The Future of Blogging: AI, Productivity & Content Creation Hacks with Jenny Melrose
If you’ve been in the blogging world for a while, you know how much things have changed—and if you’re just getting started, you might be overwhelmed by everything you “think” you need to do’re probably already overwhelmed by how much content creation has evolved. In this episode of the Ultimate Blog Podcast, Amy and Jennifer sit down with blogging and business coach Jenny Melrose to dive into the future of blogging and how AI can be a game-changer for creators.
Jenny, who started blogging in 2010, has seen blogging shift from casual content sharing to strategic, business-building efforts. Now, as the digital landscape continues to change, one of the biggest shifts she’s observed is the rise of AI-and she’s here to help us wrap our heads around how to use it without losing our voice or authenticity.
Meet Jenny Melrose
Jenny is a former reading specialist who “retired” from her teaching career when her blogging income far exceeded her salary. She is a marketing strategist that helps entrepreneurs better understand their messaging and unique position in the online space. Now, she’s combining her passion for teaching with her extensive experience of creating strategic content for online business owners via JennyMelrose.com and her podcast, Influencer Entrepreneurs with Jenny Melrose as well as her first book Influencer Entrepreneurs: The 4-Step Framework to Building Your Audience, Growing Your Business, and Making More Money Online.
How to Use AI as Your Assistant
One of the biggest mindset blocks Jenny sees around AI is fear. Many bloggers worry that using AI means they’re giving up their unique voice or being replaced. Jenny puts those fears to rest.
She says to think of AI like a virtual assistant- one that you would train to write in your voice. AI works the same way. The more you use it, the better it understands your brand and voice.
Jenny doesn’t recommend using AI to write full blog posts, but she does use it to support her workflow. She taps into AI for brainstorming, content outlines, YouTube hooks, keyword ideas, meta descriptions, and even feedback on sales pages. It’s all about saving time and making your existing ideas even better.
Using AI to Speed Up and Strengthen Your Content Strategy
Let’s say you have an opt-in freebie you want to promote. You can feed your PDF into AI and ask for content ideas that naturally lead into that freebie. From there, you do your keyword research, interlink your content, and boom- you’ve got a solid, strategic plan.
She also uses AI to help with pain points on sales pages and to make sure she’s hitting the right emotional triggers that speak directly to her audience.
A New Era of Blogging: More Content, Smarter Tools
Blogging today isn’t just about writing a post and hitting publish. It’s about creating a whole content ecosystem-email lists, social media, video, and more.
Amy points out how different things are now compared to when she started in 2017. Back then, it was mostly about writing blogs. Now, one idea can turn into a blog post, an email, a reel, a podcast episode, and a YouTube video. That’s a lot of content to create-and AI can help lighten the load.
Why Repurposing Is the Name of the Game
One of the best ways AI supports the future of blogging is by helping bloggers repurpose content across platforms. Jenny is a big believer in creating a home base (your website) and building your email list alongside it. From there, choose one main piece of content (like a podcast or YouTube video) and repurpose it.
She explains that people need to hear your voice and see your face to connect with you. With short-form video and quick content dominating social platforms, it now takes more exposure to build trust.
Jenny shares a stat that blew our minds: people need to consume seven hours of content from eleven different pieces across four platforms before they feel ready to buy from you.
That’s why having a repurposing system- and using tools like AI to support it- is more important than ever.
How to Stand Out and Get More Visible in a Crowded Online Space
If you’re feeling like your message is getting lost in a sea of content creators, you’re not alone. Jenny has some powerful advice to help you cut through the noise.
1. Get ultra-clear on who you serve
This isn’t about picking a general topic and hoping it sticks. Jenny says the biggest mistake she sees is trying to serve everyone- and in doing that, you end up connecting with no one. Instead, niche down. Be brave enough to say, “I help this specific kind of person with this specific kind of problem.”
For example, don’t just say you create budgeting content. Get super specific: are you helping 20-somethings juggling student loans and saving for their first home? That level of clarity helps you stand out as an expert. And while you’ll naturally attract some people outside your “ideal person,” your core message will finally land with the ones who need it most.
2. Pay attention to your numbers
We know…metrics can feel overwhelming or even boring. But Jenny doesn’t sugarcoat it: you can’t grow a business without knowing your numbers. And no, she’s not talking about metrics like Pinterest impressions or total Instagram followers.
She’s talking about the data that matters- your email list growth, open and click-through rates, what topics people engage with most, and how long they stick around for your content. If you’re podcasting or on YouTube, are people watching past the first minute? Or are they clicking away?
These numbers tell a story. They help you make strategic decisions instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall. Knowing what’s working (and what’s not) helps you decide where to tighten things up or what to pause so you can focus on what’s really moving the needle.
In this episode, we covered:
- What shifts Jenny Melrose has seen in content creation over the last 15 years
- How AI can strengthen your content strategy
- How to train AI to be your best virtual assistant
- How much content people need to consume before they feel ready to buy from you
- How to stand out and be more visible in a crowded space
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Connect with Jenny on her website and grab her Strategic Growth Plan Guide
- Get our Successful Blogger Playlist
- Join The Ultimate Blog Roadmap
- Check out last week’s episode with Wendy Schneider on building a home decor blog!
We hope you loved this episode with Jenny on how AI can strengthen your content creation strategy! Please leave us a comment and let us know your biggest takeaway from this episode!
