch always comes from a human spark, not a set of 0s and 1s.
Final Thoughts: Creativity is the Ultimate Differentiator
By refining your writing with the steps outlined above, you’ll be able to create content that resonates deeply with your audience. AI brings efficiency, but it can’t replace creativity, knowledge, or real human insight. In web design and small business, you’ll set yourself apart by balancing tech with your own originality. By using your own experiences and knowledge, while looking at AI as a helper instead of a lead role, you can stand out in a crowded space.
If you work with Squarespace or run a small business, keep your goals and distinct style front and center. That’s how you shine in a world filled with AI.
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Looking for a website that truly represents your brand and drives results? Minimist is a Squarespace designer, specializing in minimal, modern designs that connect with your audience and make an impact. If you have a project in mind, I'd love to hear from you!
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