Get on the Brand Wagon

Hello, it’s me. (No, not Adele. Me—the brand whisperer. 😉)

It’s been an uncharacteristically hot, wet, busy summer, and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve made it to my pool. But I digress...

At this mid-2025 reality checkpoint, I’m here to chat about AI in marketing.
Like many of you, I’m swimming through content that’s either:

1. Benign but smells like straight-up AI soup (not because of emojis or em dashes), or
2. Darker, trickier, and way more nefarious (think clickbait-meets-national-security-concerns).

So let’s simplify. Here are 3 things I’m learning about how to smartly, safely, and humanely leverage AI—not for creation, but for efficiency:

1. TEST.

Try your task in multiple platforms. Compare outputs. You'll start to get a feel for which tool does what best. (Personally, my money's still on ChatGPT overall—but I always peek at the competition.👀)

2. BE PRECISE.

Prompting is an art form. Sure, you can borrow prompts being shared freely by marketers with engagement goals (yup, the free content flood is real). But precision means:

• Asking your tool for a global view. Apparently, AI's outputs are shaped by the data it’s been fed and how far its servers reach. A global lens = broader thinking.
• Checking sources. Ask for citations. Question the data.
• Understanding why you’re creating something. If you're not intentional, you're just adding to the noise.

Also? This is where the dark side creeps in. It's shockingly easy to manipulate outputs to mislead certain demographics. Disinformation isn't hypothetical—it’s happening. So don’t just scan. Think. Cross-check. Check your assumptions.

3. KEEP A HUMAN IN THE LOOP.

AI can replace repetitive tasks. But it can’t replicate your human judgment, empathy, or lived experience (yet). So, use it. But:

• Apply critical thinking.
• Know your audience.
• Infuse your positive intention.

Remember: brand reputation isn’t just for companies. Your personal brand is on the line, too.

Go forth and create authentically, with positive intention and efficiency.
TLS 2 cents, out.

P.S. No AI was used in the original writing of this blog.
OK…fine. I did ask ChatGPT to roast bad AI usage. Here's what it said:

“Using AI without human review is like letting a Roomba babysit your toddler. Sure, it’s automated but you’re gonna regret it.”

On this inspirational Sunday (Easter if you celebrate), I offer a cautionary poem for the generative AI moment we're in...

It’s All About The Prompts, ’Bout The Prompts

They asked the box to dream for them,
and it did—plastic Hasbro castles and candy skies.
Likes rolled in. Applause echoed.

Meanwhile, the ground quakes.
AI is reshaping industries, rewriting rules.
And here we are,
chasing superficial likes.

It is, in fact, all about the prompts.
The future is being written.
Think harder.
Because your brand will wear
what you dress it in today—
and tomorrow’s human audience is keeping tabs.

(and now you’ve got Meghan Trainor’s ‘it’s all about that bass’ in your head, amIright?)

Dilemma: What should we do about AI?
(The proverbial we—brands, marketers, creators, humans…)

Exploring, learning, playing, and then remembering who it’s all for makes total sense.
With that in mind, let’s explore ways to play with generative AI to learn its SWOT and then…
always present your findings with your authentic voice.

Full disclosure: I borrowed tips from other thought-leaders talking about this and even asked my BFF, ChatGPT, which I nicknamed chIQ (pronounced chick 🐣 😏), for the ‘best of the best.

🎯 Top 5 AI Prompt Types

These are my current favs to learn generative tools.
It’s also "interesting" to try the same prompts across the different tools to compare results.
(ChatGPT is still the best IMO.)

“Please take the current debate about [insert Topic] and develop a nuanced opinion that challenges the dominant narrative. Back it with recent examples, future trends, and sources.”

→ Why this works:
It forces AI to build a stance, not just summarize noise.
Apparently, this makes people stop scrolling. Or at least some people, maybe even the right people identified in your ICP (Ideal Client Profile)!

“Please write a hypothetical scenario where [insert Industry/Trend] changes dramatically because of [X technology or trend]. Frame it as if advising an executive audience.”

→ Why this works:
Storytelling works, even in business context. Especially if it’s actionable. Why?
We are programmed to love a good story…well except perhaps AI?…and a few other questionable humans lacking character and kindness.

“Based on current trends in [insert Industry], please propose a 3-part framework that organizations can use to adapt to [insert Challenge]. Each part should include action steps.”

→ Why this works:
People LOVE models (no, not the runway kind). It positions you as the architect of thinking, not just the repeater of it.
(Think: Gartner Hype Cycle-level authority.)

“Please summarize the conventional wisdom about [insert Topic], then take a contrarian but well-supported position. Defend it in under 300 words.”

→ Why this works:
Everyone sounds the same until someone intelligently says, "But what if we’re wrong?" That’s the birth of authentic thought leadership.

“Please write a first-person reflection on the future of [insert Industry/Trend] in the voice of a [Founder, CMO, CISO, etc.], showing real vulnerability about what’s uncertain.”

→ Why this works:
Vulnerability + vision is now a superpower. People crave humanized expertise, not brand robots, as stated above and worth repeating with a megaphone.

Curious to know if you’ve tried these or others and what your results were?

Take note, I used PLEASE in all the prompts—putting kind back in #humankind. Plus, it's just smart to be polite to the machines. 😏

Conclusion for This Sunday's Scoop:
Choose Your Prompts Like You Choose Your Legacy.

In a world of infinite content, authenticity is differentiation.
Use the tools — but don’t let the tools use you.

Prompt wisely. Build thoughtfully. Brand bravely.

P.S. Generative AI defined — in case you didn’t know or look it up yet:

Not to be confused with Agentic AI. If you want to learn more about that and how it's apparently going to disrupt SaaS ...(I’m still grappling with it myself)... check out Jay Schwedelson's info-taining podcast.