Every founder has tried it.
You open ChatGPT. Ask it to “write a blog post about B2B lead gen.”
And what comes back? A bland, keyword-stuffed pile of fluff.
It’s not wrong. But it’s not helpful either. And it definitely doesn’t sound like you.
So you blame the tool. “AI content sucks.” You go back to square one.
Here’s the real problem:
You didn’t write a brief.
You lobbed a topic, not a strategy.
You gave it a headline, not a direction.
Generative AI isn’t the bottleneck—your input is.
The Founder’s Job Is to Be the Strategist, Not the Typist
AI doesn’t replace thinking. It replaces typing.
But if your thinking isn’t structured, your content won’t be either.
AI is a high-output assistant. It needs:
- Clear goals
- Specific tone and POV
- Defined audience
- Examples of what good looks like
- Context about what you’re really trying to say
Give it those—and the results are radically different.
How to Write a Better AI Content Brief in 5 Minutes
Here’s the quick framework I use before any AI-driven content sprint:
1. Define the Outcome
“I want a blog post that helps B2B founders understand why founder-led sales still matters in 2025. It should drive traffic, build authority, and link to our 90-day GTM planning service.”
2. Clarify the Audience
“Write for early-stage SaaS founders with $1M–$10M ARR who are leading growth themselves.”
3. Choose a Tone
“Direct, mentor-style. Confident but not hype-y. Bill Rice voice—smart, structured, punchy.”
4. List Key Points
- Why outsourcing sales too early backfires
- Patterns we’ve seen across 50+ founder-led GTM sprints
- 3 ways to use AI to accelerate without abdicating sales
5. Give Examples
“Start like the ‘You Don’t Need a CRM. You Need a System.’ post—hook, insight, simple breakdown, strong CTA.”
Now ask the model to draft.
You just created a content partner, not a guessing game.
From AI Content to Strategic Output
When founders say “AI content feels off,” they usually mean:
- It’s too generic
- It doesn’t match their voice
- It misses nuance or depth
- It reads like a Wikipedia summary
But that’s not the AI’s fault. That’s a vague prompt.
Refine your brief and the output will follow.
Bonus: High-Signal Prompts That Work
Try using these instead of “Write a post about X”:
- “Act like a content strategist at a B2B marketing firm. Outline a blog post for [ICP] that drives [outcome].”
- “Here’s a sample blog I like. Write something in that voice on [topic]. Use this structure: [H1–H3s].”
- “You’re a founder with $5M ARR explaining [problem] to a new hire. What points would you cover? How would you frame it?”
Great prompts feel like clear creative briefs. Because that’s what they are.
Final Word
Generative AI is not a miracle.
It’s a mirror.
If what you put in is shallow, the output will be, too. But if your brief is rich—your thinking strategic—the content becomes sharp, useful, and scalable.
So before you ditch the tool, check the prompt.
AI isn’t the problem.
Your brief is.
