If everything you make with AI comes out looking and sounding generic, same fonts, same layout, same "clearly AI" tone, it's almost always one missing step. You're asking it to invent a style. AI is bad at inventing a format and great at filling one in. So hand it the format first.
The fix in one line
Show it your thing before you ask it to make your thing.
The 3 things to feed it first
- Your template, the actual Canva layout, doc, or example post you want it to match.
- Your brand basics, your colors, fonts, and any words/phrases you always use (or avoid).
- A writing sample, 2 to 3 things you've actually written, so it copies your voice, not the default AI voice.
The prompt
Here's my template and an example of my own writing. Match them exactly, the same structure, tone, length, and style. Do not invent a new look or a new voice. Fill in my format with the new content. If anything's unclear, ask me before you start.
For each type of content
- Graphics / carousels: give it your Canva template's structure first, text boxes, character limits, the order of the hierarchy. Then it fills the boxes instead of designing its own.
- Writing (captions, emails): paste 2 to 3 of your real posts and say "write the next one in this exact voice."
- Docs: give it a past example of the doc done right and say "same format, new content."
Quick checklist before you hit generate
- Did I give it an example to match?
- Did I tell it not to invent a new style?
- Did I include my real voice/colors/format?
- Did I let it ask questions first?
The mindset: you're not asking AI to be creative. You're asking it to be consistent, with the style you already have. That's the difference between "looks AI" and "looks like you."