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It’s likely that you have heard a lot about ChatGPT lately. Forums, blogs, and social media groups pertaining to writing have likely covered this topic in depth. Will AI be replacing content-based jobs? What about marketers? Is this something to be excited or worried about? As a writer, here is why I think ChatGPT is great.

What Is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a state-of-the-art language model. The software is based on GPT (Generative Pre-training Transformer) architecture and generates human-like text. Users can fine-tune this text for a wide range of language tasks, such as language translation, text summarization, question answering, and more. Basically, the software accesses a wide storage of data and produces that information in a chat format.

The feature that brings the most controversy is that it can generate creative writing, poetry, and even code. Because of its ability to understand the context of a given command and generate responses that are appropriate, it is a powerful tool for natural language processing (NLP) and can develop and produce chatbots, virtual assistants, and other conversational AI systems.

Does Chat GPT Plagiarize?

ChatGPT is a language model that generates text based on patterns it has learned from the data it was trained on. Because ChatGPT is not connected to data via the internet, it cannot plagiarize published content in the traditional sense. However, as it generates text based on patterns it has learned, it can occasionally generate text that is similar to text it has seen before.

In some cases, this can result in text that is very similar to existing text, which could be considered as a form of plagiarism. To avoid this, it is important to monitor and edit content that is produced in the chat.

What is the Impact of AI in the Field of Writing?

One doesn’t have to listen long to know that the industry is a buzz with AI and it’s potential impacts on copywriting, marketing, and other industries connected to the creation of content. So what could this impact look like? And will AI be taking over your marketing job in the near-future?

GPT-3 is a remarkable achievement in the field of AI and natural language processing. It has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with machines and could have a significant impact on a wide range of industries.

Challenges with ChatGPT

Before discussing why ChatGPT is ultimately great for the writing industry, it’s important to note why it won’t be taking over content create jobs (or rather most jobs). ChatGPT, like any technology, can have negative impacts on writing careers if not used responsibly. Some ways in which ChatGPT may negatively impact writing careers include:

Job displacement

ChatGPT’s ability to generate written content quickly and efficiently may lead to some writers losing work, as their skills may be seen as less valuable. This may seem like an oxymoron, declaring this to be great for the writing industry, but ultimately the writing jobs that will be lost will be for content that doesn’t require much thought or research. Writing produced by content mills that pay a penny a word isn’t a sustainable career, and removing these allows for better job opportunities to have their time to shine.

Quality of writing

If a writer relies too heavily on ChatGPT to generate content, the quality of their writing may suffer, as the model may not be able to fully capture the nuances and complexities of human language. Practice makes perfect, and so for those who do not have the skills or desire to grow in order to make a career out of writing will only stick out as they choose to use software as a crutch.

Lack of originality

Limited to what it was trained on: ChatGPT is based on the data it was trained on, it may not be able to understand or respond to certain topics or writing styles that it has not seen before, which can make it less useful for certain types of writing, including the high-budget writing that content creators are paid to not only write about, but gather research on.

Perhaps the largest issue with ChatGPT- the reason people enjoy reading is because of originality. I am currently reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I’m not particularly interested in the apocalyptic literature that makes up the book, but I am curious how McCarthy, who was heavily influenced by Nihilism, views friendship. We do this with press releases, ads, and even blogs (hello!). AI takes this important factor away.

Why ChatGPT is Great

With it’s flaws presented in front of us, it may not feel as thought the chat is even worth using for writing. However, this software can be a great tool. Writers’ jobs remain secure because it is flawed software, but hugely beneficial if used correctly. Here are just a few:

Content creation

ChatGPT can generate high-quality written content, such as articles, blog posts, and e-mails, which can save time for writers by producing a rough draft of content that is very simple and needs little research. (i.e. introductions and conclusions).

Proofreading and editing

ChatGPT can proofread and edit written work, helping to identify grammar and punctuation errors, and suggest improvements to sentence structure and phrasing. Like Grammarly, ChatGPT can find errors in grammar and flow. Unlike Grammarly, you can ask GPT to correct those same errors.

Idea generation

Writer’s block happens to the best of us. Writing is thinking, and so it is helpful to bounce ideas off someone else via writing. ChatGPT can be used to generate new ideas for writing projects, helping writers to overcome writer’s block and generate new and unique content.

Research assistance

ChatGPT can be used to assist writers with research for their projects by providing relevant information and data on a particular topic.

Story generation: ChatGPT can be used to generate creative fiction stories, prompts, and plot summaries, which can be helpful for writers looking for inspiration or new ideas.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to keep in mind that ChatGPT is a tool, not a replacement for human writers. It can be used to assist writers in their work, but ultimately, it is the writer’s responsibility to ensure that the content they produce is of high quality, original, and appropriate for their audience.

With other companies like Google working to perfect their own versions of ChatGPT and the widespread adoption of the software already, AI writing software is here to stay. What will separate writers is what has separated those who are successful in any profession: a willingness to adapt and learn new tools early and use them for our benefit.

About the Author

Hey there! My name is Lucas Eckerley.

I specialize in online course development, longform copywriting, and web copy creation.

Interested in scheduling a meeting with me? Click here

A website may have plenty of traffic, but that doesn’t matter if your conversion rates are low. Here are 5 common web copy mistakes that kill conversions (and how to fix them).

What Is Website Conversion?

Website Conversion is often confused with website traffic. While a website may have a high rate of traffic, conversion rate (CVR) is the percentage of that traffic that accomplishes a desired task.

A low CVR can end up costing companies in the long run. Regardless of how much money companies spend on marketing, potential sales or subscribers will be lost if the marketed website doesn’t offer a convincing pitch.

Instead of spending more money to increase traffic to a website, the website should first be designed to convert. Here are 5 ways a website could be draining a company’s finances.

1. Unclear Website Pathways

In an effort to create all the content readers could possibly want, one can forget to consider how this content is organized. Can visitors reasonably and easily understand the flow of the webpage and where to find information?

Everyone has experienced the frustration of finding a website that meets their needs, only to find the website itself is difficult to navigate. Where does one start? What information is contained under each tab? Why is there so much repeated information?

The Nielsen Norman Group states that the average visitor to a webpage takes only 10-20 seconds to determine if the website is valuable before leaving. If the visitor is spending time trying to understand how to navigate the website, they’re already moving on to the next website.

This is especially dangerous for websites, as the click-through rate on websites ultimately impacts that site’s SEO ranking as well. With this in mind:

• Consider if your website navigation is easily understandable.
• Remove any implied instructions or organization from your site.
• Remove repeated or redundant information that doesn’t add value.

2.    Insider Jargon

Insider Jargon is dangerous in that it assumes base-level knowledge. Even if the website is targeting others in the same field, industry-specific terms and insider jargon risks confusing visitors who don’t operate with the same terms.

There is a reason that defining industry-specific terms and acronyms as they are introduced is a content writing standard practice. Any potential for miscommunication needs to be removed.

Certain industries certainly have their universal terms and acronyms, but these may be abbreviated or have slight discrepancies from company to company. Instead of risking a communication breakdown, one should make a practice of briefly introducing repeated terms that cannot be removed altogether from the site.

After all, what is a common industry term could very easily differ from state to state or country to country. Skip the potential future headache and ask if someone outside the website’s target industry could reasonably understand the content.

• Have someone outside the site’s target industry read the copy to make sure the content is understandable
• Put new acronym definitions within parentheses when introducing them for the first time.
• Eliminate confusion by reusing the same terms and acronyms without abbreviating them.

3.    Unclear Content Goal

At some point, the website’s content needs to make a clear and concise pitch, and everything leading up to that point is meant to make that ask as compelling and favorable to the reader as possible. Without a clear and defined goal, the content will lack direction.

Directionless content is uninteresting content. If a website is listing facts about one’s company without direction, readers will sense this and move on. If readers are unsure what’s next in the page’s content, they will move on to a site that is more defined in its information.

The same goes for the ask. Whether one is requesting readers to subscribe to a blog, purchase a product, or schedule a meeting, the ask for these should be clear, compelling, and direct.

• Write out the purpose of your website.
• Establish a flowchart with arguments as to why readers should subscribe to what you’re asking them to do.
• Assign each argument in your flowchart to the corresponding content on your webpage. Remove the excess content and add content where arguments are underrepresented.

4.    No Value Provided

Websites are created because the author is trying to obtain something, whether it’s sales, subscribers, or another type of value. Likewise, readers visit websites in order to obtain value as well. In order to build trust and convince visitors to take action as requested by the site, the site has to prove itself valuable.

The easiest way to prove that a website, brand, or store is valuable is to first provide value. Before an audience can determine that a product or service is valuable, there first needs to be value provided that builds trust.

Whether a plumbing website provides how-to videos to help visitors understand how to take on projects and use the website’s products or a SaaS company produces a blog to discuss software trends, providing free value to customers communicates that the brand is trustworthy and positions the associated company as an expert in their field.

• Brainstorm “pain points” in your field. What are common problems your audience has?
• Write a list of ways to provide free value that helps resolve these pain points.
• BONUS: Use one of these to get more information on your audience (i.e. encourage them to subscribe to your YouTube channel or blog).

5. Improper Product Packaging

The largest potential client base companies have to tap into are previous clients. A great way to take a one-time client and turn them into repeated business is through packaging products and services that make an audience feel as though they are getting a great deal by working long-term with the company.

There’s a very good reason why so many companies have, and continue to use, reward punch cards. Everyone loves feeling as though they have received a great deal. Whether a frequenter of a coffee shop gets their 6^th coffee free or a multimillion-dollar company negotiates a discount for the implementation of a new software system, a good deal is one that is harder to pass up than just a good product.

The way to create the perception of a good deal is through packaging. Instead of selling a product or service that assists a singular time, creating the option to purchase a package of multiple products, or a lengthier period of services provided at a discounted rate can take a small customer and make them a reliable client.

Allowing an audience to feel as though they are able to take advantage of the company by purchasing a packaged deal at a discount helps give an added push to those who are teetering between two competitors.

• Write out a list of services or products provided on your website.
• Think about what “punch card prize” you can offer when your audience purchases bundled offers. A free consultation? A percentage off?
• Scale bundles and offerings to help convert the big clients to even bigger clients.

Final Thoughts on Conversion Rates

No longer are the days of remaining relevant simply by having a flashy website. While making these changes to your website may not be difficult, developing a webpage that converts is a process that requires intentional forethought and a serious analysis of what your audience’s needs are. However, with a little tweaking, a website that converts an interested audience to sales and subscriptions is well within reach.

About the Author

Hey there! My name is Lucas Eckerley.

I specialize in online course development, longform copywriting, and web copy creation.

Interested in scheduling a meeting with me? Click here