AI for SEO: How to Rank in 2024 and Beyond

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we approach SEO content creation.

This powerful technology allows teams to brainstorm dozens of relevant topic ideas, identify the most promising keywords, and even generate first drafts in a matter of minutes.

The result is a scalable, efficient content pipeline that fuels top-of-funnel growth and empowers sales teams with the resources they need to close more deals.

In this post, we'll explore how AI chat is transforming the sales enablement landscape and provide actionable insights for implementing this game-changing technology in your organization.

How to Use AI for SEO to Generate Content at Scale

1. Generate Sales and Marketing Blog Post Ideas

Struggling to come up with fresh, engaging blog post ideas for your sales and marketing content?

Copy.ai Chat can be the brainstorming buddy you've been looking for.

Instead of spending hours brainstorming manually, leverage the power of AI to generate 30-50 potential topics in minutes.

Here's how...

Start by providing the AI with a few key inputs, such as your target audience, main product or service, and desired content themes. Then, let the AI work its magic, combining its knowledge with your specific parameters to give you an array of attention-grabbing blog post ideas.

At this stage, you're just looking for general ideas and topics that excite you, and that you think would be appealing to your audience.

Once you have your list of AI-generated topics, it's time to curate.

Review each idea carefully, considering factors like relevance to your audience, SEO potential, and alignment with your overall content strategy. Narrow it down to the top 10 most promising concepts – the cream of the crop that you feel will resonate strongest with your readers.

Not only does this AI-powered ideation process save you significant time compared to manual brainstorming, but it can also help you uncover unique angles and unexpected approaches that you might not have considered otherwise.

2. Keyword Research and Validation

Once you've settled on the most promising blog post topics from your AI-generated ideas, it's time to dive into keyword research.

For each of the 10 topics you've selected, have your AI assistant generate 5 potential target keywords. This will give you a solid foundation of relevant terms to optimize your content around.

But don't just take the AI's word for it!

The next step is to validate those keywords using an SEO tool like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz.

Plug in the suggested keywords and analyze the search volume and ranking potential. You're looking for keywords with decent search volume (which varies by industry) and a keyword difficulty score that's within reach based on your site's authority.

This step is essential for ensuring your content is optimized for discoverability by your target audience.

By targeting validated keywords, you can attract organic traffic from prospects actively searching for information related to your products or services.

Thorough keyword research also provides valuable insights into the questions, pain points, and desires of your ideal customers. You can use this knowledge to inform your content briefs and craft blog posts that resonate more deeply.

When your content nails the search intent behind a query and provides real value, you'll be well on your way to establishing thought leadership and trust with your audience.

So don't skip this step in the AI-assisted content creation process. Validating your keywords will pay dividends in terms of SEO, traffic, and ultimately, conversions and revenue.

3. Automate Content Briefs and First Drafts

With AI-powered workflows, you can take your validated target keywords and plug them into a content generation system that will automatically spit out a comprehensive brief, a well-structured outline, and even a rough first draft.

The beauty of this approach is that it allows you to scale your content production without sacrificing quality.

These AI-generated drafts typically score around 60 out of 100 for on-page SEO best practices right out of the gate on tools like SurferSEO. That's a huge head start compared to writing from scratch.

But the benefits go beyond just SEO.

By automating the tedious upfront work of research, outlining and drafting, you free up your sales enablement team to focus on higher-level strategy and GTM initiatives.

You can churn out dozens of high-quality content pieces in a fraction of the time it would take to do it all manually.

Of course, the AI-generated content will still need some human finessing to really sing.

But more on that in a bit.

The point is that automating your content briefs and first drafts is a game-changer for any team looking to ramp up their publishing cadence without breaking the bank on freelance writers or sacrificing quality.

4. Expand and Refine AI-Generated Drafts

Now, drop that draft into an AI-powered content editor and start iterating.

Use targeted prompts to have the AI expand on key sections, drilling down into the details that will make the piece truly actionable for your audience.

Ask the AI to add examples, step-by-step instructions, or case studies to illustrate the main points.

Have it suggest additional subheadings to flesh out the structure and flow. The beauty of this process is that you can quickly generate multiple variations and choose the best parts of each to craft your masterpiece.

With an AI writing assistant handling the heavy lifting, you can take a rough draft to a polished, publish-ready article in a fraction of the time.

Imagine the impact on your content velocity - you could easily create hundreds of enriched blog post drafts in a matter of hours, ready to hand off to your human writers for the final touches.

That's the power of AI in your content workflows - it's like adding a team of tireless researchers and writers to help you scale your content creation without sacrificing quality.

The more you iterate and refine with AI, the better your content will become, and the more efficient your content engine will run.

5. Optimize Content with Human Writers

Once you've used AI to expand and refine your blog post drafts, it's time to bring in the human touch. Hand the AI-generated content off to your team of writers for final polishing.

Your writers will focus on refining the narrative flow, making sure the piece sounds natural and engaging from start to finish. They'll trim any fluff, tighten up the prose, and ensure the post delivers on its promise to the reader.

The writers will also fine-tune the keywords and formatting for maximum SEO impact.

But they won't overdo it - the goal is to create content that ranks well because it provides real value, not because it's stuffed with keywords.

The key is to view AI as a tool to augment your human writers, not replace them.

With this hybrid approach, you'll be churning out top-notch thought leadership content that drives lead generation and positions your brand as an industry authority.

Fueling Top-of-Funnel Lead Generation

Leveraging an AI-powered content engine supercharges your ability to attract top-of-funnel leads through both organic search and social media channels.

The AI workflow allows you to ideate dozens of relevant topics, validate the best keywords, and produce polished drafts in a matter of hours.

This content velocity is key to ranking for a wide net of search terms and getting your brand discovered by your target audience.

Think of each article as a 24/7 salesperson, educating prospects about their problems and positioning your product as a potential solution.

In short, the AI-generated content engine positions you as a trusted authority and keeps you top-of-mind as prospects move through the buyer's journey.

Enabling Sales Teams with Content

Sales enablement is crucial for empowering reps to engage prospects effectively. But with AI-powered content generation, companies can arm their sales teams with a library of helpful, educational resources to share with potential customers at every stage of the funnel.

This approach positions sales reps as trusted advisors, providing value and building rapport with leads.

Instead of relying solely on generic pitch decks or product sheets, reps can draw from a wealth of blog posts, whitepapers, case studies, and other assets that address specific pain points and showcase the company's expertise.

Plus, AI enables the creation of this content at an unprecedented scale.

No longer limited by the bandwidth of in-house writers or agencies, organizations can rapidly produce a diverse range of high-quality, targeted materials. This content fuels full-funnel enablement, equipping reps to nurture leads from initial outreach through to closing.

Reps become an extension of the brand voice, reinforcing key messages and value propositions at every touchpoint.

This consistency builds trust and credibility, paving the way for deeper relationships and, ultimately, more closed deals.

Scaling Thought Leadership

Thought leadership content serves several key purposes.

First, it helps establish trust and credibility with your target audience. By consistently publishing high-quality, informative content, you demonstrate that your brand deeply understands the challenges and opportunities in your industry.

You're not just selling products or services, but providing genuine value.

Plus, thought leadership positions your brand as a go-to resource and authority in your space.

When prospects and customers seek answers, you want them turning to your content first. B

AI can also help you efficiently extract those valuable insights from SMEs through simple conversations.

You can then polish and refine the content, optimizing it for both search engines and readers. This allows you to produce thought leadership at scale without sacrificing quality or putting undue strain on your experts' time.

Some examples of thought leadership content that can be scaled with AI include:

• In-depth blog posts on industry trends and best practices
• Whitepapers and eBooks that dive deep into key topics
• Expert roundups featuring insights from internal and external SMEs
• Webinars and videos that share advice and answer common questions

By making thought leadership a pillar of your content strategy, you'll elevate your brand while fueling top-of-funnel lead generation and enabling your sales team with powerful content assets.

And with the efficiency of AI-powered workflows, you can achieve this at a scale that was once unimaginable.

On-Page SEO Factors That Still Matter with AI

The arrival of generative AI technologies has undeniably revolutionized SEO strategies, tools, and efforts.

Despite these advancements, traditional on-page SEO factors remain critically important for achieving high rankings in search engine results, particularly when aligned with the capabilities of AI-powered tools and the insights provided by platforms like Google Search Console.

Here’s an elucidation of how these elements integrate into a modern SEO approach:

1. Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Even with generative AI reshaping content creation, the significance of well-crafted title tags and meta descriptions in an SEO strategy cannot be overstated.

AI tools can help optimize these elements by analyzing keyword performance and search intent, ensuring that they are both appealing to humans and optimized for search engines.

2. Headings and Content Structure

The structure of your content, guided by H1, H2, and subsequent headers, remains a cornerstone of on-page SEO.

AI-powered tools can assist in organizing content in a way that’s not only user-friendly but also signals the hierarchy and relevance of information to search engines, enhancing the overall SEO efforts.

3. Keyword Optimization

Generative AI has the capability to revolutionize keyword research and content creation by identifying keyword gaps and suggesting content optimizations.

But the strategic placement of these keywords within your content, while avoiding keyword stuffing, still plays a pivotal role in search engine optimization. Tools integrating AI can provide recommendations for optimal keyword density and distribution.

4. Image Alt Text

With the AI revolution, images can now be generated and optimized in novel ways, but the importance of descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for images continues in SEO strategy.

This not only aids in making content accessible but also helps images rank in search engine image searches, a factor that AI tools can help optimize by suggesting relevant keywords.

5. URL Structure

The clarity and organization of URLs are on-page factors that directly impact SEO efforts.

While generative AI has little to do with URL structure, using AI-powered tools for site audit purposes can highlight issues in URL structure that may impact site navigation and indexation by search engines.

6. Mobile Friendliness and Page Speed

AI tools contribute significantly to optimizing websites for mobile usage and improving page loading times, addressing both critical on-page SEO factors.

The employment of AI-powered tools to analyze and enhance site speed and mobile responsiveness ensures a better user experience, positively influencing SEO rankings.

7. Internal Linking

An often underestimated aspect of on-page SEO is the strategic use of internal linking, which guides users and search engines through your site’s content.

Generative AI can assist by suggesting relevant internal links, thus enhancing content interconnectivity and reinforcing your SEO strategy.

8. Engagement Metrics

Although not a direct on-page factor, engagement metrics like bounce rates and time on site are influenced by on-page SEO elements.

Analyzing these metrics through Google Search Console, with the support of AI tools, can offer insights into how effectively your on-page SEO efforts are translating into user engagement.

9. Content Quality and Originality

In the era of generative AI, the push for high-quality, original content has intensified.

Search engines, particularly through the analysis capabilities of Google Search Console, favor content that offers value, meets the user's search intent, and stands out for its originality and insight.

All of these elements should work together with advanced AI technologies and data analysis from platforms like Google Search Console to create a cohesive, forward-thinking approach to search engine optimization.

Best AI SEO Tools to Get Started

1. Copy.ai - Automated Content Briefs and SEO-Friendly Blog Posts at Scale

Copy.ai is the first-ever GTM AI Platform.

It leverages AI to assist in the creation of SEO-friendly content, including automated content briefs and blog posts.

Designed to generate high-quality content at scale, Copy.ai simplifies the content creation process, making it easier for marketers and content creators to produce articles that are not only engaging but also optimized for search engines.

• Pros:
  • Intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate for beginners.
  • Generates a variety of content types quickly.
  • Helps overcome writer’s block with creative content ideas.
• Cons:
  • Sometimes the content may require human editing to ensure accuracy and relevancy.
  • Limited customization options for more advanced SEO requirements.

This helps your team reduce the bottleneck and GTM Bloat that's built up across your org over the past few years. Now, you can quickly and easily go from keyword to SEO-friendly blog post in seconds.

And if you have keywords in bulk, you can generate an endless number of content to claim more real-estate on the SERPs and drive more traffic to your site.

2. SurferSEO - Data-Driven SEO Content Planning

SurferSEO is a comprehensive tool that uses AI to analyze SERPs and offer specific recommendations to optimize content for better rankings.

It examines factors like keyword density, content structure, and backlinks of top-ranking pages to provide insights for your content strategy.

• Pros:
  • Offers detailed guidelines for creating content that competes with top-ranking pages.
  • Includes a SERP analyzer, keyword research tool, and content editor.
  • Helps identify the most relevant terms and questions to include in your content.
• Cons:
  • Can be overwhelming for beginners due to the depth of data provided.
  • The subscription cost may be high for small businesses or individual bloggers.

This is the AI SEO tool we use internally to make sure our content is fully optimized for the readers' experience.

3. Ahrefs - Competitor Analysis and Keyword Research

A mainstay in the SEO toolkit, Ahrefs utilizes AI and massive data crawling capabilities to offer insights into competitors, keyword research, site audits, and more.

It's particularly well-known for its backlink analysis features.

• Pros:
  • Comprehensive backlink analysis tool.
  • Robust keyword research features with detailed metrics.
  • Site audit tool identifies technical SEO issues efficiently.
• Cons:
  • The interface can be complex for new users.
  • Pricing is on the higher side, especially for advanced features.

Ahrefs is another tool we use here at Copy.ai to ensure our content always has the right strategy behind it.

4. SEMrush - All-in-One Marketing Toolkit

SEMrush is an all-encompassing marketing suite that offers AI-driven solutions for SEO, content marketing, competitor analysis, PPC, and social media.

Its SEO toolkit is extensive, covering everything from technical SEO audits to on-page SEO recommendations.

• Pros:
  • Extremely comprehensive toolset covering nearly every aspect of digital marketing.
  • The Keyword Magic Tool makes finding long-tail keywords simple.
  • Effective site audit features for uncovering technical and on-page SEO issues.
• Cons:
  • Due to its broad range of features, there’s a steep learning curve.
  • Some features may be overkill for smaller projects or businesses.

This can be an excellent tool for planning and optimizing your content, though it can get pricey for smaller-stage startups.

5. MarketMuse - Content Strategy and Optimization

MarketMuse applies AI to content analysis and strategy development, providing insights into how you can improve your content to better meet user intent and outperform competitors.

This AI tool for SEO can also suggests content topics to expand your site’s authority.

• Pros:
  • Offers in-depth content analysis and optimization recommendations.
  • Helps plan content strategy by identifying topic gaps and opportunities.
  • The AI-driven content briefing and scoring system improves content quality.
• Cons:
  • Can be expensive for smaller teams or individual users.
  • There’s a learning curve to effectively interpret and implement its suggestions.

Each of these tools offers unique benefits to streamline and enhance your SEO workflows, from content creation to technical audits and market analysis.

Depending on your specific needs, budget, and the scale of your SEO projects, any combination of these AI-powered tools can significantly improve your SEO strategy's effectiveness.

Conclusion

AI is revolutionizing the way we create content for sales and marketing.

From brainstorming blog post ideas to generating drafts, AI-powered workflows streamline the entire process.

But AI isn't replacing human writers - it's empowering them.

AI enrichment provides a starting point, allowing writers to focus on refining narrative, optimizing for search, and injecting brand voice. The result is higher quality content in a fraction of the time.