How to Write a Blog Post That Ranks—Using AI and the Human Touch

Part of ✍️ Creating SEO Content with AI (Articles 10–13) in Launch and scale an SEO business using AI tools

How to Write a Blog Post That Ranks—Using AI and the Human Touch

For beginners who want to rank without selling their soul to the algorithm gods

So… You Want to Rank on Google? (Cue Suspenseful Music)

Okay, let’s just put this out there: writing blog posts that rank is hard. Like, actually hard.

Sure, AI can now generate full-on articles in 30 seconds. But you know what it can’t do?
Make someone feel something.
Or trust you. Or smile. Or bookmark your blog and binge-read your content at 2am like a guilty Netflix habit.

That’s your job.

So if you’re here because you’ve heard SEO + AI = Easy Traffic, I’ve got good news… and some tough love.

Yes, AI can help you. A lot. But only if you mix it with your secret sauce: personality, empathy, storytelling, and good ol’ fashioned human realness.

Let’s dive in. Bring snacks.

🎯 First Things First: What’s the Point of This Blog Post?

Before you open your writing app, ask yourself (out loud if you’re dramatic like me):

“Who am I writing this for, and what do I want them to feel, know, or do after reading?”

That one question right there? Better than most $497 SEO courses.

Because when your blog post has a clear purpose, it resonates. Google notices. People stay longer. Bounce rates drop. Magic happens.

Now, let’s break this into a vibe-y process that feels less like a spreadsheet and more like a coffee-fueled creative jam session.

🧠 Step 1: Start with a Keyword, Sure—But Think Like a Human

Everyone talks about keyword research like it’s some mythical rite of passage.

Yes, it’s important. No, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Let’s say your niche is skincare. Instead of going after “best moisturizer” (which, good luck), try:

• “Moisturizer for oily skin in humid weather”
• “Why does my face burn after skincare? (no joke, this is searched a ton)”
• “Skincare mistakes I made in my 20s”

👉 Use tools like ChatGPT, Ubersuggest, LowFruits, or even Reddit threads to uncover what people are really asking.

And then ask ChatGPT something like:

“Give me blog topic ideas around [your niche] with low to medium competition, and a unique angle.”

You’ll get results that are human-first, not just SEO-y gobbledygook.

✏️ Step 2: Outline Before You Freefall

Look, I’m a “chaotic creative” by nature. But trust me—winging a blog post without an outline is how you end up sobbing into your keyboard at 11:43pm.

Ask AI to help:

“Create a blog post outline for [your chosen title/keyword] using an empathetic, storytelling-driven tone, and include questions people might ask.”

You’ll get a structure like:

1. Hook
2. Common Problem (make it relatable)
3. Personal Anecdote
4. Step-by-Step Solution
5. FAQs
6. Gentle Call to Action

Perfect.

Now, tweak it. Add your own chaos, your lived experience, your flavor.

💬 Step 3: Write Like You Talk (Because Robots Can’t Banter—Yet)

Here’s where the human touch comes in. And no, I don’t mean awkward Shakespearean formalities. I mean:

• Use contractions
• Ask rhetorical questions
• Crack a dry joke or two
• Admit your weird habits
• Speak with warmth, curiosity, and edge

Your post should feel like a late-night convo with a wise, slightly weird friend. You know—the one who sends you oddly helpful YouTube rabbit holes and cries at commercials.

Let’s say you’re writing about “how to start journaling.”

You could write:

“Journaling can be beneficial for mental clarity and goal-setting.”

Or you could write:

“Journaling saved my overthinking, insomniac brain—and I swear it’s easier than flossing daily (and more satisfying).”

Which one are you reading to the end?

Exactly.

⚙️ Step 4: Let AI Be Your Assistant—Not Your Ghostwriter

Look, AI is brilliant at suggesting ideas, generating lists, summarizing competitor articles, and even offering metaphors.
What it’s not great at?

Emotion. Nuance. That awkward but charming overshare.

So here’s the deal:

Let AI do the heavy lifting—data, outline, suggestions, even FAQs.
But YOU show up in the messy, beautiful writing part.

Prompt it like this:

“Based on this outline, draft 3-4 bullet points for each section, focusing on clarity and adding SEO-rich phrasing.”

Then riff. Rewrite. Add your stories. Edit with love. Swear under your breath. Light a candle. You know, writer stuff.

🧪 Step 5: Add That SEO Sauce (Without Killing the Vibe)

This part used to suck. Now? Easy.

Once your draft’s done-ish, run it through tools like:

• SurferSEO (for keyword optimization)
• Frase (for competitor analysis)
• Yoast or RankMath (if you’re in WordPress land)

Check for:

• Target keyword in H1, first paragraph, meta title
• Natural use of semantically related terms
• Internal and external links
• Scannable structure (headers, bullet points, short paragraphs)

But don’t sacrifice voice for optimization.

If it sounds clunky, rewrite it. Rankings come and go. Trust? That’s gold.

😎 Bonus Touches That Make a Blog Post Sing

Here’s what makes your content unforgettable—not just rankable:

• GIFs or memes that match the tone
• Real-life quotes or DMs from your audience
• Embarrassing stories (they build trust!)
• Genuine opinions—hot takes welcome
• Tiny formatting flair: bold highlights, emojis, pull quotes

And always—always—end with clarity.

“If you’ve made it this far, congrats. You’re basically a blog post wizard now. Want help building your next content brief with AI? Click here and let’s nerd out together.”

That’s human. That’s inviting. That works.

❤️ Final Thoughts From Someone Who’s Been There

Writing is vulnerable. SEO is technical. AI is a weird, sometimes magical middle ground.

And somewhere in the messy blend of all three is where your real voice lives.

Your job isn’t to beat the algorithm. Your job is to serve your reader—with heart, humor, and a bit of help from your robot friends.

So next time someone tells you that AI is going to take your job as a writer?

Laugh softly. Then write a blog post that gets 30,000 hits and makes someone cry happy tears in their kitchen.

Because that—that’s something only you can do.

TL;DR: Your Human + AI Blog Recipe 📝

1. Start with a clear, useful keyword
2. Use AI to brainstorm, outline, and suggest (but not write for you)
3. Write with empathy, story, and personality
4. Optimize gently—don’t smother it with keywords
5. Polish it with human humor, voice, and clarity
6. Publish, promote, and repeat with joy

Next Lesson in the Course:
“How to Promote Your SEO Blog Posts (Without Feeling Sleazy or Yelling Into the Void)”

Need help crafting your first blog outline or reviewing your AI-assisted post for “humanness”? Drop it here. Let’s make magic out of markdown.