I was chatting with a business owner who was super frustrated because her AI-generated emails just weren’t cutting it. They felt dull and failed to connect with her prospects. The more tweaks she made, the messier the messages got. In the end, she threw in the towel and said, “I hate AI. It’s not for me.”
Honestly, I get it—I’ve been there too. When I first started using AI, I ran into some of the same roadblocks… until I figured out a few tricks that made all the difference. Now, AI has become a total game-changer for my business! It’s helped me save time, create super-targeted emails faster, and sometimes even outdo my own writing.
But here’s the thing—the challenges are real. And she’s not the only one who’s struggled.
I’ve seen so many women entrepreneurs face the same hurdles when trying to get AI to generate quality sales emails.
So, let’s make sure you don’t fall into the same traps.
Here are the five most common mistakes I see when using AI for outreach and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Relying on Generic AI Strategies
AI can be a fantastic tool for sales, but if you’re using the same strategies as everyone else, you’re not going to stand out. Your business is unique, with its own strengths, personality, and audience needs, and a cookie-cutter approach just won’t cut it. I see a lot of entrepreneurs jumping into AI without a tailored strategy—often with the hope that AI will just “know” how to make them stand out. But here’s where things go wrong: without a clear, customized plan, the AI-generated messages end up sounding generic and get lost in the noise.
To truly connect with your prospects, your outreach needs to capture what makes your business special and speak directly to the challenges your audience faces. I work with business owners to uncover strategies that align with their industry, their ideal clients, and their personal style of communication. When you combine this clarity with the right AI prompts, your outreach becomes targeted and compelling. That’s when AI transforms from a basic tool into your secret sales weapon—following your game plan, reflecting your voice, and building the credibility you need to connect with corporate clients.
“Want a structured approach to avoid these common mistakes? My Step-by-Step AI Guide to Writing Sales Messages That Get Replies covers powerful prompts and proven strategies to train AI to write effective, non-generic sales messages. [Check it out here].”
Mistake 2: Not Knowing Your Target Audience Well Enough
What’s keeping your prospects up at night? What’s stressing them out? If you can speak to their biggest worries or opportunities, you’re going to get their attention. But AI isn’t always tuned in to the specific needs of your audience—it tends to go with what’s popular, which can make your messaging feel bland.
That’s why relying on AI alone won’t cut it. After 20+ years working with corporate clients, I’ve learned exactly what decision-makers want, and I help my clients focus on the details that matter most to their audience.
Mistake 3: Giving AI Vague Instructions
I once had a friend ask AI to “write a great sales email,” and the result was… not great. AI needs clear guidance, not vague requests. If you don’t tell it exactly what you want—like the style, strategy, and voice—you’ll get something generic that doesn’t grab attention. The clearer you are, the better AI performs!
My Step-by-Step AI Guide to Writing Sales Messages That Get Replies shares the exact prompts I use to help AI craft outreach messages that make your company stand out and sound credible to corporate decision-makers. [Check out the guide here]!”
Mistake 4: Giving AI Confusing Instructions
I’ve seen plenty of entrepreneurs overload AI with way too many details. One client ended up with emails that felt disjointed and messy because her prompts were just too complicated. Keep it simple and give clear, direct instructions. Too much complexity can throw AI off track and make your messaging lose focus.
Mistake 5: Not Iterating and Testing AI Outputs
A huge mistake I see is treating the first AI draft like it’s good to go. AI is a great tool, but it needs a little tweaking to really shine. Don’t just accept the first thing it spits out—refine it until it’s spot on. Take the time to review, adjust, and polish until it hits the mark.
Conclusion: Avoid Generic Messages at All Costs!
I’ve seen AI produce boring, lifeless emails that don’t get results, but I’ve also seen it create some truly powerful and engaging messages.
The secret? It’s all in your strategy.
The clearer your instructions, the better AI performs.
If you don’t know what you want, AI will be just as confused as you are, leading to emails that might look polished but don’t get the job done.
Be super clear about your value proposition, know how you stack up against your competitors, and understand what your audience really cares about. This kind of clarity helps AI create content that stands out and delivers results.
When you get it right, AI doesn’t just save you time—it helps you create sales emails that truly resonate, reach the right people, and set you apart from the crowd. It’s about turning AI into a tool that strengthens your voice and supports your strategy.
Want to make your AI a powerful sales assistant? I have a proven process to help your AI understand your sales strategy, nail your unique voice, and reach the right prospects.
Curious to know more? Click here for more information.
Warm regards,
Melinda
Recent Comments