You know when you hit that wall in the business where you’ve got a great service or product, but getting the word out feels like a never-ending grind? That’s where most of us have been or will be if we’re serious about growing. That’s also where AI comes in—not as some magic fix, but as a tool that, with the right setup, can lighten the load. I sat down with Chuck Aikens, the founder of Tymoo, who’s been around the block with content strategy and has seen AI grow from this futuristic concept to an actual productivity tool. Chuck’s big on grounding things in reality—AI isn’t here to replace us; it’s here to help us work smarter if we know how to use it right.
Chuck doesn’t talk about AI like most. He’s not going to push buzzwords or make it sound like it’ll save your business overnight. Instead, he insists on strategy first, and then, when you’ve got that down, AI can amplify it. You might even say he treats it like a very capable assistant. If you’ve been struggling with how to integrate AI into your business without losing that authentic, human touch, here are the two biggest takeaways from Chuck that really hit home for me.
Lay the Foundation Before You Automate
Chuck isn’t one for shortcuts, and he was blunt: before you dive into AI, you’ve got to have a strong foundation. It’s like building a house—you don’t skip the groundwork and expect the walls to hold up. Content strategy means creating a blueprint for who you’re talking to, what you stand for, and how you communicate. He calls these the three must-have documents: your persona, brand promise, and brand personality. Think of them as the “no skipping steps” rule of content creation.
“AI can help you build faster, but if you don’t know who you’re talking to or why it matters, it’s like trying to build a car without a steering wheel.”
Key Takeaways from Our Discussion:
- Get Specific with Your Audience: Define who you’re speaking to. Chuck recommends building out a “persona” that nails down your target in clear terms. “Be specific—even niche. You can always adjust, but you need that starting point,” he said.
- Establish a Real Brand Voice: Understanding how you want to sound is just as important as the message itself. “Don’t make it feel like a bot wrote it. Your brand’s voice needs to feel real, like something people can trust.”
- Document It All: Chuck swears by creating files that your AI can reference. This keeps things consistent, so you’re not reinventing the wheel with every new post.
Let AI Multiply Your Efforts, Not Replace Them
AI, in Chuck’s world, is like a great co-pilot—it doesn’t do the flying, but it makes the journey a whole lot smoother. He’s quick to warn against the idea that AI will save you if your strategy’s weak. “If you sucked at content before, AI isn’t going to fix that,” he said, hitting the nail on the head. For Chuck, AI shines when it’s used to support a clear plan and help you work more efficiently.
What I Learned from His Experience:
- AI Shouldn’t Lead, It Should Follow: Treat AI as a helper, not the driver. “You lead it. Don’t let it churn out cookie-cutter content.”
- Use AI for the Heavy Lifting on Repetitive Tasks: From drafting posts to analyzing engagement, AI can handle a lot of the groundwork, freeing you up for the big-picture stuff. Chuck puts it simply, “Imagine AI as an intern you can call on 24/7.”
- Keep Your Human Touch in Customer Interactions: AI might be good at scaling your process, but when it comes to direct interactions, you’re still the one people want to hear from.
Reflections from the Interview
What struck me most about Chuck’s approach is how he manages to keep the human touch even with automation in play. He’s not out here trying to sell people on AI-generated fluff. For him, AI is just a way to do more of what works, faster. And in a world where automation keeps creeping in, that human side is what stands out.
Here’s What I’m Taking Away:
- AI Won’t Give You Originality, That’s Up to You: Chuck made it clear that AI, by its nature, regurgitates patterns it’s learned. “If you want to stand out, you have to bring something fresh.”
- Consistency Beats One-Off Content Any Day: Chuck believes in a solid strategy that stays consistent across platforms. “AI’s great for staying on-brand, but only if you’ve laid that groundwork,” he added.
- Go Niche and Get Specific: One of Chuck’s top recommendations is to go deep into your niche. “You don’t need a massive following, just the right one.”
- Use AI for the Long Haul: AI isn’t going anywhere, and Chuck sees its real potential as a long-term investment. “We’re just at the ‘Commodore 64’ phase right now,” he joked, “but imagine what’s coming.”
- Stay Flexible with AI Integration: As AI evolves, so should our approach to using it. Chuck recommends revisiting your strategy as technology advances to stay sharp.
Final Thoughts
Without a solid strategy, AI’s just another bit of tech that won’t do much to grow your brand. But with the right foundation in place, it can help you keep your message consistent, streamline your process, and free you up to focus on what really matters. AI doesn’t need to be your star player—think of it as the backup, the thing that makes your work easier, not the thing that does it for you.
As Chuck put it, “AI’s like the icing on the cake, but you still need to bake the damn cake first.” So if you’re looking to leverage AI, start with the basics. Get to know your brand, your audience, and your message first, then let AI take some of the weight off.
CONNECT WITH CHUCK AIKENS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckaikens/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuckisaacaikens/
Website: https://chuckaikens.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/chuckaikens