"Hey ChatGPT, make this sound better.”

(You’ve probably said it before. I have too.)

That prompt feels small. But it reflects a bigger pattern.

AI is on standby…ready to write, rewrite, summarize, translate, rephrase. Instantly.

It’s easy and impressive.

But also a little dangerous.

It makes it really tempting to skip the part where WE figure out what we’re actually trying to say.

Instead of clarifying the point, we ask for better words. And when the words come back smoother, it’s easy to think the job is done.

But if the thinking was unclear going in, it will still be unclear coming out.

What AI can’t do for your messaging:

If your message is muddy, AI will multiply the mud.

It’ll just give you a neater version of the mess.

Here’s what it can’t do:

✖ Think for you

✖ Decide what matters most to your audience

✖ Turn a rough thought into a sharp point of view

✖ Replace structure, framing, or hierarchy

✖ Transform features into a clear, compelling story

So when people say, “It still doesn’t sound right,” — this (☝️) is usually why.

AI isn’t your writer. It’s your editor, challenger, pressure-tester, and second set of eyes.

But you still have to do the thinking.

What AI can do (when used correctly):

AI is amazing at refining thought, not replacing it.

Use it to challenge your thinking and pressure-test your clarity. But don’t expect it to give you strategy out of thin air.

Here’s how I use it to refine my own content:

1.Pressure-test the message

When something feels off and I can’t put my finger on why:

Prompt: “What’s confusing or vague about this paragraph?”

2. Sharpen the angle

Messaging isn’t one-size-fits-all. This helps me try out multiple frames so I can find the version that actually sticks with the audience:

Prompt: “Rewrite this as a before/after. Then as a problem/solution. Then as a one-liner.”

3. Trim the fat

When things feel too wordy:

Prompt: “Cut this by 50% while keeping only what the buyer actually cares about.”

4. Challenge assumptions

Spots weak points or gaps I didn’t catch the first time:

Prompt: “What’s missing that would make this message feel more credible or urgent?”

The point of these prompts is to help you test if the message is clear and focused.

Your Tiny Challenge:

Take the next piece of content you plan to run through AI (a social post, a slide, a section of your website).

Instead of starting with “Make this sound better,” try:

“Rephrase this for someone who doesn’t know our industry, has 10 seconds, and only cares about what changes for them.”

Once you get the result, compare it to your original.

What did it cut? What did it keep? What did it make clearer?

Use that to figure out what was just filler. Then go back and rewrite your version with that in mind.

Have a prompt you swear by? Hit reply—I’m always collecting good ones.

P.S. Every other week, I send out prompts like the ones above to help you use AI without losing your message….or your voice. Keep an eye out for them. 😉

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