What are the benefits and drawbacks of AI generated blog content?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a tool that’s being used for a number of different purposes across a number of different industries. Whether it’s automation, predictive analysis, or content creation, AI is revolutionising a number of different sectors. But while this does have benefits, there are also a range of disadvantages to take into account. So what are the benefits and drawbacks of AI generated blog content? And should you rely on AI generated content for your website?

So what are the benefits and drawbacks of AI generated blog content?

AI generated blog content on the surface can seem to deliver a large number of benefits and advantages. From being more efficient, to ensuring your brand’s tone and voice is represented and consistent, AI can offer a cost effective alternative to traditional content writing.

However, there are also a large number of drawbacks that will need to be taken into account. From providing inaccurate data, to creating content that lacks soul, AI generated blog content can even harm your SEO efforts, if it is applied without a strategy.

So should you use AI to generate your blog content? Well, let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks.

What are the benefits of using AI for blog content?

AI generated content can bring a range of benefits to your business, including:

• Increased efficiency and speed- Traditional content creation can be time consuming, requiring research, drafting, editing, and proofreading. However, AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Jasper, can generate articles in seconds, significantly reducing the time spent on writing. This can be particularly beneficial if your business needs a constant stream of fresh content to maintain an active online presence.
• Cost-effectiveness- while hiring professional writers can be expensive, especially for small businesses and startups, content that is generated by AI tends to be free, and even the paid models are cheaper than traditional options. This means that your business can post larger volumes of content without the associated labour costs.
• Enhanced SEO Optimisation- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is crucial for driving traffic to websites, including content and blogs. Just like an SEO writer, AI tools can analyse keywords, search trends, and competitor content to optimise articles for better rankings on search engines like Google. This can help your business reach a broader audience and increase website traffic.
• Consistency in tone and style- If your business requires a uniform brand voice across multiple pieces of content, AI can help maintain this level of consistency. By being programmed to follow set guidelines, AI tools can create content that aligns with your brand’s tone and messaging.

What are the drawbacks of using AI for blog content?

With so many benefits, you might think that using AI is a no-brainer. However, this is not the case. There are a number of drawbacks to using AI generated content, and these can have a knock on impact on your brand, and your SEO efforts. These drawbacks include:

• Unoriginal content- Anyone in the SEO industry knows that original, high quality content is essential for success online. While AI tools can generate the content, this is created by taking information from other websites and collating and rewriting. The end result is never original. What this means is that not only will your content be generic, and a repetition of content online, but that the same or highly similar content can also be generated by competitors targeting that same keyword. This increases competition and makes it harder to rank.
• Lack of human creativity – building on from the last point, AI generated content lacks human creativity. Not only does this make content unoriginal, it also means that if you use storytelling and emotional pulls as part of your branding, AI generated content will lack the depth and nuance needed to do this effectively, as it lacks the ability to create content that deeply resonates with audiences. In fact, your readers may find AI generated content to be mechanical or impersonal, when compared to content written by a human.
• Inaccurate content- One of the most common complaints you’ve probably stumbled across in terms of AI content is that this can be inaccurate. From hippos performing surgeries to eating plenty of rocks as part of a human diet, Google’s AI answers have been slated for their inaccurate answers to important questions. This is the same for generative AI tools like chatgpt. As such, unless your AI content is fully checked and verified by a human, you could be giving your potential customers or clients completely inaccurate information. This is even more likely in industries that require precise and up to date information, such as finance, health, and legal sectors.
• SEO risks and Google penalties- While AI can help optimise content for SEO, it can also pose risks. Google prioritises high quality, original content and may penalise websites that rely too heavily on AI generated content, especially if it lacks depth or appears spammy. Ultimately, using too much AI generated content, without human refinement or input, can have a negative impact on your businesses search rankings, tanking your traffic.

Balancing AI and human input for content creation

In our latest blog, we examined the importance of balancing AI tools with human creativity, and the same applies to content. To get the most out of your AI generated content, this needs to be used alongside humans for accuracy, emotional resonance, and originality. Some effective ways to find this balance include:

• Using AI for idea generation and outlining- Instead of writing the content outright, use AI tools like SEMrush to help generate keyword ideas and topics for your specific website, and then use generative AI to create an outline or initial draft. This should then be edited and refined by human writers, to create effective content that maintains quality and originality.
• Human editing and fact checking- It’s imperative that all of your AI content is checked and verified by a real person. Not only does this reduce the chances of inaccurate information from being spread, but it also allows readability to be improved and original points and creativity to be added.
• Blend AI with human creativity- As AI cannot yet be original or creative, it makes the most sense to use this for the repetitive daily tasks while your writers can focus on bringing creativity, storytelling, and expert insights to your content.
• Stay updated on SEO guidelines- Google’s policies regarding AI-generated content are always changing and businesses in all industries need to keep on top of these changes to avoid penalties and maintain strong search rankings.

Here at Pumpkin Web Design, we are Preston’s leading web design and web marketing experts. From SEO to content, and from design to Artificial Intelligence, we are the team you can count on for your businesses online success. Why not get in touch today to find out more?