🔥 The SEOs Diners Club - Issue #165 - Weekly SEO Tips & News

I've been thinking about this a lot lately: What makes our content distinctly human in a world increasingly dominated by AI? What gives it that special touch that no machine can replicate?

After 15+ years in the SEO trenches, I've witnessed countless algorithm updates, framework shifts, and technological revolutions. But none has been as profound as the AI transformation we're experiencing now.

This week's newsletter delves into humanising AI content, drawing from my experiences working with enterprise clients across three continents and the insights I've gathered along the way.

Let's dig in.

Humanizing AI Content: The Ultimate Guide for SEO Professionals

In my years as an SEO consultant, I've witnessed how AI tools have fundamentally transformed content creation. This technological revolution has arrived like a tsunami, bringing both excitement and concern.

I remember spending hours researching and editing each paragraph of a blog post. Now, with advanced language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, we can complete the same process in minutes. While this offers tremendous time savings, it also introduces new challenges.

What troubles me most is how AI-generated content often feels robotic, impersonal, and formulaic. It's like walking through a forest and entering an area filled with synthetic trees — they look right in form, but that natural scent, touch, and feel is missing.

Search engines like Google are continuously developing their algorithms to detect AI-generated content and prioritize original, human content with real value. This serves as a critical warning for us as SEO specialists.

Identifying AI Content

Before humanizing AI content, learning to recognize it is crucial. This is similar to how a sculptor must understand marble's texture and structure before shaping it.

Characteristics of AI-generated content include:

• Perfect grammar and spelling

• Repetitive syntax and sentence structures

• Lack of personal experiences and anecdotes

• Absence of emotional connection

• Overuse of generalizations and clichés

Human writing is unique like a fingerprint. As writers, we infuse our sentences, word choices, and even punctuation marks with our personality and experiences. Each writer has their distinctive voice — some colorful and exuberant, others thoughtful and analytical. This diversity makes human writing rich and unpredictable.

AI writing, however, is based on patterns learned from numerous human writings, giving it an "average" tone — neither too colorful nor too boring. It flows smoothly and consistently like a river but typically lacks unexpected turns or waterfalls.

Common Mistakes in AI Content

Over the past two years, I've had the chance to edit thousands of AI-generated pieces and observed certain errors repeatedly emerging:

Content Planning Errors

Using AI incorrectly in content planning is like relying entirely on GPS without ever looking at a map. Yes, you might reach your destination, but you'll miss the beauty of the journey and alternative routes.

An e-commerce site I consulted for produced over 50 pieces of content for product categories using AI. Though technically correct, they all resembled each other and lacked the brand's unique voice. We restructured the content strategy, first analyzing the target audience and keywords in depth, then using AI only to create drafts. The result? Visitor engagement on category pages increased by 40%.

Brand Voice Inconsistencies

Capturing brand voice is one of the areas where AI struggles most. It's like an actor not quite capturing an accent — the words might be right, but that special tone isn't always correct.

I can't forget the shock a technology sector client experienced when they started producing blog posts with AI. Despite being informative, the brand's humorous and youthful voice had completely disappeared. We redesigned the content to reflect the brand's personality, adding more vibrant examples and current pop culture references. Reader feedback immediately turned positive.

Keyword Density Issues

AI can sometimes be uncontrolled in keyword usage, like a child diving into a candy box. It tends to understand how important a word is and use it repeatedly.

I once saw AI content for a financial advisory site using the keyword "retirement planning" three times the optimal level. This content got caught in Google's algorithms, and the site lost traffic. Placing keywords naturally, as if you're talking to a friend, is critically important.

Personalization Deficiencies

AI content is often like a one-size-fits-all garment — it doesn't fit anyone perfectly. For content to be truly effective, it needs to address your reader's specific needs, concerns, and desires.

According to Google's content evaluation criteria, your content should clearly demonstrate first-hand expertise and comprehensive knowledge. This emphasizes the importance of adding that unique perspective that comes from having actually used the product or visited the place mentioned.

Techniques for Humanizing AI Content

Here are some techniques I've developed and successfully implemented with my clients over the past two years:

Adding Personal Experiences and Anecdotes

Adding a personal touch to content is like adding spice to a dry dish — it changes the entire flavor profile. Add your own experiences, observations, and stories to AI-generated content.

In an e-commerce strategy article, instead of saying "Remember that conversion optimization is important," I prefer to say, "Last year, when working with a cosmetics brand, I was shocked to see a cart abandonment rate of 70%. A small change — adding trust badges to the checkout page — reduced this rate to 45%." Such real stories bring content to life and connect with the reader.

Adjusting Tone and Writing Style

AI often writes as if speaking at an academic conference. Yet most content should have the naturalness and warmth of a café conversation.

Transform your content into a more intimate and conversational tone. Use short sentences, ask rhetorical questions, and write as if speaking directly to the reader. Instead of "When you implement this SEO strategy, we can guarantee your traffic will increase," try "Guess what happens when you try this strategy? Yes, the traffic to your site will likely increase — at least that's what my experience shows!"

Changing Content Structure

AI typically uses a very organized and predictable structure — introduction, three main points, conclusion. Break this structure and include unexpected elements.

Instead of starting an SEO strategy article with a mundane sentence like "Keyword research is important," you could begin with, "When a potential client asked me last week, 'Does SEO really work?', I felt I was facing the most important question of my career." Such unexpected introductions immediately capture the reader's attention.

Adding Emotion and Humor

Adding emotional tones and humor elements to AI content is like breathing life into it. Use jokes, wordplay, or funny comparisons where appropriate.

In an article I wrote about SEO, instead of saying "The Google algorithm constantly changes," I prefer to say, "The Google algorithm is like a capricious cat — just when you think you've gotten used to it, it completely changes its behavior." Such metaphors make complex topics more understandable and memorable.

Content Adaptations for Target Audiences

AI typically writes for the "average reader," but in marketing, there's no such thing as "average." Adapt your content to the specific needs and interests of your target audience.

If you're writing for marketers in the e-commerce sector, instead of general advice like "Optimize site speed to increase conversion rate," prefer to say, "If you run a small online boutique, did you know that each second of delay in your site loading can cause you to lose 20% of your customers? Here are three budget-friendly speed optimization tactics..."

Tools for Detecting and Humanizing AI Content

Detection Tools:

• Copyleaks - An AI-powered plagiarism detection tool

• Originality - Designed to detect duplicate content and measure text uniqueness

Humanization Tools:

• Undetectable.AI - One of the most established AI humanization tools in the market

• HIX Bypass - Makes AI content read more naturally like human-written content

• Humbot - Benefits content creators trying to transform AI into human text

• Paraphrase Tool AI - Offers advanced AI text humanization

Effective Prompts for Humanizing AI Content

For Blog Posts:

• Personal Experience Prompt: "Humanize the following blog post by adding personal experiences and anecdotes. Add an intimate tone and use first-person narration: [BLOG POST]"

• Emotional Connection Prompt: "Reorganize this blog post to build an emotional connection with the reader. Add metaphors, comparisons, and expressions of emotion. Change the flow to be more natural and conversational: [BLOG POST]"

For Product Descriptions:

• Customer-Focused Product Description Prompt: "Rewrite this product description from the customer's perspective and include everyday usage scenarios. Reduce technical jargon and describe the benefits of the product in personalized language: [PRODUCT DESCRIPTION]"

• Story-Based Product Description Prompt: "Reorganize the following product description by adding a story about how the product was developed and including real user experiences. Emphasize the people and passion behind the product: [PRODUCT DESCRIPTION]"

For E-Commerce Category Pages:

• Personalized Category Description Prompt: "Rewrite this e-commerce category page description using a tone that understands the target audience's needs and desires and speaks directly to them. Use 'you' address and refer to common problems customers experience with products in this category: [CATEGORY DESCRIPTION]"

For B2B Service Pages:

• Story-Based B2B Service Description Prompt: "Rewrite this B2B service description by adding a successful customer collaboration story. Show the value provided by the service with concrete examples and focus on real business results. Reduce technical jargon and use a more conversational tone: [SERVICE DESCRIPTION]"

SEO and AI Content

Google and other search engines are becoming increasingly attentive to AI content. Google's John Mueller has stated that automatically generated content using AI is considered SPAM according to webmaster guidelines.

We need to take this seriously. As an SEO consultant, I definitely don't want my clients' sites to be penalized. Based on my experience, I can say that instead of completely rejecting AI content, using it as a starting point and enriching it with human touch is the most effective strategy.

Google's E-E-A-T criteria (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) are the cornerstones used in evaluating content quality. This is like the criteria we use when evaluating restaurant food: "taste, presentation, ingredient quality, and originality."

The most important element of E-E-A-T is trust. Other elements enhance trust, but content doesn't need to have all of these. For example, some content may be helpful based on the experience it shares, while other content may be helpful because of the expertise it shares.

Over the years, I've noticed that truly effective content generally incorporates all elements of E-E-A-T in some way:

• Experience: Contains first-hand experiences related to the topic — "I tried this strategy on my own sites and..."

• Expertise: Understands the topic in depth and can explain technical details — "Why are canonical tags so important? Because..."

• Authoritativeness: References other respected sources in the industry — "Google's John Mueller explained last week that..."

• Trustworthiness: Provides accurate, current, and non-misleading information — "This technique worked in 2023, but after Google's June 2024 update, it's no longer effective"

Google's Single Domain Decision: What It Means for International SEO

In an announcement on April 15, 2025, Google made a significant structural change: All country-coded domains (ccTLDs) will now redirect to google.com. While this change might seem to only concern Google's own brand at first glance, it actually requires everyone involved in international SEO to pay close attention.

Key Highlights

• ccTLDs (.fr, .de, .co.uk) are becoming history: Google will redirect all users to google.com.

• Local results will be preserved: Google will continue to provide local results based on user location.

• John Mueller spoke clearly: "Technically, there's no change in international SEO."

• Referral traffic may change: You may see differences in your Analytics data.

• AI and hreflang discussions are on the agenda: Gary Illyes had previously expressed that AI might replace hreflang.

What You Can Do

1. Don't abandon hreflang tags: Manual language/region definitions are still valid. Even though automatic systems are developing, there's no clear change.

2. Closely monitor Analytics: Track changes that might occur in traffic sources.

3. Strengthen local signals: Google Business Profile, local backlinks, and correctly structured data are becoming more critical.

4. Review your domain name strategy: Brands using ccTLD for SEO should now question its benefits.

Why It Matters to SEO Professionals

Google's domain consolidation is not just a technical update; it also represents a change in the search engine's understanding of international configuration. The fact that ccTLDs are no longer strong geographical signals means restructuring for brands that have invested in this strategy for years.

Although John Mueller says "nothing changes from an SEO perspective," Gary Illyes' statements in 2023 paint a different picture. Illyes implied that the local ranking advantage of ccTLDs would disappear over time and that hreflang tags might be replaced by AI-based automatic detection systems. This raises the question in the SEO world: "Will hreflang become redundant?"

This step by Google actually shows how search engines are adapting to their globalizing structures. As SEO professionals, we need to continue adhering to the basic principles of international SEO while also closely monitoring AI-based signal analyses. Before updating your domain strategy, prioritize your target audience's trust and user experience.

5 Tips for Marketers to Cope with Shortening Attention Spans

Today's SEO world is shaped not only by keyword density but also by the ability to capture and retain user attention. According to a report published by Think with Google in March 2025, people's average attention span is now only 47 seconds. This is a significant decrease compared to 75 seconds in 2012, and this decrease is shaking the foundation of SEO and digital marketing strategies.

Key Highlights

• Value-focused content stands out as the most effective way to attract consumer attention. Shopify's guide content is a great example of this.

• Brief and concise narratives create loyalty by saving users time.

• Community-focused interaction increases user participation with models like Lego Ideas.

• Visual content is remembered 6 times more than written text.

• Personalized content has become the key to establishing a meaningful connection with the user.

What You Can Do

1. Re-evaluate your content: Do your blogs or videos really provide value? Do they solve a user's problem?

2. Increase micro-content production: Speed up information presentation with short videos, infographics, and TL;DR sections.

3. Develop community-building strategies: Respond to comments, produce surveys and user-contributed content.

4. Appeal to visual memory: Always support your content with visuals, graphics, or animations.

5. Offer segmentation-based content: Know your user, shape content accordingly. For example, provide a personal touch with Google Ads interest targeting.

Why It Matters to SEO Professionals

SEO now has to appeal not only to Google but also to the user. The average attention span dropping to 47 seconds means that even if you're at the top of the rankings, if your content isn't being read, it loses its meaning. User experience (UX), content quality, and personalization have become the cornerstones of modern SEO.

SEO Vibes 2025 Istanbul: The Pulse of Change Beat at This Event

On Wednesday, April 16, the SEO Vibes 2025 event organized by WhitePress® Turkey brought industry professionals together in Istanbul. The event offered striking insights and concrete strategies for the future of SEO in the age of artificial intelligence.

SEO's Future: The Hard Answer to an Easy Question

The focus of the event was the question, "What will the future of SEO be?" It was immediately understood that the answer wasn't simple.

Maciej Chmurkowski conveyed how AI-generated content could be made more human with striking examples. He emphasized that human touch and creativity continue to gain value despite technological advances.

Ugur Eskici's presentation titled "Surviving in CTR Erosion" offered an approach focused on practice rather than theory. He clearly demonstrated that SEO is now a field requiring not only analysis but also quick and correct action.

From Global Perspective to Local Depth

Yagmur Simsek emphasized the value of looking at SEO on a global scale, drawing from international experiences. She reminded that perspectives gained from different markets could bring new solutions to local problems.

SEO in the Age of AI: Deepening Discussions in the Panel

The panel session moderated by me and featuring Cihat Murat Yuksel, Tumay Ulutas Ertugrul, Dr. Sumeyra Teymur, and Cem Evren Minaz extended beyond the planned time, lasting about an hour with intense interest from participants. This interest showed that SEO professionals are now open to more advanced discussions.

AI Impact on B2B Content Audit

Busra Cildas Buyukogutcu's presentation on AI-supported blog auditing for B2B websites provided participants with practical ideas on how to use artificial intelligence more effectively in content development processes.

SEO is Maturing in Turkey

The questions asked and comments made throughout the event were indicators of the transformation in the sector. It was clearly seen that Turkey is progressing towards an SEO ecosystem that not only follows but also gives direction. The WhitePress Turkey team — Baki Erfidan, İbrahim İlkay Mut, and Özgün Can İltumur — who made this organization possible should not go unthanked.

The event was not just a meeting; it was a clear reflection of Turkey's maturity in digital marketing and SEO. It was a day where professionals who not only talk about change but manage it came together.

This Week in the AI World: Tools, Services, and Tips

• OpenAI's o3 and o4-mini models, introduced on April 16, stand out not just with speed or size, but with their reasoning abilities. o3 surpasses GPT-4 in visual reasoning, coding, and mathematics, and can make multi-step inferences from visuals like graphs and PDFs. The more compact o4-mini is notable especially for its cost-performance balance. I've been actively using o3 for data analysis for a while now, and its chain reasoning capability is truly impressive. It's particularly successful in extracting meaning from visualized data. These new models are rewriting the rules of the game by moving away from the "bigger model = better result" equation and offering smarter solutions. For now, they're available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team users; however, wider usage will soon be possible through the API.

• Anthropic bringing Gmail, Google Calendar, and Docs access to its Claude model is a significant development. Now Claude can analyze Workspace content to provide more contextual responses. However, this integration is only activated with the administrator's permission for Max, Team, Enterprise, and soon Pro plan users. Claude shows the source when quoting from content; still, it doesn't have permissions like adding events to the calendar or sending emails yet. Additionally, a new feature called Claude Research, which produces detailed answers by conducting multiple searches on the web, was also announced. To be honest, I'm undecided about AI access to platforms containing personal data like Gmail. This situation poses a potential data breach risk in terms of both my own privacy and the data of the people I correspond with. Therefore, I would like to remind everyone considering using this feature to be careful and to remember their responsibilities regarding data privacy.

• OpenAI published a comprehensive 32-page guide that serves as a reference source for those who want to develop AI agents. In the guide, while analyzing which jobs autonomous agents can be more efficient at; it explains how systems should be built within the framework of 3 basic building blocks — models, tools, and instructions. Ways to transition from single-agent systems to multi-agent architectures are also detailed. The emphasis on layered controls and human supervision is particularly notable in the security section. It serves as a guide for everyone from beginners to advanced developers.

What's been your experience with humanising AI content? Have you found any particularly effective techniques?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of the topics we've covered this week. Drop me a line and let's continue the conversation.

Until next week,

Mert Erkal
Founder, Stradiji
SEO Strategist & Conversion Expert

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