The Most Common And Clichéd Opening Is…

Is it just me, or has “I hope this email finds you well?” become the single most-overused, cliched, and meaningless opening on the interwebs?

Big question. So I turned to a big, AI-powered brain for answers — my GPT-powered copywriting robot, “B-9?”

Our conversation — word-for-word — below…

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Me
Hey, “B-9?” What is the most common and cliched opening for marketing emails these days?

“B-9?”
The most common and clichéd opening for marketing emails is often something like “Dear [Name], I hope this email finds you well,” or “I’m reaching out to you because…”

(Uh huh!)

Me
Yeah, that’s what I thought. “I hope this email finds you well.” I get a ton of those. Seems like a throwaway line to me.

“B-9?”
You’re right, Tom. “I hope this email finds you well” has become so overused that it often loses its sincerity and can feel like a filler rather than a genuine sentiment.

Me
Funny you say that because, when I’ve experimented with ChatGPT and other AI-powered copywriting tools, they often draft content that starts with “I hope this email finds you well.” Why would you and your copywriting robot buddies use that line if it’s overused and has lost it’s sincerity?

“B-9?”
That’s a good observation, Tom. AI tools like myself often use common phrases like “I hope this email finds you well” because they are trained on large datasets that include existing texts and emails. These phrases are frequently used and thus become part of the AI’s learned patterns for formal or semi-formal communication.

Me
Are you saying AI defaults to most used, cliched phrases, not original and engaging ones?

“B-9?”
Exactly, Tom. AI models often default to commonly used phrases because they are trained on datasets that reflect what is most frequently written or said.

Me
Hmmmm. Seems like a good reason not to rely TOO much on AI to ghostwrite your copy.

“B-9?”
That’s a valid point, Tom. While AI can be a useful tool for generating ideas and drafting content, it’s important to infuse your own creativity and personal touch to ensure the copy is original, engaging, and aligns with your unique voice and brand. Human oversight is key to making the most out of AI in copywriting.

Me
Thanks, “B-9?” I hope this conversation has served you well. (Is it OK for me to say that?)

“B-9?”
Absolutely, Tom! It’s perfectly fine to say that. I’m here to assist and learn from our interactions.

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If you’d like to learn how to stand out in this AI-powered world by creating copy that is original, engaging, and aligns with your unique brand, see the p.s. below. I can help.