A potential game-changer has risen its head over the last year in the form of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which can generate content in a matter of seconds, using information from around the web. When harnessed effectively, AI has the potential to become the secret weapon that allows publishers to produce the kind of content that can push an affiliate’s site up in the search rankings. The flip side is that this also has unleashed a tsunami of poorly crafted content which is seeping into the SERPS.
Is the concept of AI overblown though? Does it really work? In this article, we’ll explore a handful of AI tools that are specifically designed to offer improved search rankings and help publishers create content that’s authentic and engaging for their audiences.
DISCLAIMER: To be clear from the outset, we are not making recommendations to affiliates to outsource their entire content strategy to any particular AI tool. These tools are great at providing ideas for content and a framework to write in, but, regardless of the platform used, publishers should always check or edit content before posting it. Any inaccuracies will still reflect negatively on your brand and claiming that the incorrect information was provided by an AI tool is not an excuse for posting factually incorrect information.
Having said that, we do think it’s a good idea to investigate and keep abreast of what some of the best AI tools in the market are – and keep up with your own testing and investigation of these tools – if you’re looking to take your affiliate business to the next level.
When it comes to SEO, AI can be used in two ways:
Chatbots for user engagement
Chatbots, powered by AI, are not just being used for customer service. They can significantly enhance user engagement on your site, which can contribute to improved SEO rankings.
By providing instant responses to user queries and guiding them through your content, chatbots reduce bounce rates and increase dwell time, both of which are critical factors in search engine algorithms.
Content Creation with GPT Models
AI-generated content is no longer a novelty. We’ve seen it rise to the mainstream over the last twelve months and it has become a powerful tool that is being used more and more by content based publishers.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is the mainstream AI tool for content generation as it contains models, like GPT-3, which can produce human-like text, making it an invaluable asset for creating compelling articles in just a few minutes – something that webmasters and search engines alike have grown to love. ChatGPT offers free and paid services, with a paid subscription offering faster processing time and more up-to-date references. Demand has meant that, at the time of writing, paid subscriptions have been put on hold.
Google has also recently released their Gemini 1.5 Pro tool for long form content generation as a competitor to GPT. These models understand context and generate content that aligns seamlessly with search engine requirements, even being able to create meta descriptions optimised for SEO.
New Social SEO Tools: Semrush & ContentShake AI
Speaking of being able to generate content quickly, another nifty tool that has become popular with affiliates is ContentShake AI – a part of the Semrush SEO marketplace platform.
ContentShake AI asks the publisher a few questions around:
It then produces unique content of around 1,000 words on the topic requested. If you’re looking for regular short-form content, the tool is also able to produce posts for Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
SEO Analytics with Google’s AI Platform
Google Analytics has become the data platform of choice for many affiliates looking to better understand how their content is consumed by their audience. This information can now be combined with Google’s AI Platform for SEO analytics which provides publishers with unparalleled insights.
For the first time, affiliates can take advantage of Google’s machine learning algorithms to identify search trends and understand user behaviour in more detail than ever before. By getting a grasp on this, an affiliate can refine their content accordingly.
These strategies can be aligned with tools like Google Search Console, which has become indispensable for publishers aiming to better understand what is resonating with their current audience as well as what sort of content new readers are searching for.
Automated SEO Audits
Running regular SEO audits is crucial for identifying areas of improvement. AI-driven tools like Semrush (whom we mentioned above) and Moz or Similarweb all provide tools that not only automate the auditing process but also provide actionable recommendations. From identifying broken links to suggesting improvements in on-page SEO, these tools ensure that publishers can stay on top of their SEO game without the need for extensive manual analysis.
Predictive SEO with RankScience
RankScience is a tool that employs machine learning algorithms to predict which changes to a website will have the most significant impact on search engine rankings. The platform does this by automating a series of A/B tests around a variety of SEO strategies. RankScience helps publishers refine their approaches based on real-time data, and gives transparent feedback which ensures that every tweak has the potential to contribute to improved visibility in the SERPS.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Understanding how users search is paramount in SEO. NLP tools, such as IBM Watson and Yoast SEO, analyse user intent behind search queries. By incorporating relevant keywords and phrases in a natural, contextually appropriate manner, publishers can optimise their content for both search engines and human readers.
SEO Automation with HubSpot
HubSpot is best known for its CRM capabilities but it also provides a range of AI tools which are designed to automate various parts of SEO. These tools range from keyword tracking to content optimisation suggestions and help to streamline SEO workflow. This process allows publishers to focus on crafting high-quality content while the platform takes care of the technical side of things.
Voice Search Optimisation
Let’s finish off this list with a quick nod to the future (if it isn’t here already). As voice search becomes increasingly prevalent, publishers will need to adapt their SEO strategies accordingly. AI-powered tools, like AnswerThePublic and Conversational Actions by Google, are already being created to help publishers understand and optimise their content for conversational queries. These tools allow the crafting of content that aligns with natural language, thus ensuring visibility when a user searches for something on their phone or watch with their voice.
AI has become mainstream amongst affiliates and publishers in a short amount of time. Despite the speed of its arrival, AI continues to evolve and publishers can expect even more sophisticated tools to emerge in the near future. It’s important for publishers that are looking to grow their businesses to keep abreast of new tools. These are just a few we’ve seen recently that could be helpful.
Predictive analytics, advanced natural language processing, and enhanced user behaviour analysis are likely to play pivotal roles in shaping the future of SEO. Publishers and affiliates who remain conscious of these tools (and how they can be used) will put themselves ahead of the pack in the ongoing race for a growing and engaged audience.
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