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How We’re Using AI to Improve SEO Results for Our Clients

SEO is evolving fast - and we’re applying AI tools that are getting real results.

April 25, 2025 — Simon Kelly

Simon Kelly hosting a Website Strategy Workshop

AI is changing the way SEO is done, but not every business is using it effectively.

In this article, you’ll learn how we’re applying AI to improve rankings, save time, and deliver more reliable results for our clients.

We’ll share real examples, clear takeaways, and what you should (and shouldn’t) be doing when it comes to AI and SEO.

Let’s dive in!

Why AI in SEO Matters Now

There’s a lot of hype around AI, and with that comes confusion.

Some businesses are unsure whether AI should write their website content, others are worried about falling behind if they’re not using it.

Meanwhile, Google is changing fast, and the pressure to “keep up” is real.

But here’s the truth: AI won’t replace SEO, but it is changing how it’s done.

If your SEO agency isn’t using AI to speed up research, analyse competitors, or optimise your site, you’re at risk of falling behind. And if you’re relying on AI to do everything, you’re risking poor quality and a loss of trust with your audience.

How We’re Using AI in Our Own SEO Strategy

At SGD, we’ve been using AI to support our internal content and SEO process for some time.

Recently, we wanted to focus our SEO results on growing our rankings for “web design melbourne” and we turned to AI to work with us to develop a strategy to get in the top positions.

We didn’t want to outsource quality—we wanted to enhance it.

We used AI to help us plan articles, generate headlines and analyse our own landing page content.

We also compared top-ranking competitors to understand where we could improve.

Our overall AI-driven SEO strategy was this:

  • Update the headlines of our “web design melbourne” landing page to be more relevant
  • Publish articles related to “web design” every week
  • Link the articles to the landing page
  • Update internal links from our website to prioritise the landing page
  • Optimise our website for speed (it was already fast, but now it’s super fast!)
  • Email articles to our clients to get traffic to our blog to show engagement

If you’re familiar with SEO, then you’ll know this is not a new or particularly unique strategy.

The difference is that we’re leveraging AI to do what already works to drive SEO results faster and better.

Within less than 3 months, we moved from an average position 15 to an average position in the top 4 for “web design melbourne” – and now get new leads every week from this page.

See the screenshot below to show the actual Google search ranking changes that we achieved with this strategy.

We’re applying these same strategies with our clients and it’s it’s proof that when you use AI smartly and strategically in SEO, it works.

Screenshot to show our 3 month SEO campaign results for "Web Design Melbourne"
Screenshot to show our 3 month SEO campaign results for “Web Design Melbourne”

Why AI Can’t Replace Real SEO Strategy

One common myth we hear: “Can’t AI just do SEO for me?”

The answer is no—and here’s why.

AI is a tool, not a replacement for strategy.

It won’t replace real human insight, experience, or creative thinking.

It doesn’t know what happened in your business last week, what your customers actually said, or what makes your service different.

Google values that. Your audience does too.

At SGD, we use AI to support our systems and processes – not replace them.

Strategy still matters. So does quality. So does trust.

Perhaps even more so in the age if AI.

How We’re Using AI to Improve SEO Performance

Here are some practical ways of how we’re applying AI across our SEO services to deliver better results for clients:

1. Understanding Search Intent with AI

We use AI to analyse what users are really searching for, helping us choose better keywords and tailor content to what your audience actually wants.

2. Generating Content Plans Faster

AI helps us brainstorm topic ideas, create outlines, and plan high-value articles—faster than ever. This speeds up execution while staying aligned with your goals.

3. Improving Conversion Rates with AI Insights

We analyse landing pages with AI tools to spot missing trust elements, weak calls to action, or design issues that might be hurting performance.

4. Competitive Analysis at Scale

AI-powered tools help us review your competitors’ content and keywords so we can find opportunities to outperform them in search results.

5. AI + Human Expertise = Real Results

Our SEO team reviews all AI insights through a strategic lens—ensuring your content is accurate, high quality, and aligned with what your business needs to achieve.

What Not to Do with AI in SEO

If you’re thinking about using AI in your SEO, here’s what works—and what doesn’t:

✅ What to Do:

  • Use AI to support keyword research and content planning
  • Let AI assist in identifying trends and opportunities
  • Combine AI insights with your lived experience and expertise
  • Maintain human review and quality control

❌ What to Avoid:

  • Publishing AI-written content without editing
  • Expecting AI to understand your business strategy
  • Ignoring brand voice or audience context
  • Thinking AI can replace a skilled SEO team

Making The Most of AI-Driven SEO

SEO is evolving fast, and we’re already applying AI tools that are getting real results.

If you’d like to understand how this could apply to your business, we’re here to help. Whether you want to refine your content strategy, improve your rankings, or simply stay ahead of the competition – we can show you what works.

Book a call and let’s have a chat about your SEO strategy.

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Author

Simon Kelly

Simon Kelly is the CEO and Head of Growth at SGD. Simon started his first web agency in 2009 which he merged with the SGD team in 2023. With a strong background in digital strategy and a history of working with fast-growing Australian companies, including CyberCX, Envato and Agency Mavericks, he's passionate about using ethical digital marketing that delivers business value. Simon's experience includes coaching digital agencies, running digital marketing workshops, driving growth and excellence within the SGD team.

Read more posts by Simon Kelly

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