You’ve heard the buzz. It’s time we talk about how we can use AI and ChatGPT for your pet business.
But first, I’m assuming a lot of us need to backtrack and understand what the heck it even is and what it does - all the basics! Because how else can we use it to our advantage if we don’t truly understand how it works and how to most effectively integrate it into our marketing strategy or business operations. If not used responsibly, your posts can be de-indexed and you likely won't get the results you’re looking for!
So, let’s get into the basics of AI.
What is AI?
AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, which allows computer systems to produce information and human intelligence automatically. The difference between normal computer systems and AI is that AI can interpret information, make decisions, and learn from their experience and data over time. Wild, huh?!
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT stands for Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) and is an AI (artificial intelligence) tool developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT allows you to enter a prompt from which it will generate a ‘human-like’ response that you can use as a baseline for your content, sales page, etc. You don’t even have to use it as a way to create content, you can also ask it to explain things to do. For example, it can explain what SEO is to you if you’re wanting to learn more about SEO. You can get specific and ask anything you’d like and see the results! You can also use it to help craft customer service emails, write SOPs, write social media posts - all the things.
Want to try ChatGPT? Head on over to the ChatGPT website and test it out.
What’s the scoop? Here’s the 411 on all things AI and ChatGPT for producing content on your website!
In the beginning, Google was not excited about AI-generated content, especially when asked about ranking content. However, Google finally released (back in February 2023) specific guidance about AI-generated content, and we’re going to go through that below.
The bottom line is that Google rewards high-quality content (regardless of the method of creation). So, are you able to create high-quality content through your own words AND through using AI tools as a guide or lifting off point? Go for it (responsibly)! Google knew they couldn’t make AI go away, so they needed to adapt and focus on making sure that their search results were producing valuable content.
One of the best things to do when learning something new is to research the perspective of the platform or source itself. For example, it’s good to remember that Google is a business. If users aren’t liking the search results because Google is starting to show unhelpful, bad results due to automated AI content that doesn’t give them what they’re looking for, people will stop trusting and using Google. That’s not good for them, right?? So, from their perspective, their priority lies in their users finding quality, user-generated results.
Here’s what you can’t do, according to Google’s guidelines: “Using automation—including AI—to generate content with the primary purpose of manipulating ranking in search results is a violation of our spam policies.”
Many equate AI tools to spam or inauthentic content, but it doesn’t have to be when used properly.
Bottom line: Using AI tools in itself does not go against Google’s guidelines.
While a primary motivator on our end as pet business owners is to rank high in search results, that’s not what Google uses specifically as a metric to show your content higher in search results. Their algorithm is programmed to look for content that is designed to present helpful, reliable information that benefits its users. I highly recommend reviewing Google’s written tips for creating helpful, reliable, people-first content.
So, if you are using AI as a way to reproduce the same popular content that already exists in several other places on the Internet, it’s not going to help your SEO or search rankings.
In essence, AI has almost nothing to do with the results you get. You simply have to have high-quality, unique content, no matter how you get there (legally and ethically of course lol!).
How can you use AI and ChatGPT for your pet business?
My biggest advice here? Think of the future. In a world of lots of AI-generated content, people will be craving that personal touch again. Your content NEEDS to be personal, especially in an industry as personal as the pet industry. If you don’t take the time to customize your work to your brand voice, people will lose touch and lose the connection points you’re trying to build through your content to convert to bookings. We need personal examples and unique perspectives to stand out and connect with our audiences.
So, if you are going to use it, I recommend using it as a starting point to generate ideas, brainstorm bullet points, create outlines, etc. From there, customize, personalize, add and remove, and do alllll the things you need to do to make it the MOST helpful it can be for your audience.
Once you create an account, all you have to do is send a message at the bottom of the screen. This message is, in essence, like a prompt. So, you can type, “Outline a blog post for me on how to use AI and ChatGPT for your pet business” and it’ll show you an outline and give suggestions within seconds. It’s honestly pretty dang cool and a little impressive. But again, don’t forget - it’s missing that personal touch. That’s where you come in.
Other ways you can use AI in your pet business outside of just blog post content:
You can add AI-powered chatbots to your website to help with customer service
You can learn new topics for yourself and your business (not just produce content)
You can generate ideas and find solutions
You can outline and plan future content on all platforms
And while you're seeking out tools to help you speed up your content creation, check out our Social Media Template Bundles that you can customize for your pet business! With the templates, you'll get access to:
20+ Instagram feed post templates
10+ Instagram story post templates
10+ Instagram highlight cover photo templates
Facebook cover photo templates
Canva video + PDF tutorials
Instagram profile optimization and strategy guide
What not to do
We’ve talked about this a ton throughout this blog post already, but don’t just copy and paste AI-generated content into your site. Personalize it. Customize it. Heck, even fact-check it (AI ain’t perfect).
Speaking of fact-checking, AI tools grow and develop based on experience, which means if it’s fed a ton of inaccurate data, it has the potential to also shoot out inaccurate information as well. Always keep that in mind!
Understand that AI’s database is up to 2021 (at least at the time of my writing this), so make sure the content you’re producing is up-to-date and relevant to current times.
Don’t forget about using personalized data that you have in your back pocket to create high-quality content. Things like Google Analytics 4 and Search Engine Console are crucial to producing great content!
Don’t rely on AI-generated content. Don’t trust AI over your own expertise and authority. YOU bring something to the table that a computer doesn’t, especially in the pet industry. Remember that!
Google is a smart operation. They know how to track spammy content, and they’ll de-index your content if it’s a super spammy regurgitation of other content on the Internet. You have a lot more knowledge in your brain than you think you do. Bring that to the table and you’ll be golden!
So, what do you think? Do you think you’ll test it out? Do you already use it in your pet business? I’d love to know. Share your feedback, thoughts, and experience over on Instagram at @petmarketingunleashed.
And if you want more content related to SEO and blog posts, here are some of our favorites:
A SEO guide: How to upgrade your website without hurting search rankings on Google
SEO for pet business websites (and will switching platforms affect my rankings?)
Blogging For Your Pet Biz Course (created by us at Pet Marketing Unleashed). It’s a step-by-step, workshop-style course to help you master your pet service business blogging strategy and process.
