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We’re diving into one of the hottest topics around — AI in email marketing.

If you're anything like me, you may have had some hesitations about using AI to actually write your emails. I used to find the output a bit dry, too polished, or just… robotic. It didn’t sound like me.

But my perspective has shifted. With the right email prompt and a bit of strategy, AI can help you write emails that are not only engaging but also save you a heap of time.

Why I've Changed My Mind About AI for Email Writing

AI is certainly not going away. Despite my initial hesitations about using AI for email marketing, I've watched it get remarkably better. In episode 77, I shared seven different ways to use ChatGPT for email marketing—focusing on idea generation, editing, and subject line creation—but I was hesitant about using it for writing actual emails.

The output seemed dry, formal, and unmistakably AI-generated. It simply didn't sound like great copywriting.

But my philosophy has changed – AI tools can absolutely help you write excellent emails with a few important caveats:

• It won't get you 100% of the way there, but potentially 90%—which is impressive
• You still need to understand the strategy behind your emails
• Expect to engage in significant back-and-forth with your AI tool
• You must complete messaging prep work beforehand

My “Aha” Moment with Messaging

During a recent launch of the VIP version of The Email Experience, I was stuck on how to frame my content. I booked a messaging session with Tahryn Bolt, and we worked through some seriously targeted micro-messaging.

She asked me all the right questions — stuff about my offer, my audience, their pain points — and wrote it all in my words.

Later, I plugged that gold into Claude.Ai using a detailed email prompt — and wow. It worked. Suddenly I was churning out high-quality content in record time.

Want AI to Write Like You? Here's How

1. Choose Your Ideal AI Tool

Everyone gravitates toward ChatGPT, but I've found Claude.AI produces significantly better emails, even with the free version. I've upgraded to the paid version because I do extensive back-and-forth work with it. Pick the tool that makes sense for you.

2. Create Your Tone of Voice Profiles

Develop your writing style guide or multiple style guides. With Claude, you can generate a style by inputting:

• Previous blog posts
• Your website's About page
• Your homepage content
• Any substantial text that represents your voice

The tool will interpret your writing style, which you can then refine. I maintain multiple profiles—one that's snarky and direct, another that's more professional and helpful.

3. Complete Your Messaging Prep Work

Before drafting emails, compile these essential elements in a document:

Business Basics:

• What your business does
• Your offers and what customers receive
• Distinguishing features of your business

Ideal Customer Details:

• Their challenges
• Their desires
• Common excuses they make
• Current thoughts and future wants

Offer Details:

• How your offer helps solve problems
• What makes it different
• Practical information

Tip for e-commerce: Create descriptions for product categories, or use website copy when focusing on specific products.

Writing Your First AI-Assisted Email

Once your prep work is done, you can draft emails quickly. Save your key messages in a document and incorporate them into your email prompts.

Sample Prompt Template:

"We are [describe what you do]. Act as an email copywriter and write a campaign email for [topic]. The main call to action is [CTA]. The focus should be [angle/approach].

Our audience is [target description], they [challenge], they want [outcome].

[Your offer] helps them with this by [differentiating factors].

Keep the email brief with short sentences, bold text to break up sections and dot points."

Want to Learn More?

If you're keen to dive deeper into this process, check out the upgrade I've made to my "Engaging Emails" course. I've added a comprehensive section on using AI to write emails that sound like you, alongside existing content on:

• Structuring great emails
• Understanding subscriber preferences
• Strategic content planning
• Repurposing content
• Improving opens, clicks, and conversions

You can access this today at yaelkeon.com/engage. It's self-paced, so you can start anytime.