10 Ways ChatGPT Can Boost Your SEO (From Someone Who Does SEO for a Living)

When I started using ChatGPT for SEO on my own small business website, it felt like I’d hired a personal assistant. Suddenly, tedious tasks like brainstorming keywords or drafting blog posts took a fraction of the time. I’m not alone either, about 86% of SEO professionals now use AI tools like ChatGPT as a “marketing intern” to speed up their workflow.

In this guide, I’ll coach you through ten high-value ways you can use ChatGPT for SEO. These tips are based on real-world applications and my personal experiences, tailored for DIY marketers, small business owners, and content creators. Best of all, they’re easy to follow (no geek-speak).

Let’s dive into the top 10 use cases, with practical examples and prompts along the way!

1. Keyword Brainstorming & Research 📑

One of the first steps in SEO is finding the right keywords. ChatGPT makes this fast and simple. You can ask it to generate a list of keywords on any topic and it will instantly spit out ideas – including those long-tail phrases (multi-word searches) that your customers might be Googling. For example, if you run a bakery in Calgary, you could prompt: “Give me 15 long-tail keywords a local bakery in Calgary might want to rank for.” Boom – ChatGPT will list out keywords like “best custom birthday cakes Calgary” or “gluten-free bakery in Calgary SW” without you having to brainstorm from scratch. In fact, ChatGPT is very useful for keyword research and can provide plenty of keyword ideas around any topic.

However, keep two things in mind:

• No live search data: ChatGPT doesn’t have current search volume or competition data. Sometimes it might even invent plausible-sounding numbers or “high-volume” terms that aren’t actually popular. So use it to get ideas, but cross-check important keywords using an SEO tool (like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush) or even a quick Google search. This way you confirm people actually search those terms.

• Clustering ideas: ChatGPT can group related keywords for you by theme. For example, if you feed it a bunch of keywords, it can categorize them by intent or topic. This semantic clustering is handy for planning which keywords belong together in one piece of content versus a separate page. Just remember that ChatGPT isn’t looking at real Google results when clustering, so use your own judgment or a specialized tool for final decisions.

Why this helps: For a DIY marketer, manually gathering keywords can feel like chasing your tail. ChatGPT gives you a running start with lots of ideas in seconds. I love using it to discover niche phrases or question-based queries (“how to [solve problem]”) that I might have missed. It’s like having an always-on brainstorming buddy for SEO. Just make sure to verify the winners before you bank your strategy on them!

2. Content Ideation (Blog & Topic Ideas) 💡

Staring at a blank content calendar? Let ChatGPT be your ideation coach. It’s great for finding new content ideas to write about – whether for your blog, FAQ section, or resource pages. In my experience, you can even give ChatGPT a rundown of your existing site content and have it suggest what’s missing.

For example, I saved my website’s sitemap (a list of all URLs) and asked ChatGPT, “What content gaps do I have and what new articles should I create to help my audience?” The AI reviewed the topics I already cover, and proposed fresh ones I hadn’t tackled. The suggestions targeted different search intents and audience needs – exactly the variety I was looking for.

Try this: Provide ChatGPT with some context about your business or existing content. You might say: “I run a DIY home decor blog. Here are 5 articles I’ve written [give titles]. What related topics or questions haven’t I covered yet that readers might be interested in?” ChatGPT will come back with a list of ideas, often surprisingly specific. It might suggest new angles (e.g. a how-to guide if you only have listicles, or a beginner FAQ if you have advanced posts).

If you want to go further, give it competitor info. For instance: “Here are titles of articles my competitor has written [list]. What are some content ideas my site is missing out on?” This can unveil content gaps – areas your competitors talk about but you haven’t yet. ChatGPT basically sifts through the known topics and highlights ones for you to consider. (Just ensure the competitor is well-known or provide the titles, since ChatGPT can’t browse live web without plugins.)

Real-world example: A small e-commerce store selling eco-friendly products used ChatGPT to brainstorm blog topics. By inputting a brief description of their products and target customers, they got ideas like “Top 10 Sustainable Swaps for Everyday Items”, “How to Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen”, and “Customer Spotlight: How One Family Went Zero-Waste”. These were engaging, relevant topics that aligned with what eco-conscious shoppers care about, giving the business a robust content plan to attract their audience. ChatGPT even explained why each idea could resonate, referencing different pain points and use cases for the target readers.

Pro tip: The more details you give ChatGPT about your audience or unique angle, the better the ideas. Mention who your customers are, their challenges, or what makes your expertise unique. This coaching upfront helps the AI generate content ideas that aren’t generic, but tailored to what your readers might value.

3. Outlining and Structuring Your Content 📝

Once you have a topic idea, ChatGPT can help you build a solid outline or brief for your article or webpage. Think of this as creating a roadmap before you start writing. I often use ChatGPT to draft an outline with section headings and key points, which I can then fill in or hand off to a writer. It’s like having a seasoned editor organize your thoughts for you.

ChatGPT actually excels at generating well-structured content outlines.

For example, say you want to write a blog post about “Beginner’s Guide to Urban Gardening.” You can prompt: “Create a detailed outline for an article titled 'Beginner’s Guide to Urban Gardening'. Include main sections with catchy headings and bullet points of what to cover (like choosing plants, container gardening tips, soil and water basics, etc.).” In seconds, you’ll get a logical breakdown: an introduction, sections like “Picking the Right Plants for City Environments”, “Container and Soil Preparation”, “Light, Water, and Care Basics”, maybe an FAQ section, and a conclusion. Each section will have sub-points that you can elaborate on.

For instance, I asked ChatGPT to outline a location-specific landing page for a fictional pizza chain expanding to new cities. It came back with a structured template for each city page – including an introduction addressing local customers, sections on the unique menu offerings in that city, a bit about the neighborhood, and even a spot for customer testimonials (see the example outline it generated above). The content was tailored in a friendly tone and organized with clear headings, which is a huge time-saver when creating multiple pages.

Having an outline does two big things for you:

• Keeps content on-track: You ensure all the important subtopics are covered. ChatGPT might even suggest segments you didn’t consider (like a FAQ at the end to target “People also ask” questions, which is great for SEO).

• Speeds up writing: With a ready outline, you or your team can focus on fleshing out the points rather than figuring out the structure. It combats the blank-page syndrome.

In practice: Treat ChatGPT like your content brief builder. Provide the topic, the goal of the content, and any must-cover points. For example: “Outline a blog post about prepping your home for winter. It should educate new homeowners and include tips on insulation, furnace checks, and preventing pipe freeze. Include 5 main sections with brief details.” The more guidance you give (audience, number of sections, specific points), the better the outline. And if the outline isn’t perfect, no worries – you can ask ChatGPT to tweak it (“Add a section about saving on heating costs” or “Remove the part about pipe insulation”) or you can adjust it yourself. This step sets a strong foundation so the final content will be well-organized and comprehensive.

4. Drafting Content (Writing with AI Assistance) ✍️

Now onto writing the actual content – the part that many find time-consuming. ChatGPT can definitely help draft blog posts, product descriptions, or any copy, but you’ll want to use it wisely. The key is to treat it as a first-draft generator or writing partner, not a final publisher. Here’s how to make the most of ChatGPT when writing content:

• Work section by section: Rather than saying “write a 1000-word article on X” (which can result in a rambling, generic piece), break your writing into chunks. For example, feed ChatGPT your outline (from the previous step) and say: “Let’s start with the introduction. Write an engaging intro for the article 'Beginner’s Guide to Urban Gardening' that hooks the reader and mentions how anyone can start a garden in the city.” It will produce a few paragraphs. You review and edit that intro – make sure it sounds like you (add a personal anecdote or a local touch like “When I moved to Toronto, I only had a balcony, but…”) and correct any off points. Then move to the next section: “Great, now draft the section about choosing plants. Emphasize easy herbs and veggies for small spaces.” Step by step, you collaborate with the AI. This iterative approach ensures the content stays on track and you can correct course as you go, rather than wading through a full AI-written article that might have gone in an odd direction.

• Maintain your voice and expertise: ChatGPT’s writing is generally coherent and grammatically sound, but it can feel a bit generic or flat if taken verbatim. Always infuse your own voice, humor, or experience into the draft. For instance, if ChatGPT writes “Urban gardening can be very rewarding,” you might tweak it to “Urban gardening is incredibly rewarding – I still remember the pride of picking my first balcony-grown tomato!” That personal touch not only resonates with readers but also boosts what Google calls E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness). In fact, AI content on its own tends to be generic and has no original thought or experience to share. By editing the AI’s draft and weaving in your unique insights, you avoid the pitfall of bland, one-size-fits-all content.

• Fact-check and refine: Never copy-paste an AI draft without checking the fact. ChatGPT can sometimes present “facts” that are inaccurate or even made-up, a phenomenon known as AI hallucination. If the draft says “According to a 2022 study...”, verify that study exists and the info is correct (often, that citation may be fictional!). The best way to avoid false info is to supply correct facts in your prompt (e.g., give it a stat to include). But even then, read through the content and double-check any numbers, historical dates, or specific claims. Also verify that the content is up-to-date – ChatGPT’s knowledge has a cutoff (it might not know events or changes after 2021 unless you explicitly tell it in the prompt). The bottom line: use AI’s draft as a starting point, then apply human judgment to ensure accuracy and relevance.

To illustrate, most professional SEO content creators treat ChatGPT as an assistant, not a replacement for writing. You might get 60-80% of the draft done faster with AI, but that last 20-40% – polishing the language, injecting personality, and correcting details – is where you elevate the content to truly serve your readers and reflect your brand voice. Always do a final read-through of AI-assisted content to make sure it doesn’t sound robotic or repetitive (AI can sometimes repeat points). If something sounds off or too generic, tweak it or ask ChatGPT to rephrase with a specific tone (e.g., “make this sentence friendlier and more upbeat”).

In short: ChatGPT can help you overcome writer’s block and save tons of time by churning out paragraphs on demand. Just remember to remain the coach and editor in the process – guiding the AI with clear prompts and refining its output. With that collaboration, you get well-written content and keep it genuine and trustworthy for your audience.

5. Crafting Catchy Titles & Meta Descriptions 🎯

Writing snappy title tags and meta descriptions for SEO can be surprisingly tricky – you need to be concise, include keywords, and entice users to click, all within character limits. ChatGPT is fantastic at generating these short-form text snippets. In fact, any short-form content can benefit from ChatGPT’s speed and fluency, including title tags, meta descriptions, and headings.

Title tags: These are the clickable headlines that show up in Google results. If you provide ChatGPT a rough idea of your title or the page content, it can suggest multiple title options. For example, for a blog post about urban gardening, you could ask: “Give me five SEO-friendly title tag ideas for an article on beginner urban gardening. Keep them under 60 characters.” It might return titles like “Urban Gardening 101: How to Grow Plants in the City”, “Beginner’s Guide to City Gardening (Small Space Tips)”, etc. You can then pick the catchiest one or even combine phrases. The nice thing is you can also specify a tone: “make one title playful, one more expert tone, one with a number if possible.” ChatGPT will adhere to instructions (mostly) and certainly keep it within the length limit you specify. This saves you from staring at your title, wondering if it’s compelling enough.

Meta descriptions: These are the 1-2 line summaries under the title in search results. A well-written meta description can improve your click-through rate – it’s like your ad copy to searchers. ChatGPT can produce meta descriptions in bulk or one by one. For instance: “Write a meta description (max 155 characters) for a page about urban gardening for beginners, highlighting that anyone can grow plants in small spaces.” You’ll get a neat sentence or two, often pretty on-point. It might say something like: “Learn urban gardening basics – from picking easy plants to maximizing small spaces. Grow your own green oasis in the city, no experience needed!” If it’s a bit long, you can tell ChatGPT to shorten it or you can trim a word or two. On many websites, meta descriptions are missing or not optimized – ChatGPT can help you fill those in quickly so that all your pages have inviting descriptions. (One advanced trick: If you have ChatGPT Plus with plugins or the ability to handle file input, you can even have it fill a whole spreadsheet of meta descriptions for multiple pages in one go, but for most DIY cases, doing them one by one or a few at a time is fine.)

Headers & tags: Similarly, ChatGPT can assist in writing H1 or H2 headings for your content that are both reader-friendly and keyword-rich. Let’s say your section content is about “Light and Water Needs for Urban Gardens” but you want a nicer heading, you can prompt: “Suggest a concise H2 heading for a section about watering and sunlight needs in urban gardening.” It may come back with “Sunlight & Water: How to Nurture Your City Plants” – which you can use as-is or tweak.

Internal links suggestions: Another on-page optimization tip – if you list some of your site’s pages and their topics, you can ask ChatGPT where you might add internal links. For example, “Here are 5 other blog post titles from my site: [titles]. Suggest which of these posts I should link to within my new urban gardening article and in what context.” It might respond, “Link ‘Gardening Tools 101’ when mentioning tools needed, and link ‘Composting in Small Spaces’ in a section about soil health,” etc. This is a clever way to ensure you’re cross-linking your content, which helps SEO and user navigation. (You’ll still have to go and add the link in your content, but at least you know where it could fit naturally.)

Double-check length & relevance: While ChatGPT follows instructions well, it’s not infallible about lengths (especially character counts). You may ask for 155 characters and it might give you 160 – so just give a quick count or eyeball. It’s always good to review AI-generated titles/descriptions to make sure they make sense for your page and aren’t cut off in search results. Also avoid sounding too “clickbait.” ChatGPT sometimes uses exclamation points or superlatives; you might tone that down if it doesn’t fit your brand.

Why this is valuable: Crafting meta tags for dozens of pages used to be a slog, and easy to put off. With ChatGPT, you can generate them in seconds, making it much more likely you’ll actually do it for all your important pages. It’s a quick win that AI makes almost effortless. And as a bonus, working on these short snippets with ChatGPT might even spark ideas to improve your on-page content (sometimes I’ll incorporate a phrasing from a good meta description back into the article intro or summary).

In summary: Leverage ChatGPT as your on-call copywriter for titles, metas, and on-page tweaks. It’s like having a seasoned SEO copywriter who never gets tired of iterating different phrasings. You’ll save time and can test multiple options to see which one resonates best with your audience – all for free (or at least for the cost of a coffee, given ChatGPT’s pricing)

6. Technical SEO Helper (Fixes & Explanations) 🔧

Technical SEO can be intimidating if you’re not a developer – things like broken links, redirects, sitemaps, or robots.txt often confuse non-technical site owners. While ChatGPT can’t run a site audit for you or physically fix your website’s code, it’s excellent at explaining technical issues and suggesting solutions in plain language. Think of it as a mentor who can guide you through techy problems step by step.

Debugging issues: Let’s say you used an SEO tool (or Google Search Console) and it reports “Hundreds of URLs have a temporary redirect (302) instead of permanent (301).” If you have no idea what that means, you can literally copy that message and ask ChatGPT: “What does it mean that I have many URLs using a temporary redirect, and how do I fix this?” ChatGPT will explain that a 302 redirect means the page is temporarily moved, which might not pass SEO value, and it will likely advise using 301 redirects for pages that moved permanently. It will break down the concept in simpler terms (“temporary vs permanent redirect is like a change of address form you expect to revert vs one you don’t”) and then guide you on fixing it (e.g. “identify those URLs and update the redirect settings in your CMS or .htaccess to 301”). Essentially, it helps you understand audit issues and how to resolve them without having to wade through forums or technical docs on your own.

Generating code & files: If you need a quick robots.txt file or an XML sitemap outline, ChatGPT can produce that too. For example: “Create a simple robots.txt that disallows the /private/ directory and allows everything else.” It will format the text for you:

User-agent: *  
Disallow: /private/

Done. Or, “What should an XML sitemap contain? How do I write one?” ChatGPT might not fetch your URLs, but it can show you a sample XML sitemap structure with the proper <urlset> tags and how to list a few URLs. You then fill in your own and place it on your site. In one of my cases, I wasn’t sure how to correctly implement hreflang tags (the tags that tell Google about alternate language/country versions of a page). I described my scenario to ChatGPT: “I have an English page and a French page for the same content, how do I use hreflang?” It not only explained the concept, but even wrote out example <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" ...> and <link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" ...> tags for me to put in the HTML. ChatGPT can similarly help with meta tags like canonical tags or even simple HTML/CSS snippets if you ask (just remember, it’s drawing from general training data, so double-check any code it gives you).

Importantly, ChatGPT is great for generating these technical elements quickly – robots instructions, sitemap XML, schema code, etc. – but you should have a developer or SEO specialist review if you’re unsure. The AI might miss a nuance of your site’s setup. Still, having that first draft of code or that clear explanation can save you from confusion and trial-and-error. It’s a confidence booster for DIY website owners.

When to escalate: While ChatGPT can guide you through many fixes, know when a problem is beyond just advice. For example, if it says “Your site has a lot of duplicate content,” ChatGPT can suggest using canonical tags or consolidating pages. You might then implement those changes and want to verify results with an SEO tool or by consulting a professional if the issue persists. Similarly, for site hacks or very complex site errors, an experienced developer is your best bet. Use ChatGPT to understand the situation and even to communicate more clearly with a pro (you’ll know the right terminology and solution approaches after chatting with the AI).

In summary, ChatGPT is like having a tech support librarian at your side. It won’t fix your site for you, but it will equip you with clear explanations, potential fixes, and even snippets of code to try out. This is a huge relief for non-techies, because you no longer have to comb through dozens of blog articles for an answer – you can get a straight, digestible answer in one place. Just remember that some technical issues require real-world testing and expertise. ChatGPT can’t crawl your site or verify if something is 100% resolved. It’s a helper to point you in the right direction, and in my experience, it significantly lowers the intimidation factor of technical SEO.

(And yes, I’ve personally used ChatGPT to generate a robots.txt and it got the job done in one try. ✅)

7. Schema Markup Generation (Structured Data) 💻

Ever noticed those star ratings, recipe times, or FAQs that show up directly in Google search results? That’s often thanks to schema markup (structured data code) on websites. Adding schema can improve your visibility with rich results, but writing JSON-LD code by hand can be tedious and technical. Good news: ChatGPT is pretty good at generating schema markup for you.

For the uninitiated, schema markup is a bit of code (often in JSON-LD format) that you add to your pages to help search engines understand the content better. For example, you might add FAQ schema to a Q&A section, or Product schema to a product page with price and availability. This can lead to enhanced listings in search (like those FAQs expanding under your link, or product availability shown on Google).

How ChatGPT helps: You can literally ask it to create schema code by providing the necessary info. For example: I wanted to add Organization schema on a client’s About page (to give Google our business details like name, founding date, etc.). I prompted ChatGPT with: “Generate an Organization schema in JSON-LD with the following details: name = ACME Corp, foundingDate = 2010-06-15, founder = John Doe, sameAs profiles = [LinkedIn URL, Facebook URL].”

The AI quickly returned a snippet of JSON-LD code (as shown above) with the structure already in place – @context, @type: Organization, and all the properties I listed filled in. It even included some additional helpful fields that I didn’t mention explicitly (like an example contactPoint structure) and gave tips on how to tweak it for accuracy. This draft saved me a ton of time. I copied it, made a few small edits (e.g., I changed the placeholder contact person to our real support email and ensured the addresses were correct), and then added it to our webpage.

Benefits: If you’re not a coder, seeing the schema formatted correctly is a huge help. ChatGPT essentially acts as your markup sous-chef, handling the syntax and structure. This can save developer time and let you get a draft version of the schema yourself. You then have a developer review or implement it, but the heavy lifting of creation is already done. It’s also a great way to learn what schema properties exist. For instance, when I asked for Organization schema, ChatGPT reminded me of fields like numberOfEmployees and sameAs (for social links) which I might not have thought to include.

Use cases for DIY folks: Try it for FAQ schema: “Here are 3 FAQs (Q&A pairs). Generate FAQPage schema in JSON-LD for these.” You’ll get a ready-to-go code snippet wrapping your questions and answers in the proper format. Or for a local business: “Create a LocalBusiness schema for a bakery named Sweet Treats in Edmonton, with address, phone, opening hours, etc.” Provide those details, and voila – a JSON-LD block appears. It might include fields you didn’t supply, like @id or image – which you can fill in or remove depending on what you have. ChatGPT can also suggest what info is needed for a given schema type if you’re unsure (it might ask or list out recommended properties for, say, a LocalBusiness).

Important: Always validate and review the schema before using it live. There’s a free tool called the Schema Markup Validator (from schema.org or Google’s Rich Results Test) where you can paste the JSON-LD and check for errors. I did this with the ChatGPT-generated code and got a green light (no errors) on the first try. That said, AI isn’t perfect – sometimes a tiny syntax error or an outdated property could sneak in. And context matters: ChatGPT might not know specifics like the exact business type category to use (Restaurant vs Bakery vs LocalBusiness – you might need to adjust that). It’s wise to have someone knowledgeable glance at it, especially if you’re going to implement site-wide or for critical pages. In many cases, though, I’ve found the markup to be correct or very close to correct.

Also, keep in mind schema standards can update, and ChatGPT’s knowledge might not include the absolute latest schema types or Google preferences. But for the core types (Article, FAQ, HowTo, Product, Organization, LocalBusiness, etc.), it’s a fantastic starting point.

Bottom line: Adding structured data can give your SEO a nice boost by making your listings stand out, and ChatGPT dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for this. Instead of hand-coding JSON or avoiding schema altogether, you can leverage AI to generate custom code in seconds. It’s especially useful for small businesses who want rich results (like showing ratings, prices, or FAQs) but don’t have an in-house SEO tech. You get the code, you test it, and then implement – and you’ve just done something that typically might have required a developer or a lot of Googling.

(Just remember to keep an eye on it – as your site or info changes, you’ll want to update the schema too. ChatGPT will be there to help when you do!)

8. Competitor Analysis & Content Gap Insights 🤜🤛

Understanding what your competitors are doing can inform your own SEO strategy. ChatGPT can’t crawl competitor websites in real-time for you, but it can still assist in competitor analysis in a few clever ways:

• Brainstorming competitor list: Suppose you’re a local fitness coach. You can ask ChatGPT, “Who might be my online competitors if I offer at-home workout programs?” Based on its training data, it might list types of competitors or even specific well-known ones (e.g., “other personal trainers with YouTube channels, apps like Fitify or Nike Training Club, local gym programs”). It can surface niche or indirect competitors you hadn’t considered because it “knows” a lot of common players in various industries. It’s like brainstorming with someone well-read: “You said you sell organic pet shampoo online? Competitors could include other organic pet product brands, pet stores focusing on natural products, or even DIY pet grooming blogs.” That gives you angles to research further.

• Content gap analysis: This is one of my favorite uses. If you know what your competitors have on their sites (at least generally), ChatGPT can help identify topics they cover that you don’t. You can do this by telling ChatGPT in broad terms: “My site has articles on A, B, C. My competitor’s site covers A, B, C, plus X, Y, Z topics.” Then ask, “What useful content topics am I missing that competitors have?” The AI, acting like a junior strategist, might say: “Competitors cover X and Y which your site doesn’t. For example, they have a buying guide for ‘Z’ and a case study on ‘Y’, which you could also provide to your audience.” Essentially, since someone (your competitor) has already invested in those topics, it’s a clue that those might be valuable to cover – and ChatGPT helps spot those clues. It’s leveraging the knowledge that “if competitor is writing about it, maybe it’s important”. Just make sure any content gap you close is relevant to your audience and business (don’t just copy blindly – if competitor wrote about something tangential that doesn’t fit your niche, skip it). But often you’ll find some gems.

• Summarizing competitor content or messaging: If you have access to a competitor’s article or About page, you can paste a portion into ChatGPT and ask for a summary or the key selling points. For instance: “Here’s my competitor’s homepage text: [paste]. Summarize their unique selling proposition and target audience.” The AI will digest it and say something like, “They position themselves as affordable and family-friendly, targeting busy parents who need quick meal solutions, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients,” etc. This can quickly give you an idea of their angle. You might discover what they highlight versus what you do – maybe you emphasize quality while they emphasize price. It’s useful for positioning. (Be mindful not to paste huge amounts due to token limits, but a few paragraphs usually works.)

• SWOT-style insights: You can even get creative and ask, “Given what you know about the [industry] and companies like [Competitor A] and [Competitor B], what might be some strengths and weaknesses of my approach (I do X) versus theirs?” ChatGPT can’t know your exact business performance, but it can guess based on general knowledge. For example, “Competitor A has a large community and lots of content (strength), but maybe weaker in personalized service. You, as a solo coach, have strength in personal attention but weakness in reach,” etc. These are hypothetical but often reasonable, and can prompt you to think about how to differentiate yourself more.

A key thing to remember is that ChatGPT is using publicly available info and general knowledge up to its knowledge cutoff. It’s not actually spying on real-time strategies or proprietary data. So, treat its competitor analysis as brainstorming or hypothesis generation. It’s like a well-read marketing intern giving you ideas – a “junior marketer” approach. For real competitor metrics (backlinks, traffic, etc.), you’d still use SEO tools. But for qualitative insights and content ideas, ChatGPT is surprisingly helpful.

Example from my experience: I run a niche e-commerce site and gave ChatGPT a list of product categories my competitor had that I didn’t. It responded with a bunch of content suggestions like, “Competitor covers [Product Use Cases] and [Industry Trends] on their blog which you haven’t touched. These topics likely engage their customers and could attract yours too. Consider creating content on [related topic] to capture that interest.” One of those ideas was indeed something I had overlooked – I promptly wrote an article on it, which ended up drawing new organic traffic. ChatGPT basically helped me piggyback on competitor research (they already validated the topic by writing about it), saving me the effort of starting from scratch.

In summary, ChatGPT can serve as a brainstorming partner for competitor insights and content opportunities. It won’t replace thorough competitive research, but it will give you a great starting point and highlight angles you might miss when you’re too deep in your own business. Consider it another set of (AI) eyes scanning the competitive landscape and pointing out, “Hey, check over there – that looks interesting!”

9. Streamlining Link Building & Outreach 📧

Building quality backlinks is a cornerstone of SEO, but let’s face it – outreach (like emailing other sites for collaborations or guest posts) can be tedious and time-consuming. ChatGPT can take on a lot of the grunt work in link building campaigns by helping you create templates, ideas, and even content for outreach, so you can focus on personalizing and strategy.

Outreach email templates: If you’ve ever sat down to write a cold email asking for a backlink or a partnership, you know it can induce writer’s block. ChatGPT is excellent at drafting polite, professional outreach emails. For example, you can prompt: “Write a friendly outreach email to a blog owner asking if I can contribute a guest article on their site. Emphasize that I have expertise in the topic and that their readers would benefit. Keep it concise and polite.” In seconds, you’ll get a solid template: a greeting, a quick intro of who you are, a pitch for the guest post with a suggested topic, and a polite closing. You can then tweak details like your name, the specific topic, etc. I’ve done this and saved so much mental energy – instead of agonizing over phrasing, I start with the AI’s draft and make it sound more “me.”

ChatGPT can also inject a bit of personalization if you tell it something about the recipient. For instance: “Draft a outreach email to the owner of DogLoversBlog.com, complimenting their recent article on puppy training, and suggesting I write a related article. Mention that I’m a certified dog trainer.” The result will weave in those specifics. Of course, you should still double-check the blog owner’s name and make sure any compliment is genuine (and actually references something from their site). The point is to use ChatGPT to eliminate boilerplate writing – you get a flexible email formula that you can reuse and adapt, instead of writing from scratch each time. According to SEO experts, outreach emails are a great use-case for AI because they’re short and don’t need to be completely original pro (in fact, you often follow a formula anyway).

Content for link bait or guest posts: Beyond emails, ChatGPT can help brainstorm what to offer or create for backlinks. Say you want to earn links by creating a helpful resource or infographic. You can ask: “What are some shareable content ideas in the personal finance niche that might attract backlinks?” It might suggest things like a calculator, a definitive guide, a checklist, or surprising case study data. These are ideas you can run with. If you decide “I’ll create a checklist,” you could then have ChatGPT help outline it. Or if you need to write a guest post quickly, you can use the content drafting techniques from earlier sections to have ChatGPT help you write a decent draft, which you then refine.

Local link building: For small businesses focusing on local SEO, ChatGPT can brainstorm where to get local backlinks. Example prompt: “Suggest some local organizations, directories, or websites in [City] that a bakery could approach for backlinks or partnerships.” The AI might list the chamber of commerce, local food bloggers, city event directories, etc. It could even role-play: “Act as a local SEO expert. I run a new café in Vancouver. Recommend 5 strategies to get local backlinks and citations.” You’ll likely get ideas like sponsoring a community event (and getting listed on their site), getting listed on local business directories or tourism sites, collaborating with a local influencer, etc. Some ideas might be common sense, but you might get a fresh one too. It’s like brainstorming with a knowledgeable colleague who has seen many local businesses succeed.

Press releases and PR content: If part of your link building involves press releases or reaching out to journalists, ChatGPT can help draft a press release or a story pitch. Provide the key details (the “news” about your business) and ask for a press release in proper format. You’ll get a usable draft which you can then send to news outlets or wire services. Just ensure the tone and facts are spot-on – edit as needed.

Save time, but personalize: The big advantage here is speed and consistency. Instead of writing 10 different outreach emails from scratch, you can have ChatGPT produce a well-structured template and then you customize each one a bit (always add a personal line or reference so it doesn’t feel copy-pasted – people can sniff that out). Using AI for this means you won’t forget key elements (like explaining what’s in it for them if they link to you or host your guest post) because the template covers it. It’s like having a savvy marketing assistant who writes the first draft of every outreach, and you just review and send.

Do keep in mind any legal or ethical guidelines – for example, in Canada, cold outreach emails might be subject to anti-spam laws (CASL). That means you should include certain info like who you are and an opt-out option if it’s a mass email. ChatGPT might not automatically include that, so be sure to add a line like “If you’re not interested, no worries at all – just let me know.” (Not a full compliance lesson here, but something to be aware of when doing bulk outreach).

Lastly, measure what works. If one AI-generated email variant gets more replies, note that and maybe use that style more. You can even experiment: “Rewrite this outreach email to sound more casual” or “…more formal/professional”, and test which version people respond to. ChatGPT lets you iterate quickly.

In a nutshell: ChatGPT can supercharge your link building by automating the repetitive parts – drafting emails, proposing content ideas, formulating outreach messages – so you can focus on the human part of link building: building relationships and tailoring your communication. Link building often requires sending many messages; having AI handle the heavy drafting lifts a huge weight off your shoulders, leaving you with more time (and mental energy) to refine strategy and follow-ups. For a one-person marketing team or a small business owner, that’s invaluable.

10. Boosting Local SEO (Local Content & Reviews) 📍

For businesses that rely on local customers – think brick-and-mortar stores, local services, restaurants, etc. – Local SEO is crucial. This includes things like your Google Business Profile, local citations, and ensuring your website clearly targets your city or region.

ChatGPT can assist with the unique content needs of local SEO in several ways:

Google Business Profile (GBP) descriptions: When you create or edit your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) listing, there’s a description field of up to 750 characters. Crafting this description is a perfect task for ChatGPT. You want it to concisely explain what you offer, include your main keywords (without spammy repetition), and perhaps mention your neighborhood or city to signal locality. You can prompt: “Act as a local SEO copywriter. Write a 750-character description for a bakery in Edmonton called Sweet Treats. Emphasize our handmade cupcakes and custom cakes, mention we’re in Old Strathcona near Whyte Ave, and include a friendly tone inviting people to visit.” ChatGPT will produce a nice paragraph hitting those points.

For example, it might come back with: “Sweet Treats is an Edmonton bakery in the heart of Old Strathcona, crafting handmade cupcakes, custom cakes, and pastries with love. Located near Whyte Ave, we pride ourselves on using local ingredients and creative designs that taste as good as they look. Whether you’re craving a classic chocolate cupcake or need a show-stopping custom cake for an event, our friendly team is here to make your day a little sweeter. Come visit our cozy shop and enjoy a delicious treat – we’re your neighborhood’s go-to for all things sweet!” – under 750 characters, local keywords included, and sounds inviting. You might tweak a detail or two, but that’s pretty much ready to go. By having a richly descriptive GBP blurb, you improve your local keyword signaling to Google (which can help you appear for searches like “bakery near Whyte Ave”) and give potential customers a great snapshot of your business.

Multi-location content: If your business has multiple locations or you serve multiple cities/areas, creating separate content for each can be daunting. ChatGPT simplifies this. Suppose you opened 5 new pizza restaurants across different neighborhoods. Instead of writing a unique “about this location” blurb for each from scratch, you can feed ChatGPT the specifics and have it generate them. Prompt example: “You’re a local SEO expert. Help me build out new location page content for my pizza shop. One location is Downtown Calgary (123 4th Ave), near Calgary Tower, catering to an office lunch crowd. Another is in Kensington, a trendy neighborhood, popular with evening diners. Create a short paragraph for each location that highlights what local customers can expect and any neighborhood tie-ins.” ChatGPT will produce distinct paragraphs for each location, weaving in the local landmarks and audience. This not only saves time, it ensures each page has unique content (which is good for SEO and user relevance) rather than copying and just swapping city names. Local content writing can be tedious when you have to do it en masse – but with ChatGPT it becomes a matter of providing details and letting the AI do the first draft. Then you polish it, and you’ve got professional-sounding local pages in a fraction of the time.

Responding to reviews: Engaging with customer reviews (on Google, Yelp, Facebook, etc.) is important for local SEO and online reputation. But crafting polite, on-brand responses – especially to negative reviews – can be tricky. ChatGPT to the rescue! You can paste a customer’s review (maybe paraphrase if it’s long) and ask: “Help me respond to this 1-star review from a customer who said our service was slow. Keep a friendly, apologetic tone and offer them a solution or to discuss further.” The AI will draft a response like: “Hi [Name], I’m really sorry to hear about your experience. We apologize that our service was slower than expected during your visit. Providing great service is our priority, and it sounds like we fell short this time. We’d love a chance to make it right – please reach out to us at [contact info] so we can personally apologize and ensure your next visit is much better. Thank you for your feedback, as it helps us improve!” This hits all the right notes: apologizes sincerely, doesn’t get defensive, and offers to continue the conversation offline. Of course, you should modify it to fit the specific details, but it’s a fantastic starting template. For positive reviews, ChatGPT can ensure you don’t repeat the same thank-you reply every time. You might say: “Draft a warm thank-you response to a 5-star review where the customer praised our cupcakes and friendly staff.” It’ll give you something like: “Thanks so much, [Name]! We’re thrilled to hear you loved our cupcakes and that our staff made you feel welcome. It makes our day to know we could bring a smile to yours. We can’t wait to serve you again soon – you’re always welcome for another sweet treat!” Having a variety of these responses (that you can tweak a bit) keeps your engagement authentic and boosts customer trust. Plus, active management of reviews is a positive local SEO signal.

Local link and citation ideas: We touched on outreach earlier, but specifically for local SEO, ChatGPT can brainstorm places to list your business or get backlinks from. For example: “Where should a new café in Toronto get listed online for local SEO?” It may suggest Google Business Profile (obvious), Yelp, TripAdvisor (if relevant), local directories like BlogTO, city-specific business listings, local chamber of commerce site, or even local bloggers/influencers. These hints can form your checklist for local promotion. It’s especially useful if you’re not aware of all the popular local sites – ChatGPT’s broad knowledge might surface some you didn’t think of.

Canadian context: If you’re in Canada (let’s say the user is, in Calgary), remember there might be Canadian-specific opportunities. For instance, mention using Canadian spelling and phrases in your content if your audience is Canadian (ChatGPT will default to American spelling unless you specify – you can tell it “use Canadian English”). Or perhaps bringing up local regulations or cultural events can make content more locally relevant. ChatGPT can help incorporate those nuances if you prompt it. For example: “Write a short blog post for our Calgary plumbing business about winter pipe maintenance (reference the extreme cold and maybe mention Calgary’s city programs if relevant).” It will tailor the advice to that local context (like knowing Calgary winters are harsh).

Also, if bilingual content is a factor (in parts of Canada with French-speaking audiences), ChatGPT can translate or draft content in French as needed. Just be sure to have a fluent speaker review it – the translations are usually good but might need a tweak for formality or local idioms.

In essence: ChatGPT is a major asset for local SEO tasks that require generating lots of specific, localized text. It takes the heavy lifting out of writing descriptions for profiles, creating multiple location pages with unique content, and even interacting with customer feedback. These things might not directly boost your Google ranking like a technical fix, but they build a stronger local presence and user experience – which indirectly helps SEO (happier customers, more engagement, better reputation = more traffic and conversions). By using ChatGPT to streamline these, you free up time to maybe do on-the-ground local marketing or improve your service, which is the stuff that truly sets you apart.

When to Go Pro: Using ChatGPT vs. Advanced SEO Tools/Services 🚦

By now, it’s clear that ChatGPT is an amazing swiss-army knife for basic SEO tasks. It’s like having an intern or junior assistant who can help you with research, writing, and brainstorming. You can achieve a lot: generate content ideas, optimize pages, clarify technical issues, and more – all on a DIY budget.

However, it’s also important to recognize the limits of ChatGPT and when to consider “upgrading” to more advanced solutions (be it professional tools or hiring an SEO expert/agency). Here’s some guidance on where to draw that line:

• Data accuracy and freshness

• Deep technical audits

• Strategic planning and experience

• Originality and creativity

• Backlink acquisition and digital PR

• When you’re stuck or scaling up

In conclusion, ChatGPT is a powerful ally for basic to intermediate SEO tasks, enabling anyone to do more with less. It lowers the barrier to entry for many optimizations and content needs. By all means, use it to its fullest – many professionals are incorporating AI into their workflow, so you’ll be in good company. Just remember its limitations: it doesn’t have real human experience or real-time knowledge, so combine its output with your own insight and external data.

Most pros treat AI as an assistant rather than a replacement – it augments their capabilities. Adopting the same mindset as a DIY marketer will serve you well. You’ll crank out work faster and cover the SEO basics effectively using ChatGPT, and you’ll also know when to step back and say, “This particular challenge needs a specialized approach or some human creative thinking.”

Article written by Basar Optimization Inc, a digital marketing agency based in Calgary with offices in Edmonton, Chicago and New York.

Basar Optimization specializes in Search Engine Marketing (Google Adwords, Facebook Ads and LinkedIn ads) and Search Engine Optimization. Click Here to book a free consultation today