Ever opened a blank Google Doc and just stared at it?
Or found yourself mid-week with nothing queued up and your content calendar mocking you from the corner of your screen?
Yeah. Been there.
Between figuring out what to say, writing it, making sure it looks polished, optimizing it for SEO, formatting it across platforms, editing it to perfection, and keeping it all on schedule, it starts to feel like a second job you didn’t apply for.
I used to live in that mess.
Until I discovered 7 AI and automation tools that now power my entire content workflow.
These tools do the heavy lifting, so I can focus on the creative work that matters and help my clients do the same.
Let’s break them down one-by-one:
1. VidIQ – Your YouTube Ideation Engine
VidIQ helps me:
- Ideate YouTube video topics based on keywords and current trends.
- Optimize titles and descriptions to boost discoverability.
- Score my content based on how likely it is to rank.
This tool removes the guesswork. I’m not a YouTube SEO nerd, and thanks to VidIQ, I don’t have to be. If you want to stop creating YouTube content that disappears into the void, start here.
2. Notion – My Content Command Center
Every week, I run a pillar-content strategy. One YouTube video feeds my newsletter, carousels, reels, and text posts. That’s a lot of moving parts.
Notion is where I track it all.
- I use custom templates to map out each week.
- I brain-dump messy ideas, then use the AI to clean and structure them.
- I keep a running log of what’s live, what’s in progress, and what’s scheduled.
If content chaos is your current reality, Notion will give you peace.
3. Custom GPTs – My AI Content Assistants
You’re literally reading something co-written by a GPT.
I’ve trained multiple custom GPTs to help me:
- Flesh out YouTube ideas.
- Outline and script videos.
- Build content prompts, headlines, and post angles.
Instead of relying on willpower or coffee, I rely on my content AIs. (Want access to mine? Grab my Creator’s Toolbox, where I list them all.)
4. Descript – Fast, Clean Video Editing
Descript is like having a video editor with superpowers.
- Edit videos by deleting text from the transcript.
- Auto-remove filler words and awkward silences.
- Create branded templates for quick production.
- Turn long-form into Reels/Shorts with 1 click.
It’s how I keep my content high-quality without spending hours in Adobe hell.
5. Canva – Branded Visuals in Minutes
I don’t “design” anymore. I use my Canva Content Pack.
- One dashboard, every asset type: YouTube thumbnails, newsletter headers, carousels, quote posts.
- Consistent branding across the board.
It’s fast. It’s easy. It’s how I stay looking pro without hiring a designer.
6. n8n – Automated Repurposing on Steroids
This one’s geeky but powerful.
I built a workflow in n8n that takes my YouTube video URL, transcribes it, and:
- Summarizes it into a newsletter.
- Writes carousel copy.
- Finds 3 angles for short-form videos.
It’s like cloning myself, but this version runs 24/7.
7. Planable – Schedule It and Forget It
Planable is my set-it-and-forget-it content scheduler.
- Schedule weeks in advance.
- Push to LinkedIn, IG, FB, Twitter all at once.
- Tag and track content types to see what works.
It saves me hours and keeps my audience consistently engaged without the daily stress.
Here’s the truth:
Content doesn’t have to feel like a burden. When you install the right tools, systems, and AI, your entire process gets faster, smoother, and more effective.
I’ve not only used these in my business, but I also install this exact stack inside my clients’ workflows, too.
Want to see all the tools I use to run my creator business? Download the Creator’s Toolbox.
Until next time,
Dave