AI Writing
What Is the Best AI Writer for SEO? The Results Are In
What is the best AI writer for SEO? Learn the ways that AI writers can (and can't) help with search engine optimization. Plus, compare top AI writer tools for SEO.
Using AI writers for content creation can, in some cases, be beneficial (with transparency and a thorough human review) because it streamlines content creation. However, Google's recent clampdown on AI-generated content has left many people wondering.
What is the best AI writer for SEO?
Look at which SEO AI writers you should consider for your content marketing efforts and how to use them to get the best possible results.
First, here’s a rough breakdown of what search engine optimization (SEO) stands for. For the SEO wizards out there, you can skip this quick refresher.
Search engine optimization, also known as SEO, is the ongoing process of optimizing a website and its content to improve its ranking in organic search engine results pages (SERPs) for targeted keywords and search queries.
SEO focuses on unpaid (organic) traffic, as opposed to paid advertising through search engines. It involves understanding the terms and phrases users are searching for and optimizing content accordingly.
SEO is not a one-time fix, search engine algorithms and user behavior constantly evolve, so optimization needs to adapt accordingly.
It is also worth noting that SEO involves both technical aspects (website structure, code) and content creation (targeting relevant keywords and providing valuable information).
AI writing tools can be extremely useful when it comes to implementing keyword research, optimizing keyword density, and fleshing out your content marketing strategy.
Specific AI tools like Frase and Surfer SEO use real-time data and current SERP results to provide users with a detailed content outline that is packed with all the secondary keywords that should be included within an article.
Alternatively, you can use free AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to get more topical keywords based on your brand. While the output from these tools isn't based on live information like a tool such as Ahrefs, it can still come up with some great ideas that you may not have considered.
Example: A person who runs a business that sells secondhand books online could ask ChatGPT:
"I run an online bookstore that buys and sells second-hand books called 'A Novel Idea'. We are 100% digital and, therefore, need a list of high-quality keywords to position our brand around. They should be consistent with highly searched terms surrounding second-hand books, as our aim is to get as much volume as possible. Please provide 20 unique keyword phrases based on this information."
Here's what we got in return:
Some really good suggestions and plenty of things we can create articles from.
Finally, tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude AI are all excellent for creating detailed content briefs. With the right prompts in place, you can craft high-quality outlines that cover all of the topics you need for a content plan.
Let's use the bookstore example again, asking ChatGPT to create an article outline for one of our chosen keyword phrases, "high-quality second-hand books."
Here's what we got in return:
It’s a great starting point for any article and one that can be further improved with detailed prompting or by creating human-written content.
This is the big one and the issue that most AI tool users run into. When you start using AI content writers for the first time, it's very easy to rely heavily on the tool. First you might generate a couple of social media posts and then entire articles or even case studies.
Initially, this might feel incredibly motivating and productive. After all, that article that previously took a whole day to write is suddenly done in 30 minutes. Then, you could hypothetically complete another five that same day.
However, if traffic falls that motivation vanishes.
Since Google's recent algorithm updates, it's clear that AI-generated content is getting hit hard. Websites that conduct this practice often see significant traffic drops as a result.
But more than that, think about it from the perspective of your target audience. When talking about SEO, it's easy to get lost in the statistics, focus too heavily on keywords, article length, and other factors.
Ultimately, is your target audience going to read an article or case study that is 100% AI-generated? No, probably not. After all, with a few clicks on ChatGPT, they could get almost the same answer word for word.
They come to your website to read about your insight, your expertise, and your opinion on a subject. When audiences see content is generic (and generated), they are much less likely to revisit your page, which impacts search rankings.
If generative AI had broken through to the mainstream back in 2015, the tool could have been monumental for search engine traffic.
That is because keyword stuffing, the old approach to SEO, used to focus on getting as many keywords into your article as possible. They used to be the biggest indicator of the Google algorithm.
However, the Google algorithm has advanced significantly in the last decade, which makes the concept of keyword stuffing not only redundant, but potentially harmful to your traffic.
While ChatGPT and other AI writers can add keywords to content, it is always best practice to write with quality in mind first and foremost.
After extensively reviewing AI writing tools, SurferSEO, which also offers an AI writing service called Surfer AI, is the best option on the market. The main reason for this is that they have proven over many years to provide the best SEO-friendly outlines.
However, when we reviewed Surfer AI, the content was still detectable, and therefore something that you should avoid or use sparingly! So, SurferSEO is best for AI keyword research and outline creation.
Frase is another excellent choice for keyword research and outline creation. Some SEO experts prefer it because it’s slightly more cost-effective.
However, the user interface is a little less intuitive. Sometimes, it’s difficult to see all the information you need when clicking through the individual tabs.
That said, Frase also has an excellent reputation for generating great briefs and keyword research, making it a strong AI writing tool for SEO.
Finally, don't underestimate the power of ChatGPT when it comes to AI writing support. It can be an excellent brainstorming tool for keyword research and a brilliant option for creating briefs.
Keyword Cupid uses neural network models to dissect Google search results in real-time. Then, it provides users with clear, concise keyword research.
However, it also goes further than other keyword research tools, by providing suggested keywords within specific keyword clusters.
Why are these clusters important? Clusters demonstrate to Google that you’re a topical expert on a specific subject. It shows you can cover related topics to highlight your expertise.
For example, if you are trying to rank in Google for the term 'pet food,' you also need to write excellent content about pet food for [animal type], pet food ingredients, the best pet food based on price, and other similar topics.
Keyword Cupid identifies these secondary topics and groups them accordingly.
Another fantastic tool for coming up with new content ideas is Ubersuggest, which is a free tool offered by SEO expert Neil Patel.
By typing in your primary keyword, Ubersuggest then produces a wide variety of popular questions on search engines, split by "how, will, can, which, are, who, what, where, do, when, why, is, and other" questions.
As you can see, AI writers can be incredibly influential for SEO optimization, but only when used correctly, transparently, and sparingly.
If you expect an AI writing tool to replace personal research, expertise, and writing skills, you will be disappointed by the lack of results that follow. AI writing is detectable by AI Checkers like Originality.ai. So, it’s best to use AI as an assistant to help brainstorm, research, and create content briefs. Then, create content that highlights your unique perspective.
Personal preference and requirements will dictate which one is right for you.
Google has made it clear in recent algorithm updates that it prioritizes high-quality content that moves the conversation forward. AI content creation uses a combination of content already produced, which, by definition, means it isn't new or helpful. As a result, AI content often gets marked down by Google.
Google can detect AI content and often ranks it lower than human-written text.