What are your thoughts on using too much AI content on a website? Can it drag down your ranking?
Short Answer: The key to ranking well is focusing on EEAT — Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. If your website and company demonstrate these qualities, your rankings will be higher. Using AI-generated content is acceptable when it supports your existing efforts. However, relying on generic AI content can hurt your EEAT score and lower your ranking.
Full Explanation
Ranking factors prioritize websites that show clear experience, expertise, authority, and trustworthiness—collectively known as EEAT. These qualities help search engines determine the value and credibility of your website. When you and your company embody EEAT, your chance of being ranked higher improves.
AI content itself is not inherently bad. It can be a useful tool to complement what you’re already doing in content creation. The key is ensuring the AI content is not generic or lacking in the unique value only your brand can provide. If the AI content is generic and doesn’t reflect your EEAT, it will not help your website’s standing and could hold you back.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Understand EEAT: Recognize that Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness form the foundation of ranking metrics.
- Evaluate Your Brand: Determine if your company is recognized and displays EEAT qualities.
- Use AI Content Wisely: Incorporate AI-generated content as a supplement and enhancement to your existing original and expert content.
- Avoid Generic Content: Steer clear of publishing generic, AI-generated content that lacks unique insights or fails to demonstrate EEAT.
- Focus on Quality: Continually build your brand’s reputation by creating authoritative, trustworthy content grounded in your genuine expertise and experience.
Real Examples
While no specific brands or examples were listed, the principle applies broadly: companies recognized for their expertise and authority will rank higher even if they use AI content to assist. Conversely, sites pushing generic AI content without clear EEAT will not benefit in rankings.
Common Mistakes
- Publishing mostly generic AI content without human oversight or unique input.
- Relying on AI to produce entire websites of content without establishing brand authority.
- Ignoring the importance of building trust and expertise alongside content creation.
FAQs
Q: Does using AI content automatically lower my ranking?
A: No, AI content itself doesn’t automatically reduce rankings. What matters is whether the content reflects EEAT qualities.
Q: How can I ensure my AI content supports EEAT?
A: Use AI content to supplement original content that demonstrates your unique expertise, experience, and authority.
Q: What is considered generic content?
A: Content that is broad, lacks unique insights, and does not clearly relate to your brand’s expertise is considered generic.
Key Takeaways
- EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) is vital for ranking.
- AI-generated content is fine as long as it supports genuine, high-quality material.
- Generic AI content without EEAT can harm your rankings.
- Your brand’s reputation and demonstrated authority remain the strongest ranking factors.