When I first heard about AI-powered blog writing tools, I’ll admit — I was sceptical. Could AI really help with something as personal and creative as writing? I decided to give it a proper go, testing tools like Jasper and Copy.ai on real client work and my own blog. In this post, I’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and my honest take on using AI for blogging.
My goals for trying AI blog writing tools
I didn’t go into this looking to replace myself — I love writing. But as a freelancer juggling multiple projects, I wanted to see if AI could:
- Help me draft faster
- Give me fresh ideas when I hit a wall
- Make editing less of a slog
- Save mental energy for the parts of writing I enjoy most
The tools I tested
Jasper
Great for long-form content. I used it for blog intros, outlines, and expanding sections. Jasper’s templates were helpful when I wasn’t sure where to start. I also tried its “Boss Mode” for generating full drafts — mixed results, but interesting to test.
Copy.ai
Brilliant for snappy headlines, meta descriptions, and social post snippets to promote blogs. Quick and easy to use. I found its tone options (e.g., witty, professional) fun to experiment with.
👉 Pro tip: Both tools need strong input — vague prompts = vague results. The clearer you are, the better the output.
What worked for me
✅ Getting unstuck: When I hit writer’s block, AI gave me enough of a spark to get going again. It’s like brainstorming with a non-judgemental buddy.
✅ Speeding up outlines: Jasper’s blog post outline feature helped me structure posts faster. For larger client pieces, this was a huge win.
✅ Drafting intros and conclusions: AI often nailed the “getting started” bit that I sometimes overthink.
✅ Social captions: Copy.ai was a lifesaver when I needed quick post ideas to promote a blog.
✅ Idea generation: Even if I didn’t use the exact phrasing, AI suggestions sparked directions I might not have considered.
✅ Rewriting tricky sentences: Sometimes I’d paste in an awkward sentence and ask AI to rephrase it — usually a big help.
What didn’t work as well
❌ Tone matching: No tool truly captured my voice. I had to spend time editing so posts still sounded like me.
❌ Fact-checking: Sometimes AI inserted stats or claims that weren’t accurate — always double-check!
❌ Originality: AI outputs can feel generic if you don’t put your stamp on them. You still need to bring the magic.
❌ Over-reliance risk: It’s tempting to let AI do too much, but posts feel soulless if you don’t stay hands-on.
Lessons learned along the way
I realised that the more effort I put into the prompt, the better the result. AI isn’t about clicking a button and getting magic — it’s about guiding the tool. I also found that AI is brilliant for the parts of writing I sometimes dread: outlining, coming up with variations, and polishing tricky sections.
The biggest surprise? How useful AI was for SEO tasks. Both Jasper and Copy.ai helped generate meta descriptions and alt text suggestions that saved me time and improved on what I’d have written in a rush.
How I’ll use AI blog writing tools going forward
I won’t let AI write my whole post — that’s not what I want, and it’s not what my clients expect. But I will:
- Use AI to speed up outlines and structure
- Draft intros and conclusions when I’m stuck
- Generate social and SEO assets faster
- Brainstorm headline ideas
Ultimately, AI is another tool in my kit — not a replacement for my skills.
Final verdict
AI blog writing tools aren’t a magic solution, but they’re fantastic assistants. They helped me work faster, break through blocks, and tackle parts of the writing process I sometimes dread. Just remember — your voice is what makes your content stand out. AI can help shape it, but it can’t replace it.
If you’re curious, I recommend trying a free plan or trial and experimenting. The key is to stay in control — let AI help, but make sure your voice stays front and centre.
