Where some see artificial intelligence (AI) flattening human creativity, Kaili Meyer (‘17 journalism and mass communication) sees an opportunity to prove that authenticity and individuality are still the heart of communication.
As founder of the sales and web copywriting company Reveal Studio Co., Meyer built her business and later included AI as an extension of her work. She developed tools that train AI to preserve the integrity of an individual’s tone.
Wellness to print
Meyer began her undergraduate studies at Iowa State in kinesiology but realized she had a talent for writing.
“I thought about what I was really good at, and the answer was writing,” Meyer said.
She pivoted to a journalism and mass communication major, with a minor in psychology. Her passion for writing led her to work on student publications in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, where she founded a health and wellness magazine.
That drive to build something from scratch set the tone for her entrepreneurial approach to her business.
Building an AI copywriting company
After graduation, Meyer joined Principal Financial in institutional investing, where she translated complex economic reports into accessible updates for stakeholders. She gained business skills – but her creative energy was missing.
By freelancing on the side for content, copy and magazines, she eventually replaced her salary, left corporate life, and began the process of launching her own company.
Reveal Studio Co started out with direct client interactions, grew to include a template shop, and now includes AI tools.
In 2023, the AI chatbot ChatGPT had its one-year anniversary with over 1.7 billion users. As generative AI went mainstream and pushed into more areas, Meyer was skeptical of the rapidly growing adoption of AI in society. She began to flag AI-written content everywhere and set out to prove that it could never replicate the human voice.
“In doing so, I proved myself wrong,” Meyer said.
As Meyer researched AI, she realized it could be tailored to one’s own persona.
She developed The Complete AI Copy Buddy, a training manual that teaches an AI platform to mimic an individual’s style. By completing a template and submitting it to an AI source, users can acquire anything they need – from content ideas to full pieces such as social posts, emails, web copy and business collateral – all specifically tailored to their audience, brand, and voice.
The launch of the training manual earned $60,000 in two weeks, more than her first year’s corporate salary.
That success propelled Meyer into creating The Sales & Copy Bestie, a custom Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) built from her knowledge in psychology and copywriting. Contractors support her work while she keeps the control and direction.
“If people are going to use AI – which they are – I might as well help them do it better,” she said.
Meyer prioritizes sales psychology, understanding how neuroscience drives decisions and taking that information to form effective and persuasive messages.
“Copy is messaging intended to get somebody to take action,” Meyer explained. “If I don’t understand what makes someone’s brain want to take action, then I can’t write really good copy.”
Meyer’s clients range from educators and creative service providers to lawyers, accountants, and business owners seeking sharper websites, sales pages, or email funnels.
Meyers’ vision of success
Meyer attributes her growth to persistence and a pure mindset.
“I don’t view anything as failure. Everything is just a step closer to where you want to be,” she said.
This year, Meyer plans to balance her entrepreneurial success with her creative side. She is finishing a poetry book, sketching artwork, and outlining her first novel.
“I’ve spent eight years building a really successful business,” Meyer said. “Now I want to build a life outside of work that fulfills me.”