What Does Google Think of AI Content and How It Impacts Your SEO as a Creative Business Owner

As a creative business owner, you're probably juggling a lot – managing projects, dealing with clients, and trying to keep your website in top shape for SEO. One hot topic right now is AI-generated content. But what does Google really think about it, and how can it affect your SEO?

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Let's break it down.

But first: What is SEO?

So, What Is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It's all about making your website more attractive to search engines like Google. When done right, SEO helps your website show up higher in search results, which means more people can find your business online. Think of it as making sure your shop window looks fantastic and is easy to spot on a busy street.

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Why Should You Care About SEO?

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For an interior designer, photographer, or builder, having a strong online presence is crucial. Most potential clients start their search online, whether they're looking for design inspiration, a photographer for their next big event, or a builder to bring their dream home to life. If your website isn’t optimized for search engines, you’re missing out on a lot of potential business.

Key Components of SEO

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Keywords: These are the words and phrases that people type into search engines when looking for services like yours. For example, if you’re an interior designer in Delaware County, PA, you want your website to show up when someone searches for “Delaware County interior designer.” Using relevant keywords in your website content is a big part of SEO.

Quality Content:

Google loves fresh, valuable content. Regularly updating your blog with tips, project showcases, and industry insights can help your site rank higher. As a photographer, you might share photo shoots and tips on choosing the right photographer. As a builder, showcase your latest projects and provide renovation tips.

On-Page SEO:

This includes optimizing the elements on your website, such as title tags, meta descriptions, and headers. It’s like making sure every detail of your portfolio is polished and professional.

Off-Page SEO:

This involves building your site’s reputation through backlinks from other reputable websites. Think of it as getting referrals from satisfied clients or industry peers.

Technical SEO: This ensures your website runs smoothly and loads quickly. It’s the behind-the-scenes work that makes sure your online presence is as impressive as your real-world one.

How Does SEO Help Your Creative Business?

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Increased Visibility: The higher your website ranks, the more visible it is to potential clients. This means more traffic to your site and more opportunities to showcase your work.

Credibility and Trust:

Ranking higher in search results often makes your business appear more credible and trustworthy. People tend to trust Google’s top picks.

Cost-Effective Marketing:

SEO is a cost-effective way to attract organic traffic. Unlike paid ads, which stop delivering results once you stop paying, good SEO keeps working for you over the long term.

Getting Started with SEO

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Know Your Audience: Understand who your ideal clients are and what they’re searching for. This will help you choose the right keywords and create content that speaks directly to them.

Create Great Content:

Share your expertise and showcase your work. For an interior designer, this might mean blogging about the latest design trends. Photographers can share their favorite shots and behind-the-scenes stories. Builders can provide insights on the building process and project highlights.

Optimize Your Website:

Make sure your site is user-friendly, mobile-responsive, and fast-loading. This enhances the user experience and helps with SEO.

Build Connections:

Network with other professionals and get backlinks to your site. This boosts your site’s authority and helps it rank higher.

So what is Google's Take on AI Content?

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Google isn't against AI-generated content per se. They care more about the quality and helpfulness of the content. According to Google's guidelines, what matters is whether your content is useful, reliable, and people-focused.

Quality Over Quantity

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Just because AI can churn out tons of content quickly doesn't mean it's always the best route. Google emphasizes creating content that answers real questions and provides genuine value to your audience. If your AI content reads like it was written by a robot or feels too generic, it might not do well in search rankings.

Human Touch is Key

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Google's algorithms are pretty smart. They can usually tell when content lacks a human touch. AI can assist in generating ideas and drafts, but adding your personal insights, experience, and voice can make a big difference. This helps your content stand out and feel more authentic.

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Best Practices for Using AI Content

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Review and Edit:

Always review and edit AI-generated content. Make sure it aligns with your brand voice and provides real value to your readers.

Mix AI and Human Content:

Use AI to handle repetitive tasks or generate initial drafts, but ensure that the final content is polished and enriched with human insights.

Focus on E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness are crucial. Ensure your content reflects your expertise and provides reliable information.

Ask the Right Questions:

When creating content, think about who it’s for, how it helps them, and why it matters. This aligns with Google's focus on people-first content.

Keep It Updated:

Regularly update your content to keep it relevant and useful. This shows Google that your site is active and committed to providing up-to-date information.

Impact on SEO

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Using AI content wisely can boost your SEO, but it’s not a magic bullet. Here’s how it can help or hurt:

Positive Impact:

Well-crafted AI content can save you time, help you cover more topics, and keep your blog active. This can lead to more indexed pages and potentially higher rankings.

Negative Impact:

Poorly written AI content can harm your rankings. If it feels spammy or doesn’t meet Google's quality standards, it can lead to penalties.
Final Thoughts
AI content is a powerful tool, but it’s not a replacement for genuine, high-quality content creation. As a creative business owner, you have unique insights and a personal touch that AI simply can’t replicate. Use AI to enhance your content strategy, but always keep your focus on providing real value to your audience.

By blending AI efficiency with your creativity and expertise, you can improve your SEO while keeping your content engaging and useful. Remember, Google values content that genuinely helps people – so make that your primary goal, and the rankings will follow.

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Want to read a little more about what Google really things about your AI content as a creative business check out their website artivle on it here: developers.google.com/search/blog/2023/02/google-search-and-ai-content

- Please enjoy these AI generated images reminding us we need to have a human eye when editing and publishing content about our own creative business

Photo Credit: FreePik

Prompt: image of interior business using ai for seo content