How I Use AI to Write Content That Ranks #1 on Google

I began using AI to generate content two years ago, and I had one fear: Would Google penalize me? After publishing more than 100 articles written in part with AI, I learned something stunning. Most of my articles, written in part with AI, now rank on the first page of Google search. My articles receive thousands of visitors every month. 

Here is the fact: Google NEVER penalizes content generated by AI just because it is created by AI. Google cares about quality content - not how you create the content. However, there is a huge difference between copy and pasting AI text, and using AI as a smart writing assistant. 

Many think all AI content fair game for Google to automatically detect, and then penalize the website. This is a myth. Google's algorithms prioritize helpful, credible content that serves the user first - it doesn't care if a human or an AI generates it. But you MUST show Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust (E-E-A-T) in your content. 

By the end of this guide, you will learn my tested 7-step process for creating AI content that:

• Ranks on Google's first page

• Gets real traffic from search engines

• Helps people solve their problems

• Passes Google's quality guidelines

Does Google Actually Rank AI Content?

Yes, AI content is ranked by Google. Studies suggest AI-written articles perform almost as well as articles written by a human person. One research study tracked 20,000 unique blog posts and concluded that 57% of AI content articles ranked among the top 10 on Google and 58% of human-created content remained in the top 10. The minimal difference demonstrates that content created by AI can still compete for rankings. 

Furthermore, Google has made it crystal clear: it does not care how content is created. In an official statement, Google said AI-created and human-created content can both produce spam or quality content. The search engine prefers quality regardless of how the content was created.

From my own results, I can confirm. After publishing a few different articles using an AI writing assistant for some of the written content on my website, I tracked their progress closely. Three of my articles now rank between positions 1-7 for different competitive keywords, and these pages continue to receive consistent organic traffic most months similar to my human-created content.

E-E-A-T matters more than ever in 2025:

• Experience: Show you've actually done what you're writing about

• Expertise: Prove you know the topic deeply

• Authoritativeness: Build reputation through quality content

• Trustworthiness: Provide accurate, verified information​

AI alone cannot provide these elements. You must add your personal knowledge, verify facts, cite sources, and inject human insight into AI-generated drafts.​

My Complete AI Content Writing Workflow

My 7-step workflow for creating AI-generated content has both quality and speed. Using this process helps me to generate search-optimized articles in 40% less time than manual writing. I solve the AI vs Human quality problem through the integration of the benefit of AI with the benefit of human quality oversight, knowing each piece will be 'Google' quality. 

The tools I use:

• ChatGPT to generate content and outlines

• Semrush to check keyword research and competition

• Grammarly for editing and readability

Time saved with AI:

• With manual writing a 2000-word article takes 4-5 hours

• With AI-assisted writing a 2000-word article takes 2-3 hours

The best benefit is consistency. When you follow the steps every time your content is consistent in quality. Human involvement at every stage guarantees the end content is unique and valuable.

Step 1: Smart Keyword Research Using AI

Keyword research is the foundation for successful ranking content. I utilize AI tools to unearth keywords that real people are searching for that have lower competition. I have a system for keyword research: 

keyword research:

• I usually start with ChatGPT, I write: "Generate 50 long-tail keywords based on [your topic]" 

• I look at Semrush or Ahrefs to ensure keywords are searched with volume or low competition or difficulty. 

• I analyze the top ranked pages to see what the search intent is. 

• I may look at Google Autocomplete to see what people currently are searching for.

It is very important to get search intent right:

• Information: People want to learn something

• Navigational: People want to find a specific website

• Transactional: People want to buy something

• Commercial: People want to compare a product

If the top results are typically some kind of list, my content will likely also be a list. If the pages are all detailed guides, mine will be a guide. This alignment helps signal to Google that my content has better fit than the competitors.

Step 2: Creating SEO-Optimized Outlines with AI

A detailed outline makes sure you cover everything and meet the needs of your readers. I utilize ChatGPT for creating detailed outlines based on competitor analysis. Here’s my prompt for outlines:

"Look at the top ranking articles for [keyword] and provide me a detailed outline that incorporates all important subtopics. Include question-based headings that people might search for." 

Make sure to include other key elements:

• Main sections with clear H2 headings

• Subsections with H3 headings about in-depth topics

• FAQ sections (which Google loves!)

• Question-based headings from the "People Also Ask" box.

Accessibility of FAQ sections appears in rich snippets in search results, and they also help you to capture featured snippets in SERPs. The questions also become headings in my content, addressing relevance for voice search and to feed AI assistants.

Step 3: Writing the First Draft with AI

I personally don't write the entire article with AI at one time, I write it section by section with very explicit instructions about each section. ​

This is my exact prompt structure:

"Write a [number]-word section about [topic] in simple English meant for a beginner audience. Include specific practical examples and take care to clearly explain concepts. Use a conversational tone and avoid technical jargon" ​

Here are a few tricks for getting better AI generated content:

• Generate 2-3 different versions of important sections

• Provide tone of voice (formal, casual, friendly, professional)

• Ask for simple explanation for a beginner audience

• Ask for practical examples and real-life applications

Clearly stated tone of voice will have the AI generate writing that aligns with your brand voice and audience expectations. This will lead to superior performance compared to an AI prompt such as "write an article about X."

Step 4: The Secret Sauce - Humanizing AI Content

To differentiate your content from the pack and engage your readers, be sure to humanize your AI content. You want to keep the human connection with your audience, as pure AI content often comes off as unremarkable or lifeless. 

Here are my five best methods for humanizing AI content: 

1. Introduce personal stories and experiences

When an AI text provides a generic statement, change "Many companies have a difficult time optimizing SEO" to "Last month I worked with a client who spent $5000 on SEO without much of a result." 

2. Apply different sentence lengths

Short, punchy sentences mixed in with longer detailed sentences can add variety and depth to your content. Short sentences create impactful emphasis and long sentences provide detailed context and explanation. 

3. Infuse personality and emotion

When I add my opinion, or use emotional language, my readers will connect with me on a more personal level. For example, change, "This tool is beneficial," to, "This tool saved me 10 hours last week and there is no way I can fathom how I could continue to work without it."  

4. Utilize actual data and case studies

You would never publish an article without attracting current statistics, so don't assume AI could ever do that accurately. It already read something from a few months ago and provide you proof it was correct. When, most likely, it was not. You could literally check every statement for accuracy and possibly use some sort-independent fresh data from credible resources. 

5. Repair quickly falling into the same routine

AI loves specific words that may become annoying with overuse. For example: "tapestry", "robust", "leverage", and "utilize". Please check for too much repetition and substitute any annoying words for more natural and story-like usages. 

I don't always use AH AI-humanizer tools that aren't always accurate producing borderline cringe-worthy sentence structure. Just edit yourself for the most favorable narrative and imaginative brand voice.

Step 5: On-Page SEO Optimization

On-page SEO optimization allows search engines to understand and rank your content correctly.

Essential optimizations checklist:

Title tags and meta descriptions:

• Place primary keyword toward the front of the title (under 60 characters)

• Write meta description in 150-160 characters that incorporates the target keyword

• Make them compelling to entice clicks

Intent placement of keyword:

• Put main keyword in: URL, first 100 words, in the H1 heading, two or more H2 heading, meta description, and image alt text

• Avoid stuffing by keeping keyword density under 2%

• Use natural language while maintaining context

Internal and external links:

• Add about 3-5 internal links to relevant content on your own site 

• Add 2-3 external links to trustworthy content

• Internal links help Google to understand site structure

• External links to credible sources build credibility

Schema markup and structured data:

• Use JSON-LD format for final contents, FAQs, and how-to content

• Schema markup teaches AI systems, like ChatGPT, what your contents are

• Better chance to appear in rich snippets, highlighted content blocks

Image optimization:

• Compress images for faster load times

• Use descriptive file names with keywords

• Write good descriptive alt text for accessibility and SEO purposes

Step 6: Quality Check and Fact Verification

Verifying the content produced by AI is not optional. AI models may generate convincing yet incorrect information, incorrect statistics, and nonexistent sources.

My checking process when verifying AI and online information:

✓ Ensure every statistical information is accurate

✓ Verify that each source exists and is reputable

✓ Verify that every date and the current information is accurate

✓ Test all hyperlinks and ensure they are functioning 

AI detection tools I utilize:

GPTZero (free and accurate) 

QuillBot AI Detector (a dependable option)

Originality.ai (a complete checking option)

If the content has a high AI detection rating, I revise it to be especially human-like in sound. 

Ways to keep E-E-A-T standards:

Add author credentials and bio

Include quotes from experts when possible

Refer to authoritative sources when making claims

Share personal insights from real-world experiences

I also suggest utilizing Grammarly to catch errors and refine the flow of sentences. Ensure that if the reading audience is general, the reading level is closer to the 8th grade using the Hemingway Editor.

Step 7: Post-Publishing Optimization

Content optimization does not end at publication. I continuously monitor performance and make data-driven updates.​ 

Metrics I measure weekly:

• Organic traffic 

• Average search position 

• Click-through rate (CTR) 

• Bounce rate 

• Time on page​ 

• Most of this data is collected and reported for free in Google Search Console.

Updates for content freshness include:

• Refresh statistics with current data 

• Update published dates 

• Add new sections that address emerging topics 

• Improve existing sections with better explanations 

• Update the title to include "2022".

Link building strategies include:

• Introduce yourself to relevant websites to gain backlinks. 

• We share our content on social media, to help better review and refine our content. 

• We join conversations in our industry, in order to further contribute discussions. 

• We create genuine content of value, to increase the likelihood of organic links.

 

Optimization for AI Overviews: 

• Use FAQ schema markup. 

• Organize the answers to the FAQ with clear questions and answers. 

• Answer questions in a clear and concise way, directly. 

• Organize the answers in a logical order.

Common Mistakes That Kill AI Content Rankings

1. Publishing AI content as-is

• It's the biggest error

• Raw AI output does not have a human factor that Google is looking for.

• Google's scaled content abuse policy is about mass-produced low-value content.

2. Ignoring search intent

• Match the content format to what the top 10 pages have

• If they just want quick answers, give them that first

• If they want a detailed tutorial, then be comprehensive in writing

3. Over-optimization and keyword stuffing

• It will trigger spam filters

• Incorporate your keywords in a natural way in what you create, while providing valuable content

• Modern SEO uses natural language

4. Generic content with nothing unique

• Provide something that others are not:

• Original research

• Your own case study

• Unique perspective

• Expert insights

5. Poor readability and structure

• Break long paragraphs into shorter sections

• Add subheadings every 200-300 words

• Use bullet points or lists to allow for scanning

• Add visuals to help with engagement

6. Not adding the human factor

• Please share your background and credentials

• Provide lessons learned from working on these projects

• Explain why different approaches work

• Provide context that AI was not able to create

My Favorite AI Tools for SEO Content Writing

ChatGPT and Gemini – Content Generation

• Outline, draft, create headlines, and brainstorm

• Use ChatGPT-4 in cases with multi-faceted knowledge

• Use Gemini for quick and easy content creation

Semrush and Ahrefs – Keyword Research

• Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool gives personalized difficulty scores

• Ahrefs is better for sore of your competitors and linking data

• Both have comprehensive SEO toolkits

SurferSEO – Live Optimization

• Scores your content against top 10 ranking pages​

• Provides a range of keyword suggestions, length for content, and structure improvements

• The Content Editor grades your article as you write

Grammarly – Editing and Polish

• Can catch grammar mistakes and suggest better words

• AI suggestions will help polish any AI drafted content

• Tone detector makes sure you tone matches style

Each tool has it's intended purpose. Using all these tools together creates a powerful content ecosystem.

Real Results: My AI Content Success Stories

I published my very first article, with AI input, in June 2024 on "SEO keyword research." After I published it, it was on page 4 of Google at position 38. After optimizing it and adding my own personal thoughts it landed at position 10 in two months. Now it is ranked in position 7 and has brought in 150-250 visitors a month. 

Another one of my articles was on AI detection tools. That article went through three revisions with added original research and personal testing results. It is now ranked in position 1 for its target keyword and has brought in 500 or more clicks a month.

Traffic numbers recently for my articles:

• The six AI-assisted articles have received 555,000 impressions and 2,300 clicks in their first 13 months

• Three articles rank in the top 10 positions

• Five trigger AI Overviews

• Four appear as cited sources in AI responses

What makes the difference?:

• Original case studies and real examples

• Current data and verified metrics

• Expert data and genuine opinions

• Relevant examples from real projects

The majority of the articles needed two to four months to reach its peak, and regular updates of three to six months kept the rankings constant, if not better.

Tips to Future-Proof Your AI Content Strategy

Keep an eye of algorithm updates:

• Research SEO updates weekly by checking out Search Engine Land and Google's Search Central Blog.

• Conduct content audits after Google announces updates and adjust your strategy based on the guidelines.

Take full advantage of AI while still adopting the human element:

• Use AI for research, outlines, drafts, and revisions. 

• Use the human element for your expertise, emotions, and valuable takes. 

• The outcome is meaningful and timely content across all your platforms.

Develop topical authority:

• Create clusters of content targeted to the same niche subject.

• Publish at least 15-20 substantial articles (1,000-3,000 words) focused on separate components of your topic to demonstrate subject authority to Google.

Create user first content:

• Identify genuine questions and genuine issues to solve.

• Ask yourself, "If I were searching for this information, would I find it helpful?" 

• User experience continues to grow for Google and will continue to show even more in the future.

• The outlook is bright for anyone willing to adopt AI as an asset to their work, yet the human aspect (experience, expertise, authority, trust, etc.) can not and will not be replaced.

Conclusion

While AI has completely transformed the way I create content, the technology does not manufacture my role as a creator. AI can simplify repetitive tasks, shorten the time to conduct research, and create a first draft. Meanwhile, I add strategy, expertise, verification, and the human experience that makes content worthy. 

Here's a summary of key takeaways:

• AI content can rank when it is humanized and properly optimized.

• Google is focused on quality and users' better lives, not how content was created.

• E-E-A-T signals more important now than before.

• Don't place AI content live without editing and fact-checking.

• Using AI for efficiencies with human learnings or expertise will lead to the best outcome.

I suggest you get started with this new workflow today. I think you'll be amazed at how fast you can create. Start with one article that you will turn into a multi-platform piece using the 7-step process. Let it run for 3-6 months; this should help you establish a reference point where you can adjust according to your findings. AI content is easy to get better at with practice; using prompts you have learned what works best will ultimately deliver better results over time. 

When 2025 arrives, we should see general acceptance for content being created in this way. Generations of content creators who use AI to add efficiency and value will prevail as great assistants, not replacements, to independent creators. AI will handle content creators' most time-consuming tasks, with humans adding their unique value. The rush for spending will create content faster, more cheaply, and at higher quality than any one of us can accomplish on our own.

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