Is ChatGPT good for SEO?

The short answer is no, ChatGPT is not good for SEO; however, it is more complicated than that. Are we talking about how ChatGPT interacts with it? Or if is it good to use ChatGPT for your SEO strategy?

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know regarding ChatGPT and SEO for you to have a clear understanding of where ChatGPT fits in the world of SEO (or not).

As we mentioned in the intro, technically, no, ChatGPT is not good for SEO. However, it must be said that it doesn't affect it negatively either. Following a content strategy to appear on ChatGPT differs a little bit from what we do in an SEO strategy, but some tactics overlap with traditional SEO (i.e., using structured content). In that sense, ChatGPT can be helpful.

However, it's not exactly the same as an SEO strategy, and following it won't automatically give you better rankings. You might see indirect benefits, like starting to appear on AI overviews in Google or improving UX, as nowadays users like this type of content better. However, there's no direct boost in search results just from following a ChatGPT visibility strategy.

Then, is ChatGPT bad for SEO?

As we just mentioned, ChatGPT is not bad for SEO when it comes to how a strategy aimed at visibility on that tool affects search rankings. But what about other approaches or uses?

Does ChatGPT generated text hurt your SEO?

If we take a look at how text generated by ChatGPT interacts with SEO, we can absolutely confirm that it impacts SEO negatively. Search engines value high-quality content that is original, and what ChatGPT generates is everything but that. It's quite easy to identify, even for humans, when a text was AI-generated, so algorithms also know the deal.

The way ChatGPT punctuates, constructs phrases, and presents information is quite specific, and Google is aware of these patterns. Avoiding this footprint is not always easy, and if content is published without proper editing, it can be flagged as low-value or unoriginal. This can lead to worse rankings instead of improving your SEO performance.

That's why relying entirely on ChatGPT for content creation is not a good idea. It should be used as a support tool (i.e., helping you rephrase something), not as a replacement for human input.

Can ChatGPT do SEO?

Not exactly, as you are the one doing the SEO. ChatGPT can be used as a tool, as we mentioned before (for example, as a text rephraser), but not as a substitute for proper SEO tools, as many people tend to do.

How to use ChatGPT for SEO?

You can use ChatGPT as an assistive tool for different tasks that are more mechanical or inspirational, like:

Content rephraser: as mentioned above, ChatGPT shouldn't be used as a text generator, but it can rephrase your content if you feel like it's a bit off.
Content inspiration generator: when you want to write about something but don't know how to approach it, you can ask AI tools like ChatGPT to give you a list of angles and then do keyword research based on that.
Meta descriptions and titles drafts: it can help you come up with different variations for your meta titles and descriptions that you can then adjust to fit your SEO strategy.
FAQ ideas: you can generate common questions around a topic and then optimize them for search intent. However, it must be noted that it's better to use actual SEO tools to get FAQ questions.
Content editing support: you can use it to improve readability, fix grammar, or make your tone more consistent like you would do with LanguageTool or Grammarly.

However, if you are planning to use it as an SEO tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush, we don't recommend using it at any chance. Based on experience and understanding how ChatGPT works, this AI tool cannot be a substitute for an actual SEO tool, as it doesn't provide real insights into keywords, performance, or competition.

How does ChatGPT search compare to traditional SEO tools?

ChatGPT doesn't have access to accurate search volume data, ranking difficulty, or real-time analytics, which are essential for building an effective SEO strategy. Because of that, relying on ChatGPT alone can lead to poor decisions and missed opportunities in your SEO efforts.

Can ChatGPT be used in local SEO?

In a way, yes, it can be used. ChatGPT can help you generate content tailored to local audiences, such as service pages for specific areas or FAQs addressing local customer needs like the ones you add to your Google Business Profile. It can also help rephrase or optimize content to make it clearer and more engaging for your target area. However, just like with general SEO, it cannot replace actual local SEO tools that track rankings, citations, reviews, and competition in your specific region.

Can ChatGPT do SEO optimization?

As mentioned before, it can help you with SEO optimization as it can be used as a tool for example to rephrase content (blog posts, landing pages, etc.) as well as metadata like meta descriptions and meta titles and create an A/B strategy. But it won't

Summary

Even though lots of people use ChatGPT as their go-to search engine or even as an SEO tool, the truth is... it kind of sucks. We've said it multiple times in this article, and we'll say it again: ChatGPT is not a good tool for working on your SEO strategy, nor is it a reliable search tool. Its main goal is to answer questions no matter what, without guaranteeing accurate or trustworthy information. Its algorithm is still new, and while we don't fully understand how it works, what we do know doesn't look great... It can be biased and based on incomplete or outdated data.

On the other hand, we have to admit that for tasks like rephrasing content, brainstorming ideas, or generating keyword suggestions, it's not terrible. But if you ask us which AI tool is truly the best for SEO, ChatGPT isn't even close to the top of the list.