AI Content Production 101

When I first started using ChatGPT, my mind spiraled.

“It’s over,” I thought.

Writing, storytelling, persuasion, code—all automated.

I’d spent years honing these skills, and suddenly they felt redundant. What should I learn I though, to not risk becoming obsolete. (I wasn’t entirely wrong about the coding part.)

But here’s the thing.

I was wrong about the rest.

AI isn’t replacing our need to communicate with depth and authenticity. If anything, it’s amplifying it. Because, let’s face it, asking ChatGPT to spit out a LinkedIn post (a blog post or any piece of content) doesn’t magically produce gold.

If you’ve tried it, you know what I’m talking about.

When you simply ask AI to “generate content,” the result is often…average. It’s polished, sure. But it’s missing something crucial—your voice, your insight, your authority. In a world already flooded with content, AI alone doesn’t help you stand out. It just adds to the noise.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you want to create a copy to share 8 AI tools that you have discovered and you’re excited about. Here’s my original post as a baseline:

AI apps are popping up everywhere—like mushrooms after rain.
Keeping up? Nearly impossible.
The truth? Only 10% of them are worth a glance. The rest? Noise.
I’ve been collecting websites like rare artifacts.
Here’s a top 8. The ones worth your time:
(not all of them will work for you, but some might change your workflow)
1. Click2 AI
Forget resumes. Networking is how you get noticed. Land your next role by being seen in the right circles.
2. Hautech
Fashion design without limits. AI-powered, effortless creativity at your fingertips.
3. Promet AI
Turn ideas into strategy. Plans built in minutes, not days.
4. ProMind AI
Automate tasks, manage your time, and boost productivity. Less chaos, more clarity.
5. Story Boards AI
Visual storytelling, simplified. Create AI-powered storyboards to bring ideas to life.
6. ChatNode
Chatbots with a brain. Build intelligent bots that enhance customer experience—without coding headaches.
7. AdCreative
Ads, done right. High-quality, platform-ready creative in minutes.
8. OpusClip
From long-form to shareable. Turn any video into social-ready clips that capture the core.
This is my list for exploration for today. If only one of them flips your workflow, it's a win.
Try, fail, experiment, and refine.

It’s not perfect, but it works. The copy is decent, and the structure is easy to follow.

Now, let’s see what happens if we ask ChatGPT to handle it the “naive” way—something like, “Hey ChatGPT, generate a viral LinkedIn post about these 8 AI tools: [List of AI tools].”

🚀 8 AI Tools Changing the Game (and Your Workflow!) 🚀
If you’re in business, marketing, design, or just hustling to stay ahead, you need to know about these powerful AI tools. They’re transforming how we work, create, and connect. Here’s how:
1. Click2 AI‍
💼 Tired of traditional resumes? Forget ’em. Networking just got a serious upgrade. Click2 AI positions you in the right circles so you get noticed by the people who matter.
2. Hautech‍
👗 Fashion designers, meet your new muse! Hautech brings AI-powered design directly to your fingertips, unlocking limitless creativity.
3. Promet AI‍
🧠 From ideas to action. Promet AI builds strategic plans in minutes, not days. Finally, a way to focus on vision and execution—without the burnout.
4. ProMind AI‍
⌛ Productivity redefined. Automate tasks, manage time, and achieve clarity with ProMind AI. It’s like having an efficiency expert on call, 24/7.
5. Story Boards AI‍
📽️ Simplify your storytelling. Visualize and bring your ideas to life with AI-powered storyboards that take the complexity out of creativity.
6. ChatNode‍
🤖 Chatbots with a brain. Build intelligent, no-code bots that elevate customer experiences and cut through the noise.
7. AdCreative‍
🎨 Ads without the stress. High-quality, platform-ready creative in minutes. AdCreative makes sure your ads are polished, professional, and conversion-ready.
8. OpusClip‍
📹 From long-form to shareable. Easily turn any video into social-ready clips that capture the heart of your message.
Curious to try them out? These tools make next-gen tech accessible, practical, and (dare I say) fun. Ready to power up your workflow? 🚀
#AItools #FutureOfWork #Productivity #Innovation

🤡🤡🤡

The best you can get from a piece of content like this are comments like this one:

Got the point?

If you don't know how to use AI, everything you create with it sounds like a stupid bot.

This letter will walk you through a global process on how to use AI “properly” to deliver a decent piece of content.

We will not focus specifically on writing. I’ll cover the full art of AI-assisted writing in a separate deep dive.

Today, we’ll cover the big picture. We’ll go from idea generation to enrichment, structuring to viral-worthy titles, graphics creation to perfect delivery.

Let’s dive in we have to much to cover!

Break down

In marketing and growth, content is king.

If you want authority in your field—whether to land a promotion or a better role—content is king.

If you want to tell your story, showcase your work or sharing anything worth sharing, mastering content will give you a superpower.

Especially if you know how to play with AI.

So, what’s content creation really about?

1. Content

• Finding a compelling topic—something people actually care about.
• Gathering information—deep research that adds real value.
• Structuring ideas—a clear framework to break down and expand your points.

2. Graphics

3. Writing

4. Crafting a Compelling Title

5. Analyzing Results

This isn’t the full picture, but it’s more than enough for today’s deep dive.

Finding a compelling topic

Finding great topics isn’t about you.

It’s about them.

You need to know what your audience cares about, what keeps them up at night, and what problems they’re desperate to solve. The trick? Tap into the right sources and actually listen. Here’s how to uncover gold—and keep the ideas flowing.

Learning how to use AI for content production is also about learning when NOT to use it.

I strongly recommend not using AI for topic selection.

If you don't know how to find ideas that resonate with you, AI will just amplify noise and you will sound "average".

Go out there and do the work—this is about YOU and THEM now, not about tools.

1. Clear Out the Noise

First, stop feeding your brain junk content. Clean up your feeds, unsubscribe from low-value emails, and start following only high-quality sources. Books, top podcasts, in-depth articles—stuff that actually sharpens your thinking.

If your inputs are junk, your outputs will be junk too.

2. Leverage Other Platforms for Inspiration

The internet is a goldmine for content ideas. You just have to know where to look.

Popular Medium Articles

Medium is full of insights, especially if you’re in a niche where people share actionable advice. Look at what’s trending in your area—see what resonates with readers. If an article is blowing up, it’s a signal: people care about this topic.

Reddit – The Unfiltered Truth

Reddit needs no introduction. It’s the raw, unedited pulse of the internet. Millions of conversations happen there every day, and some of the best insights into people’s frustrations and needs live in these threads. Even ChatGPT’s own data training has been fueled by conversations from Reddit.

Start by typing your niche in the search bar—“SEO,” “content creation,” “entrepreneurship.” Then filter by “Top” posts of the week or month. Look for pain points, limitations, recurring questions. Scroll through subreddits relevant to your field, like r/LinkedIn, r/Entrepreneur, r/SaaS, or r/Singularity.

Writing content is about belonging to a group and solving that group’s problems. Right now, you’re reading this because you have challenges around content and growth. I do too—I’m constantly looking for ways to keep my content strategy on point, to stay consistent, to align all the moving parts.

So by solving my content problems, I’m solving yours too. That’s the beauty of listening to a like-minded community.

And yes, some subreddits are better than others. It’s trial and error. Join a few, watch the quality of discussion, and stick with the ones that bring real insights.

Pinterest for Visual Inspiration

Need ideas for design, infographics, or cheatsheets? Pinterest is an underrated resource. It’s not just for recipes and DIY projects—search your niche and see what kind of visuals are trending. Save the styles and formats that catch your eye. These will help you add a creative edge to your content.

Google and AnswerThePublic for FAQs

Google’s search bar is one of the simplest tools to find out what people want to know. Type in “How + [your niche]” and let autocomplete show you what questions are trending. AnswerThePublic is another tool that pulls popular questions people are asking. It’s an effortless way to see exactly what issues people are googling.

Or, if you want a shortcut, try Perplexity AI. It does the Googling for you, gathers insights, and even provides summaries with sources. No need to comb through ten different websites; just get a list of the top questions and ideas—all grounded in reliable sources.

3. Repurpose Your Own Content

Sometimes, the best ideas are already sitting in your past posts. Your winners—the ones that got the most engagement—are goldmines for repurposing. Don’t worry about sounding repetitive. Think of it as doubling down on what works.

Two ways to repurpose:

1. Repost: Bring back a high-performing post, either as-is or with minor tweaks.

2. Reformat: Turn it into a different type of content. A LinkedIn post can become a carousel, a blog post, or even a short video.

Plan ahead with a repurposing schedule. Consistency isn’t about creating something brand new every time; it’s about delivering what people already love in different formats. Repurposing doesn’t hurt your reputation—it reinforces your message.

Bonus tip: if you’re managing social media, tools like Taplio (for LinkedIn) or TweetHunter (for Twitter) can streamline repurposing and keep your content flow steady.

4. Quora – The Reddit Alternative

If Reddit is the raw pulse, Quora is the curated version. It’s filled with questions people genuinely need answered. Type in your niche, scroll through questions, and see what’s getting attention. The questions on Quora are often evergreen—the kinds of topics people return to again and again.

5. Experiment, Adapt, and Scale

Finding topics is an ongoing process. The more you engage with these sources, the sharper your content radar gets. You’ll start spotting patterns, common frustrations, and under-explored angles. The key is to experiment with a mix of sources and adapt based on what your audience actually engages with.

Content isn’t just about producing posts; it’s about creating something people need. When you solve real problems, you’ll always have an audience.

And remember: The best topics don’t come from brainstorming in a vacuum. They come from listening, exploring, and being an active part of your community.

Deep research that adds real value

When it comes to research, Perplexity AI is your secret weapon.

Think of it as The New Google Search. If you’re serious about creating valuable, original content, it’s time to stop scrolling through endless search results and start working smarter.

Since I started using Perplexity AI, I’ve almost stopped Googling things. The old routine—searching, sifting through sites, summarizing—feels like chipping away at a mountain with a spoon. Perplexity does all of that heavy lifting for me.

Here’s how to make it work for you.

The Traditional Way

This one’s simple. You type in a question or prompt, like:

“I want to find 10 trending topics in [my niche] that people are discussing right now.”

And just like that, Perplexity delivers.

But it doesn’t stop there. You don’t just get a list of random topics; you get sources, direct quotes, and explanations on why each topic made the list. Perplexity even gives you links to the original sources, so you can dig deeper if you want to go down the rabbit hole—or skip it if you’re ready to move forward.

It’s like Google, but with a map and a flashlight. You’re not fumbling around in the dark; you’re finding exactly what you need, fast.

The Discover Way

Now here’s where things get interesting.

If Perplexity AI itself is underrated, then the Discover feature is practically a secret. This is where it transforms from a search engine into a personal research assistant.

Just go to the left menu and click on “Discover.” What you’ll see isn’t just another search result page—it’s a curated feed tailored specifically to your research needs. It’s like a custom version of Google News, but built for depth, not just headlines.

Every day, Perplexity updates your feed with relevant, trending topics in your field, already broken down and analyzed. These aren’t random articles. They’re masterclasses in your niche, ready to inspire your next piece of content.

A clear framework to break down and expand your points

Now that you have a viral topic and a stream of high-value information, your next challenge is structuring it.

Breaking down your topic into a logical, digestible outline is essential—but you don’t have to do it alone. As we’ll cover later, structuring your information before using AI is the secret weapon to avoid the “stupid bot” effect.

This is where custom GPTs come in.

If you have a ChatGPT subscription, you can create GPTs tailored to your favorite idea-structuring frameworks. If not, you can still craft pre-made prompts for each framework and save them in your go-to note-taking app—Notion, Evernote, whatever works.

So, how does this work?

Let’s say you have a specific framework you use to organize your ideas before diving into a piece. Here’s one I use to structure my thoughts for a newsletter:

• Topic

• References

• Who Are You Writing To?

• Perspectives

• Big Problem

• Objections

• Big Benefit

• Steps, Methods, Frameworks, or List

• Big Idea

Now, I could outline each point manually, but there’s a faster way. I created a GPT that applies this framework automatically. Here’s how:

Prompt:

”You're a writer's assistant. You help them structure ideas and formulate one idea in many different ways. You take the user input and apply the following Framework to it.

The Framework description:

[Describe your framework]

[Add any additional, or fine-tuning instructions]

“

Then, I describe my framework, adding any fine-tuning instructions, and save it as a custom GPT.

Now, when I have a topic and a bunch of raw information, I just hand it over to this GPT. It organizes everything for me, turning scattered thoughts into a clear, structured breakdown.

Make It Your Own

This approach is flexible—use any framework that fits your style. Create custom GPTs for each framework or save pre-made prompts if you’re working without a subscription. The goal is to have assistants ready to do the heavy lifting.

With a viral topic, solid information, and a reliable structure, you’re well-equipped to create content that resonates.

Next step? Let’s find the visuals.

Visuals

You don’t need to be a designer to create engaging visuals.

These tools make it easy:

Pinterest

Your go-to for inspiration.

• Search for ideas related to your niche.
• Save pins that stand out.
• Use them as a springboard for your own designs.

Example: Type “infographic + [niche]” (like “infographic + HR” or “infographic + sales”) to see relevant visuals. Or try “book quotes” for clean, shareable designs.

Google Images

Find images, but tread carefully.

• Use the “Tools” option to filter by usage rights.
• Always double-check that you have permission to use any image.

Tip: Go to “Tools” > “Usage rights” to filter out copyrighted images.

Instagram

The hub for visual trends.

• Look up designs, infographics, and quote cards that are already viral.
• Head to the “Explore” tab and dive into what’s trending.

The more you interact with content in your niche, the better Instagram’s algorithm will get at feeding you relevant visuals. Build your own inspiration feed by liking, saving, and commenting.

Canva

A design tool anyone can use.

• Browse templates tailored for platforms like LinkedIn.
• Customize with your brand colors and fonts.
• Offers both free and premium options.

Pro tip: Search for “quotes” in the template library for easy, on-brand visuals. But remember, these templates aren’t guaranteed to go viral—Pinterest and Instagram are better indicators of what’s already popular.

Ideogram

AI-powered inspiration generator.

• Describe your idea, and it generates design concepts based on your input.
• Perfect when you’re stuck or need a creative boost.

Example: Trying the prompt “1% better every day,” on Ideogram generated striking graphics in multiple styles (3D, realistic, etc.). Just select a 3:4 format for optimal results.

Midjourney

For unique, creative visuals from text prompts.

• Type a description, and Midjourney turns it into an image.
• Great for custom thumbnails or abstract visuals.

Heads up: Midjourney isn’t ideal for infographics or text-heavy images—it’s notorious for messing up the writing. But for unique thumbnails or brand visuals? It’s gold.

DALL-E

Another AI image generator from OpenAI, integrated into ChatGPT.

• Enter a detailed prompt, and it produces custom images.
• Good for basic character designs or simple visuals.

Not as creative as Midjourney and less precise than Ideogram for text, but it can still deliver solid visuals in a pinch.

Use these tools to create visuals that resonate with your audience.

Writing

Now you’ve got your topic, a structured outline, and a graphic.

Time to expand the writing.

As I mentioned earlier, we’re not diving deep into the writing process today—that’s a whole newsletter on its own. But I’ll share a few key insights that will set you up for success if you’re using AI to create high-quality content.

Here are the essentials:

Start with a solid framework

A well-structured framework is everything. It takes scattered ideas and shapes them into a clear, cohesive flow. Starting with organized information instead of random notes makes you 80% more likely to get a strong final draft with AI. AI performs best with structured input—that’s why most people fail to generate high-quality content with it. Choose your framework wisely; the quality of your output depends on it.

Use a strategic prompt

Basic prompts like, “You’re an expert writer. Write a blog post from these notes…” won’t cut it. You need to give the AI a personality and prompt it to humanize the writing. For example:

“Generate an article with your style. Ensure that every sentence provides value. Eliminate fluff. Make it conversational, empathetic, and occasionally humorous. Use natural dialogue to add personality. Write for entrepreneurs interested in actionable AI tips to grow their business. Start with, and enrich, my personal story.”

Experiment with your prompts. Refine until you get the tone and depth you want.

Break it down

Sometimes, AI’s output might feel flat or need more refinement. Instead of asking it to write an entire article in one go, break it down into sections. Ask AI to handle each part individually based on your framework. You can even use different frameworks for each section. This layered approach often leads to more compelling results.

Experiment. Refine. Get creative with your prompts and frameworks. When you find the right approach, the results will surprise you.

Crafting a Compelling Title

Most people create content. Few get it read.

It’s frustrating—you’ve poured hours into something meaningful, and you know it’s good. But your views? Barely a blip.

Meanwhile, others rake in thousands of clicks with half the effort. Why?

Titles.

If there’s one thing that can make or break your content, it’s a powerful, hooking title. A great title grabs attention instantly and turns casual scrollers into engaged readers. Without it, even the best content falls flat.

So, how do you nail the title? Here’s how AI can help.

Step 1: Study What Works

Start by researching successful titles in your niche. Head over to Medium and YouTube:

• Look up key channels or creators in your space.

• Collect a list of their most popular titles—the ones that clearly resonated with audiences.

By studying successful titles, you’ll learn what kind of phrasing, tone, and structure pulls in views.

Step 2: Build a Custom GPT (or Saved Prompt)

Once you have a list of top-performing titles, feed them into ChatGPT as a guide. Here’s a prompt template to create your own title-generating assistant:

Prompt 1: YouTube Style Hook

"I am a YouTuber who needs to create the catchiest video titles to hook viewers instantly.

I share content about [your topic].

Your job is to suggest a catchy title for every piece of content I give you, using your style.

Here are examples of titles you generated:

[List of viral titles you collected]"

Or, if you want a more in-depth process:

Prompt 2: The Science of Viral Titles

"Step 1: Analyze and draw conclusions from the Excel file I’ll share with you.

This file contains the most viral YouTube video titles in history, organized by channel.

Step 2: Once you understand the patterns behind effective titles, create categories for different types of hooks.

Step 3: Read the topic for my next video.

Step 4: Generate 10 title suggestions per category that address my topic. Be creative, and strictly follow the principles you learned about viral titles.

Proceed through each step without prompting me to confirm. Be effective and concise."

These prompts give AI a specific task: to study the “science” of viral titles and generate options that align with those proven patterns.

Step 3: Dig Deeper with Data (Advanced Method)

For a more sophisticated approach, you can scrape top YouTube titles from your favorite channels to analyze what truly works. Here’s how:

1. Go to YouTube

Visit the channel of a YouTuber in your niche and open their video list.

2. Use Inspect Element

Right-click on the page and select “Inspect.” Go to the console and paste these two commands to scroll and extract video titles automatically:

• Command 1: Scroll through the video list.

var scroll = setInterval(function(){ window.scrollBy(0, 1000)}, 1000);

• Command 2: Extract titles.

window.clearInterval(scroll); console.clear(); urls = $$('a'); urls.forEach(function(v,i,a){if (v.id=="video-title-link" && v.href){console.log('\t'+new Date().toLocaleDateString()+'\t'+v.title+'\t'+v.href+'\t'+v.__shady_native_innerHTML.match(/aria-label=\"(.+?)\"/g)?.[0].match(/[\d,]+ views/g)[0]+'\t')}});

3. Export to Google Sheets

Copy the output and paste it into a Google Sheet (type sheet.new in your browser to create a new one quickly). Keep the top 50 titles, sorted by views, and create separate tabs for each channel.

Now, with a dataset of proven viral titles, run the prompts to have AI generate new ones inspired by the most popular structures.

Analyzing Results

Your masterpiece is live.

Whether it’s on social media, Medium, or your own blog, now comes the crucial next step: analyzing the data.

You need to understand what resonated, what didn’t, and how to refine your strategy to maximize impact. Here’s how AI can elevate your post-publishing analysis:

Step 1: Download Your Engagement Data

Head to the platform where you published your content and download your engagement metrics.

For example, on LinkedIn:

• Click on the analytics tab.
• Select “Export” in the top right corner to download your data file.

This file gives you a raw look at your post performance, but it’s just numbers without context. That’s where AI comes in.

Step 2: Upload to ChatGPT-4

Open your downloaded file and upload it to ChatGPT-4 with a prompt for analysis.

Example Prompt:

“What day of the week is best for me to post to maximize follower growth and impressions?”

By feeding ChatGPT targeted questions, you can uncover patterns in your data that might not be obvious at a glance.

Step 3: Identify Trends

Use AI to spot trends in your engagement data. ChatGPT can help you answer questions like:

• Which days and times are optimal for posting?
• What types of content drive the highest engagement?

This takes the guesswork out of figuring out what’s working and what’s not.

Step 4: Visualize Your Data

Ask ChatGPT to generate visual representations of your data for easy analysis.

Example Prompt:

“Provide a bar graph of my engagement data by day of the week.”

Visuals make it easier to see spikes and dips in performance, giving you clear indicators of when your audience is most active.

Step 5: Draw Conclusions

With your data analyzed and trends identified, you can make informed decisions.

For example:

• Based on the data, you might find that posts on Friday, Wednesday, and Thursday get the highest engagement. Focus on these days for maximum impact.

Prompts to Try for Deeper Insights

Here are specific prompts to get even more granular insights from your data:

• Top Performers Analysis

“Identify my top 3 best-performing posts in terms of engagement rate over the last 30 days. What common themes or formats do they share?”

• Optimal Posting Schedule

“Based on my post impression data, what are the optimal days for me to post content for maximum reach?”

• Content Type Performance Breakdown

“Analyze my posts from the last 90 days. What types of content (e.g., text-only, images, videos, polls) have the highest engagement rates? Provide a breakdown of the top 5 performing posts by content type.”

• Follower Growth Trend Analysis

“Compare my follower growth rate over the last 3 months with specific events or content that had a significant spike in growth, and correlate these with specific posts or activities on those days.”

• Engagement Pattern Recognition

“Examine my post engagement data (likes, comments, shares) for the past 60 days. Are there any types of content that consistently generate higher engagement?”

You’ve got a skilled data analyst in your pocket—for free. Just a few years ago, this would’ve cost $2-5k per month :)

Wrap up

Content creation doesn’t end when you hit publish.

The real work starts after.

Analyzing your data, refining your approach, and doubling down on what works—that’s where growth happens. AI isn’t just a tool for writing and designing; it’s a compass that helps you navigate what resonates with your audience and what falls flat.

Each step—from crafting a title that hooks, to structuring your content, to breaking down analytics—builds toward one goal: creating content that matters. Content that gets read, shared, and remembered.

So, create with intention.

Measure with precision.

And let AI amplify your impact.

— Charafeddine