Why AI Systems Depend on SEO Professionals in 2023
- Francesca Vaccari
- Oct 3, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 12, 2024
In the fast-changing landscape of digital marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) has made remarkable strides, particularly in the field of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). AI models are now capable of generating content, analyzing data, and even predicting user behavior. However, despite these advancements, businesses continue to rely on SEO professionals for a myriad of reasons that extend beyond the capabilities of AI. While AI plays a pivotal role in optimizing content creation workflows for SEO professionals, it's essential to recognize that AI systems, despite their capabilities, rely on human oversight. While AI can streamline processes, a human touch remains indispensable for managing inputs, reviewing data, and implementing strategic decisions effectively.

Read on as Francesca Vaccari Marketing details why AI systems depend on SEO professionals and why they are still necessary for marketing efforts in 2023.
1. SEO Professionals Implement Strategy
SEO is not just about keywords and algorithms; it's about aligning digital efforts with overarching business goals. SEO professionals bring a strategic mindset to the table, understanding the unique needs and aspirations of a business. They can formulate comprehensive strategies that go beyond keywords and cater to the broader context of the industry.
2. Content Quality and Relevance
While AI can generate content at an impressive pace, it often lacks the finesse and creativity that human writers bring. SEO professionals understand the art of creating content that not only appeases search engines but also resonates with human audiences. They can infuse personality, relevance, and cultural understanding into their content, enhancing the overall user experience.
3. User Experience Optimization
SEO professionals focus on ranking websites higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). However, they also ensure they are creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for users. SEO professionals are well-versed in optimizing websites for user-friendliness, mobile responsiveness, and overall performance. They ensure that visitors have a positive interaction with the site, which contributes to higher engagement and conversions.
4. Technical SEO & Adaptations to Algorithm Changes
Beyond content creation, SEO involves technical aspects such as website structure, crawl errors, and page load times. SEO professionals possess the technical expertise needed to identify and address these issues. This technical acumen is crucial for ensuring that a website is not only visible to search engines but is also optimized for a smooth user experience.
Furthermore, search engine algorithms are dynamic and subject to frequent changes. Google for example, updates its algorithm up to 9x per day. SEO professionals are adept at staying informed about these changes and adjusting strategies accordingly. Their human intuition and experience allow them to quickly adapt to new algorithms, ensuring that businesses remain visible in search results.
5. Local SEO and Geographic Considerations
For businesses with a local presence or specific geographic targets, SEO professionals understand the nuances of local SEO. They can optimize content for local keywords, manage Google My Business profiles effectively, and implement strategies tailored to the geographic audience.

6. Competitive Analysis
SEO is not a solitary endeavor; it involves constant monitoring of competitors. SEO professionals conduct thorough competitive analyses, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. This nuanced understanding enables them to fine-tune strategies for maximum effectiveness in the context of the competitive landscape.
7. Building and Nurturing Relationships
Beyond the technical aspects, SEO often involves outreach and relationship-building activities, such as link-building and collaboration with influencers. SEO professionals understand the importance of genuine connections in the digital landscape, something that AI models might struggle to replicate. At the end of the day, sales and marketing still require human interaction in order to close.
AI Systems Depend on SEO Professionals to Ensure Alignment in the Final Product
While AI has undeniably transformed the SEO landscape, businesses still benefit from human expertise and contributions. SEO professionals bring a holistic approach that combines strategic thinking, creativity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the business and its audience.
In an ideal marketing ecosystem, the synergy between artificial intelligence (AI) and human expertise creates a symbiotic relationship, maximizing the strengths of both entities. AI brings unparalleled efficiency to various aspects of the marketing process. With AI, content creation workflows can be streamlined, allowing SEO professionals to generate high volumes of data-driven and optimized content more efficiently.
However, the symbiotic relationship is not a one-way street. While AI excels at automating repetitive tasks and analyzing vast datasets, human expertise remains indispensable (for now) for contextual understanding, creativity, and strategic decision-making. Human oversight is vital in interpreting the nuances of language, cultural context, and industry trends that AI may still struggle to grasp fully.
In content creation, for instance, AI models can produce drafts quickly, but it is the human editor who can inject creativity, tone, and relevance that resonates authentically with the target audience. Similarly, in SEO strategy development, AI algorithms can process large amounts of data to identify patterns, but it takes human insight to interpret these findings, adapt to dynamic market conditions, and formulate a strategy that aligns with broader business objectives.
Moreover, the human element is crucial in managing the ethical considerations of AI in marketing. Humans are responsible for ensuring that the use of AI aligns with ethical standards, avoids biases, and respects user privacy. While AI can analyze data, it is humans who must ultimately make decisions about how that data is used and ensure that it complies with legal and ethical guidelines.
In essence, the ideal marketing ecosystem in 2023-2024 embraces the strengths of AI for efficiency, data processing, and automation, while acknowledging the unique qualities of human expertise—empathy, creativity, strategic thinking, and ethical considerations. It's the collaboration between the precision of AI algorithms and the nuanced understanding of humans that fosters a comprehensive and effective marketing strategy.
The relationship between AI and human expertise in marketing can be integrated into a blend of technology and creativity, leading to more adaptive, informed, and ethically sound marketing practices. This collaboration positions businesses to not only navigate the complexities of the digital landscape but also to thrive in a quickly evolving market.
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