How AI Is Changing SEO

How AI Is Changing SEO: What You Need to Know

You might have noticed that artificial intelligence (AI) is popping up everywhere these days! From helping us choose movies to answering tricky questions, AI is changing how we do many things.  And one area that's seeing a big transformation is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

If you're wondering what SEO is all about, it's essentially how we help websites get found by people using search engines like Google.  It's about making sure that when someone searches for something related to your business, your website shows up high in the search results.

Now, AI is making some pretty big changes to how all of this works.  It might sound a bit technical, but don't worry, we'll break it down in a way that's easy to understand.

What We'll Cover:

• How Google uses AI to understand your searches better
• AI-generated content: Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
• How AI can help with SEO (and some things to watch out for)
• How businesses like yours can use AI in your SEO strategy
• What the future of AI in SEO might look like

Google's AI and How It Changes Search

Google has been using AI for quite a while to make its search engine smarter.  Think of it this way: Google wants to give you the most helpful and accurate results when you search for something.  AI helps them do that.

• Understanding what you mean: Google's AI can now understand the meaning behind your searches, even if you don't use the "perfect" keywords.  This means you can search in a more natural, conversational way, and Google is more likely to give you what you're looking for.
• AI Overviews: You might have seen these at the top of Google search results.  They're quick summaries generated by AI, giving you a fast answer to your question and pointing you to websites where you can learn more.

What does this mean for SEO?

• It's more important than ever to have content that truly answers people's questions in a clear and helpful way.
• Getting your website listed as a source in those AI Overviews can be a great way to get more visitors.

AI-Generated Content: Helpful or Harmful?

With AI tools, it's now possible to create written content very quickly.  This raises a question: Is AI-generated content good or bad for SEO?

The answer is: It depends!

Google's main focus is on high-quality content that's helpful to people.  So, if you use AI to create content that's informative, accurate, and well-written, it can be a useful tool.

However, simply churning out a lot of low-quality content with AI is not a good idea.  It's crucial to:

• Ensure Accuracy: AI tools can sometimes make mistakes, so it's essential to double-check all the information.
• Add your expertise: AI can help with the basics, but adding your own unique insights and experience will make your content stand out.
• Focus on quality: Always prioritise creating content that's valuable and helpful to your audience.

How AI Helps (and Challenges) SEO

AI is also changing how SEO professionals do their work.  It can help with tasks like:

• Finding the right keywords: AI can help identify the words and phrases people use when searching for businesses like yours.
• Analysing your website: AI tools can help find areas of your website that could be improved for search engines.
• Saving time: AI can automate some of the more repetitive SEO tasks, freeing up time for more strategic work.

However, there are also some potential risks to be aware of:

• Content quality: Over-reliance on AI can sometimes lead to generic or unhelpful content.
• Accuracy: AI-generated information needs to be carefully checked.
• Google's guidelines: It's important to use AI in a way that aligns with Google's guidelines for website content.

Using AI in Your SEO Strategy

So, how can businesses like yours adapt to these changes? Here are a few tips:

• Use AI writing tools wisely: AI can be a helpful assistant for creating content, but make sure to add your own expertise and ensure accuracy.
• Explore AI for keyword research: AI tools can help you find new and effective keywords to target.
• Stay updated: The world of AI and SEO is constantly evolving, so it's important to keep learning and adapting.
• Consider SEO Professionals: If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, working with SEO professionals can help you navigate these changes and make the most of AI for your business.

The Future of AI in SEO

AI will likely continue to play a bigger role in SEO.  We can expect to see:

• Search engines getting even better at understanding what people are looking for.
• New AI tools emerging to help with various aspects of SEO.
• An even greater emphasis on high-quality, helpful content.

Need Help with SEO?

If you'd like help developing an SEO strategy that incorporates AI, we're here to assist you! Feel free to reach out to us to learn more.