There are plenty of creative AI applications for writing—from emails to thank-you notes. But generative AI really shines when it comes to the unique needs of content marketing, especially with an extra emphasis on titles, which influence clicks, SEO, and social sharing. That’s why AI titles are so effective; AI can synthesize all these solutions in just a few seconds.
Below, we explain how to effectively use AI for content titles. We’ll share what to do for beginners and then give some more advanced tips on enhancing titles with AI.
What are AI titles?
AI titles are any titles created by generative AI, such as Grammarly. Rather than replace the task of writing titles on your own, AI can augment your writing process by inspiring new ideas and helping you improve phrasing.
Why titles are crucial in content strategy
In all writing, titles are important for both generating interest and explaining the content. A “catchy title” can attract attention and make people curious, increasing the chances that they’ll read the rest of the work.
Those goals are similar in content writing—a catchy title is necessary to get clicks in search results or social media feeds—but there’s also a few more. When writing for websites, you also have to consider SEO keywords because search algorithms favor keywords more if they’re placed in titles.
In content marketing, you have to write titles that people feel compelled to click on when they appear in social media or other sharing platforms. Clickbait titles take this strategy to the extreme, but in general, titles with a hook, mystery, or astonishing fact get more interactions and visits.
Content strategy with AI and SEO optimization
AI copywriting is one of the best uses for generative text, as copywriting on a whole is somewhat technical and doesn’t always require the “human” element AI lacks. AI blogging is also becoming popular, although the challenges with AI become more apparent with longer-form texts.
At this stage in the development of AI, it’s best to use generative text for ideas and drafts, but don’t expect ready-made writing out of the box. AI still suffers from a distinct mechanical voice, not to mention that it commonly makes factual errors because it can’t distinguish truth from fiction when scanning online.
That said, AI can be useful for assistive tasks in writing: brainstorming ideas, suggesting words or phrases, outlining, and composing rough drafts. You are free to use specific word choices or phrases from AI, but copying entire sentences is still considered plagiarism.
How to use AI for content titles
All AI writing tasks begin with a prompt. AI prompts are written commands you type into the AI text window to tell it what to do.
Write a title for a biography about Grandma Moses.
Prompts work better when they’re detailed; AI won’t include anything you don’t mention, so be sure to include everything you need. It’s best to detail all your instructions in a single message, as most AI treat different messages as separate sessions.
Write a title for a biography about Grandma Moses with fewer than 70 characters. Mention the phrase “folk art.”
AI is designed to understand plain, conversational language, so feel free to talk to it like you would a friend or colleague. If you don’t like the first results, you can always rephrase your prompt and try again.
Enhancing titles with AI in digital marketing: 4 tips
1 Request a list of AI-generated titles
Because AI doesn’t always get it right the first time, try requesting a list of AI-generated titles instead of just one. This gives you a few different options to choose from, so you can browse and pick your favorite, or even combine parts from different options. All you have to do is say something like “a list of ten” in your prompt.
2 Mention SEO keywords in the prompt
With AI for digital marketing, it’s best to mention your chosen keywords directly in the prompt. Your SEO research might come up with different target keywords than the AI’s research, so just ask the AI to use yours instead of risking competitive strategies. This also ensures consistency with the other pages and articles on your site, creating a stronger, more unified SEO strategy.
3 Use AI tools for bloggers
While many AI tools exist, they’re not all designed the same. Find one that specializes in writing, such as Grammarly; AI writing tools better understand the nuances of sentence structure and voice. Be sure to use one that understands grammar and spelling, too, because you might miss some errors if you proofread it yourself.
4 Always check the grammar and formatting
Different academic formats like APA, MLA, and Chicago each use different guidelines for titles. In particular, the rules for capitalization in titles or quotation marks in titles might be different. Although you can specify which format you’re using in your prompt, it’s best to double-check from another source that the AI title is correct for the format you’re using.
AI titles FAQ
What are AI titles?
AI titles are any titles created by a generative AI tool, like Grammarly. AI-driven title suggestions are great for inspiring new ideas and improving your phrasing.
How can you use AI-driven title suggestions?
Because AI doesn’t always get it right the first time, try requesting a list when asking for AI-generated titles. This gives you a few different options to choose from, so you can browse and choose your favorite, or even combine parts from different options. You are free to use specific word choices or phrases from AI, but copying entire sentences is still plagiarism; it’s important to cite your source, even if it’s a generative AI tool.
What are some tips for enhancing titles with AI in digital marketing?
Aside from requesting lists for multiple options, the prompt should also mention other details like specific words, phrases, or SEO keywords you want included in the title. Also double-check AI-generated titles for errors in spelling, grammar, or formatting.
