How to Write Blog Posts with an Authentic Human Touch to Stand Out in the Age of AI
Find out how to make your blog post special in the eyes of your readers. This post is an example of such a blog post to help you create your own.
Check it out!
I can’t believe I’m writing a guide to help people make their blog posts sound more human. A decade ago, writing about this wasn’t necessary!
But indeed, things have really changed, thanks to AI, and now this posts like this are needed to help people write content that humans actually want to read.
Let me share my best tips for writing blog posts that stand out in a sea of AI-generated junk.
Hi! It’s Eljon and I want to welcome you to my blog, Explore to Thrive.
Here, I share my experiences with traveling, reflections on spirituality, personal growth and insights on building an online business, all to make a difference.
But my mission goes beyond that. You can learn more about what I do by visiting my homepage or by subscribing to my newsletter.
Publishing Blog Posts That AI Can’t Write
When generative AI was invented, I knew the blogging industry would inevitably change.
My initial reaction?
I quickly shifted away from blog posts that AI could easily copy, like listicles, pros and cons, comparisons, general Q&A, roundups, or any post that doesn’t need much nuance, context, or personal experience.
In the travel industry, where I mostly focused, I decided to work on topics that AI can’t accurately create.
For example, DIY walking tours, itineraries, photography spots, or anything that requires navigational skills, spatial awareness, a sense of time, or even physical orientation.
Give it a shot, ask an AI to craft something that showcases those skills, and you’ll likely get a laugh out of it.
Last time I checked, generative AI can write those articles, but its suggestions are wild!
It suggested a day trip from a city that’s 3 hours away, even though there’s a better attraction just 1 hour away.
I feel bad for readers who might get misled by AI.
If you’re wondering about other types of blog posts that AI can’t write, I can think of personal stories, opinion pieces, personalized reviews, fitness journeys, small business journeys, behind-the-scenes posts, firsthand historical accounts, interviews, and more.
In general terms, blog posts that AI struggles to write effectively are those that heavily rely on personal insights, experiences, and emotions.
These posts require a unique human touch, creativity, and authenticity.
Write Blog Posts with Human Touch to Build an Audience
Unfortunately, all my hard work to tackle AI challenges didn’t matter when Google released a sketchy algorithm update that hit thousands of blogs, including mine.
That update slashed my traffic by 90%. You can read my full story here.
I did everything I could to recover my old blogs affected by the updates, but it all ended in vain.
However, it taught me one important lesson: the importance of owning an audience, whether it’s by psychological (brand followers) or directly through email.
Owning an audience or building a community means freedom from any algorithm and thus more stable business operations in the long term.
That’s why now, I’m putting in extra effort to connect with my readers. I want every piece of content I publish to attract them to join my community.
How am I planning to do it? By sounding like Reddit! Or simply, by being authentic and real to the readers in my blog posts.
Nobody wants to talk to a machine, right? We all know how frustrating it is when AI answers our chat with customer support!
If I want to connect with people, I should write like a human.
Here, we can obviously see the importance of writing a blog post with authentic human touch.
Essential Tips for Writing Blog Post with Human Touch
If you’re a content creator looking for a post that connects with people, written by a human for humans, you’re reading one right now! It might not be perfect, but since you’re down here, it means something…
When writing this post, though, I kept a few things in mind to maintain its authentic human touch. You can find them in my seven pieces of advice below.
If you’re aiming to produce content that doesn’t sound robotic, these tips will surely help. I’ve also included some advice on building a community or audience.
First, Use a Conversational Tone
Write like you’re talking directly to the reader.
Use ‘I,’ ‘you,’ and ‘we’ to keep the language natural and approachable. This creates a friendly, personal connection.
Use more first-person pronouns to make the content feel more intimate and personal, as if you’re sharing something with a friend. It will help foster a deep connection with your readers.
Second, Engage with Your Readers
Ask questions and encourage interactions.
AI-written blog posts lack questions because AI or LLMs (Large Language Models) don’t have brains. It’s our brains that make us curious and ask questions.
So, if you want readers to know that what they’re reading is written by a human, you know what to do!
Third, Share Personal Stories and Experiences
This is the most important piece of advice. It’s our human experiences that connect us with our readers.
Our stories, whether they’re long or short, good or bad, lame or cool, corny or funny, should be present in every blog post.
Most importantly, the vulnerability and authenticity we show when we share our experiences build trust, encouraging readers to come back or even join our community.
Fourth, Be Transparent and Honest
While sharing our successes and victories shows our credibility, it’s by revealing our challenges, mistakes, and failures that we gain trust.
Let me ask you: do you trust someone who seems too good to be true? I don’t, and most people don’t trust those ‘perfect’ individuals either.
Fifth, Infuse Humor and Emotion
I’d be totally mind-blown if ChatGPT randomly cracked a joke about a serious topic I’m discussing to lighten the mood!
Sharing our humor and emotions shows our personality, which can really attract some readers.
It has the potential to gain subscribers and encourage people to join the community!
Sixth, Avoid Jargons and Overly Technical Language
People visit blogs to read stories, experiences, and opinions, not a digitized textbook about Laplace transforms, regions of convergence, or Heaviside functions.
If we want to build an audience, let’s not scare them away with words that make them feel like they’re taking a licensure exam.
(By the way, these jargon terms are from my engineering math classes in college and have nothing to do with writing blog posts!)
Also, using language that suits our readers is a skill only humans have. It shows we understand our audience, something AI can’t do.
Lastly, Show Your Passion and Enthusiasm.
Can you think of things that instantly connect humans? Hint: it’s not the unlimited knowledge from any AI tool.
I think our shared experiences, causes, and passion are key to building relationships. But in my experience, passion carries the most weight.
Did you know I met my best friend because we both love mountains? It’s just amazing.
So, if you want to connect with your readers, don’t be afraid to show your passion. Share your insights, opinions, examples, little details, or those things that you keep in your heart!
Bonus: Use Media, Social Proof, and More
Besides just the text, don’t forget about other elements that add authenticity and a personal touch to our blog post: photos, videos, or even GIFs that show the person behind the blog.
If possible, mention our social accounts, newsletters, and projects we’re working on.
These show that we’re real people sharing our passion or trying to help others.
Final Thoughts
To wrap it up, the key to creating an authentic blog post that stands out in a sea of generic and AI content is simple:
“Just be your real self when you write and always have the genuine intention to help.”
It’s the complete opposite of spam (fake and deceptive) so I can promise this approach will never fail.
Since I know it always helps my blog posts succeed, it’s one the things I check during my pre-publish phase.
However, this isn’t the only thing I look at before publishing. I’ve got a few more checks, and you can find them in my 10-step pre-publish checklist.
It’s what I use to make my posts reader-friendly and convince readers to join my community or become loyal followers.
Feel free to use it if that’s your blogging goal too!
Thank you for reading
I hope my insights and experiences inspire you to start building your own online business. Before you leave, if you haven’t already, check out my home page to learn more about my journey as a creator. Come join me!
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