I want to create genuinely useful articles for my website, which obviously takes time. But I keep seeing these services that churn out daily articles (not naming any) with poor quality, clearly just stuffed with keywords to rank on Google.
The weird thing is, these low-quality posts seem to bring in clicks and impressions according to their metrics.
So what’s the priority here? Do we focus on making great content for readers or just aim to keep Google happy?
Always put the readers first.
Clicks mean nothing if people land on your site, see low-quality content, and leave. They won’t buy anything, sign up, or visit again. Even if Google ranks your site, it won’t help your business without engaging content.
@Miltan
Totally agree with this. Great point.
@Miltan
That makes sense. I can’t stand the junk content these tools pump out, but the metrics they show seem convincing. It’s always about how their Google Search Console stats are climbing. Maybe there’s some truth to it?
Both, really.
You need a balance. Content should be engaging for readers but also optimized for search engines to get seen in the first place.
Gerry said:
Both, really.
You need a balance. Content should be engaging for readers but also optimized for search engines to get seen in the first place.
I guess every article needs a human touch at the end. AI can help with keywords, but I wouldn’t rely on it fully.
@Jordan
Keywords are the easy part. Google understands context, so you’ll rank for related terms even if you don’t mention them explicitly. The tricky bit is structuring your content for snippets, Discover, and other features.
On top of that, you need to make it easy for people to find answers and include original insights or visuals. AI isn’t capable of that level of originality.
@YoungG
Thanks for explaining. I didn’t know about these features like Discover and snippets. Do they really make a huge difference in traffic?
And yeah, AI can be useful, but it probably needs better prompts to make the most of it.
@Jordan
They can make a difference if done right, but it’s not just about traffic. Using AI blindly might hurt your brand. These days, people are noticing when sites sound generic and shallow.
AI works if you guide it carefully—prompt each part of the article, add your tone, and include your own insights.
@YoungG
This is gold. If anyone’s thinking of using AI, they should follow your advice. My takeaways:
You’re writing for readers, but you publish for Google to help readers find you.
Think of it like printing a book. If the ink ruins the paper, people won’t read it. Similarly, if your article title is just marketing jargon, like ‘We’re the best at AcmeCron products,’ Google won’t rank it.
Write for your audience, but format and optimize for platforms like Google and Bing so they can actually find it.
@GraceMorrison
I think I get what you’re saying. The content needs to make sense for readers but still follow SEO rules for Google to pick it up.
Jordan said:
@GraceMorrison
I think I get what you’re saying. The content needs to make sense for readers but still follow SEO rules for Google to pick it up.
Exactly. Google doesn’t actually understand if content is good or accurate. It needs specific signals to rank it. For example, how could Google know if a medical article is peer-reviewed? It can’t. So structuring your content correctly is what gets it noticed.
If you’re only writing for search engines, you might get quick results in traffic. But over time, fluff articles don’t turn visitors into customers and can hurt your brand.
Good content works for both. It’s optimized for search engines but also delivers value to readers and builds trust in your business.
@EdwardGenesis
Exactly. I see so many fluff articles and wonder who they’re even for. That’s why I started this thread.
Always write for your audience. What matters is retention, not just clicks. High bounce rates are bad for your site, even if you rank.
And don’t forget, Google keeps updating its algorithm. Chasing every update isn’t worth it, especially if it means compromising content quality.
@Jean
Good point about bounce rates. I always leave bad content right away too.
Ideally, you write for readers, but in reality, many people write for Google.
Google says it prioritizes helpful content, but it’s easier to game the system with SEO tricks than to make genuinely great articles. That’s why people often turn to forums like this one for better answers instead of blogs.
@ken
So true. I always add ‘forum’ to my searches because I want real answers, not pages of vague writing.
Focus on the readers. Always the readers.