DELETE. DELETE. DELETE.
That’s the sound of another blog draft hitting the digital trash can. You know exactly what ideas you want to share, but the words just aren’t flowing.
When you’re starting from a blank page, translating your knowledge into engaging blog content can feel like trying to fold a fitted sheet — and we all know how that usually ends! Writer’s block can strike at any moment, turning what should be an exciting chance to build thought leadership into an overwhelming task.
But newsflash: The most powerful writing assistant is already at your fingertips. Generative AI – and more specifically, strategic AI prompts – can transform your blog writing from a sluggish marathon into a speedy sprint.
These prompts are your secret weapons, helping you brainstorm ideas, craft outlines, and even polish your prose! AI will never replace your hard-earned expertise, of course, but it can certainly amplify it in ways that will attract and engage your target audience.
Here are nine tried-and-true AI prompts that will streamline and simplify your blog writing process!
AI Prompts for Blog Research
One of the most time-consuming parts of blog writing is the research phase. Here’s a prompt that helps me digest information quickly:
Write a 150-word summary of this article. Do not write about the brand or author, just the content itself, and make sure you capture all the key points.
Depending on the tool you’re using, you can then give the tool the web link, paste the text of the article, or upload the document/PDF. This prompt is golden because it helps you quickly extract the most valuable information from your research materials without getting lost in the details.
Make sure you cite your sources, as necessary, in the final copy of your blog!
As you’re developing a direction for your blog, it might also be useful to know what knowledge gaps your target audience has in this area, so that you can tailor your content appropriately. Here’s a prompt to assist:
My brand provides [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE CORE SERVICE/PRODUCT] to [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE TARGET AUDIENCE]. I am writing a blog about [TOPIC]. Please help me identify some knowledge gaps that my audience has in this area. What basic knowledge do they already have? What questions or areas of confusion do they likely have about [TOPIC]? What terms might need defining? What related topics might they want to learn more about?
Not even sure what topic you want to write about? AI can help with that, too!
My brand provides [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE CORE SERVICE/PRODUCT] to [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE TARGET AUDIENCE]. What are some educational blog topics that I could write and publish on my website?
I have already written about:
- (LIST)
- (LIST)
- (LIST)
Format your ideas as a bulleted list of blog titles plus a one-sentence summary of what each blog would be about. Give me 10 ideas and one-sentence summaries to start. I will then give you feedback before you generate more.
Give your AI tool feedback on this first list of 10 (tell it what you like and don’t like), and then ask it to give you more ideas. You should be able to get quite a few solid blog topic ideas this way.
AI Prompt for Creating a Blog Outline
I’ve written before about overcoming writer’s block by creating an outline of your content. Yes, this will give you flashbacks to your middle/high school English 101 days! But in an age of AI, why should you have to create that outline by yourself?!
Give your AI tool the task of outlining your blog, so that you have a solid starting point! Here’s a prompt that you can personalize to your brand and topic:
You are an expert content strategist. My brand, [BUSINESS NAME], helps [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE TARGET AUDIENCE] by providing [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE CORE SERVICE/PRODUCT]. I need to create a comprehensive blog post about [TOPIC].
My target audience:
- Has this level of knowledge about the topic: [DESCRIBE]
- Struggles with these challenges: [LIST MAIN PAIN POINTS]
- Wants to achieve: [DESCRIBE GOALS]
Please create a detailed blog outline that:
- Includes [NUMBER] main sections formatted as H2 sections
- Each main section includes [NUMBER] bulleted key points
- Suggests [NUMBER] spots for data, statistics, personal anecdotes, and/or business case studies that would add value
Here are some key points that I know I want to include in the blog:
- (LIST)
- (LIST)
- (LIST)
This blog is going to be [NUMBER] words long in total. Please give me a target word count for every main section (H2) of the blog.
Here is an example of a recent blog post to use as a reference for structure: [PASTE BLOG].
Use as much (or little) of this prompt as you desire. Of course, the more key points that you can give the AI tool, the better your outline will be.
AI Prompts for Blog Writing
Let’s dig into a couple of prompts to help with parts of your actual blogs!
AI Prompt for Improving Your Blog Introduction
Have you ever struggled to really nail those first few paragraphs? You’re not alone! I often find myself writing (and RE-writing) my blog introductions over and over again. So, here’s my go-to prompt for having my AI tool help me craft more engaging blog introductions:
Please rewrite JUST the introduction of the below-pasted blog article. It needs to be [NUMBER] words long and transition smoothly into the first section of the blog. I want it to have a strong hook and be more “punchy” than what I have now. Do not use any cliches in your writing.
Here are a few examples of blog introductions in the style that I like:
- Sample 1: [INSERT]
- Sample 2: [INSERT]
- Sample 3: [INSERT]
Here’s the complete blog article, including the introduction that needs to be rewritten: [INSERT]
Ideally, your samples will be your own strong blog intros, but you can use other writers’ work as your samples for your first time doing this.
I often ask AI to rewrite one blog introduction several times, and then I weave together the elements that I like the best. I insert my own voice and editing style to come up with a final version. Asking the AI tool to generate “strong hooks” and “punchy language” and to “avoid cliches” should help generate some interesting words and phrases to improve your blog introduction!
AI Prompt for Nailing Your Blog Conclusion
Struggling to end your blog? AI can help with that, too! Here’s an AI prompt to help end your blog on a high note:
Please write a strong conclusion for the below-pasted blog article. It needs to be [NUMBER] words long and transition smoothly from the section above it. Briefly summarize what the blog covers and then include a natural call to action for [INSERT YOUR DESIRED CTA]. Do not use any cliches in your writing.
Here are a few examples of blog conclusions in my style:
- Sample 1: [INSERT]
- Sample 2: [INSERT]
- Sample 3: [INSERT]
Here’s the complete blog article that you are writing the conclusion for: [INSERT]
Edit the conclusion so it sounds like your brand voice, and you should be good to go!
AI Prompts for Blog Editing
Once you have a solid blog draft, it’s time to send it off to a copyeditor. Don’t have one? AI could be that second (or third) pair of eyes!
Personally, I prefer to have more control over the editing process, and so I use a real, live, human copyeditor for the blog content that appears on my website – hi, Lauren! 👋 A human copyeditor is valuable because she/he can make nuanced suggestions that take into account your brand voice, goals, and overall tone and style.
In my case, Lauren is actually my third pair of eyes; my second pair of eyes is Grammarly, which I pay for and use within my Google Suite. Not only does Grammarly catch my spelling and grammar errors, but it also helps refine my writing for better clarity.
And yes, Grammarly is an AI tool!
But this blog article is all about AI prompts, so as promised, here’s a prompt that you can give to your chosen AI tool to have your blog copyedited:
OPTION 1: Your blog comes back edited
If you trust your AI tool to edit your blog and give you a new version, use this prompt:
You are acting as a professional content editor. Below is my blog draft.
Guidelines for editing:
- Keep the core message and expertise intact
- Make the content more engaging and conversational
- Ensure each section flows naturally to the next
- Tighten up any redundant information
- Flag any claims that need citations or fact-checking
- Note where examples or case studies would strengthen the content
Please review this content with attention to:
- Spelling and grammar
- Clarity and conciseness
- Logical flow and structure
- Engagement and readability
- Professional yet approachable tone
- Strong transitions between sections
Also note any sections that:
- Need more context
- Could be shortened
- Should be expanded
- Require additional evidence or examples
- Would benefit from subheadings
Here’s my draft:
[PASTE BLOG CONTENT]
OPTION 2: You receive suggestions and edit the blog yourself
If you would rather receive a list of suggested edits from your AI tool (that is always my personal preference, as a writer) and not a completely rewritten article, use this prompt:
You are acting as a professional content editor. Below is my blog draft. Rather than editing it directly, please provide specific suggestions for improvement.
Please provide actionable feedback in these categories:
Spelling and Grammar
- Where do I have errors in spelling?
- Where do I have errors in grammar?
Structure & Flow
- Which sections need better transitions?
- Where should the content be reordered?
- Should there be additional subheadings?
- Which paragraphs could be split or combined?
Engagement & Clarity
- Which sections feel too dense or complex?
- Where could we add examples or stories?
- Which parts need more context?
- What industry jargon needs simplifying?
Content Gaps
- What claims need supporting evidence?
- Where could we add data or statistics?
- Which sections need more explanation?
- What questions might readers still have?
Strengthening Impact
- Which sections could be more concise?
- Where could we add more value?
- What parts need stronger calls-to-action?
Format your suggestions as specific, actionable items rather than making the changes directly. Include section references or paragraph numbers in your feedback.
Here’s my draft:
[PASTE BLOG CONTENT]
AI Prompt to Help with Blog Publishing
This last AI prompt is what I use internally, with my team, to get my blogs across the finish line. They need to know how I want the blog categorized within WordPress, as well as the social media post that goes with the final post.
Here’s how I have AI help me shortcut the process:
Below is the finished blog for my website. Now that we’re done with it, please generate the items below for publishing to my website and social media:
- Social Media Caption (3-4 sentences):
- Social Media Hashtags (including #emilywrites #contentwriter #contentwriting):
- Website Categories (1 Primary and 5-6 Secondary):
- Website Tags:
- SEO Focus keyphrase:
- Website Meta Description (160 characters or fewer):
[INSERT BLOG]
I almost always rewrite the social media post that this prompt generates, but the rest rarely needs editing. AI does a pretty good job of identifying the hashtags, categories, and tags for the blog post – and in much less time than it would take me!
Make Blog Writing a Breeze!
These AI prompts are designed to streamline your blog writing, from initial research and outlining to polishing your final draft. By strategically implementing these prompts, I hope you’ll cut hours off your writing time while maintaining the genuine expertise your readers expect!
But mastering AI-assisted blog writing takes more than just collecting prompts. It requires a nuanced understanding of how to blend technological efficiency with human creativity. That’s where my team stands out. We specialize in writing authentic content that aligns with your brand voice and business goals.
Ready to level up your content creation efforts? Get in touch!