If you’re wondering ‘can I use AI for SEO?’ the answer is definitely yes. And you don’t even need to be a tech guru!
Running a business means wearing many hats. You’re busy with a never-ending to-do list, and SEO often ends up on the back burner. This is where AI tools come in handy. If you’re wondering ‘can I use AI for SEO?’ the answer is definitely yes. And you don’t even need to be a tech guru to get started!
We’ve come across a number of small business owners around New Zealand who are already tapping into free tools (like ChatGPT and Google Gemini) to save time and improve their marketing. Think of these tools as friendly assistants who can brainstorm ideas, draft content, and help optimise your website for better Google rankings. In this guide, we’ll break down practical ways to use AI for your SEO.
Why Use AI for SEO?
Firstly, free AI tools can tackle routine SEO tasks at lightning speed. Rather than spending hours writing website content or agonising over how to phrase a blog introduction, you can let the AI do the heavy lifting. Secondly, it’s also great for brainstorming. AI can spark ideas you might not have thought of on your own, a huge help when your marketing creativity feels drained.
But what about Google’s stance on AI content? You may be surprised to learn that Google actually doesn’t mind how content is made, as long as it’s helpful, original, and trustworthy. In Google’s own words, if AI generated content fulfills these three criteria, “it might do well in Search,” but “if it doesn’t, it might not.” In other words: content that answers real questions and proves its value can rank, whether AI helped write it or not.
That said, it’s important to keep in mind that you will need to supplement AI generated content with your own thoughts and insights. Google prefers content that demonstrates real-world experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). It can obviously be difficult for AI to produce this, so ideally it needs to come from you.
How to Use AI for SEO
Here are some key SEO tasks that AI can help you with.
1. Brainstorming Keywords & Content Ideas
One of the first steps in SEO is figuring out what topics or keywords your customers care about. Traditionally, you might use keyword research tools, or just brainstorm yourself. Now you can speed this up with AI.
For example, if you sell garden tools, you could ask ChatGPT or Gemini something like: “What questions do people ask about gardening?” It might give you questions like, “What’s the best way to maintain a lawnmower engine?” or “How do I keep weeds out of my vegetable garden?” Alternatively, a local café owner could prompt ChatGPT with: “Give me 5 blog ideas for a café attracting tourists in Rotorua.” It might suggest topics like “Visiting Rotorua? Don’t Miss These Must-Try Coffee Shops” or “How Our Rotorua Café Sources Local Ingredients.”
These suggestions can inspire a helpful blog post or FAQ on your site. By directly addressing these queries, you’re more likely to attract visitors who are searching for exactly those answers.
2. Planning & Writing Blogs
Staring at a blank page is no fun. Thankfully, AI is excellent for breaking through writer’s block. You can ask it to draft an outline, a first paragraph, or even a full article. For instance: “Write an outline for a blog about the benefits of solar panels for small businesses.” In seconds, you’ll get a structured outline with main points and even suggested subheadings. As we’ve mentioned, you’ll still want to add your own experience and local knowledge, but the AI handles the heavy lifting of structuring the post.
Tip: If you’re collaborating with a team, you can use Google Gemini within Google Docs. This allows you to brainstorm, create, and refine content in real-time, without switching tools.
3. Writing Website Content
You can also ask AI to draft specific sections of content around your website, whether it’s on the Home page or a service page. Need an opening blurb that hooks the reader? Try prompting: “Write an engaging intro for a page about…”
Service pages also need clear, customer-focused copy. AI can help by explaining how your services can benefit the customer. For example, a builder could ask: “Write a simple description of why new home buyers should install insulation during construction.” Use the AI draft as a base, then edit to add your own expertise.
4. Writing Product Descriptions
Got a load of products? AI can speed up writing descriptions. Feed it the key details (benefits, features, materials, and unique selling points) Then, ask it to draft engaging descriptions that are both customer-friendly and SEO-friendly. Always double-check for accuracy, but this approach saves time and ensures consistency across your site.
5. Writing Custom Metadata
Many business owners find AI particularly handy for repetitive tasks like page titles and meta descriptions (the text that appears alongside your website in Google). Instead of writing 10 different titles and descriptions from scratch, you can have an AI tool suggest options for each page, then you edit for accuracy and tone.
6. Writing Alt Text
Image alt text helps with SEO, but it’s often overlooked. This is text that describes an image, but can’t actually be seen by users. Instead of writing alt text manually, you can ask AI to generate alt text if you describe the image. For example: “Write SEO-friendly alt text for photos of a café in Wellington.”
Editing For Quality Control
We’ve talked a lot about how AI can make SEO easier and speed things up. But it’s not a magic wand. Quality control is still on you. Remember, Google values content that demonstrates real expertise, so you’ll want to add your personal touch before publishing.
Google’s E-E-A-T principles basically boil down to this: show that you know your stuff, that you’ve got the experience, and that people can trust you. AI is a tool, not a replacement for your knowledge and voice. So how do we combine the two? Here are some tips to ensure your AI-assisted content hits the mark:
Always Review & Edit AI Output
Think of the AI stuff as a helpful first draft. You must read through and fact-check it. AI can occasionally make things up, or sound really convincing about something that’s totally wrong. Google’s own SEO experts remind us that AI models can produce outdated or overconfident claims, so it’s wise to validate any AI-generated content with your own knowledge. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your gut and double-check with a reliable source.
Add Your Experience
If you’re writing about accounting software and you’ve been an accountant for 10 years, sprinkle that context in. For example: “In my decade as an accountant, I’ve seen many small businesses struggle with X, which is why this tip matters.” Or perhaps if you’re discussing how to choose a wine, mention your experience in running winery tours. These personal touches signal to readers (and Google) that a real person with real experience is behind the content. AI cannot replicate your personal stories or the unique insights you have.
Cite Credible Sources
When appropriate, back up claims with data or a quick mention of where info comes from. For instance, if you state “According to a 2025 survey, 60% of marketers use AI tools for SEO,” consider citing the source as well. You don’t need to clutter a casual blog with academic footnotes, but a hyperlink to a reputable source or a simple reference like “(source: Marketing Association NZ)” can add credibility. This ensures your content is authoritative, and you’re not just making empty claims.
Tip: Using AI to fetch some of these facts can also be a handy trick. You could ask “find a recent statistic on how many businesses use AI for marketing.” Just make sure the source it gives is legit!
Maintain Your Brand Voice
AI tends toward a neutral, sometimes overly formal tone by default. Don’t be afraid to build in your brand’s personality when you edit. If your style is cheeky and casual, make sure the content sounds that way. If you’re more professional and reserved, tone down any flowery adjectives the AI might have added. Consistency in voice builds trust over time because readers feel like they know you.
Tip: You can actually train or instruct AI to follow a certain style. For example: “Rewrite the above in a friendly, kiwi, conversational tone.” The result can be a lot closer to what you want, reducing your editing work. Still, always give it a final human polish.
Remember, AI is there to assist with your SEO, not do it all for you. Google’s philosophy is people-first content. Use AI to speed up the research, writing, and editing process, but you handle the final touches. A good mindset is: AI handles the grunt work, you handle the work that requires a bit more thought and nuance. By blending AI efficiency with your human touch, you’ll consistently produce content that ranks well and resonates with readers.
Bringing AI Into Your SEO Strategy
AI isn’t just a flashy trend for big companies, it’s a practical helper that small business owners can harness today. If you’re not sure where to start with your AI tool of choice, you can ask it for help with that too! You might be surprised at how much quicker and easier some marketing tasks become. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for digital marketing, with lots of handy functions in one.
Of course, we should probably give one last reminder that success with AI ultimately comes down to how you use it. The businesses winning at SEO are using AI as a tool, not a replacement for human effort. They save time on drafting and brainstorming, and reinvest that time into creativity and the finer details.
Finally, don’t forget that SEO (even with AI) is an ongoing process. Keep an eye on your website’s performance. Are you getting more traffic or engagement after implementing AI-driven content or ideas? If you need help, there’s no shame in reaching out to professionals as well. At the end of the day, tools are tools; it’s how we use them that counts. With your expertise about your business and the time-saving power of AI, you have a recipe for SEO marketing success that can fit within your busy schedule.
Sources
Using insights from industry experts, and Google’s own guidance, we’ve made sure the tips above are in line with SEO best practices. Here are a few of our key sources:
Big Sea: Google Gemini for SEO: 5 Strategies That Work – Big Sea
SEO.com: Google and AI Content: What to Know (And What to Do in 2024)
SEO.com: How to Use AI for SEO: 11 Tactics From SEO Experts
Search Engine Land: How to use Google Gemini for better SEO
