AI content has revolutionized much of the marketing world while simultaneously making several people fearful for their jobs. While AI is an excellent tool, many have questioned how AI-generated content impacts search engine rankings. Luckily, the very human writers at REM Web Solutions have crafted a blog exploring this topic!
The truth of the matter is, is that while AI content may make things easier for business with busy schedules and a lack of writers, unless you’re paying a premium, you’re rolling the dice on whether or not AI will produce optimized content that will be picked up by Google. This is why specialized copywriters work on a team with marketing professionals to optimize the content for the algorithm.
According to the early findings in Google’s March 2024 Core Update, AI-generated content can harm your Google search ranking. However, that doesn’t mean all AI content is going to impact your ranking - rather, what really matters the most is the overall substance of the final product you publish.
Just like any writing content, the final product is what’s going to fully determine your overall ranking. Google is looking for content that makes your business appear like an expert on the topic you’re writing about, and if you rely too heavily on AI, you could be missing vital details. AI is smart, but it’s still in its infancy and is self-admittedly not always correct when listing facts.
Did you know you can ask ChatGPT if it’s sure about its facts? You can. Wild.
How Does AI Content Impact Your Writing
The content on your page is one of the primary ways to optimize your website and have those pages rank organically. Google will crawl your pages and search the text for keywords, relevant images (including alt text), internal and external links, and the overall length of the content.
The issue arises when you rely on AI to generate content on your behalf. Not only is AI not excellent at producing long-form content (ChatGPT tends to like to keep things concise and to the point), but it can also over-saturate your pages with generic content that goes over the top with instances of specific keyword phrases. This can make the content look like spam, which can tank your ranking.
AI-generated content can harm your ranking because it’s guilty of adhering to many of the “dont's” we mentioned above, as well as the fact that as smart as AI is, it isn’t an expert on every topic. You also have to bear in mind that AI auto-populates a lot of content feeds, which, again, can seem like spam. This can result in Google flagging these pages and hitting them with a “manual action.”
However, in worst-case scenarios, websites oversaturated with generic AI content could even be unindexed, although this is an extreme case.
It’s important to remember that AI is a tool, not a complete replacement for a skilled team of content writers. Content writers are often educated people with experience in research, content development, editing, language, SEO, and other specialities that make them literal content writing experts. Their job is to not only produce content that is factual, but has a unique tone that suits your business.
Need help writing content for your website? REM Web Solutions has your back.
Is It Possible to Use AI Content and Still Rank in Google?
Google is not anti-AI, and there are ways you can use it and still rank in Google. The game changer is going to be having a human involved in the implementation of the AI content on your webpages.
Trained content writers are excellent at detecting AI-written content and are skilled in adding that personal (and very human) flare to website content. Having them comb through content, optimize it accordingly and making it unique will help your ranking.
When your website has an automated feed and is simply pumping out AI-generated content, Google is going to lay a smack down on you and tank your ranking. Which, obviously, isn’t good.
When using content that’s been copied and pasted from an AI platform into a blog or web page, you have to make sure that content is edited. Rather than taking it directly from the platform, it’s better to allow your team to put the content into a proper document to review and edit it accordingly. Adding this essential step to the process makes sure you’re injecting a human element into the work.
So, an appropriate use of AI-content is to have a platform make a suggestion and have a skilled content writer take that suggestion and flesh out the content. This gives you the ability to streamline the content while making sure it’s properly researched and reads like an authority.
You can also use AI to help in other areas of the writing process as well. Rather than have it generate the content itself, writers often utilize writing techniques like bullet points, lists, and use add-ons like Grammarly to check their work and offer suggestions to improve writing. AI is great for taking points and breaking them up into lists and making writing more concise and can even be used to adjust for tone.
Suggestions For Utilizing AI
If you're going to use AI to generate content, here are a few ways that can help you streamline things:
- Have AI suggest blog topics
- Have AI generate a content brief
- Have AI condense content that is drawn out/too long
- Have AI adjust content for tone
- Have AI check for spelling/grammar issues
- Have AI make writing suggestions
- Have AI generate blog/article titles and descriptions
- Have AI suggest meta descriptions
- And more.
While AI-generated content has the potential to impact your Google ranking negatively, it doesn't have to. What matters is how you approach AI content development and your content strategy. Platforms like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, or Jasper can help you streamline things, but don't forget to have a human buffer between your website and its content.
If you're struggling with developing a content strategy, you don't have to feel like you're being left in the dark. REM Web Solutions has been spearheading digital transformation and marketing for years, and we'd be happy to help you and your business with content strategy, SEO, copywriting, and more on your behalf. If you want to start getting your business out there in the algorithm, contact us today.
The REM Web Solution (Get It?)
At Rem Web Solutions, we put more experts behind your business. From web developers to content writing experts, you can trust that by working with REM Web Solutions, you're putting your trust in the frontrunners of the marketing industry. We specialize in web development, content strategy and generation, SEO and more.
Our team tailors all your written website content, from comprehensive blogs to webpages, to compete with high-traffic keywords and tailor it to you and your business. We develop a unique voice for your brand and ensure your content reaches the right audience who wants to access your products and services. Not only this, but we also optimize your content and build a content strategy that is meticulously designed to get your website into the algorithm.
Our team members approach every client with the 7 Guiding Principles of Rem in mind:
The 7 Guiding Principles of REM
1. Customer Success Comes First
A successful customer simultaneously demonstrates our worth in the market and our strength over our competitors.
2. Take Ownership
REM leaders own solutions. We demonstrate our solutions by owning the problem first.
3. Think More
There is always another option. Always. Find it.
4. Improve Everything
Good enough is only good enough for now. We improve on everything we know and do every chance we can.
5. Congratulate the Victory
Amplify our momentum with positive recognition.
6. Persevere
In the face of debate, challenge and confusion, we push forward. We make it through.
7. Customer Success Comes First
A successful customer simultaneously demonstrates our worth in the market and our strength over our competitors.
While AI is an amazing tool, it hasn't gotten to the point where it can completely replace human writers. Instead, AI should be used as a streamlining tool to help get your content out there faster. It can also help clean up your writing by providing several comprehensive tools and suggestions to ensure the content you put out there is the best it can be.
If you need help humanizing and optimizing your website content, don't hesitate to reach out to us at REM Web Solutions. Our team of veteran marketing specialists will tailor an approach unique to you and your business, including making optimized content that has that human element and well-researched authority. Google won't know what hit it.
Contact us today!
