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This Prompting Mistake Makes AI Sound Generic (Fix It in 30 Seconds)
Learn the #1 prompt mistake that makes AI content sound boring—and the 30-second fix that instantly makes it smarter, sharper, and more brand-aligned. Real examples + voice frame templates included.
You’ve seen it before. You ask AI to write something—a blog post, an email, a list of ideas—and what you get back is… fine. Technically accurate. Logically structured. But also flat, generic, and completely forgettable.
The problem isn’t just the AI.
It’s how we prompt it.
Most people make one small mistake that leads to dull, cookie-cutter results—and the fix is surprisingly fast.
The #1 Prompting Mistake: No Voice Framing
Most people treat AI like a writer.
But they forget one thing real writers never skip: voice and tone.
When you say something like “write a blog post about content marketing,” you’re giving the AI zero personality to work with. That’s like handing someone a blank sheet and saying, “Paint me something”—with no color palette, no subject, no mood.
The result? Bland content that could’ve been written by anyone—or anything.
This happens constantly with prompts like:
“Write a LinkedIn post about AI.”
“Summarize this article.”
“Create 5 tips for productivity.”
They’re fine. But fine is forgettable.
The Fix: Add a Voice Frame
Here’s the trick: instead of jumping right into the topic, wrap your prompt in a voice frame. A voice frame is a short phrase that tells the AI how to sound, who it’s speaking like, or who it’s speaking to.
It doesn’t need to be long. Just clear.
Let’s compare:
Generic Prompt | Upgraded with Voice Frame |
|---|---|
“Write a blog post about burnout.” | “Write a blog post about burnout in a warm, honest tone—like a therapist talking to a friend.” |
“Summarize this article.” | “Summarize this article like a no-fluff consultant giving a 60-second pitch.” |
“Write a list of AI tools.” | “Make a list of AI tools like you're giving tips to a busy parent juggling work and kids.” |
The tone immediately shifts. The voice becomes specific.
And best of all—the results sound more like you.
Try These Voice Frames
Here’s a cheat sheet of voice directives you can copy-paste into your own prompts:
Use Case | Voice Frame Example |
|---|---|
LinkedIn Post | “Write like a witty, slightly jaded marketer who’s been in the game for 10+ years.” |
Email to Clients | “Use a friendly but direct tone, like a project manager updating a VIP client.” |
Blog Article | “Write in an educational, engaging tone—like you’re explaining it to your smart friend.” |
Explainer Script | “Sound like a calm expert teaching a beginner with no jargon or fluff.” |
You can also refer to famous voices if it helps:
“Like Brené Brown giving a TED Talk.”
“Like a NYT columnist with a sarcastic streak.”
“Like a YouTuber explaining this in under 60 seconds.”
Real-World Example: Before and After
Let’s walk through a practical case:
Prompt A (Generic):
“Write a LinkedIn post about how I use AI in my business.”
Output:
I use AI in my business to save time and improve productivity. There are many tools available today, and I’ve found them helpful for organizing tasks and automating processes.
Totally forgettable.
Prompt B (Upgraded):
“Write a LinkedIn post in a casual, first-person voice like a solopreneur sharing real advice with their community. Keep it short and human.”
Output:
I don’t use AI to write for me—I use it to clear my brain. Every morning, I drop my messy ideas into ChatGPT and have it turn them into outlines I can actually work with. 10 minutes, total game-changer.
Way more relatable. You’d actually stop and read that.
When to Use This
Use voice framing whenever you want AI to:
Match your brand tone
Sound more human
Stand out from generic content
Save time on rewrites
This is especially helpful for:
Newsletters
LinkedIn or social posts
Email sequences
Blog drafts
Sales pages
If you’re a freelancer, marketer, founder, or team lead, you can even build a Voice Bank—a short list of reusable voice frames for you, your clients, or your team.
Your 30-Second Prompt Makeover
Next time you write a prompt, take 30 seconds to ask yourself:
“Who’s saying this, and how should it sound?”
Then write that down as part of the prompt. That one line can save you five rounds of editing later.
✅ Final Thought
You don’t need more clever prompts.
You need clearer instructions.
Voice framing is one of the fastest ways to make AI sound like you. It’s not magic. It’s just good communication.
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