CS-101 · Module 2

AI Copy That Doesn't Sound Like AI

3 min read

The number one problem with AI-written marketing copy is that it sounds like AI wrote it. You know the tells: "In today's rapidly evolving landscape." "Leverage cutting-edge solutions." "Unlock unprecedented value." Nobody talks like that. Nobody buys from copy that sounds like that. Your audience has read enough AI-generated content to spot it in seconds, and when they do, trust drops to zero.

Do This

  • Prompt AI with examples of your own writing as a style reference
  • Edit every AI draft by reading it out loud — if it sounds wrong spoken, it reads wrong too
  • Use specific details and concrete numbers instead of abstract superlatives

Avoid This

  • Prompt with "write me a marketing email" and send the first output
  • Leave in words like "leverage," "utilize," "cutting-edge," or "game-changing"
  • Accept generic copy because "it sounds professional"

The revision workflow has three passes. First pass: generate the draft with AI using a detailed prompt that includes your audience, goal, tone, and style examples. Second pass: read it out loud and mark every sentence that sounds robotic, generic, or corporate. Third pass: rewrite the marked sentences in your own voice. Keep the structure AI gave you. Replace the words with yours.

AI COPY REVISION CHECKLIST
==========================

Read the draft out loud. For each sentence, check:

[ ] Does this sound like something I would actually say?
[ ] Does it use specific details, not vague claims?
[ ] Is it free of AI-sounding words?
    (leverage, utilize, cutting-edge, game-changing,
     revolutionary, unprecedented, seamless, robust,
     in today's landscape, unlock, empower)
[ ] Would I be embarrassed if a prospect heard me
    read this out loud?
[ ] Does every sentence earn its place, or is it filler?

If a sentence fails any check, rewrite it in your
own words before sending.