Is AI generated content always worth doing?

AI-generated content is becoming more prevalent, offering businesses a fast, seemingly efficient way to populate their websites with articles and blog posts. However, as this case study demonstrates, creating content without proper oversight or strategy can lead to unintended consequences.

The Scenario: A Surge in Content but Not in Sales

Let’s take a look at the graph to the right (Google Search Console data), which tells the story of one of our clients. In the initial period (as highlighted), we see a significant increase in clicks and impressions from when our client’s previous marketing agency was engaged. The reason for this rise? The previous agency had invested heavily in creating hundreds of AI-generated articles over a short span of time. On the surface, this seemed like a success – more articles meant more visibility, right?

However, this spike in visibility didn’t translate into an equivalent rise in sales, as seen in the second graph (sales data). While impressions and clicks were increasing, the revenue remained relatively stable.

Search console data showing rise, then fall and partial rise again of impressions and clicks.
Revenue tracking after content analysis and optimisation
Quality over quantity when it comes to content.

The Problem: Quantity Over Quality

So, what went wrong? The answer lies in the quality of the content being produced. While AI can generate large volumes of content quickly, it’s not always able to ensure that the information is accurate, relevant, or targeted to the right audience. The topics covered were often very off-target, optimising for brands and products that weren’t even offered by the company.

Additionally, the sheer volume of content produced made it nearly impossible to quality-check all the articles. As a result, many of the AI-generated articles created by the previous marketing agency were often off-topic, poorly optimised for their intended keywords, and lacked the depth and quality that Google’s algorithm rewards. This meant that while more users were landing on the site, the content was failing to engage them or convert them into paying customers.

The Cleanup: Focusing on Targeted, High-Quality Content

After recognising that this strategy wasn’t working, our client reached out to us. Our first step was to clean up the website, removing a significant portion of the AI-generated content that wasn’t performing. You can see the impact of this cleanup in the second part of the Search Console graph, where clicks and impressions steadily decline.

On paper, it may seem like we were doing more harm than good by reducing site traffic, but what was actually happening was a focus on quality over quantity. We began producing well-researched, high-quality content that was both relevant to our client’s target audience and optimised for search engines.

Rise in sales revenue after removing AI generated content

The Result: A Steady Rise in Sales

Now, take a closer look at the second graph. While the traffic to the website dropped initially, revenue remained stable throughout this period. Then, a few months after the cleanup, we see a notable rise in sales. This can be attributed to the fact that the new content was better targeted, more engaging, and ultimately more useful to the client’s visitors. Rather than attracting anyone and everyone, the new content brought in the right audience – those who were actually interested in the client’s products and more likely to convert into paying customers.

The Takeaway: The Importance of Targeted, High-Quality Content

The main takeaway from this case study is simple: when it comes to content, quality matters more than quantity. AI-generated content can be a powerful tool when used correctly, but it’s crucial to ensure that what’s being produced is valuable, relevant, and targeted to the right audience. Blindly trusting that more content equals better results can lead to wasted resources, a confused audience, and stagnant sales.

If you’re considering using AI to scale up your content efforts, be sure to implement proper oversight. Always review and refine the content to ensure that it meets the needs of your audience, provides value, and aligns with your business goals.

At Interact, we specialise in helping businesses create tailored content strategies that drive real results. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you refine your approach to content creation and start seeing the sales you deserve.

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