AI is everywhere. It’s writing blogs, crafting product descriptions, and answering customer queries – chances are, you’ve read your fair share of AI-generated content today already! However, while AI tools can be clever and convenient, the content they write can’t connect with your audience the same way humanised content can.
With the digital world being shaped by algorithms, automation and auto-generated everything, humanised content is what will help your brand stand out. It’s what makes people read to the end, trust what you’re saying, and come back for more.
So, how do you keep your content feeling human when everyone’s turning to machines? In this blog post, Blank Slate Digital explains how to humanise your content in the age of AI.
What does the term ‘humanised content’ mean?
Humanised content is pretty self-explanatory – it essentially means that it reads like it was written by a human. However, it’s not just about the tone or style of your content. Humanised content should tap into real human thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
As AI-generated content can’t yet grasp the nuances of how people actually talk, there are a few tell-tale signs that your content has been written by a human. These include:
- A sense of personality
- Opinions or original takes
- Personal or even professional experiences
- Emotive or empathetic writing
- A clear, consistent voice
This doesn’t necessarily mean that all humanised content is informal and chatty (although that can be used to great effect where necessary!) Ultimately, humanised content will always feel more authentic than AI-written pieces.
Why does humanised content matter?
There are two key reasons humanised content matters. The first is the fact that your readers will be able to tell the difference.
The internet is full of AI-generated noise, and it’s only getting louder and louder. Most critiques of AI-generated content describe it as bland, repetitive, and unoriginal – all of which will put your audience off. However, well–written humanised content will do the opposite.
Humanised content is much more likely to increase trust, build relationships with the audience, and show that your brand understands its readers. You should engage your audience by reflecting human experiences in your content, using storytelling and conversational language to hook the reader and generate an emotional response.
The second reason humanised content matters is EEAT.
Featured in Google’s Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines, EEAT is their method of assessing content quality. While EEAT isn’t a direct SEO ranking factor in the way keywords or backlinks are, it heavily influences how trustworthy and high-quality your content appears to algorithms and human readers. Here’s what EEAT stands for:
- Experience – Has the author actually done what they’re writing about?
- Expertise – Do they have credible knowledge or qualifications?
- Authoritativeness – Is the website a known source of trustworthy information?
- Trustworthiness – Is the content accurate, honest, and transparent?
Trust starts with the human element. For example, if you’re writing a blog about changing a car tyre, having first-hand experience (and saying so!) makes it more trustworthy than generic instructions written by a bot.
Overall, the more your content sounds like a human, the more likely people are to believe, engage, and convert.
What are the pros and cons of AI content?
Despite all the controversy, AI can be a useful tool to have when writing content – but only when used appropriately. Many content marketers use AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Claude AI, for the following:
- Generating topic ideas
- Outlining blog structures
- Proof-reading
- Automating low-stakes copy (such as metadata and alt tags)
However, as mentioned earlier, AI doesn’t understand the nuances of human emotions – such as empathy, sensitivity, or humour. It also doesn’t understand your brand persona or your audience – it can only guess what it’s been trained on. Plus, if you want fresh ideas or a strong point of view, you’ll need a human for that.
While AI can be helpful, it shouldn’t be your main voice. It should guide your creative output – not replace it.
How to humanise your content
If you want your content to rank and resonate, consider incorporating the following elements:
Develop a consistent tone of voice
Avoid sounding like a copy-paste job by developing a consistent tone of voice that reflects your brand’s personality, and make sure it runs through all your content – whether it’s a blog, a LinkedIn post, or a service page.
Use insights from real people
AI can mimic tone, but it can’t replace genuine perspective. Bring in quotes, insights, or anecdotes from real team members, clients, or subject matter experts. Include names, roles, and context where possible as it helps show that your content is grounded in actual experience, not scraped summaries.
Share your sources
Whether you’re sharing stats, tips, or industry trends, always back it up with trustworthy sources. Link to original studies, reputable publications, or first-hand data. You could also include a line or two explaining why that data matters to include a ‘human’ interpretation.
Add authorship and accountability
Credit individual authors, add bios where relevant, and include links to their work or social profiles. This builds authority and lets readers know there’s a real human behind the words, not just an AI with a decent prompt.
Add original value
Ask yourself: “What is this content adding to the conversation?” If it’s just rehashing the top-ranking results on Google, it’s probably not enough. Include interviews, case studies, data, or unique insights to elevate it.
Choose a watertight content strategy for your business with Blank Slate Digital
At Blank Slate Digital, we help businesses create content that balances smart strategy with a human touch. Whether you’re using AI tools, in-house writers, or a bit of both, we’ll help you craft a content strategy that connects and ranks on the SERP. Get in touch today and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.
