How to Use AI to Write Emails That Aren’t Generic

I’m sure you see them flooding your inbox…

AI-written emails that feel… well, soulless. They’re polished but painfully generic. They sound like they could be from any brand, to any person, about any offer.

And here’s the thing: your audience can feel that.

If your emails don’t sound like you or connect with your ideal buyer’s actual thoughts and desires, they’ll skip right over them.

But AI doesn’t have to be the enemy here. In fact, when used the right way, it can help you write more engaging, more personalised, and more strategic emails—in a fraction of the time.

In this post, I’ll show you how to use AI to write emails that feel human, build trust, and actually convert.

You’ll learn:

1. The biggest mistakes people make with AI (and how to avoid them).
2. The exact prompt formulas I use to get outputs that are 80% there.
3. How to train AI to write in your voice, so you spend less time editing.
4. Ways to inject personality and storytelling into your emails.
5. Real examples you can swipe and start using today.

Let’s dive in.

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1. Start with strategy, not prompts

Most people jump straight into ChatGPT or their favourite AI tool and type something like:

“Write a welcome email for my business.”

Then they’re disappointed when the output is bland.

Here’s the truth: AI can’t create a strong strategy for you. That part has to come from you.

Before you even think about opening an AI tool, you need to know:

• Who you’re talking to (your ideal customer’s pain points, desires, objections, and the language they use).
• Why you’re emailing them (what’s the purpose of this specific email or sequence?).
• Where they are in their journey (brand-new lead, warm prospect, or long-time buyer?).

If you skip this step, no amount of tweaking prompts will fix the output.

Example:

If you’re writing a nurture email, the strategy might be:

• Audience: People who downloaded your free guide on growing their coaching business.
• Purpose: Build trust and move them toward booking a discovery call.
• Key message: Show them the one mistake holding them back and offer a simple fix.

Now, when you go to write or prompt AI, you’re not starting from zero—you have a clear direction.

Pro tip: Create a quick “email strategy doc” with 3-4 bullet points before writing each email. It’ll save you hours of editing later.

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2. Give AI context like you’d brief a copywriter

Think of AI as your assistant. If you wouldn’t hand a human copywriter a one-liner and expect brilliance, don’t do it with AI either.

Instead of:

“Write a sales email for my online course.”

Try:

“I help course creators who feel overwhelmed by launching create a simple evergreen funnel. This email will go to subscribers who downloaded my free Course Launch Roadmap 3 days ago. The goal is to invite them to buy my $7 Course Launch Planner. They’re busy and easily distracted, so the tone needs to be warm, direct, and encouraging. Use short sentences and make the transformation clear.”

See the difference? The second prompt gives context about:

• Audience: who the email is for
• Offer: what you’re selling or sharing
• Timing: where they are in your funnel
• Tone: how you want it to sound

Prompt template:

I help [describe your audience] who are struggling with [problem]. This email is for [segment of audience] and the goal is to [outcome]. Use a [tone] tone, with [style notes like short sentences, humour, or storytelling]. Include a strong call-to-action for [offer].  

You’ll be amazed at how much better your output becomes when you add this level of detail.

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3. Use AI to get your thoughts on the page, not as the final draft

One of the biggest mistakes I see is treating the AI output as “done.”

The first draft is just a starting point.

Here’s how I use AI in my own business:

1. Draft the structure: I’ll ask AI to outline the key points I need to hit in the email (CTA, main message, objections to overcome).
2. Generate options: I’ll have it write multiple subject line variations, hooks, or CTAs.
3. Edit ruthlessly: I rewrite sections to sound like me, inject personality, add stories, and tighten the flow.

Example:

• AI draft hook:

“Do you want to grow your business faster?”

• My edit:

“Last Tuesday, I had one of those coffee-spill moments. My toddler knocked my laptop clean off the table… and in the middle of that chaos, I realised something: this system was still making sales for me.”

The first is generic. The second hooks my audience with a relatable story and sets up the lesson.

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4. Add personality and specifics

AI tends to write in safe, vague language. Your job is to make it specific and yours.

Here’s how:

• Swap generic phrases for concrete examples. Instead of “grow your business,” write “book 5 more clients this month.”
• Inject your quirks. Do you use emojis? Short, punchy sentences? Humour? Add it in.
• Reference real stories or experiences. AI can’t make these up, but you can.

Example:
AI might write:

“This tool will save you time and help you make more money.”

You could edit it to:

“I built this tool because I was spending hours rewriting the same emails over and over again (while my toddler tried to climb on my keyboard). Now it saves me 4+ hours a week and helps me sell my $197 course on autopilot.”

Much more relatable, right?

Prompt to inject specifics:

Rewrite this email with specific examples and stories from my business. Make it feel personal and avoid generic phrases.  

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5. Train AI to sound like you

If you use AI regularly, don’t start from scratch each time. You can “train” it on your style:

• Feed it examples of your past emails and ask it to analyse your tone.
• Save a style guide prompt with notes like: “I use short sentences, I’m warm but direct, I use real-life examples, and I avoid hypey language.”
• Use the same prompt framework every time so it learns your preferences.

Style guide prompt example:

Here are 5 examples of my past emails: [paste examples]. Analyse the tone, sentence structure, and vocabulary I use. Create a style guide I can use in future prompts.  

The next time you write, you can say:

Using my style guide, write a nurture email for [topic].  

This consistency will make the AI’s output closer to your natural voice (and save you editing time).

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6. Swipe prompts for different types of emails

To make this even easier, here are some ready-to-use prompt templates:

Welcome email:

Write a welcome email for new subscribers who downloaded my [freebie]. My audience is [describe audience] and they struggle with [problem]. The goal is to build trust and set expectations for my emails. Use a warm and encouraging tone.  

Sales email:

Write a sales email inviting my subscribers to buy [offer]. They’re currently feeling [problem/emotion] and the offer will help them achieve [result]. Use short, punchy sentences and include a clear call-to-action.  

Nurture email:

Write a value-packed email teaching [topic] in 3 simple steps. The audience is [describe audience] and the tone should be conversational and friendly.  

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7. Keep the goal front and centre

At the end of the day, your email isn’t about you or AI—it’s about your reader.

Before you hit send, ask:

• Does this email genuinely help my subscriber or move them closer to a decision?
• Is the call-to-action crystal clear?
• Would I be excited to open this if it landed in my own inbox?

If the answer is no, keep tweaking.

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Final thoughts

AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not a magic bullet.

When you combine it with a clear strategy, strong inputs, and your unique voice, it can help you write emails that build trust, nurture relationships, and drive sales—without spending hours staring at a blinking cursor.

Use AI for what it does best: breaking through blank-page syndrome and giving you options. Then add your expertise and personality to turn it into something your subscribers actually want to read.

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Want to shortcut this process?

If you’re tired of staring at a blank screen or wondering if your prompts are “good enough,” my 52 AI Email Prompts make this whole process 10x easier.

Each one is based on the exact frameworks I’ve used for 7+ years as a conversion copywriter, so you can write emails that connect and convert in minutes.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• 52 proven email frameworks that work for nurture, sales, welcome, and re-engagement.
• Matching AI prompts so you can plug in your details and customise in your voice.
• Done-for-you subject lines and personalisation tips for every email.

👉 Check out the prompts here.

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Next steps:

• Save this post for future reference.
• Swipe the prompt templates and test them with your next email.
• If you want the shortcut, grab the 52 AI Email Prompts and never write from scratch again.

Your subscribers (and your future self) will thank you.