AI and Holiday Content: What Creators Need to Know (and How to Stay Human)
We are in the busiest marketing season of the year, and AI-generated content is more present than ever…
It’s allowing people to pump out more emails, more blogs, more social captions, more ads, more more more, and at record speed. We (and our audience) are being bombarded with a maximum amount of content because AI has made it easier than ever to simply create.
While AI can help with efficiency, holiday content is uniquely emotional and human. Something I have noticed is that a lot of holiday content I’m currently seeing is missing the humanness it used to have… even just last year. Audiences are still looking for warmth, not just well-placed keywords. Yes, those are important for the algorithm, but honestly, screw the algorithm at this time. You’re making content humans.
At the end of the day, AI still can’t replicate your voice, your empathy, or your nuance. And before you come at me, no, it can’t replicate your voice. What AI is doing right now is making a voice for people who don’t have one fleshed out. I’m not anti-AI. I do think there is a time and a place for it. It’s helpful for a number of things. But as a content writer, ghostwriter, and copy editor, I just believe that there are some areas where AI just doesn’t come near being able to do what humans can do.
Holiday content needs that personal touch, the emotional connection behind it. This time of year is historically hard for many people. Connection during this time is essential for many. Not just factory pump out content for the sake of making content.
Seasonal content is more than just selling—it’s about connection, gratitude, tradition and reflection. This is a season of slowing down, not mass-producing all forms of content, hoping to reach your year-end income goal. AI does a great job of promising speed, scaling, efficiency, and I get it. During the holidays, especially, that’s really appealing.
But what if “more” isn’t the goal?
Here’s the deal…
I’m not saying that AI is the enemy. I’m just saying, let’s slow down and consider our strategy. How can we use AI as a partner instead of the main character? It’s important to refine the tone, align the messaging with your brand’s values, add heart to your holiday message, and know what not to say. AI doesn’t have a heart, so sometimes it can accidentally say the wrong thing.
So, how can you humanize AI?
4 Ways To Humanize AI-Generated Holiday Content To Connect And Convert:
If you’re stuck on what to post, AI can be a great starting point. I ask for suggestions all the time. The key is to use that as an outline and do your own writing and revisions.
1. Add Personal or Brand Voice Anchors
AI is going to pump you out some generic copy. Even if you’ve trained it well, it’s still fairly generic, especially for holiday content that requires even more. Swap out generic phrases with your actual language. What words do you typically use? Are there certain phrases that you don’t usually say or you’d say differently? What language do you want to use specifically for your holiday content to connect more deeply with your audience?
Try adding in micro-stories or brand-specific anecdotes. AI can’t know every story in your brain; only you can know that. What small story can you add as an example in a certain post, even if it’s just “I do this all the time…”
If AI gives you, “Happy Holidays from Our Team to Yours,” try using “From our tiny team of big-hearted creatives, we’re sending warmth your way…” or “To all of my introverted digital marketing girlies trying to make the holidays magical for your family, this holiday wish is for you…”
Share simple joys from the season in your emails, for instance, “I love driving around the neighbourhood at night when all of the Christmas lights have turned on, and the Christmas trees are standing proud in the front windows of homes. Add a steaming up of hot apple cider, and that’s a recipe for being on my favourite things list.”
2. Edit for emotional timing and tone
Many AI tools misjudge emotional beats. It can only do so much, especially if things come up on particular days. For instance, AI might schedule an excited sales email for a day when something heavy happens, so changing the day, and the tone, is something you might need to do.
A big thing to keep an eye on is AI’s shifting tone that doesn’t match your regular voice or your seasonal vibe. Something I have found is that AI will be fairly consistent for a little while, but all of a sudden, the tone has completely shifted. Make sure you review and edit any emails or social posts. The last thing you want is for accidental weird wording or unmatching tones that your audience picks up. It doesn’t have to be perfect (even when we write everything ourselves, our voice is not always exactly the same, especially if you’re not a writer), but check for really obvious things.
If you use seasons greetings in everything, don’t let AI throw in a Happy Holidays, unless you’ve been mixing it up. If you want your holiday content to be warm and inviting, don’t have AI create an over-the-top, in-your-face sales email in the middle of the holidays. You can have a high-converting sales email that is warm and inviting.
3. Use inclusive and sensitive language
This is a really great tip for any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. Unless your brand is religious-specific, I would remove any mention of religious language. Something more generic often reads better. There are so many holidays that occur at this time of the year, and if your ideal audience has people of different holiday backgrounds included, using “season's greetings,” “holiday greetings,” “happy holidays,” or even “happy winter” can have a more safe and inclusive feel. Something generic like, “However/whatever you celebrate this season, we’re wishing you peace and rest during this time of joy and stillness.” That’s warm and offers sentiments to a variety of people that might be in your audience.
It’s also important to remember that there are different family structures and income levels. Being sensitive about this and not making assumptions in your holiday content can leave your audience with a better feeling toward your brand. If they feel judged or shamed because your copy made an assumption about their lifestyle or family, they may feel like your brand overall is not inclusive or accepting.
It’s also important to remember that at this time of year, many people are struggling. You don’t need to know why in order to acknowledge and create a safe space for them. Including something like “If this season is hard for you, we see you.”
The thing is, AI often won’t pick up on those nuances. If you ask it to write you a holiday message or a Christmas message, it will do exactly what you’ve asked for. Make sure you either give it clear instructions with do’s and don’t’s or you use what it gives you as a framework that you edit to use the right language and tone that you’re hoping for. Remember, to have empathy during this season, and the more you know the audience, the better your messages can be.
4. Slow the scroll with meaningful moments
This season can often feel rushed, pressure-filled, and a high-expectations time. Your job is to slow their scroll; stop them in their tracks. Use formatting and storytelling to create pause points in holiday rush content. While everyone is creating urgency, become the safe place where people can come to slow down and rest. You can still make plenty of sales and money even without the unnecessary urgency. I often say that we overuse perceived urgency in our sales content. People are always ready to buy something that they feel is worth it. Adding a countdown timer doesn’t always make people feel like the product is more or less worthy.
Add moments of reflection, gratitude and care. This is a season where people are looking for extra connection and special moments. There is so much promotion online, so your lovely, reflective holiday post might be the scroll interruptor someone needs. Just because it isn’t for conversion doesn’t mean it’s “useless.” It might end up helping your conversion rates in the long run.
How Digital Marketers can keep their holiday content human
First and foremost, use AI strategically, not as a crutch or in place of a copywriter/ghostwriter. Sure, you may think as a ghostwriter and content writer myself, I’m a little bit biased, but to be honest, I’m a little bit scared of how fast AI is taking over everything. It’s getting smarter and smarter, and it’s taking away people's critical thinking and creativity, ultimately leading to a loss of human connection. Not because I think it will take my job. Realistically, anyone who would rather use AI to write for them can go and do that because those are not my ideal clients.
Let AI assist you with outlines or brainstorming, but take the time to infuse your brand and tone, seasonal values, and personal language. AI shouldn’t become your brain. It’s for ease and efficiency, not for complete takeover. The actual information should come from your brain; it should be your genius. If you get all of your information from AI, then really, you don’t have any business selling it.
Add in real stories, your actual client experiences, or your personal “holiday reflections” that show your audience there is a real person behind the content. It’s you they want to buy from (not ChatGPT), so show them who you are, why you, what makes you uniquely qualified to support them and teach them?
Offer them more than just automation. Be intentional about how you engage with them, especially during the holiday season when loneliness is often more prevalent. Consider using blog posts or an email series that feel like conversations… not just campaigns. A great example of this is Maria Wendt. Yes, she is constantly selling things, but most of her emails are story-based and highly engaging. I genuinely love reading them and getting to know more about her and her life as a single mama to her daughter. It feels more like a conversation than just a bunch of emails being like, “Buy this–Buy that.”
Use AI responsibly and ethically. If you’re selling products, you should be the one selling.
Are you wanting to get started digital marketing this coming year with a content strategy made for introverts by an introvert?
Let me introduce The Introvert’s Edge strategy. It’s a content strategy specifically designed to use the innate strengths of introverts to create content and grow online without having to become someone they’re not.
What You’ll Learn:
A simple step-by-step method for creating 3-5 content pillars
How to connect your offers (without feeling salesy)
A content strategy written by an introvert for introverts
Perfect for Faceless/Face-Minimal creators and quiet entrepreneurs
You don’t have to hustle or change who you are to have a highly profitable digital business—just a content plan that feels like you
