What do Google’s new search guidelines for AI content mean for SEO?
- April 23, 2023
- BY WEBZICK GUEST
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The creation of content has been revolutionised by artificial intelligence (AI). Since the release of ChatGPT, Jasper.ai, Bing AI, and Bard, users have experimented casually with these AI content writing tools, employing them to accomplish a variety of tasks with remarkable ease and speed.
ChatGPT, for instance, is able to respond to queries, produce lengthy articles, and write code. This demonstrates that AI technology has the potential to be utilised as a formidable content-creation instrument.
However, what are the implications of AI-generated content for search engine optimisation (SEO)? In February 2023, Google clarified its position on AI-generated content. The largest search engine in the world clarified that it prioritises the quality of content over how it is produced.
Does this imply that enterprises can use AI-powered content creation tools without incurring penalties? This article examines what AI-generated content is, how to detect AI-generated content, how AI affects SEO, and how to ensure that your SEO AI content adheres to Google’s people-first guidelines.
AI-generated content refers to any form of media created by AI algorithms.
A chatbot powered by artificial intelligence can generate any form of content, including:
• Titles, outlines, introductions, and conclusions for blog posts
• Email subject lines, introductions, and CTAs • Web content – copy, product and category descriptions, and metadata
• Social media posts – Captions and brief descriptions
• Videos – Synopses and plot summaries
When used properly, an AI content generator such as Chat-GPT can produce engaging and informative content that performs well in search.
It is important to note, however, that AI content writing tools can be both advantageous and problematic. For example, AI-generated content may be used to manipulate search engine rankings, which is an evident violation of Google’s policies.
It could also diminish the integrity of online information. Brands can easily use an AI content generator to create irrelevant and deceptive articles to target keywords and rank higher in search results.
As a consequence, Google has devised guidelines for websites that use AI tools for content writing. According to their official guide, Google’s ranking algorithm rewards original, high-quality content that demonstrates E-E-A-T qualities: expertise, experience, authority, and trustworthiness.
Brands that want to succeed in Google search should concentrate on producing original, trustworthy, people-first content, whether it comes from a human copywriter, an artificial intelligence content generator, or a combination of the two.
Google is not, in brief, anti-AI. Instead, it consists predominantly of anti-content written for search engines. It will not penalise AI-generated content if it is well-written, uses a human-like tone, and meets the requirements of its intended audience.
Google Search is continually striving to improve user access to high-quality content. In August of 2022, Google rolled out its “Helpful Content Update,” which seeks to reward websites with content written by people for people and penalise those with content written specifically for search engines.
Google considers the following factors when evaluating content:
• Writing quality; • Content structure and organisation; • Presence of beneficial resources such as images and videos; • Overall user experience
Answering the following queries is the simplest method to determine whether your content meets Google’s helpful content guidelines:
• Do you produce a great deal of content on various topics in the hopes that some of it will perform well in search engine results?
• Do you significantly rely on automation software to generate content?
• Do you write about trending topics as opposed to subjects that matter to your target audience?
• Do you create content that replicates what has already been said without adding anything of value?
• Do you produce content on niche topics outside of your primary competencies?
• Do you employ misleading titles and subtitles?
• Does your content claim to provide an answer to a query for which there is no answer, such as a release date for a product or film that has not been confirmed?
If you answered yes to any of the queries, it is time to reconsider your content strategy. Do not wait for your rankings to decline before enhancing your content creation methods.
Google added a new section to its people-first content guide that evaluates content based on “who, how, and why.”
Who (Created the Content)
• Is it obvious to readers who authored the content?
• Do the anticipated bylines appear on the expected pages?
• Do the bylines provide additional author information?
By including accurate authorship information, such as bylines, you can remain transparent to your readers and in accordance with what Google’s ranking systems seek to reward.
How (the Content Was Created)
Sharing the processes involved in content creation can aid in establishing consumer confidence. In addition, it can help them determine whether automation has played a beneficial role in the process.
Google provided product reviews as an illustration. The number of products tested, how the tests were conducted, and the results of the tests, along with images and videos as supporting evidence, may lend credibility to your content in the eyes of your audience.
Why (Was the Content Created)
Your “why” must be to assist and benefit your consumers. If your goal is to manipulate search engine rankings, Google’s spam policies may penalise you.
Google’s Helpful Content Update and “Who, How, and Why” section promote the responsible use of AI content writing tools at their core.
It might not rank well on Google if it appears that a chatbot created all of your content.Fortunately, you can use certain tools to detect AI content.
AI content detectors enable you to paste or type text into a text field, and within seconds, they can determine whether the text was generated by an AI tool. Some individuals are able to discern which portions of a paragraph are written by an artificial intelligence chatbot, while others can provide the percentage of AI text in a given paragraph.
The following are examples of AI-based content detection tools:
Content at scale It claims to accurately predict probable word selections, resulting in an increased probability of AI detection. It employs three AI engines: NLP, algorithms for semantic analysis, and SERP parsing capabilities.
Writer: The free AI content detector in Writer allows users to examine up to 1,500 characters. It also determines the proportion of your content that appears to have been created by humans.
Originality.ai: Originality.ai claims to detect text produced by GPT-3 and ChatGPT with 94% accuracy. It may also be used to detect instances of plagiarism.
Sapling AI: This artificial intelligence content detector provides a percentage of overall false content. It can detect artificial intelligence-generated content written by ChatGPT or GPT-3 by evaluating only 50 words, a lower threshold than most content detectors.
There are hazards involved for brands in ignoring SEO AI generators entirely. When used correctly, AI technology can:
Help content teams surmount writer’s block by supplying blog outlines and topic ideas.
• Permit content teams to save time and increase output.
However, AI content generators cannot be considered a plug-and-play solution. Even the finest AI-generated content would require editing to convey your brand’s unique voice. In reality, a substantial amount of human input is required to generate creative and memorable SEO AI content that resonates with people and performs well in search engines.
It may be too early to determine how AI affects SEO, but one thing is certain: human intervention is essential for utilising AI technology effectively. At Thrive, we assist brands in producing content that focuses on people, demonstrates their industry expertise, and retains them in the minds of their local audience. Our content writers are well-versed in SEO best practises and can assist you in improving your search engine rankings.
Fill out our contact form or call 866-908-4748 to schedule a consultation with our team and learn more about content writing and artificial intelligence.
Filed Under: Search Engine Optimization, Webzick News, Content Creation, Website Content, Online Marketing, Internet Marketing