Optimizing AI-Generated Content for On-Page SEO

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

“Because even the best robots still need a human editor with good vibes and an eye for SEO.”

Let’s Start with the Obvious: AI Writes, But It Doesn’t Optimize

Okay, real talk? AI content is kind of like boxed cake mix.

It’s fast, convenient, and honestly kind of impressive for what it is. But if you just slap it in the oven and serve it plain… meh. People will eat it, sure. But no one’s texting you at midnight for that recipe.

Same goes for blog posts. Even the most genius AI output still needs your sparkle—and some good old-fashioned on-page SEO.

So in this lesson, we’re going to talk about exactly how to take that freshly churned AI draft and:

  • Make it rank
  • Make it read like a real person wrote it (because, hi, one did—you!)
  • Make it lovable by readers and algorithms (yes, it’s possible)

And don’t worry—no boring jargon, just a friendly walkthrough with a few detours, some spicy opinions, and maybe a donut metaphor or two.

🎯 Step 1: Know What On-Page SEO Actually Is

Before we optimize anything, let’s get our bearings.

On-page SEO is everything you can control on your actual website (as opposed to off-page SEO, which is stuff like backlinks and social signals). Think:

  • Headings (H1s, H2s… yeah, the ones you’ve probably been ignoring)
  • Meta descriptions
  • Keywords and keyword placement
  • Internal linking
  • Image alt text
  • Readability and formatting
  • URL slugs

In short: it’s the stuff that makes your content understandable to both humans and search engines.

And AI? Well… let’s just say it tries. But it doesn’t quite hit the sweet spot without a little guidance.

🤖 Step 2: Start With Your Raw AI Output (and Don’t Panic)

You prompt ChatGPT (or Jasper, Claude, Gemini—whatever flavor of robot you like), and out pops a surprisingly coherent draft. First reaction?

“Hey, this isn’t bad…”

Second reaction?

“Wait, why does this sound like a TED Talk from a robot professor?”

Bingo.

Here’s the deal: AI-generated content is a great first draft, not a finished product. Treat it like a lump of clay, not a sculpture.

So before you dive into optimization, give it the ol’ human sweep. That means:

  • Cutting redundant sections (AI loves to repeat itself like a nervous best man at a wedding)
  • Rewriting anything that sounds too formal, fluffy, or like it was pulled from a 2012 Wikipedia article
  • Adding real stories, metaphors, and moments of vulnerability

Yes, it takes time. But no, it doesn’t have to be soul-sucking. Think of it like giving your post a personality transplant. ✨

🔍 Step 3: Do a Quick SEO Health Check

Now that your AI post reads like an actual human might’ve written it (congrats, by the way), it’s time for a good ol’ SEO sweep.

Ask yourself:

✅ Is the main keyword in the right places?

  • Title/H1? Yup.
  • First 100 words? Should be.
  • One or two H2s? Ideal.
  • Meta description? Definitely.
  • URL slug? If possible (but keep it short and natural, like “/seo-optimization-tips” not “/the-top-10-best-ways-to-do-keyword-implementation-strategies” 😵‍💫)

💡 Bonus tip: Use a tool like SurferSEO, Frase, or even the free version of RankMath in WordPress to check how you’re doing on the keyword front. It’s like having a personal SEO coach without the awkward Zoom calls.

💡 Step 4: Add Semantic Keywords Without Sounding Like a Robot

Let’s be honest—back in the day, SEO advice was like, “Just repeat your keyword 47 times and you’re golden.”

Now? Google’s smarter. So much smarter.

So instead of keyword stuffing, you want to sprinkle in semantic keywords—terms and phrases related to your main topic that naturally deepen your content.

For example:
Main keyword: “freelance writing tips”
Semantic terms: “client communication,” “pitching ideas,” “writing portfolio,” “niche selection”

Ask AI to help! Try this prompt:

“Give me a list of related keywords and subtopics around [main keyword] that I can naturally include in a blog post.”

Then scatter those terms like digital fairy dust throughout your post—naturally, not all jammed into one sentence like you’re trying to win SEO bingo.

🧭 Step 5: Improve Navigation with Internal Linking

Oh, internal linking. The broccoli of SEO. You know you need it, but do you really want to deal with it?

Yes. Yes, you do. And it’s easier than you think.

Link to:

  • Other relevant blog posts you’ve written
  • Service pages (softly, not aggressively)
  • A FAQ or glossary if you’ve got one

This tells Google:

“Hey, I’ve got more useful stuff over here!”
And tells your reader:
“Stay a while. Explore. Binge my content. Fall in love with my brain.”

Win-win.

🖼️ Step 6: Optimize Your Images (Yep, Even the Memes)

If you’re using AI to generate images (Midjourney, DALL·E, etc.), don’t forget to optimize those too. Every image on your blog should have:

  • A descriptive file name (e.g., “seo-content-brief.png” not “IMG_0024.png”)
  • Alt text that actually describes the image (and helps visually impaired users)
  • Compression to keep page load speed fast (slow pages = angry readers = bad for SEO)

Hot tip: Use free tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel to compress images without making them look like they’ve been microwaved.

🎭 Step 7: Add Emotion, Empathy, and YOU

This is the part that matters most and is, hands down, the one thing AI can’t do (yet). Your tone. Your voice. Your quirky sidebars and off-topic detours.

Here’s where the “you” factor really shines:

  • Add a personal story to intro or wrap-up
  • Ask rhetorical questions (“Ever wanted to throw your laptop out the window after reading SEO advice?”)
  • Make mistakes! Miss a comma, start a sentence with “And”—real writing sounds imperfect

Because here’s the tea: SEO without soul doesn’t stick.

You want people nodding, smiling, screenshotting your quotes for their Notion board, not skimming and bouncing in five seconds.

So if the AI output feels soulless? Infuse it with your weird, witty, wonderful self.

🧼 Step 8: Do the Boring Bits (Because Details Matter)

You’ve optimized the guts of your post. Time for the details:

  • Meta title: Clear, compelling, includes keyword
  • Meta description: Enticing mini-summary (up to 155 characters)
  • Slug: Clean and short
  • Featured image: Eye-catching but not stock photo purgatory
  • OG tags (Open Graph): So your link preview on social doesn’t look janky

And please preview your blog post before publishing. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve hit “publish” only to find a rogue placeholder that says:

“INSERT CTA HERE.”

Facepalm.

✨ Final Thoughts: Robots Are Great, But They’re Not You

AI is a miracle, honestly. It’s fast, efficient, and kind of fun to play with. But your job?
To be the soul behind the screen.
To ask, “Does this actually help someone?”
To make content that connects—not just ranks.

So yes, optimize your AI-generated content. Do the SEO dance. But don’t forget your humanity. That’s what readers—and search engines—are really looking for.

TL;DR: AI + On-Page SEO = ✨ When You Do It Right

  1. Start with a solid AI draft
  2. Humanize it—tone, voice, story
  3. Sprinkle in main + semantic keywords
  4. Add helpful internal links
  5. Optimize images + speed
  6. Write a killer meta title/description
  7. Show up in your writing, quirks and all
  8. Hit publish. Repeat. Grow.

 

Next up in the course:
“Link Building in 2025: How to Get Backlinks Without Being Weird About It”

Questions? Wins? AI bloopers? I wanna hear them. Drop ‘em below. Let’s make your next post actually rank—and resonate. ❤️

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