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Hey there,
Welcome back to AI, Eh? Really glad you are here for this one, because this issue might be the most immediately useful thing we have covered yet.
If you have been following along, here is a quick recap of where we have been:
This week we are talking about social media content. Specifically, how to stop staring at a blank screen every Monday morning and start batching a full week of posts in about 30 minutes.
Whether you are posting for your small business, a community group, a side hustle, or just your own personal brand, this one is for you.
Why social media feels like a chore (and why it does not have to)
Most people I talk to say the same thing about social media: they know they should be posting more, but they never know what to say, and by the time they sit down to figure it out, the week has already gotten away from them.
The good news is this is exactly the kind of task AI is built for. Coming up with ideas, writing first drafts, adapting the same idea for different platforms, and filling in the blanks when your brain is empty. AI does not get writer's block. It does not care that it is Monday morning. It will give you five post ideas in about 30 seconds, and you can spend the rest of your time making them sound like you.
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🛠️ Which AI tool should you use for this?
Brainstorming ideas: ChatGPT or Claude. Both are great at generating a list of options quickly. Try both and see which one you prefer.
Writing the posts: Claude. It tends to produce more natural, conversational writing right out of the gate, which means less editing for you.
Generating the image description for Canva: Claude or ChatGPT. Both do a solid job here. Claude tends to be a bit more visual and descriptive, which helps Canva AI generate better results.
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Step 1: Start with a content brief
Before you ask AI to write anything, give it a bit of context about who you are and what you are trying to say. Think of this as a 30-second briefing. You would not hand a task to someone and walk away without explaining what you need. Same idea here.
You only need to do this once per session. After that, AI remembers it for the rest of your conversation.
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Fill in the blank prompt:
| "I need help writing social media posts for the week. Here is some context: I am [WHO YOU ARE, your name or role]. I run / work for / post about [WHAT YOU DO OR YOUR TOPIC]. My audience is [WHO FOLLOWS YOU, such as customers, neighbours, parents, professionals, etc.]. My tone is [FRIENDLY / PROFESSIONAL / CASUAL / FUN]. I post mainly on [FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / LINKEDIN]." |
Ready to use example:
| "I need help writing social media posts for the week. Here is some context: I am Sarah, and I own a small bakery in Sudbury, Ontario called Sweet North Bakery. My audience is local families, food lovers, and people who follow small businesses they love. My tone is warm, friendly, and a little playful. I post mainly on Facebook and Instagram." |
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Step 2: Ask for a week of ideas
Now ask AI to generate five post ideas for the week. Not the full posts yet, just the ideas. This gives you a menu to choose from and lets you swap out anything that does not fit before you invest time writing it out.
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Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Based on that context, give me five social media post ideas for this week. Just the ideas for now, not the full posts. Mix it up. Include something [EDUCATIONAL / PERSONAL / PROMOTIONAL / FUN / BEHIND THE SCENES]." |
Ready to use example:
| "Based on that context, give me five social media post ideas for this week. Just the ideas for now, not the full posts. Mix it up. Include something educational, something personal, something promotional, something fun, and something that shows what goes on behind the scenes." |
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AI will typically come back with a solid list in a few seconds. Pick the four or five you like, tell it which ones to skip, and move on to writing.
Step 3: Write the posts one at a time
Now go through your ideas one by one and ask AI to write the full post for each one. Give it any specific details it would not already know, like a sale you are running, an event coming up, or a story you want to tell.
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Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write the full post for idea number [NUMBER]. Keep it [SHORT, under 150 words / MEDIUM, around 200 words]. Here are a few extra details to work in: [ANY SPECIFICS, such as a date, a product name, a personal story, a price, a location]." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write the full post for idea number 3, the behind the scenes one. Keep it under 150 words. Here are a few details to work in: we start baking at 4:30am, our head baker is named Michel, and we just got a new proofing oven last week." |
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Step 4: Adapt for each platform
Facebook posts tend to be a bit longer and more conversational. Instagram captions benefit from a punchy opening line and a few hashtags. LinkedIn skews a little more professional, especially if your audience includes other business owners or colleagues.
The great news: once you have one version of a post, adapting it takes about 10 seconds.
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Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Now adapt that post for [INSTAGRAM / LINKEDIN / FACEBOOK]. For Instagram, add a strong opening line and 5 to 8 relevant hashtags. For LinkedIn, make the tone slightly more professional but still warm. For Facebook, keep it conversational and end with a question to encourage comments." |
Ready to use example:
| "Now adapt that post for Instagram. Add a strong opening line that will stop someone mid-scroll, and add 6 relevant hashtags at the end. Keep the warm tone." |
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Step 5: Create a simple image to go with it
Posts with images consistently get more engagement than text-only posts. You do not need to be a designer to make something that looks good. Canva is free, easy to use, and has thousands of templates built specifically for social media.
Before you open Canva, ask AI to describe the ideal image for your post. This gives you a clear direction instead of wandering through templates hoping something fits.
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Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Based on that post, describe the ideal image to go with it. Make the description visual and specific. Colours, mood, subject, setting. Format it as a prompt I can paste directly into an AI image generator." |
Ready to use example:
| "Based on that post, describe the ideal image to go with it. Make the description visual and specific. Colours, mood, subject, setting. Format it as a prompt I can paste directly into an AI image generator." |
AI might come back with something like: "A warm overhead shot of fresh cinnamon rolls on a rustic wooden table, soft natural morning light coming from the left, steam rising gently, cozy and inviting atmosphere, muted warm tones."
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Now take that description into Canva. You have two options:
Option 1: Use a template. Search for your post type in Canva (try "Facebook post" or "Instagram square") and browse until you find something that matches the mood AI described. Swap in your own photo or text and you are done.
Option 2: Generate an image with Canva AI. In Canva, click the Canva AI option in the left toolbar, select image generation, and paste the prompt AI wrote for you. It will generate a custom image in seconds that you can drop right into your design.
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📐 Image sizes to use in Canva
Facebook post: 1200 x 630px. The standard size that displays cleanly in the feed without cropping.
Instagram square: 1080 x 1080px. The most versatile option. Works in the feed, can be cropped for Stories, and looks consistent in your grid.
Instagram Stories / Reels cover: 1080 x 1920px. The full vertical format if you are posting to Stories.
LinkedIn post: 1200 x 627px. Nearly identical to Facebook. If you are cross-posting, one image will work for both.
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One last thing: you do not have to generate an image at all. If you have your own photos, use them. A real photo of your storefront, your product, your team, or even just your morning coffee will almost always outperform a generated image when it comes to authenticity. Canva is just as useful for dropping your own photos into a polished layout as it is for generating new ones.
The most important step: make it sound like you
AI will get you 80 to 90 percent of the way there. The last 10 to 20 percent is yours. Read every post out loud before you schedule it. If a sentence does not sound like something you would actually say, rewrite it. Swap in your own words, your own references, your own little jokes.
Your audience follows you because of you. AI can generate the structure and the words, but only you can bring the personality. That is the human side of this whole thing, and it matters.
Your challenge this week
Set a timer for 30 minutes. Open ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. Drop in your content brief, ask for five ideas, and write out at least two full posts. That is it. You do not have to post them right away. Just see how far you can get in half an hour. I think you will surprise yourself.
Coming up next week
Issue 6 is all about email. Specifically, how to use AI to write better emails faster. Whether that is a follow-up to a customer, a tough message to a colleague, or just clearing out your inbox without losing your mind. If email is eating your time, this one is for you.
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AI assisted, Human led.
Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer.
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As always, I read every reply personally. Are you going to give the 30 minute challenge a shot this week? Hit reply and let me know how it goes. I love hearing what is working.
If you found this useful, feel free to forward it to a friend, family member, or colleague who is always scrambling for social media ideas. The more Canadians who feel confident with this stuff, the better.
Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?
theaieh.ca 🍁
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