As a Sydney digital marketing agency, we can confidently say that search engine optimization (SEO) has always been, and always will be, an important part of any company’s digital marketing strategy. However, with the arrival of AI, it is clear that traditional SEO strategies will no longer make the cut, and companies must adapt to stay relevant and competitive. The integration of AI into SEO practices has marked a significant shift in digital marketing, and in this blog we will explore this relationship and see how you may best embrace this new dynamic.
What is SEO, and why is it important?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is best described as the process used to generate free and organic traffic, or natural search results, with the aim of improving a website’s position in the search engine result pages of search engines such as Google.
If you’re looking to draw in more visitors and customers to your website, it is important that you try to rank your website high in search engine result pages (SERPs). This is because research has consistently shown that over 75% of web users do not go beyond the first result page when looking for something online. The higher your website ranks, the more people will see it, and more people means more potential to turn visitors into customers.
How has AI impacted SEO?
AI is getting smarter on a daily basis, and the improvements in machine learning and natural language processing have added a whole new dimension to SEO. While there is talk that AI could potentially replace SEO, we as a Sydney digital marketing agency disagree with this notion. The bottom line is that AI is not here to replace SEO but rather to enhance it. It presents both challenges and great opportunities to businesses, and those who embrace the future at an early stage will continue to stay relevant and gain a competitive edge.
The best way to adapt to this new age of AI-based SEO is to understand the strategies you have at your disposal and the best way to utilise them. As we see, the best ways for businesses to use AI tools are to
- Develop keyword strategies and analyse topics.
- Improve on-page SEO.
- Improve technical SEO
- Develop proper backlines and improve off-page SEO.
- Fine-tune details to better fit local SEO.
Develop keyword strategies and analyse topics.
Keyword research has gotten a lot easier with the introduction of AI-powered tools. You can use these tools to analyse large quantities of data to identify high-impact keywords that resonate with your target audience. They can also be used to identify which keywords best fit the different pages of your website.
You can also use AI tools to identify the topics frequently discussed among users in connection with your field of business and develop a content strategy that directly addresses these questions and draws their attention towards your website.
Improve on-page SEO.
Search engines favour online content that is well-structured and allows the reader to easily grasp the narrative. You can use tools such as ChatGPT to generate outlines and structures for blogs, videos, and other content you would want to include in your website. You can also use these tools to suggest improvements and correct any spelling and grammatical errors, significantly improving the overall writing quality.
But you should not rely solely on AI-generated content. While AI has improved significantly, it can still make mistakes. Furthermore, market research has shown that around 50% of people can spot AI-generated content, and a further 52% engage less when they suspect the content to be AI-generated.
Improve technical SEO
You can use AI-tools to ensure a smooth user experience by improving the technical SEO part of your website. Use AI tools to gather data on website traffic, identify the reasons for surges and drops in website traffic, and make improvements to ensure a smooth user experience during these times.
Develop proper backlinks and improve off-page SEO.
SEO isn’t just about your website. A large part of ranking high in SERPs also involves encouraging other websites to have links to yours, positing you as a trustworthy source in your field. Guest posting, infographics, and unlinked mentions are some of the backlinking methods that have greatly benefited from the integration of AI.
Fine-tune details to better fit local SEO.
When it comes to improving local SEO, AI tools are most effective in analysing data and providing recommendations, as well as optimising content to better fit local tastes and linguistics, helping your business stand out in local searches.
What are some of the best AI-powered SEO tools?
Keyword Strategy
- Ahrefs
- Clerescope
- MarketMuse
- SemRush
- SuferSEO
Content Generation and Optimisation
- ChatGPT
- Jasper
- Perplexity
- Frase
- TextOptimizer
Technical SEO
- Ahrefs
- Google Search Console
- Screaming Frog
- SemRush
Local SEO
- Ahrefs
- Falcon
- Whitespark
- BrightLocal
Conclusion
It’s abundantly clear that traditional SEO practices will no longer make the cut. Ambitious businesses looking to grow and make their presence known in the digital space must develop an AI-driven strategy to achieve more with less time and effort. However, AI is not a substitute for SEO but rather a complementary tool. At AT Digital IO, we focus on exploring the new dimensions of digital marketing with AI tools and create innovative strategies that help optimise your digital presence and generate meaningful results. Connect with us today and learn more about how our Sydney digital marketing agency can help shape your online presence.