An SEO Discussion with ChatGPT

Something BIG is happening on the web; something so BIG that Google has created a RED ALERT, citing this new thing as a threat to its business. And Google is absolutely correct.

The new tool is ChatGPT - an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool with outstanding capabilities. As long-time practitioners of SEO, we are curious about the effect this tool will have on the web so we decided to test ChatGPT by asking it a series of questions on SEO. We received the answers in real-time and what ensued what a thoroughly interesting discussion. Here it is:

Our SEO Discussion with ChatGPT

Sydney Business Web: How important are links in SEO?

ChatGPT: Links are a critical factor in SEO, as they help search engines understand the structure of your website and the relationships between different pages. Inbound links from other websites, also known as backlinks, can also boost your site's credibility and authority, helping it rank higher in search results. However, it's important to keep in mind that the quality of links is more important than the quantity, and links should be obtained naturally through quality content and outreach. Additionally, search engines have become sophisticated enough to detect and penalize manipulative link building tactics, so it's important to focus on building a strong and diverse link profile that adheres to good SEO practices.

Sydney Business Web: Will AI make links obsolete?

ChatGPT: It's unlikely that AI will make links obsolete in the near future. While AI technology has advanced significantly in recent years and has the ability to analyze and understand the context of web pages, links are still an essential part of how the web is structured and how information is organized and shared. Links provide valuable information to search engines about the relationships between different pages and help establish the credibility and authority of a website.

However, it's possible that the way links are used and valued by search engines may change as AI technology continues to develop. For example, search engines may become better at understanding the context of web pages without relying solely on links, or they may place greater emphasis on other ranking signals such as user behavior or the overall quality of content.

In any case, links will likely continue to play an important role in SEO and the wider web ecosystem for the foreseeable future, but it's important to stay up-to-date with advancements in technology and best practices in order to maintain a strong online presence.

Sydney Business Web: What is most important for website ranking on Google - Social Media or Links?

ChatGPT: Both social media and links can be important factors in website ranking on Google, but neither of them is the most important. Google uses a complex algorithm that takes into account hundreds of different ranking signals when determining the relevance and authority of a website. Some of the key factors that influence rankings include:

• Content quality and relevance: High-quality content that is relevant to the user's search query is one of the most important ranking signals.
• Backlinks: The number and quality of backlinks from other websites can help establish the credibility and authority of a website, and can have a significant impact on rankings.
• User behavior: Google tracks how users interact with a website, such as how long they spend on the site, whether they return, and how often they click through to other pages.
• Mobile-friendliness: As more users access the web on mobile devices, mobile-friendliness has become an increasingly important ranking signal.
• Technical SEO: Technical elements of a website, such as its structure, site speed, and security, can also impact its rankings.

Social media signals, such as the number of likes, shares, and followers a website has, can be used by search engines as a way to gauge a website's popularity and relevance, but they are likely to be just one of many factors that are taken into account.

In conclusion, there is no single factor that determines website ranking on Google, and a comprehensive SEO strategy should take into account a wide range of factors, including social media, links, and technical SEO, in addition to high-quality content and user behavior.

Sydney Business Web: Given that ads now dominate search results on Google, what is the point of spending money on SEO?

ChatGPT: While it's true that ads now occupy a significant portion of search results on Google, there is still a significant value in investing in SEO. There are several reasons why SEO remains an important part of any digital marketing strategy:

1. Organic search results still matter: While ads have become more prominent, organic search results are still an important part of the search engine results page (SERP) and can drive significant traffic to your website.
2. SEO is more cost-effective than paid search: While paid search can be effective, it can also be expensive, especially for competitive keywords. SEO, on the other hand, can drive high-quality traffic to your website over the long term at a lower cost per click.
3. SEO builds trust and credibility: Consumers are often more likely to trust and engage with websites that appear at the top of organic search results, as they perceive them as being more credible and authoritative.
4. SEO provides long-term benefits: While the results of SEO can take time to materialize, they can provide long-term benefits to your website, including higher rankings, increased traffic, and improved user engagement.

In conclusion, while ads have become more prominent in search results, SEO remains an important part of any digital marketing strategy, providing cost-effective, long-term benefits to your website and helping to build trust and credibility with your target audience. It's important to keep in mind that SEO and paid search complement each other and can work together to drive traffic and conversions for your business.

Sydney Business Web: How does Google feel about SEO?

ChatGPT: Google has a complex relationship with SEO. On one hand, Google recognizes the value that SEO can bring to websites, helping them to rank higher in search results and driving more traffic to their site. On the other hand, Google has a vested interest in providing its users with the most relevant and high-quality search results possible, which means that it must also regulate and police SEO practices to ensure that they align with its guidelines and do not manipulate search results.

Google has made significant investments in developing its search algorithms to identify and penalize websites that engage in manipulative SEO tactics, such as keyword stuffing, link spamming, and other unethical practices. At the same time, it also provides a range of resources and guidelines for webmasters, including the Google Search Quality Guidelines, which outline best practices for SEO and provide guidance on how to create high-quality content that will rank well in search results.

In conclusion, Google has a nuanced relationship with SEO, recognizing its value while also policing it to ensure that it aligns with its guidelines and does not manipulate search results. The best approach for businesses is to focus on creating high-quality, relevant content and building a strong, natural link profile, while adhering to best practices and guidelines set forth by Google.

Sydney Business Web: What is a minimum SEO budget for national sales in Australia for B2B products and B2C products?

The minimum SEO budget for national sales in Australia will depend on several factors, including the size of your business, the competitiveness of your industry, and the scope of your SEO goals. In general, you can expect to spend anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per year on SEO, depending on your specific needs.

For B2B products, you can expect to spend more on SEO, as the competition is often more intense, and the buying process is typically more complex, involving multiple decision-makers and a longer sales cycle. A minimum SEO budget for a B2B business could start at around $5,000-$10,000 per year, but this could increase significantly depending on the competitiveness of your industry and your specific goals.

For B2C products, the competition is often less intense, and the buying process is typically more straightforward. A minimum SEO budget for a B2C business could start at around $2,000-$5,000 per year, but this could also increase depending on the competitiveness of your industry and your specific goals.

It's important to keep in mind that these are rough estimates, and the actual amount you'll need to spend on SEO will depend on several factors, including the size of your business, the competitiveness of your industry, and the scope of your SEO goals. It's recommended to consult with an SEO expert to determine the best strategy and budget for your specific needs.

Sydney Business Web: : Is tiered SEO a good idea i.e. a layer of web2 sites and blogs fed by powerful links and then linking to the target site?

ChatGPT: Tiered SEO, also known as a link pyramid, is a technique that involves creating a series of web2 sites and blogs that link to each other, with the ultimate goal of boosting the ranking of a target site in search engines. However, this technique is considered to be a black hat SEO tactic and is not recommended.

Google's algorithms have become increasingly sophisticated and are designed to identify and penalize websites that engage in manipulative SEO tactics, such as link pyramids. By participating in tiered SEO, you run the risk of having your website penalized by Google, which could result in your site being de-indexed or receiving a significant drop in search engine rankings.

Additionally, tiered SEO is not a sustainable strategy and is unlikely to deliver long-term benefits to your website. Google is constantly updating its algorithms to identify and penalize manipulative SEO tactics, and the risks associated with tiered SEO far outweigh any potential benefits.

In conclusion, tiered SEO is not a good idea, as it is considered a black hat SEO tactic that is likely to result in a penalization by Google and is unlikely to deliver long-term benefits to your website. It's recommended to focus on building a strong, natural link profile and creating high-quality, relevant content that provides value to your target audience.

Sydney Business Web: What is the best SEO strategy for a local business?

Here are some best practices for local SEO for a small business:

1. Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing: This is a critical step for local businesses, as it allows you to control how your business appears in Google Maps and local search results.
2. Incorporate local keywords into your website content: Use keywords relevant to your business, your location, and your industry in your website content and meta tags to help search engines understand the relevance of your site to local searches.
3. Build citations and backlinks: Citations and backlinks are key signals to search engines that your business is a credible and authoritative source of information. Build citations on local directories and industry-specific sites and secure high-quality backlinks from relevant, trustworthy websites.
4. Optimize your website for mobile devices: More than half of all local searches are performed on mobile devices, so it's crucial to have a mobile-friendly website.
5. Encourage customer reviews: Online reviews can play a significant role in local search ranking, so it's important to encourage your customers to leave reviews for your business on sites like Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor.
6. Regularly update your website with new, relevant content: This will help your site stay fresh and relevant, and it will demonstrate to search engines that you are actively engaged with your audience and providing valuable information.
7. Monitor your local rankings: Regularly check your search engine rankings and make adjustments to your local SEO strategy as needed.

These are just a few of the best practices for local SEO, and it's important to keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for all businesses. It's recommended to consult with an SEO expert to determine the best strategy for your specific needs.

Sydney Business Web: : What is the best SEO strategy for national B2C sales

ChatGPT: Here are some best practices for optimizing your website for national B2C sales:

1. Conduct keyword research: Determine the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for, and incorporate these keywords into your website content, meta tags, and URLs.
2. Create high-quality, informative content: Develop a strong content strategy that focuses on creating valuable and informative content that provides solutions to your target audience's problems and addresses their needs.
3. Optimize your website for mobile devices: With more than half of all online searches being performed on mobile devices, it's crucial to have a mobile-friendly website that provides a good user experience.
4. Build backlinks: Secure high-quality backlinks from relevant, trustworthy websites to demonstrate to search engines that your website is a credible and authoritative source of information.
5. Use social media to promote your content: Share your content on social media to drive traffic to your website and reach a wider audience.
6. Optimize images and videos: Optimize images and videos with descriptive file names and alt tags to help search engines understand the relevance of these assets to your content.
7. Monitor your analytics: Regularly monitor your website's traffic, rankings, and conversion rates, and use this data to make informed decisions about your SEO strategy.

These are just a few of the best practices for optimizing your website for national B2C sales. It's important to keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for all businesses, and it's recommended to consult with an SEO expert to determine the best strategy for your specific needs.

Sydney Business Web: What is the best SEO strategy for national B2B sales?

ChatGPT: Here are some best practices for optimizing your website for national B2B sales:

1. Conduct keyword research: Determine the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for, and incorporate these keywords into your website content, meta tags, and URLs.
2. Create high-quality, informative content: Develop a strong content strategy that focuses on creating valuable and informative content that provides solutions to your target audience's problems and addresses their needs.
3. Optimize your website for mobile devices: With more and more business searches being performed on mobile devices, it's crucial to have a mobile-friendly website that provides a good user experience.
4. Build backlinks: Secure high-quality backlinks from relevant, trustworthy websites to demonstrate to search engines that your website is a credible and authoritative source of information.
5. Focus on long-tail keywords: B2B searches tend to be longer and more specific than B2C searches, so focus on targeting long-tail keywords that are relevant to your business and target audience.
6. Utilize industry-specific directories: List your business on industry-specific directories and websites to improve your visibility to your target audience.
7. Monitor your analytics: Regularly monitor your website's traffic, rankings, and conversion rates, and use this data to make informed decisions about your SEO strategy.

These are just a few of the best practices for optimizing your website for national B2B sales. It's important to keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for all businesses, and it's recommended to consult with an SEO expert to determine the best strategy for your specific needs.

Sydney Business Web: Does Google advertising help with SEO?

ChatGPT: Google advertising, also known as Google Ads, can have a limited impact on your website's search engine optimization (SEO). While running Google Ads can drive traffic to your website and increase visibility, it does not directly impact your website's organic search rankings.

However, there are some indirect ways that Google Ads can support your SEO efforts. For example, if your ads drive traffic to your website, this can help improve your website's engagement metrics, such as time on site and bounce rate, which are signals to search engines that your website provides a good user experience. Additionally, if your ads drive conversions, this can indicate to search engines that your website is relevant and valuable to your target audience, which can in turn improve your organic rankings.

In conclusion, while Google Ads is not a direct factor in SEO, it can help support your SEO efforts by driving traffic and improving user engagement metrics, which can ultimately have a positive impact on your organic rankings.

Sydney Business Web: Can bad links sink a website on Google?

ChatGPT: Yes, having a large number of low-quality or spammy links pointing to your website can negatively impact your search engine rankings on Google. This is because Google uses links as a way to determine the credibility and authority of a website. If a large number of low-quality or spammy links are pointing to your website, it can indicate to Google that your website is not a credible or authoritative source of information.

This can result in Google penalizing your website, causing it to drop in the search engine rankings, or even de-indexing it from the search results altogether.

Sydney Business Web: How can I test how Google views my website for ranking?

ChatGPT: Here are a few ways to test how Google views your website for ranking:

1. Google Search Console: This is a free tool offered by Google that provides information on how Google views your website, including any crawl errors, search traffic, and keyword rankings.
2. Google PageSpeed Insights: This tool analyzes the speed and performance of your website, providing recommendations for optimizing your website for better user experience and search engine rankings.
3. Google Mobile-Friendly Test: This tool checks if your website is mobile-friendly, which is an important ranking factor for Google.
4. Check your website's backlinks: Use a backlink analysis tool such as Ahrefs or Moz to check the quality and quantity of links pointing to your website.
5. Monitor your website's search engine rankings: Use a keyword tracking tool such as Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to monitor your website's search engine rankings for specific keywords and phrases.

These are just a few of the ways to test how Google views your website for ranking. By regularly monitoring and testing your website's performance, you can identify any issues and make changes to improve your website's search engine visibility and rankings.

Sydney Business Web: How will ChatGPT impact SEO?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT has the potential to impact SEO in a number of ways.

1. Content generation: ChatGPT can be used to generate high-quality content for websites, which can help with SEO by providing valuable information for users and improving website engagement metrics, such as time on site and bounce rate.
2. Keyword research: ChatGPT can be used to analyze and predict trends in search queries, which can inform keyword research and help with SEO by optimizing content for high-traffic keywords.
3. Chatbots: ChatGPT can be used to create chatbots for websites, which can improve the user experience and help with SEO by reducing bounce rate and increasing engagement.

However, it's important to note that while ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for SEO, it's just one of many factors that contribute to search engine rankings. SEO is a complex and constantly evolving field, and a comprehensive SEO strategy should involve a range of techniques and best practices beyond just using an AI language model.

Sydney Business Web: How much does domain age matter in SEO?

ChatGPT: The age of a domain name can be a factor in search engine optimization (SEO), but it's not a major one. The age of a domain name may be viewed as a signal of authority and trust by some search engines, such as Google. In general, older domains may have an advantage in terms of establishing credibility and building a history of trustworthy content.

However, it's important to note that other factors, such as the quality and relevance of the content on the website, the relevance and authority of the backlinks pointing to the website, and the user experience of the website, are much more important factors in determining search engine rankings.

In conclusion, while domain age can be a minor factor in SEO, it should not be the sole focus of an SEO strategy. Instead, focus on creating high-quality and relevant content, building a strong backlink profile, and optimizing the user experience of your website.

Sydney Business Web: In Australia, does a .au domain have a better SEO value than a .com or a .com.au domain?

ChatGPT: In Australia, having a .au domain (e.g., example.com.au) may have a slight advantage in terms of search engine optimization (SEO) compared to a generic top-level domain (gTLD) such as .com. This is because search engines like Google may view .au domains as more relevant to Australian users and therefore more likely to rank higher in local search results.

However, it's important to note that the specific domain extension (e.g., .au, .com, .com.au) is not a major factor in determining search engine rankings. Other factors, such as the quality and relevance of the content on the website, the relevance and authority of the backlinks pointing to the website, and the user experience of the website, are much more important in determining search engine rankings.

In conclusion, while having a .au domain may provide a slight advantage in SEO in Australia, it should not be the sole focus of an SEO strategy. Instead, focus on creating high-quality and relevant content, building a strong backlink profile, and optimizing the user experience of your website.

Sydney Business Web: Does a .com domain rank better than a .net domain?

ChatGPT: The specific top-level domain (TLD) extension, such as .com or .net, does not have a significant impact on search engine rankings. Other factors, such as the quality and relevance of the content on the website, the relevance and authority of the backlinks pointing to the website, and the user experience of the website, are much more important in determining search engine rankings.

In other words, a website with a .com TLD can rank just as well as a website with a .net TLD if it has high-quality and relevant content, a strong backlink profile, and a good user experience. Conversely, a website with a .com TLD can rank poorly if it has low-quality content, few relevant backlinks, and a poor user experience.

In conclusion, while the specific TLD extension may have a minor impact on search engine rankings, it should not be the sole focus of an SEO strategy. Instead, focus on creating high-quality and relevant content, building a strong backlink profile, and optimizing the user experience of your website.

Sydney Business Web: What is a Google manual penalty?

ChatGPT: A Google manual penalty is a type of penalty imposed by Google's manual reviewers on websites that violate Google's Webmaster Guidelines. The manual penalty is applied when Google's algorithms identify potential violations, such as spammy or low-quality links, and then a manual reviewer examines the website and determines that it is in violation of the guidelines.

Once a manual penalty is imposed, it can result in a significant drop in the website's search engine rankings for specific keywords or for all keywords. Google manual penalties are typically accompanied by a notification in Google Search Console, which explains the reason for the penalty and what steps the website owner can take to resolve it.

Website owners can resolve a manual penalty by identifying and fixing the issue that caused the penalty, and then submitting a reconsideration request to Google. The reconsideration request is reviewed by a manual reviewer, who will determine if the website has taken adequate steps to resolve the issue and if it is now in compliance with the Webmaster Guidelines.

In conclusion, a Google manual penalty is a serious matter for any website and can have a significant impact on its search engine rankings. It's important for website owners to maintain a high level of quality and follow Google's Webmaster Guidelines to avoid incurring a manual penalty.

Sydney Business Web: Does SEO have to be continued indefinitely to maintain ranking on Google?

ChatGPT: Search engine optimization (SEO) is an ongoing process, and to maintain a strong ranking on Google, it is important to continuously monitor and improve your website's performance. As search algorithms and user behavior change over time, it's necessary to adapt your SEO strategies to ensure your website remains relevant and high-quality.

While it's possible to achieve short-term ranking gains with a one-time optimization effort, these gains will likely be temporary and will require continuous effort to maintain. As your competitors also work to improve their own websites, you will need to keep up with the changes in the search landscape to stay ahead.

In conclusion, SEO is not a one-time process, and to maintain a strong ranking on Google, it is important to continuously monitor and improve your website's performance over time. This may include updating content, acquiring new backlinks, and continuously improving the user experience.

Conclusions

We cannot fault ChatGPT for its input on SEO although we do think its advice on tiered link-building is far too cautious - there is a difference between what Google wants to encourage and what it actually gets! 

Chat GPT is obviously very smart in the way it searches for information and structures its answers - we have not edited its responses at all and the language is admirably clear and correct. We will be using this tool extensively into the future and hope our article has given you a small insight into the new online world that is now rushing towards us.