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Will AI Eliminate the Need for Professional Content Writers?

The world of content creation is changing rapidly. From more emphasis on video content to the rise of social media platforms, how people consume information is constantly evolving. In recent years, we have also seen the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of content creation. Many people wonder, “Will AI replace human writers?”

I needed to explore the benefits and limitations of AI and analyze whether it could ultimately replace professional content writers.

AI Writing – The Pros and Cons

AI writing is perfect for creating repetitive content like boring reports, product descriptions, and simple articles. So, one major benefit of AI is creating large amounts of content quickly.

A critical problem with current AI content is repetition and the risk of plagiarism. But the major disadvantage is a limited capability to create high-quality, human-like content that could pass the Turing test.

What’s the Turing Test?

The Turing test was developed by Alan Turing in 1950 to examine a machine’s ability to demonstrate intelligent behaviour that would make it seem human. Turing suggested that people could judge if they witnessed someone texting with a machine. If the person couldn’t tell the difference between humans and machines in the text conversation, the machine passed the Turning test.

AI Writing Vs. Professional Content Writers

Although the rise of AI is somewhat alarming among some writers, it is unlikely that machines can completely replace human writers anytime soon. Professional content writers are highly skilled in writing and storytelling, bringing a unique touch that machines can’t replicate. Plus, genuine quality content requires creativity, originality, and a human touch, which are not capabilities machines possess.

The Future of AI Writing and Content Writing

The future will probably bring more collaboration between AI and human writers. AI seems to be becoming a part of the content creation process.

For example, professional writers benefit from AI through research, technical writing, and identifying trends. Human writers already rely on AI writing platforms for editing and proofreading. Ask anyone who uses Grammarly or Hemmingway! Yet, every professional content writer will tell you that many AI proofreading suggestions are discarded out of hand.

Conclusion

AI writing systems don’t yet possess the artistic and creative skills necessary for producing top-quality content, but they are incredibly powerful tools. Content creation will always require human skills, knowledge, and experience. AI can support research, reduce mundane tasks, and streamline the writing process.

The future looks very bright, and content writers can be confident that the rise of AI will not lead to us being replaced. Instead, AI, like other technological advancements, will likely enhance workflow and efficiency, changing some of how we work.

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Readability Scores

Readability Scores

Choose Your Level

This week readability scores came up more than once. A few complex topics needed simplifying. My clients want to simply inform their current customers about complicated topics, without condescension. So, we discussed the concept of “Readability Scores” and what that really means.

Some of what goes into web content or blog readability is about image placement, subheadings, bullet points and other things on a page that make it easier to read. That’s not what I am talking about here.

The Flesch Readability Scores Test

People mostly scan content on the web. Posts that are easy to read and scan make sense. The Flesch Reading Ease test scores the complexity of copy and rates it on a scale of 0 to 100 (see below). Generally, a score between 60 and 70 (8th to 9th grade) is considered typical for most industries.

Then again, many industries easily support more difficult text. A government website I worked with this week scored at a 20 to 30 level. The client preferred that the information from that website be rewritten for his customers in that 60 to 70 range.

 

Score

School level

Notes

100.00-90.00

5th grade

Very easy to read. Easily understood by an average 11-year-old student.

90.0–80.0

6th grade

Easy to read. Conversational English for consumers.

80.0–70.0

7th grade

Fairly easy to read.

70.0–60.0

8th & 9th grade

Plain English. Easily understood by 13- to 15-year-old students.

60.0–50.0

10th to 12th grade

Fairly difficult to read.

50.0–30.0

College

Difficult to read.

30.0–0.0

College graduate

Very difficult to read. Best understood by university graduates.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Why Readability Scores Matter

Your readability scores influence how much time your visitors spend on your website. It may seem counterintuitive, but the easier readability scores tend to keep website visitors for longer. Readers bore easily. (Thanks for staying with me here!)

When your visitors stay on your website longer, your SEO ranking goes up. Google watches how long people stay on your site. If your nearest competitor engages readers for longer than you do, they are ranked above you.

Deliberate Choice is the Key

If you know me at all (and if you don’t, here’s a clue) you know how strongly I believe in deliberate choice. So, just like anything else, choose your readability score to fit with your audience, your subject and who you are. It is that combination that will make for successful web content.

Melody

P.S. The Flesch Readability Score of this post is 71.1

The picture is the view out my window. The mare’s name is Paloma (Dove), and the colt is Luz (or often Lucita, which means “Little Light”). The bushes are a salak (snake fruit) and mangosteen in my tropical fruit orchard here in Ecuador. 

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SEO Content Writing This Week

SEO Content Writing This Week

One of the best things about SEO content writing is the variety of topics I encounter every week. This week included everything from peridontal research studies to Christmas. There was more ongoing work in the financial industry, and even some on interior design and alternative medicine.

The SEO Content Writing Niche

One of the most common pieces of advice a freelance writer will receive is to “find your niche”. They choose narrow subject areas like “cryptocurrency” <blech>, or “fashion”, or “travel”. Seldom do these niche writers venture forth to write outside of their niche.

My niche is business. My talent/skill is seeing what your client needs to take action.

How I Developed That Talent/Skill

For more than 2 decades, I instructed an internationally acclaimed sales course. There were 55 professional B2B sales reps in each class. In each of the 12 sessions of the course, I had to fine-tune the sales concept to every product/service. That meant that, on the fly, I was developing examples for hundreds of products.

If you have ever worked with professional B2B sales reps, you probably know they can be rather tough minded. I had the ability to quickly adapt the material to their unique situations. This was the foundation for my award-winning sales and graduation levels.

What Does That Have to Do With SEO Content Writing?

SEO content writing is much easier. This same skill, adapting sales/marketing techniques to unique situations, is required. Now, I can sit behind my computer and do these adaptations at my leisure. I can revise and rework each line. When instructing the classes, I was public speaking, and had to do it all at light speed. No revisions.

So, that’s why SEO content writing for business is my niche. I have written for accountants, and funeral homes, on the same day. From my point of view, the same principles apply. Solid SEO content writing requires convincing, persuasive language, on informative topics. You give me your topics, and leave the copywriting to me.

Melody