Beyond Robotic:

As AI content tools become more sophisticated, brands using email marketing need to strike a careful balance between convenience and authenticity. AI can churn out passable content - helping marketers produce more content than ever before - but it often lacks the relatable human voice that truly connects with readers. Bots can handle content quantity, but it's humans who ultimately control the quality.

Do your emails come across as robotic and impersonal? This guide explores how to craft email copy with more heart and personality - whether you write emails yourself or use AI tools.

The AI Authenticity Gap

AI has made content creation much easier. With one click, marketers can generate mounds of copy on any topic imaginable. However, this convenience comes at a cost. AI-generated text often sounds monotonous, impersonal, and repetitive. This is because large language models deliver information rigidly without nuance, emotion, or personality. For email marketers especially, this lack of humanity limits the ability to form emotional connections with readers and build lasting engagement.

Consumers have always valued authenticity. They're more likely to prefer businesses that communicate in a down-to-earth, genuine way over those that bombard them with frequent, impersonal messages.

That's why it's important for your email copy to sound human, not robotic. Using personality, humor, and authenticity in your writing can help build much deeper relationships with subscribers. Content that lacks humanity will never inspire or motivate readers; only authentic-sounding messages can truly encourage your audience to act.

Techniques to Humanize Your Copy

For those choosing to use AI tools as a starting point, there are plenty of ways to humanize the raw AI output through strategic rewriting:

Make It More Conversational

Rewrite stiff AI-generated word patterns in a more casual, conversational way. The goal is to give text the friendly vibe of spoken language. There are various techniques you can use:

• Use contractions: "Don't worry, we've got your order and we'll make sure it arrives with you in one to three business days."

• Use time references: "Don't forget about tomorrow's big product launch event!" 

• Ask rhetorical questions: "Bored of the same old advice? Check out our new blog - answering the questions you really want to know the answers to."

• Use second-person point of view: "We know you've been eagerly awaiting this new feature. It's finally here!"

• Use humor: "Whoops - we messed up on the sale end date. Get 24 more hours to save thanks to our calendar-challenged team!"

Make Your Brand Relatable

Did your team rally to help a client meet a tight deadline? Did you prioritize sustainability long before it was mainstream? Have your employees volunteered time to mentor students? Share these behind-the-scenes stories to help people relate to your brand on a more human level. Details like these show authenticity. They reveal real people, passion, and personality. Ditch the robotic language and let your team's humanity and uniqueness shine through.

Be More Transparent

Share relatable human experiences upfront to quickly grab the attention of readers. You can show vulnerability by revealing the challenges your business has faced, or even the failures. This helps to strengthen the relationship with your audience and gain their trust.

Add Creative Language

Try weaving in unexpected metaphors, descriptive phrases, idioms, and original wordplay. AI-generated text often comes across as clichéd or cookie-cutter. Tap into your creativity and unique self-expression. For example, instead of the mundane "Thank you for subscribing," go for something snappier like "Glad you decided to join the crew!"

Inject Your Personality

Don't be afraid to inject unique brand personality into your emails. Use quirky cultural references, amusing anecdotes, or inside jokes relevant to your niche. Stand out from competitors by sharing your stance on a trending news topic that reflects your values and those of your readers.

To humanize every email, use a real person's name in the signature, like "Best wishes, Sara Johnson." This personal touch resonates more than a generic team name.

Tighten Up the Email Structure and Flow

Keep emails short to give them more impact. Use a clear structure that's easy to follow and avoid long, rambling sentences full of fluff. Well-organized, tight writing is more engaging and memorable than bloated text.

Creating Content Without AI

Many of the techniques above apply even if you're writing original copy without using AI. Here are a few more tips for adding more personality to your emails:

• Write an outline first to organize your ideas. Stay focused on your reader, core message, and goals.

• Read your emails out loud to ensure they flow well and sound natural. 

• Enliven your writing with vivid details and examples.

• Use cultural references your audience will understand. 

• Be frank but considerate when expressing opinions.

• Vary sentence structure and paragraph length. 

• Avoid business jargon. 

• Use pop culture references readers will recognize.

• Occasionally break grammar "rules" purposefully for emphasis or wit. 

Add a Personal Touch Through Visuals

Thoughtfully chosen visuals can add personality and authenticity to email messages:

• Balance generic stock photos with raw, candid moments showing real people and emotions.

• Frequently showcase team members and let unique personalities shine. 

• Incorporate user-generated content by profiling loyal customers.

• Include employee testimonials or brand history videos to build trust. 

Ensure your visual content authentically reflects your organizational culture and values. Representing diversity in age, race, ability, and background helps attract broader audiences and builds credibility.

Stand Out with the Human Touch

In the age of AI, thoughtful, human-crafted email copy will win over consumers in the long run. Email subscribers want to know real people are behind the businesses they interact with. So rather than compete on content quantity, make your brand stand out with emails that sound human-written. Revealing your human side can differentiate you in a crowded market.