I get this question constantly from my clients, and honestly, it’s one of the smartest questions you can ask right now. With AI tools becoming the new information gatekeepers, it’s completely natural to wonder if you should pivot your entire content strategy to please these digital assistants.
Here’s my straight-up, no-BS answer: People first, AI second. Always. ✅
Let me break down exactly why this approach will deliver better results than chasing AI algorithms – and how to make it work for your business.
Why Creating Content “Just for AI” Is a Losing Strategy
1. AI Tools Are Designed to Surface Human-Friendly Content
Here’s what most people miss: AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity are specifically trained to find and recommend content that genuinely helps humans. They’re not looking for robot-speak or keyword-stuffed garbage.
When you write clearly, concisely, and helpfully for real people, AI naturally favors it too. It’s that simple.
2. Low-Value Content Will Backfire Spectacularly
Remember the dark days of keyword stuffing and SEO spam? AI models are even better at spotting that nonsense than Google ever was. They’re trained to ignore fluff and prioritize substance.
Creating content just to satisfy AI crawlers is like trying to impress a Michelin-starred chef with a gas station hot dog – it’s not going to work.
3. AI Understands Context Better Than You Think
Modern AI tools are incredibly context-aware. They can distinguish between genuine expertise and content created to game the system. If your content demonstrates real knowledge, clear communication, and proper structure, AI will understand and recommend it effectively.
What You SHOULD Do Instead: The Winning Strategy
Focus on creating content that is:
- Useful to your actual audience (solve real problems!)
- Clear and concise (no fluff or filler)
- Well-organized for both humans and machines to understand
- Expert-driven (show your real knowledge)
Your Smart Content Strategy Framework
Here’s exactly how to approach content creation in the AI era:
| Goal | Primary Audience | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|---|
| Answering FAQs | People + AI | FAQ sections, explainer blogs |
| Sharing expertise | People + AI | “How to…” posts, case studies |
| Showcasing services | People | Clear descriptions, testimonials |
| Technical optimization | AI (via structure) | Proper H tags, Schema markup |
| Brand storytelling | People | About pages, team bios |
| Targeting long-tail terms | People + AI | “What’s the best X for Y?” posts |
The Magic Formula That Actually Works
Write for People, Optimize for Machines
This isn’t about choosing sides – it’s about being strategic:
For People:
- Use conversational, helpful language
- Answer real questions your audience asks
- Share genuine expertise and experience
- Tell stories that connect emotionally
For AI (Through Structure):
- Use clear headings (H2, H3, etc.)
- Add Schema markup where appropriate
- Include FAQ sections
- Write meta descriptions that summarize content
What AI Tools Actually Reward
AI tools prioritize content that is:
- Genuinely helpful (not just optimized)
- Expert-driven (shows real knowledge)
- Well-structured (easy to understand and parse)
- Actionable (clear, concise, useful)
Real Examples That Work for Both
✅ Good: “5 Warning Signs Your Website Needs an SEO Audit”
- Helpful to business owners
- Shows expertise
- Easy for AI to understand and recommend
❌ Bad: “SEO Services SEO Company Best SEO Near Me”
- Keyword-stuffed nonsense
- Not genuinely helpful
- AI will ignore it completely
✅ Good: “How to Choose the Right SEO Consultant for Your Small Business”
- Answers a real question
- Demonstrates expertise
- Structured for easy reading
❌ Bad: “SEO Consultant SEO Services Digital Marketing SEO”
- Makes no sense to humans
- AI recognizes it as spam
Your Action Plan: Best of Both Worlds
- Start with audience needs – What questions do they actually ask you?
- Write conversationally – Like you’re talking to a smart friend
- Structure properly – Use headings, bullets, logical flow
- Add technical elements – Schema markup, proper meta tags
- Test with real people – If humans find it helpful, AI probably will too
Here’s what I want you to remember: The best content strategy has always been creating genuinely helpful, well-structured content for your audience. AI tools are just getting better at recognizing and rewarding this approach.
You don’t need to choose between people and AI. You don’t need separate content streams. You just need to do what great content creators have always done – help people solve real problems with clear, expert-driven content.
The businesses trying to game AI systems will get left behind. The businesses focused on being genuinely helpful will get recommended by AI tools AND loved by real customers.
That’s a win-win strategy I can absolutely get behind! ✨
