Has your website suddenly experienced a decline in the number of visitors? Perhaps this is due to something speedily and strongly called AI in SEO. But do not be alarmed; I am here to explain.
Let me first break down AI and SEO
AI can help you find useful keywords. Keywords are words or phrases people type into search engines, like Google, to find what they need. Using AI, you can see which keywords are currently popular and how often people use them. AI can help by writing articles or blog posts, assessing websites for performance, and recommending improvements. Sounds terrific. Well, at other times, AI can also create issues.
So, how does it help in SEO?
JeffNortonDigital revamped the content on the website, focusing on clear messaging that addressed customer pain points and implemented strategic calls-to-action (CTAs) on every page. The content was optimized for local SEO to capture customers searching for plumbing services.
AI might be the cause of decreasing traffic because of over-optimization. Over-optimization occurs when one makes too many changes based on AI suggestions. When baking cookies, for example, you constantly add sugar and more sugar, thinking this will make your cookies taste even better. Still, eventually, the cookies become inedible due to their extreme sweetness.
That can happen with your website, too. If you constantly update it and put in a load of keywords, for instance, your website may become hard to understand or, more importantly, less fun to read. That has the potential effect of quickly leaving the site.
Another way AI can cause problems is by misunderstanding data. AI is a robot brain. It has no feelings, so it is sometimes confused.
The AI could then generalize to say that you should add more pictures since sites with pictures usually do well. What about when your website pertains to a newspaper, where many pictures make the site slow or less professional? In this case, the advice given by the AI would not help and would even drive people away from your site.
In some cases, AI might make mistakes in deciphering what the guests want. Suppose you have a bakery, and the AI tells you that people want more cake recipes. You posted only cake recipes when all they wanted was cookie recipes. This way, you are going to lose visitors. AI is not perfect; sometimes, it gives advice that’s not quite right for your audience.
Should you stop doing SEO with AI? Well, not quite. AI does have its advantages. It can save you time and help you find helpful information faster, for example, instead of using hours to look for good keywords, which AI could do in minutes. AI can help you spot trends. Trends are those things that are popular for a period. By knowing the trends, you will surely adjust your content quickly.
The following are some tips that may help in dealing with these issues more effectively:
- Balance is Key
- The last important thing is to don’t let AI be your rulebook for every decision. Please take it as an indicator, but trust your instincts, too. You know your website and visitors way better than any AI or algorithm.
- Double-Check AI’s Advice
- Double-check big changes in advice. If AI advises many keywords, ensure the content is not confusing and difficult to read.
- Know Your Audience
- AI might suggest a lot about the number of postings one should make on a trending topic, but is this what your audience wants to see? It’s just like knowing what your friends will like at a party. Know your visitors’ needs to make informed decisions.
- Test Changes Gradually
- Instead of making many changes at once, test them bit by bit. For example, you can change the keywords on one page and see if it brings more visitors before changing other pages on your site.
- Keep Learning
- SEO is a constantly changing science, and so is AI. Try to learn as much as you can from articles and online courses. That way, you’ll know all the new features of AI and how to avoid the most recurring pitfalls when using them.
- Use your tools wisely.
- With AI having many tools, you can incorporate their use simultaneously in a timely manner. Just figure out what works for you and what does or doesn’t fit your needs. Some of these tools are absolutely outstanding for keyword research, while others do a better job of understanding how people interact with your site.
- Human Touch
- Lastly, we should keep the human touch high. While AI can analyze data, neither can replace the creativity and personal touch you give your content. One good example can be a blog post that speaks from the heart about your experiences rather than some standard AI-churned-out article.
AI in SEO can indeed behave like a two-edged sword: Though it has a number of advantages, like saving time and offering fast insights, it can also produce overoptimization or misinterpreted data. The key is to treat AI as just a tool and not a crutch. Balance AI advice with your own knowledge and understanding of the audience. This is where the best of both worlds can materialize, and the website traffic can get going smoothly.
Remember, while AI can make life easier, using your judgment and creativity is still important. Happy optimizing!