Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for a while, and with the release of ChatGPT, people can now interact with AI and experience this technology firsthand. It’s exciting and full of potential, but there are a lot of unknowns. AI seems like a great way to outsource various jobs, including SEO tasks. Using AI for SEO can be daunting, risky, and challenging, but here is what to know about integrating this technology into your SEO efforts.
What is AI?
AI is a branch of computer science that covers a range of technologies, all of which essentially teach machines to perform tasks that require cognitive thought or intelligence. AI allows computers to do things that generally need a human. Self-driving cars are a great example of artificial intelligence, and so are customer-service chatbots and smart assistants like Siri and Alexa. AI has made tremendous strides and is now available to create content and answer questions (when it isn’t experiencing exceptionally high demand).
The objective of AI is to perform basic tasks for humans, so we can be freed up to take on bigger, more complex jobs. This sounds great, and it is, as long as you properly use AI.
Using AI for SEO
AI for SEO is an asset. Quickly review data, brainstorm content topics, create strategies, and more using artificial intelligence. AI has the potential to take so many tasks off your plate and can significantly increase your efficiency.
AI Will Not Replace SEO
While it is certainly an excellent resource, artificial intelligence will not replace SEO. A human element is still necessary for SEO to be effective. Search engines prioritize the user experience above all else, so your SEO strategy needs to do the same. AI tools know this and can provide valuable insights, but humans still need to make the final call.
Technology is always improving, and it will be so much more advanced a year from now, two years and five years, and so on, but human oversight and understanding are hard to replace.
Team Effort
A lot of SEO work can be time-consuming, especially the writing part. I like writing, I enjoy it, and I’m a fast writer, and it still takes time to crank out content. Writing blog content must be a nightmare if you’re not into writing, but it’s necessary for your site’s SEO. It is possible to create content using AI, so why not outsource your blog writing to AI? While this sounds like a great idea, it isn’t.
AI writing works a lot like predictive text. The program scans existing sites, looking for similar content; this is how AI ‘learns’ about your chosen topic. AI is guessing what you want to hear. The process is a lot like looking over a classmate’s shoulder while taking a test. The problem with this process is that you won’t end up with entirely unique and original content. The end result sounds like a rehashed version of your competitor’s content. Which is precisely what it is.
I’m not trying to come down on AI, but you need to understand how it operates to best use this technology. Some of the drawbacks of AI-generated content include:
- AI does not fact check
- AI does not write in a brand’s voice or tone
- Google is not a fan since the content is not unique or original
Making It Work
There is still a place in your SEO efforts for AI. You can use AI, but you just have to be smart about how you use it. The bad news is you cannot completely outsource your writing to AI. AI-generated content requires heavy editing regarding accuracy, structure, tone, and grammar. You will save time writing, but you will spend more time editing. AI for SEO can be a helpful tool when used responsibly.
AI for SEO can save time in some regards but adds time in others. Publishing AI-generated content also puts your site at risk of being dropped by Google. If you don’t have the time to work on your SEO, I can help. I’ve created content for industry-leading brands and worked on SEO strategies at several agencies. I offer an SEO agency experience without the overhead of an agency. Reach out, and we can talk about how to help your site rank.
