As solopreneurs, we often feel overwhelmed by the constant chatter about SEO, ever-changing algorithms, and all the technical tweaks we need to make our websites “perfect.” And it’s true—voice search and AI-driven tools are reshaping how people find information online.
Thing is, you don’t have to chase every new technical trend. What really matters is writing for the people you want to serve and sharing your message.
Write for Your Audience – Always
When you’re just starting out, the idea of optimizing every little detail can be paralyzing. Instead, focus on creating content that speaks directly to your ideal clients. Whether you’re answering burning questions, sharing valuable insights, or offering practical advice, your priority should be to help your audience solve their problems.
Quick Tip:
When you write clearly and authentically, you naturally build trust—and that’s what brings people back again and again.
The AI and Voice Search Twist
Voice search is reshaping how people find answers—thanks to tools like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. And now, generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are adding a new twist. These tools synthesize information from across the web to provide comprehensive responses to user queries.
So, what does this mean for you?
If your content is clear, engaging, and written for real people, it’s more likely to be the kind of quality material that both voice assistants and AI systems draw on when answering questions. When someone asks a question, a voice assistant might deliver your content verbatim, and generative AI might use insights from well-crafted articles to build its responses.
While it’s still early days and the way AI tools like ChatGPT integrate and reference web content remains a bit of a “black box,” there are some promising takeaways:
- Trustworthy and Clear Content Gets Noticed:
Generative AI is designed to mimic human understanding by pulling from sources that are clear and trustworthy. If you write content with your audience in mind, it’s more likely to be recognized as authoritative—even if it isn’t directly “optimized” for AI.
- Enhanced Brand Visibility:
Although generative AI responses might not always drive direct traffic to your site, being a source of high-quality, people-first content boosts your reputation as an expert. Over time, as these tools evolve, they could offer ways to link back or credit original sources, indirectly boosting your visibility.
- Future-Proofing Your Content:
Whether it’s voice search or AI-generated answers, the underlying truth remains: content that genuinely serves your audience stands out. By focusing on quality and clarity today, you’re setting yourself up for success as AI tools and search technologies continue to develop.
By writing for people, you’re not only creating content that helps your readers—but you’re also crafting material that modern AI tools are more likely to trust and reference. So, focus on delivering value, and let the technology follow your lead.
Don’t Sweat the Technicals Yet
It’s tempting to get caught up in the “how-to” of technical SEO — optimizing meta descriptions, adding alt-text to images, and so on. These elements are helpful, no doubt, and they’ll come into play as you grow.
But if worrying about these details is holding you back, here’s my advice: start by writing for your people. The technical stuff can be fine-tuned later, whether you choose to dive into AI-powered tools or bring in someone to help. Think about it, even if you had done all the tweaks for SEO optimization, now in the AI era, you’d have to optimize again. Why not optimize for exactly what all these tools are optimizing for—value for the content consumer.
Remember:
Creating valuable content is your first priority. That's what all the search tools and AI tools are optimizing for anyway. The technical tweaks are just icing on the cake.
Repurpose and Reinforce: A Modern Content Strategy
One of the smartest moves you can make is to give your content new life across different platforms. Here’s how:
- Transform Your Posts: Turn your blog posts into engaging videos or podcasts. Not everyone loves to read, and repurposing your content helps you reach those who prefer other formats.
- Social Media Snippets: Share bite-sized pieces or quotes from your content on your social channels. This not only builds your brand but also directs people back to your full posts.
- Email Series: Break your content into a series of emails that nurture your audience over time. This approach keeps you top-of-mind and reinforces your message.
By repurposing your work, you create a coherent brand presence and serve your audience in multiple ways—all while maximizing your time and effort.
Conclusion: Start Simple, Grow As You Go
Here’s the bottom line: your online success isn’t about mastering every technical nuance of SEO. It about serving your audience. And when it comes to content, you that by creating clear, helpful, and engaging content.
Yes, AI and voice search are important trends, But even in the “Generative AI and Voice Search era,” clear and user-friendly writing is what stands out.
So, if the technical stuff feels overwhelming, don’t let it hold you back. Write for the people you want to serve—and let the technology catch up with you. Start creating, experiment with different formats, and refine your approach over time. Your audience (and even their friendly AI assistants) will thank you!
Top Photo was (appropriately) created with the assistance of DALL·E.
This post was updated February 10, 2025.