Intro

E999: If your content sounds like it was written by AI, people can tell. And when they can tell, trust drops. That leads to higher bounce rates, more pogo sticking, and lower conversions.

In this episode, I break down exactly why obvious AI writing is a problem for SEO and what to do instead.

This is an updated take on humanizing AI content. The rules have changed over the past year, and what worked before is no longer enough.

I walk through examples, patterns to avoid, and a workflow you can use to keep your content sounding natural while still using AI to save time.

What you'll learn in this episode: - Why obvious AI writing reduces trust and hurts rankings - What pogo sticking is and why it matters for SEO - Common AI phrases and patterns that give your content away - How AI writing impacts conversions and brand perception - The difference between using AI to assist vs replace thinking - A simple way to write content that actually sounds human - How to edit AI content so it keeps your voice - Small formatting and writing habits that signal "AI" immediately - Why reading your content out loud improves quality - How to use AI prompts to improve clarity without losing authenticity

Key ideas covered: - AI tends to repeat what already exists instead of adding new insight - Generic language makes content feel less trustworthy - Visitors are more likely to leave if content feels vague or templated - A few AI patterns are fine, but too many create a clear signal - Clear, direct writing beats polished but empty writing

Practical tips from the episode: - Start with voice dictation or your own rough draft - Use AI to refine, not generate from scratch - Remove overused transition words and filler phrases - Avoid corporate-style language that says nothing - Replace vague statements with specific examples - Add screenshots, videos, or real examples where possible - Keep your writing conversational but clear

If you're using AI for SEO content, this matters. The goal is not to avoid AI. The goal is to use it in a way that still sounds like you.

⭐️ The Leila/Alex Hormozi Acquisition Memo - https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbyRpIFI8O/?img_index=2 ⭐️ How to Humanize ChatGPT Content - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/humanize-chatgpt-content/

🚀 Edward's SEO Articles - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/

💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/

00:00 Why AI Slop Hurts SEO 01:30 Leila Hormozi Memo 02:38 Top AI Phrases to Avoid 04:44 Buzzword List Red Flags 05:34 New ChatGPT Giveaways 08:32 Write by Voice First 10:06 Use AI to Edit Not Think 11:23 Honorable Humanizing Tips 13:51 Episode 999 Farewell

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #copywritingtips