AI & Adult Novelty Content: What You Need to Know

This blog is a transcript of my podcast episode, AI Copywriting Tools: What You Need to Know (Jan. '2023).

Head to my podcast, the Business of Pleasure: Uncovered to listen. here to listen.

In this podcast, I discussed the pros and cons of using AI software as a products-based business in the sex toy industry. This episode is geared towards adult retailers, manufacturers, and professional copywriters in the adult pleasure products space.

Included:

• My experience writing sex toy-specific content with more than one free ai copywriting tool
• Policy restrictions- what’s happening now and what to expect with ai copywriting tools 
• How AI copywriting will impact aspiring creative writers (and humanity in general)
• The difference between AI copywriting and emotional storytelling
• The things that AI will never replace

 I’ve spent the last 22 years as a professional copywriter + marketing content specialist, so you can bet that the threat of AI copywriting software had me trippin’ for a hot minute. If this is you too, I feel you!

When I said this podcast would include the occasional hot take, this is one of the topics that I was referring to. Artificial Intelligence copywriting tools like ChatGPT, Copy.AI, and Jasper.AI are shaking things up, following in the footsteps of AI artwork programs like Midjourney. Are you curious about the pros and cons of using AI copy as a products-based business, or copywriter in the sex toy industry? This spicy episode discusses the pros, cons, risks, and ethics of using AI copy programs for sex toy content marketing (and beyond).

Welcome back to the XXX - the podcast that shares insights, trends, tips, and the occasional hot take for the business of pleasure. This specific episode is going to give you a little bit of each!

JUST a warning, I am feeling really spicy about this topic….which is all about the ins and outs and everything you need to know. about Artificial Intelligence copywriting programs if you are a business in the sex toy industry.

This podcast is not just for pleasure products retailers and product manufacturers who are curious about AI copywriting programs - but specially for copywriters and marketing content creators like myself.

As someone who has been a writer my entire life, and has spent the last 22 years as a professional copywriter, you can bet that the thought of AI copywriting initially scared the shit out of me.

BUT…as a professional marketer, I also know that one of the most important components of effective, COMPELLING copy for a business or business owner is being able to connect with an audience using HUMAN EMOTION. Just an FYI….“Human” and “emotions” have nothing to do with artificial intelligence. I’ll touch more on that in a bit.

With that said I believe that AI will leverage the work that skilled writers produce - and how a business can stands out from their competition in the long run.

Please believe that intelligent consumers will be able to tell the difference between AI generated copy and copy that was written by a person who knows their shit. Don’t underestimate your audience.

How Generative AI Works

AI copywriting software mimics the techniques of a human copywriter. It generates new work using existing content and language processing tools.4

Most AI copywriting tools ask you to follow the same steps, which are:

• Input the topic of your content
• Tell it the type of copy that you need (blog article, sales landing page, social media post, etc.)
• Set parameters (like length and tone of voice)

Using this information, the tool will search the web for similar content. It uses this pre-existing content to create a whole new copywriting piece. AI may take a new approach to the topic – but since it creates the piece using existing content, it’s unable to create truly original work.4

If you are a products based business (like a manufacturer or a retailer) in the sex toy industry and you  still wondering how AI copy can work for you  - know that AI copy tools ARE LIMITED and restrictive in the SAME way that Meta’s advertising policies are for sexual wellness brands. Specifically, products that have anything to do with PLEASURE.

I first found COPY.AI several months ago and I first used it to generate a dating profile for my spouse. I was interested in seeing how accurate the copy would align after we entered his type of business, his style of humor, and a few other personal details.I was literally shocked at how accurate the result was, and we were laughing so hard over it!

I was definitely interested to see how this program could fare in terms of the writing that I do for a living - even though I knew that I felt out of my integrity for doing so.

Just some background— the type of content I write for myself and for clients in the sexual health space includes educational blogs, B2B OpEd articles, social media captions, product descriptions, persuasive sales copy, and press releases - the primary being social media content for people who are making and/or selling sexual wellness products.

At first, I tested COPY.AI and Jasper. AI  - and most recently, CHAT GPT, and what remains consistent with all of them is that they 99% of the time flag my keywords, topics and phrases relating to sexual health and wellness. Here are a few ACTUAL topics I have input over the last several months: 

• How to talk to your partner about using sex toys (or pleasure products, or intimate wellness products)
• How to stimulate the G-spot
• How sex toys can improve your relationship
• History of the penis chastity device
• Just to name a few. 

Some topics that DID work - but they generated copy that I would give a C, at best, include:

• Responsive vs. Spontaneous desire
• Date night ideas for couples and
• Condom safety tips

The policies for AI programs have yet to be clearly defined and I am sure some programs allow different keywords than others - but this has been my experience to date and I DO NOT see them getting any better.

We all know how long we have been battling the double standards of social media restrictions. You think some spiffy new AI programs are gonna be like “WE ARE SO ON BOARD WITH THIS!” sorry, no….expect a battle here, too.

I understand that there are a lot of small businesses - many sole owned and/or operated that wear many hats - including content creation. I know many small business owners - my clients included - have said that when it comes to copywriting. They don’t know what to say - especially for social media captions. The other common pain point that small businesses experience in regard to content creation is that they can’t afford to hire a content creator.

In that case, an AI copywriting tool might be helpful for you if you need a place to start, or if you need help with topic research. But really- your audience should be dictating your content topics, not artificial intelligence! A few other important questions to ask are:

• Do you know where these are magically generating content from?
• Do they have plagiarism checkers?
• How would I feel if my thoughtful copy was stolen and used without credit?
• What happens if the original author comes after you for plagiarism?
• Overall, Where is the integrity?

That is what I have to say for businesses and entrepreneurs who are considering these tools - but For my fellow copywriters who possess the gift of making magical content ON YOUR OWN, and for professionals who might feel threatened by the existence of AI copywriting tools, please keep in mind that AI will never be able to replace the following things:

1: AI copywriting will NOT replace the AUTHENTICITY that makes your voice, products, and services UNIQUE. When I say authenticity I mean the ability to STORYTELL - your personal experiences are what ultimately generate your target customers.

2: EMOTIONS, ENERGY, AND EMPATHY

Again, AI might be able to spit out some quick content, but going back to what I said in the beginning - emotions and energy are what ultimately sell products in the oversaturated and highly competitive market that is the sex toy industry.

3: INSPIRATION

Inspired, motivational sales copy and well-crafted storytelling is something that only a human can create. Believe me when I say, again, that your audience (especially intimate health and wellness consumers) WILL be able to tell the difference between some generic copy, and inspired copy.

4: a CONTENT MARKETING STRATEGY

Okay, so you are using an AI tool to write some marketing copy for you. Can it create an entire content marketing strategy for you? Nope.

5: SEO + keyword research

This applies to e-commerce and social media - since social media captions are also needing to be optimized these days. Keyword research is figuring out what words potential customers will type into a search engine, and a copywriting program doesn't have the capacity for something this complex. The program wouldn't know where to begin.

6: LANGUAGE + TONE: Despite asking for the tone of voice you want to emulate in your AI copy, these programs kick out an extremely tone-deaf, flat, or cheesy copy. Additionally, humans are constantly evolving different common phrases, slang words, and language variations. These programs are not suited to keep up.

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There are additional reasons that I strongly disagree with, as it relates to using AI for copywriting. A few are as follows:

1: It took me MORE TIME to patch together bits and pieces of AI-generated copy, edit it and get it to a decent place than it would have if I created original captions on my own. I found that Copy.AI made the process even more complicated, and added more time to my plate in the long run. Chat GPT spit out incomplete paragraphs and did not give me the option to locate a finished paragraph when it ran out of room.

2: I pride myself on being a creative individual. Copy AI tools will eventually dumb down humans, and minimize our creative potential. Why lean into the creative process when a robot can do the work for you? Ugh, that makes me so sad!

3: For sexual wellness businesses, even IF your keywords don’t get flagged or blocked, are you really going to invest your trust into a copywriting program that may or may not be providing accurate information for your audience? We are talking about private, personal and sometimes medical topics as they relate to sexual health, pleasure, physical anatomy, and things we PUT IN OUR BODIES. Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not rely on Artificial Intelligence to inform your audience. This is so risky - especially because, as I mentioned before, AI will generate less proactive behaviors - this includes fact-checking ACCURATE information. Content marketing needs exceptional content that a reader - AKA your existing and potential customers will constantly turn to for reliable sources and information. THAT is what makes you different and ultimately builds trust with your ideal customers. Do not risk spreading inaccurate, inconsistent information for the sake of your business credibility and other people’s health and well-being.

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So, to my fellow content creators… you can let go of the idea that copywriting will replace your gifted and talented abilities. Put that energy back into your work by stacking your skills and consistently improving your craft.