How to Succeed with SEO in the Age of AI

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is something we only saw in sci-fi books and movies a few decades ago. But now, they are a reality. They have become so ubiquitous you can find them almost everywhere, SEO included. But what is it, exactly, and how do you get ahead in SEO in the age of AI? 

AI uses data, algorithms, and machine learning to solve problems and complete tasks without human intervention. It is also used to analyse vast amounts of data, perform deep learning, and even predict outcomes. Want to see AI in action? Just consider how Google can help you find what you’re looking for online or how you can make Alexa or Siri complete tasks for you with just a simple voice command. 

Getting Ahead of the Competition

As a business owner, you’d certainly want to harness the power of AI to give your SEO efforts a boost. But how do you ensure that you will get ahead of the competition as the rules of the game keep on changing? Here are several tips you should consider. 

1. Find the right technology

With SEO, one of your goals is to set yourself apart from the competition and give your brand digital distinction. To achieve this, you will need the right marketing technology (MarTech) solution. From doing keyword research to performing site audits, there are numerous marketing tools that you can use to your advantage. 

However, because these tools are popular and in demand, the market is quite saturated with them.  Your goal is to find the one that provides you with the perfect fit. Conduct some research to find out which MarTech tools and platforms can help you achieve your SEO goals and your business objectives. 

2. Ensure that your strategies jive with your audience’s needs

As you may know, SEO is more than just using the right keywords on your site and web content. It’s also about providing your target audience with an excellent on-page experience. To satisfy both your audience and Google’s AI, you should always strive to improve the quality of your web pages. Ensure that they can meet your audience’s needs. 

For example, if most of your prospects are on mobile, ensure that your site is mobile-friendly. You should improve your site’s navigation and page loading speeds to make viewing your site on mobile devices a more pleasant experience for your web visitors. 

3. Be aware of Google updates

When it comes to search, Google has the lion share. As of March 2022, the search giant holds 86.3% of the market in the UK and 85.55% worldwide. This means almost nine out of ten people use Google to look up things online. 

With Google dominating search, it certainly helps to be aware of its search algorithm updates to succeed with SEO in the age of AI. Keep your ears peeled for the latest news. This will help you craft better SEO strategies and prevent any on-site issues that could hurt your search rankings and web traffic.

4. Improve your site security

Data security has become a significant issue over the last few years with the prevalence of identity theft, online security breaches, and other related problems. To succeed in a time where both users and search engine AIs value security, you have to secure your site. Obtain SSL certificates and switch to HTTPS protocol to safeguard your data. 

AI in SEO

AI is used in many ways in SEO, and optimising your web content for them will give you a definite advantage. They include: 

1. Visual image search

Primarily used in online shopping, visual image search lets users look up information about a particular object by snapping a picture instead of typing keywords into search engines. That being said, consider incorporating more graphics into your site to make it visual image search-friendly. Also, make sure to optimise web images by adding keywords to their file names and using alt text. 

2. Voice search

Voice search is the technology behind popular virtual assistants, such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. Instead of typing on your keyboard, you speak directly to your device to perform a task or conduct an online search. An excellent way to optimise your site for voice search is to target long-tail keywords. It also helps to have a FAQ page, which allows you to optimise content for search queries in question form. 

3. Local search

These days, most consumers use map applications to find local businesses that can provide for their needs. Having a Google My Business page will help increase your chance of appearing on Google Maps and being found by prospects. This will undoubtedly help you succeed with SEO in the age of AI. 

Let the Experts Help

As they say, nothing is permanent in this world except for change. This includes the internet and SEO. To thrive in an ever-changing world, you should learn to adapt. Build new AI-friendly SEO strategies that will help you get ahead of the competition.

It’s also a great idea to ask the experts for help. If you need to build an SEO strategy that will enable you to succeed in the age of AI, we at Springhill Marketing are happy to assist you. Please speak with us today, and let’s discuss your SEO game plan.