AI Cheat Sheet
Gofer Content: Welcome to the machine
Dynamic Instructions for Working with AI messaging
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AI and LLM Defined
AI
Technology designed to imitate human thinking, enabling machines to learn, reason, and make decisions by analyzing data patterns.
LLM (Large Language Model)
AI trained on huge text datasets to predict the next word in a sequence, generating human-like responses. Think Miss Cleo with a supercomputer—making bold predictions.
Writing Rules That Still Hold Up
If you’re writing, editing anything with or without a model, these still apply. Adapted from The Elements of Style (1918) by William Strunk Jr., later revised by E.B. White (love you Grandma).
Use the active voice.
Don't: The post was written by our team. Do: Our team wrote the post.
Cut filler.
Don't: In order to help you... Do: To help you...
Be specific.
Don't: We offer fast turnaround. Do: Delivered in 3 days or less.
Use plain language.
Don't: We deliver impactful branding solutions. Do: We write what people understand and respond to.
Avoid qualifiers.
Don't: We're really proud of this. Do: We're proud of this.
Don't over-explain.
Don't: This tool is useful because it helps... Do: This tool helps you...
Put the punch at the end.
Don't: It's called Echo, our new product. Do: Meet Echo, our new product.
Don't hedge unless you mean it.
Don't: We believe this might help. Do: This helps.
Don't overload a sentence.
Don't: We offer strategy, messaging, web audits, copy for founders... Do: We do strategy, messaging, and copy. If it's confusing, we fix it.
Don't use "not" when a positive works.
Don't: Not many people liked it. Do: Few people liked it.
Avoid double adjectives.
Don't: A very helpful, incredibly insightful tool. Do: A helpful tool.
Avoid fake questions.
Don't: What if you stopped losing leads? Do: This stops you from losing leads.
Don't inflate your language.
Don't: Optimize, elevate, utilize Do: Improve, raise, use
Overused words and phrases
This list shifts often—but people are tired of reading them.
Structure traps causing reader fatigue
The Staccato Stack
Sounds like this. Line after line. It breaks rhythm. It's not style. It's lazy.
Hypophora
Don’t ask and answer your own question on a social media post. It reads super patronizing, just say the thing.
❌ “What’s the secret to great content? Consistency.”
✅ “Great content comes from consistency. Not hacks.”
What Is Direct Response?
Persona based messaging designed to create an emotional response and reaction.
Use it when someone's supposed to act: fill a form, book a call, click to buy.
The 4 U's (for headlines, first lines, subject lines):
Useful
What's in it for them
Ultra-specific
What exactly is it
Unique
Why yours, not someone else's
Urgent
Why now
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