StoryBrand launched its own AI alongside the re-release of Donald Miller’s book, Building a StoryBrand 2.0. I’m Angie Schultz, StoryBrand certified as a copywriter in 2016 (and as a StoryBrand Guide in 2018), and this post covers the basics.
What is StoryBrand.ai?
StoryBrand.ai is an artificial intelligence program that was trained by Donald Miller to think within the StoryBrand framework. It uses a BrandScript as a prompt to create content designed to clarify your message and connect with your audience. The tool allows you to produce assets like taglines, emails, and website wireframes—all while staying aligned with StoryBrand principles.
What Does StoryBrand.ai Produce?
StoryBrand.ai generates 16 marketing assets. These include:
- BrandScripts
- Taglines
- One-Liners
- Website Wireframe (Homepage only)
- Lead Generator Ideas
- Lead Generating PDFs
- Sales Talking Points
- Sales Emails
- Nurture Emails
- Product or Service Names
- Product or Service Descriptions
- Packaging Copy
- Domain Name Suggestions
- Video Scripts
- Social Media Post Ideas & Captions
- Brand or Product Stories
Plus, more are expected to be added regularly.
How Much Does StoryBrand.ai Cost?
At launch, StoryBrand.ai offered a free version where users could create a BrandScript and tagline. Unlocking advanced features requires a subscription. Pricing started at $49.99 per month, with an annual plan available at $39 per month (billed annually). StoryBrand.ai also offered a 7-day free trial for those who wanted to test the tool before committing. Pricing and plans may change over time; go here for updates.
Why Was StoryBrand.ai Created?
I can’t speak for StoryBrand, of course, but here’s my take: people are already using different AI platforms to help them write BrandScripts, StoryBrand websites, and beyond. My experience with Donald Miller since 2016 is that he believes in meeting business owners where they are. If AI is the way of the future (and frankly, the present), he and the team were bound to develop a tool that runs circles around everything else.
How Do I Know What to Put Into StoryBrand.ai?
StoryBrand.ai prompts resemble the questions from a traditional BrandScript… which can be hard to answer. That’s where StoryBrand Coaches (like me!) can help. StoryBrand.ai is powerful, but like any AI tool, the output is only as good as the input. “Garbage in, garbage out,” as they say. If you’re unsure what to enter, talk it through with a StoryBrand Coach.
What Quality Can I Expect with StoryBrand.ai Coaching?
I’ll be honest; I’ve used a similar process with coaching clients for years. The difference is my clients have done the writing historically vs. StoryBrand.ai. And… the final product is usually a C+ or a B. This is compared to my done-for-you service, which we consider an A+. With StoryBrand.ai, I’m expecting we can get business owners who don’t want to invest in top-of-the-line services to a B or B+ level with less time, money, and effort. It’s an option that’s going to serve a lot of DIYers really well.
What Do I Do with Everything StoryBrand.ai Produces?
Dozens of pages of content staring back at you can feel both exciting and overwhelming. What do you do with it all? A StoryBrand Coach can help with that, too. We’ll help you prioritize, plan, and get connected to the people who can help you get those words in front of an audience that needs to hear them. In fact, my partner agency and I offer high-quality, low-cost StoryBrand websites that will make your AI-generated content shine. Check them out.
Isn’t Using AI Cheating?
The world of AI can be uncomfortable, no doubt. As someone who makes a living writing words, it’s especially touchy for me. But here’s what I’ve found: AI is a tool—not an answer. For me personally, it serves as a writing assistant. My brain (and my heart!) are still at the forefront of exceptional work because, without incredibly intentional, careful prompting, re-prompting, and loads of editing, polishing, and rewriting, AI falls flat. It’s downright unusable.
So, is AI cheating? I don’t think so. As I said, I think of AI as a junior writer on my team who needs a lot of hand-holding but ultimately makes me faster, clearer, and an efficient helper to an audience who needs me. It helps me protect my energy for creativity and problem-solving and adds more value to my clients. I take an ethical approach to helping it do the same for you.
As a StoryBrand Coach, What Do You Think About StoryBrand.ai?
It’s going to be a great tool for DIYers.
After doing this work since 2016, there are two types of clients who reach out to me. The first are those who want as much done for them as possible. They are busy and want to leave marketing to the experts. StoryBrand.ai is not for them. There is generally a good deal of refining before anything StoryBrand.ai produces can go live—that’s if the input is good.
The second type of client has read the Building a StoryBrand book, listens to weekly podcasts, and puts a great effort into writing their StoryBrand BrandScript on their own. They come to me because they want to know they did it right and want guidance on how to use their BrandScript to inform their website and beyond. These folks are going to go further with StoryBrand.ai. But it won’t solve everything…
Here’s What Tends to Happen When People Use StoryBrand.ai.
Business owners everywhere are excited about StoryBrand.ai. Finally! With just a few prompts, they have thousands of dollars worth of marketing collateral generated in seconds. They read through it and think, “How in the world did a robot do so much with so little?”
But then, the next day rolls around, and they might start asking, “Is this really as good as I thought it was?” Sure, it’s DONE, and done is awesome, but…
- Does it sound like me?
- Is that really the right problem?
- Is our solution positioned the right way?
- Is it too generic?
Doubt creeps in, and suddenly, they’re back to square one—stuck in indecision.
As a Certified StoryBrand Coach who’s written hundreds (and hundreds!) of BrandScripts and websites—no two ever alike—I can tell you: robots are cool, but people are cooler.
YOUR story is far better than A story.
The combination of StoryBrand.ai + a StoryBrand Coach will help you write it for less.
If I Need a StoryBrand Coach, How Does StoryBrand.ai Save Me Money?
Let’s break it down. If you were to hire me to write a Brand Message Guide (with your StoryBrand BrandScript, one-liner, and brand narrative), plus a coordinating homepage from scratch, the cost (as of today) would be $4995. The in-depth process takes 4 to 5 weeks to complete, and my clients overwhelmingly say it’s worth every penny. But not everyone has that budget yet. That’s when StoryBrand.ai + StoryBrand Coaching is a good option. It might look like this:
- You write answers to 10-12 questions I send you.
- We jump on a one-hour call to discuss. ($295)
- I recommend what to input into StoryBrand.ai. ($295)
- You input the information and send me the results.
- I review the homepage and make high-level recommendations. ($295)
- You make changes and feel confident passing off your work to a website developer.
You’ll end up with homepage copywriting you feel great about for around a fifth of the cost, and you can come back for more help when you need it for other items in your sales funnel.
Will You Use StoryBrand.ai to Write for Your Clients?
Probably not, but I will use AI. In my opinion, StoryBrand.ai is an incredible option for true beginners. I prefer to use other AI platforms as an assistant. They help me research, organize, condense, rephrase, and double-check.
From a very early StoryBrand training, I remember the team teaching that StoryBrand is both a science and an art. So, while there is a typical formula/pattern to a StoryBrand website or lead magnet (which StoryBrand.ai emulates), human judgment calls should be incorporated into the process. AI doesn’t usually know when to “color outside the lines.”
Let’s Talk StoryBrand.ai Coaching
Maybe you tried StoryBrand.ai and are impressed/relieved/excited. But as “done” as the words are, something’s still missing—that “je ne sais quoi” you can’t quite put your finger on. Do your assets sound too salesy? Too generic? Too stiff?
They probably do! It’s wild how our brains can spot AI-generated copy already. Here’s what I want for you instead: the best of both worlds. I want you to save time and money with StoryBrand.ai and put words into the world that connect human to human.
I’m Angie Schultz, and I’ve been practicing StoryBrand since the beginning—attending one of the first workshops in 2016 and certifying with the inaugural cohort later that year. I StoryBrand so hard that my husband will stop me mid-conversation and ask, “Wait, are you StoryBranding this?”
As I lean into all sorts of AI tools as a professional copywriter, one thing is true about them all: they get things rolling, but you can’t trust them entirely. The same is true for StoryBrand.ai.
My Recommendation
Step #1: Invest in a BrandScript.
StoryBrand.ai is informed by your BrandScript, so if you spend marketing money on anything, get this part professionally done.
Step #2: Plug it into StoryBrand.ai.
When you come to me for a Brand Message Guide (my BrandScript deliverable), I will pre-load prompts for all foundational assets.
Step #3: Get help—on-demand.
My Brand Message Guide package includes regularly scheduled open office hours for a year. Pop in anytime you need a hand.
