Use ChatGPT for SEO: Top Prompts to Boost Your Search Rankings

ChatGPT has changed the state of many things, from education and coding to customer service and marketing. In SEO, ChatGPT SEO has become somewhat of a domain of its own. This isn't surprising, though, considering our AI SEO Benchmark Report found that 44.1% of SEO tasks are being automated by marketing and SEO professionals.  

Initially, you might have thought that this was just a trend that would go away soon. However, that doesn't seem to be the case since the same report found that AI tools have helped businesses improve their search engine rankings by nearly 50%.

Why wouldn't you want a share of this? While some AI SEO tools, especially paid options with multiple features, can have a bit of a learning curve, ChatGPT is quite easy to get accustomed to. Plus, there's a lot you can do for free with the tool. In this guide, we discuss ways to use ChatGPT for SEO, along with some handy prompts that you can tweak based on your requirements.


ChatGPT is a Game-Changer for SEO Pros: Unlocking Efficiency and Scalability

In the past few years, we've curated a couple of ChatGPT SEO strategies that have made it clear to us that, if used right, the tool can streamline so many SEO tasks that were previously either too time-consuming or repetitive.

Key SEO Tasks ChatGPT Can Automate

ChatGPT SEO isn't meant to be confused with a fully automated system because it simply isn't that. Instead, it comprises certain aspects of SEO that you can speed up or make less complicated with the help of this AI tool.

Some of these tasks include:

  • Blog post generation
  • Content outline generation
  • Optimized meta titles and descriptions
  • Keyword research and optimization
  • Internal linking suggestions
  • Schema markup suggestions

ChatGPT can also provide recommendations for pretty much any SEO hurdle you face. For example, if you're unsure how to fix a technical error on your website, ask ChatGPT for a solution. It's sort of like a virtual assistant with an abundant knowledge base.


Why It Works with Your Current Tools

OpenAI, the brains behind ChatGPT, is a trusted name in the AI and tech world. So, it's understandable why existing SEO tools are open to integrating ChatGPT.

In fact, it's not just about the compatibility factor; integration with ChatGPT can enhance the capabilities of existing tools. For example, with the integration of ChatGPT's capabilities, Semrush's Listing Management tool has been able to allow users to post AI-generated responses to customer reviews on local directories and Google Business Profiles.

Semrush Listings Management ChatGPT integration

Semrush Listings Management ChatGPT integration

With ChatGPT's integration within the tool, five responses are automatically generated for each review. The users can then select the most appropriate response or make modifications to the generated responses and post them with a single click.

OpenAI also introduced ChatGPT APIs early in 2024, which means every website or app that allows API access can use the service. As a result, this has opened up endless possibilities for SEO professionals to integrate ChatGPT into their existing tools and processes.


Solve SEO Challenges Faster

There was a time when you'd have to spend hours, if not days, on SEO tasks like keyword research and on-page optimization. Keyword research was tedious, and on-page optimization required you to jump between several tools. As for content creation, it required hours of research, followed by a lengthy writing process and subsequent editing and optimization.

Then, ChatGPT came along and reduced the time taken for these tasks to mere minutes in some cases. You could simply conduct keyword research with a tool like the Semrush Keyword Magic Tool and let ChatGPT provide more context for the keywords you've selected.

Similarly, content creation has also become a breeze for content marketers. ChatGPT can do everything from providing topic research to drafting outlines and then filling them with content.

As for on-page optimization, ChatGPT can help you optimize meta titles, descriptions, and so on. Plus, it can suggest ways to improve keyword density, internal linking, and readability to align your content with SEO best practices.

Technical SEO often requires specialized expertise, but ChatGPT makes it more accessible. Whether it's providing guidance on improving page load speed, structuring schema markup, or identifying and addressing crawl issues, ChatGPT offers practical solutions. 

For example, it can generate basic JSON-LD schema for your website or help you make sense of reports generated by a specialized technical SEO tool like Semrush Site Audit. This saves a lot of time that you’d otherwise spend on manual analysis or markup writing. 


Advanced Keyword Gap Analysis and Topic Ideation

When using ChatGPT for keyword-related tasks, it's better to combine it with a tool specifically made for the job, such as Semrush. The duo can perform much better than ChatGPT alone. Here are some use cases in this regard.

Identifying Content Gaps with Semrush and ChatGPT

The Keyword Gap tool in Semrush allows you to compare your site's keyword portfolio with up to three competitors to see which keywords all of you use, which ones you're all missing out on, and which ones your competitors are using but you are not.

Keyword Gap tool

Keyword Gap tool

Let's say you want to target the keywords you're not currently using, but your competitors are. You can get this data from Semrush and then analyze it further within ChatGPT.

For example, we compared two of the top healthcare websites: Healthline and WebMD. Then, we identified the keywords related to mental health that WebMD was already using, but Healthline was not. We can now put these keywords in ChatGPT and generate potential content ideas around them.

Here's a prompt you can use:

Suggest content ideas to address these keywords for my healthcare website. I want to approach these keywords in a way WebMD would. My target audience are women who have been diagnosed with PCOS and are interested in learning about dietary and lifestyle changes to manage their conditions. For each suggested topic, also provide user intent and an interactive element that I can add to my content to make it more helpful and engaging. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Creating Topic Clusters

The way search engines, especially AI-assisted ones, rank content, is a bit different from the previous keyword-centric approach. They consider how authoritative your website is for a certain cluster of topics to determine your website's position in the search results.

That's why it's important that you not only cover the seed keywords but also the semantic keywords related to the main topic. You can use ChatGPT to sort keywords into topical clusters. Simply direct the tool to categorize keywords by user intent since you want to satisfy this factor fully.

A prompt like this would do:

I have a list of keywords related to [insert niche or topic]. Please group these keywords into topical clusters based on their relatedness and user intent. For each cluster, provide:

A descriptive name for the cluster.

The main keyword(s) representing the cluster.

A short explanation of why these keywords were grouped together, focusing on the user intent and how they align with the topic.

Here’s the keyword list: [Insert keyword list].

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

You can then organize these keywords into respective pillar pages and subpages using the Keyword Strategy Builder tool by Semrush. Take the keywords from every cluster ChatGPT has created and put them in the Semrush tool. It will then recommend related subpages that you can create for each pillar page based on its analysis of the SERPs.

Keyword strategy builder

Keyword strategy builder


Entity and Semantic SEO Optimization

Mentioning entities in your content is a good way to get noticed by search engines since they reflect your content's relevance. An entity can be a person, place, or thing that has a unique identifier. For example, in ''bakeries in London,'' the entities are "bakeries" and "London."

When you discuss these entities, search engines relate your content to a certain context, enhancing the understanding of your topic. The ultimate result is potentially higher rankings. ChatGPT can help you get this SEO tactic right.

Optimizing Content with Entity-Based SEO

Entity-based SEO optimization is a simple process. You can follow these steps to make your web content more entity-friendly:

  • Identify the main entities related to your topic.
  • Use schema markup to highlight these entities on your website.
  • Include the main entities in your content and use related keywords.
  • Link to authoritative sources that mention the same entities.

To optimize your content, find entity-based keywords in Semrush and then use ChatGPT to incorporate them in your blog post or article. Provide ChatGPT with your keyword list and content. Then, ask it to include the entities in your content.

Use this prompt:

Using the provided list of entity-based keywords and their related entities, optimize this content for SEO. Ensure that the keywords are naturally integrated into the text without overstuffing. Include primary and secondary entities in headings and subheadings. Also, suggest additional semantic connections or entities that can make this content more relevant.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Filling Entity Gaps

In the Semrush Keyword Gap tool, you can also filter keywords by entities. For example, in our healthcare example, we can use the ''Include Keyword'' filter to find keywords related to the fertility centers in New York.

Semrush filter

Semrush filter

After getting this list of keywords, we can use the same prompt as above to get ChatGPT to incorporate these entities into our content. Alternatively, we can ask ChatGPT to give us structure data suggestions for entity-based content since it has a higher chance of appearing in local and map packs. 

Using the provided entity-based keywords and their related terms, recommend appropriate schema markup types to enhance the content’s search engine visibility. For each schema type, give examples of how it should be structured, including key properties and an explanation of why it is suitable based on entities and user intent. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Programmatic SEO and Scaling Content Production

The content that used to take hours to write can now be generated in seconds using ChatGPT. This way, you can scale your content production and keyword addition process.

Automating Large-Scale Content Creation

ChatGPT can write anything from landing pages to blog posts, meta descriptions, alt tags, and more. We particularly like the prompts from the Semrush AI Prompt Library for content creation.

We took the prompt to create a hook for an article introduction and added our own spin to make it more information-rich. Let’s say you’re a home tech brand with a smart home solution that connects to users’ mobile phones. Your manual analysis and social media listening tools indicate a common pain point: Android users have trouble connecting to smart home devices. 

So, you want to write an article explaining how to connect your device to an Android phone and suggest troubleshooting issues. You can provide this pain point to ChatGPT and use the following prompt to create a solid introduction for your article that hints at providing readers with a solution. 

I am writing an article for a home tech brand that offers smart home solutions. Our target audience includes Android users who have trouble connecting their mobile phones to our smart home devices—a common pain point identified through manual analysis and social media listening. Create a strong introduction for this article that grabs attention by hinting at the simplicity and effectiveness of the solutions offered. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Here's another one to write a meta description. Again, it’s best if you provide user intent or pain points to ChatGPT so that it has more context when creating an output. 

Suggest 3 meta descriptions for a web page targeting the keyword ‘’best vacuum cleaners.’’ The description should be between 150-160 characters long. Tailor each meta description to one of our audience’s pain points, which include: struggling to find a vacuum that works on both hardwood floors and carpets, feeling overwhelmed by high prices, and not being sure which vacuum to pick for a pet-friendly home.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Creating Content Calendars

Thanks to ChatGPT, you don't have to rake your brains for new content ideas every month. You can let the tool create a content calendar for your website and social media platforms. 

Here's a prompt to create a template for a content calendar:

Create a template for a content calendar that includes columns for content title, type, target audience, distribution channel, and publication date. Also, provide suggestions for metrics to track for each piece of content (e.g., views, shares, comments, bounce rate) and how these can be aligned with future content planning.

ChatGPT Content calendar

ChatGPT output

Or, pick from one of the content calendar templates in our guide.

You can also provide ChatGPT with information about your brand objectives, key dates, events, holidays, and campaigns to fill the calendar with relevant content ideas.


Optimizing for Featured Snippets and Rich Results

We live in a world where people don't want to spend a long time going through web pages to find information. Instead, they rely on featured snippets and AI Overviews. Basically, quick information is what users demand. You can use ChatGPT for this, too.

Targeting Featured Snippets

When creating content, you can specifically tell ChatGPT that your content is meant for featured snippets. The tool will then craft the content accordingly.

Suppose you're writing an article on the benefits of green tea. You can get ChatGPT to create a list or table with these benefits so that their chances of being picked up by Google as a featured snippet are higher.

Here's the prompt for it:

I'm writing an article on the benefits of green tea. Create potential featured snippets for this article, including a list, a table, and a direct answer. The answer should be optimized to directly address user search intent under 150 characters. Include columns for "Nutrient," "Benefit," and "Source of Nutrient" in the table. 

ChatGPT List Snippet

ChatGPT output

You can also use Semrush to conduct some prior research on featured snippets for your specific topic and include those keywords or phrases in your content. In the Keyword Magic Tool results, check the SF (SERP features) column. It will show you how many SERP features a keyword ranks in.

Semrush Keyword Magic Tool

Semrush Keyword Magic Tool

Then, click the magnifying glass to see the featured snippet in the SERPs. Here, you can see which type of featured snippet it is and how it's formatted. Use ChatGPT to create a better and more optimized version of this snippet by tweaking the prompt given above.


Optimizing for "People Also Ask" (PAA)

Just like the featured snippets, you can also use ChatGPT to optimize your content for the People Also Ask (PAA) section. ChatGPT cannot only generate these questions for you but also answer them.

Targeting PAA Questions

Use the following prompt to get questions related to your topic (benefits of green tea):

Suggest potential People Also Ask questions for an article on the benefits of green tea. The pain point of our audience is a desire to understand how green tea can improve their health or solve specific wellness challenges. Here are the current questions Google is showing on SERPs [enter questions]. 

ChatGPT prompt

ChatGPT output

You can also ask the tool to provide answers to these questions by changing the prompt slightly. Since you want this section to be optimized, give ChatGPT the long-tail keywords you've found in your keyword research and ask it to include them in the responses.

Answer the questions suggested above based on the audience’s pain points we have provided. Include the keywords provided in the answers. Keep the answer between 60 and 80 words. 


Analyzing Forum Discussions

Google now displays Reddit, Quora, and other forums in the SERPs, which means the questions and answers on these platforms also have the chance to rank. Since these questions are being asked by real users in real time, they are highly related to the topic and can provide insights into what your audience is looking for.

You can use the Keyword Overview tool in Semrush to find question-based keywords related to your topic. These are the questions people are likely asking in discussion forums.

Keyword Overview tool

Keyword Overview tool

Combine Semrush data with a manual analysis of the SERP results for community forums. Select the discussion relevant to your content. Then, feed this data into ChatGPT, and use this prompt to generate PAA questions. 

Analyze the following forum discussion from Reddit/Quora related to the selection of AI video generation tools. Identify the user’s primary intent, concerns, and pain points. Based on these pain points, create a list of potential People Also Ask questions. 

ChatGPT PAA questions

ChatGPT output


Optimizing for Voice Search and Conversational SEO

Now that more and more people are using their voice rather than their fingers to search the web, the keyword structure has changed. Queries have become longer since people search the web using full questions. Also, generative engines rely on natural language to understand user intent and show results. Thus, it's important to optimize your content for conversational SEO.

Voice Search-Optimized Content

ChatGPT can help you create content designed for voice search by mimicking the natural, conversational tone people use when asking questions aloud. This is particularly effective for crafting FAQs, subheadings, or concise answers to commonly asked questions, which are often prioritized in voice search results.

For example, try this prompt to generate a conversational subheading: 

Write a friendly subheading for the question: 'How do I optimize my content for voice search?'

You can also use ChatGPT to craft short, clear answers ideal for voice search snippets:

Write a 2-3 sentence answer to the question: 'What is voice search optimization?' that’s engaging and conversational.

ChatGPT prompt

ChatGPT output

Additionally, if you’re adding a new section to an existing article and you’re not sure where it fits best, ChatGPT can suggest where to place it for smooth content flow:

Where should I place this section in my article on [your topic]? Recommend a spot that ensures logical progression and keeps the content engaging.


Local Search-Optimized Content

It's no surprise that many local searches are voice-driven as we've all used our phone's digital assistant at some point to ask about a nearby business. You can optimize your content for these ''near me'' searches using ChatGPT within Semrush.

The Listing Management tool in Semrush integrates ChatGPT to suggest keywords based on your local presence. Go to the Heatmap tab in the Listing Management tool to find these keywords. You can then put these keywords in ChatGPT to write content around them for a specific geographical location.

ChatGPT keyword suggestions Semrush

Source: semrush.com

Suppose you want to create an FAQ section for an online directory. Use the keywords from Semrush and then ask ChatGPT to use them in questions related to your business.

Use these keywords to create an FAQ section for [your business] located in [area]. The FAQ section should address common questions related to the services or products offered by the business, using the provided keywords. Here are the questions our competitor has listed for their business [insert questions]. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

For specific things like opening times or contact details, ChatGPT might not be able to provide accurate information. You can then go in and edit the information after you've generated the content.


AI-Assisted SEO Audits and Workflow Automation

While ChatGPT cannot crawl your website to audit it for technical issues, it can suggest what to do in response to certain issues. Here's how you can use it in conjunction with Semrush for technical SEO.

Automating SEO Audits with ChatGPT

The Semrush Site Audit tool is specialized for finding technical issues in your website. It shows you errors and warnings related to HTTPS, international SEO, markups, site performance, and other factors related to your site's technical side.

Semrush site audit

Semrush site audit

While Semrush also shows you recommendations to fix these issues, many website owners and SEO specialists still struggle with understanding how to implement these recommendations. ChatGPT comes to your rescue here.

Export the data from the Site Audit tool and upload it to ChatGPT. Then, use this prompt to conduct analysis of the given data. 

Analyze the given data for my website’s technical analysis. Suggest fixes for the identified errors and best practices for future technical SEO. For each fix, also suggest tools or resources I can use to implement the recommendations.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Then, implement the changes suggested by ChatGPT and go back to Semrush to see if things have improved. The Compare Crawls tab will show you how the number of broken links has decreased and other warnings have been resolved.

Similarly, if Semrush shows you international SEO issues such as missing hreflang tags, you can use ChatGPT to fix this. Here’s a simple prompt: 

Generate the hreflang tags to feature in pages targeted to [country] in [language]. Make sure each tag corresponds to the appropriate ISO 639-1 language codes and ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes. Also, offer sample hreflang tag blocks for a homepage and a product page, showing correct formatting and structure.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Competitor Strategy Analysis

Semrush suggests a ton of prompts in its AI Prompt Library for using ChatGPT for competitor strategy analysis. First off, you can get ChatGPT to suggest content topics that your competitors haven't covered so that you can differentiate your content from theirs.

Here's the prompt to use:

Given a list of competitor content titles, analyze and suggest 3 unique content topics that would differentiate our brand. For each topic, explain how it will provide unique value to our readers and why it will help us stand out. 

Competitor Content Titles: {competitor_content_titles}

Target Audience: {target_audience}

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Similarly, let's say you want to write an article on the same topic a competitor has covered. However, you want to make it better. ChatGPT can scour through the topic to detect gaps that you can fill with your content. To start, feed the competitor’s content to ChatGPT. 

Then, use this prompt:

Check the provided competitor's content and suggest content gaps and weaknesses that we can improve in our article on the same topic. For each content gap, explain what kind of content we can use to fill it. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Optimizing for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness)

Google's E-E-A-T guidelines are the basis of content selection for search engine rankings. So, you definitely have to abide by them. ChatGPT can assist you in this process.

Building Authoritative Content

Some ways to make your content more authoritative are by citing reputable sources, using data and statistics to back up your claims, quoting industry experts, and mentioning case studies. However, you might not have the time to read hundreds of pages of industry reports and publications. 

You can save all this time by uploading these materials to ChatGPT and asking it to suggest relevant insights from them for your content.

Here’s a prompt to use: 

I’m writing an article on the popularity of short-form content. Analyze this video marketing report by Wyzwol and show me the statistics that would be suitable for my article. I need statistics for these two sections in my article: popularity and growth of video marketing.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT output

If you don’t have existing source material to analyze, you can let ChatGPT do the searching since it now has a built-in search feature that lets it do so. However, you should still check each result manually before using it.

You could use a prompt like this: 

Search the web for [case studies, expert quotes, academic research, citations] for [your topic] to include in my article to align it with Google's E-E-A-T guidelines. Do not show results from before 2018. Provide sources for all material. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Ensuring Accuracy and Trustworthiness

In highly regulated industries like finance, healthcare, or law, accuracy and trustworthiness make or break the case for your content. While ChatGPT isn't always 100% accurate, it can point you in the right direction to validate the claims or data you have presented in your content.

For example, if you've made a health claim in your article about diabetes, you can ask ChatGPT to find relevant academic research papers to cite in your content.

Use this prompt:

Search the web for relevant academic research papers that I can cite in my article to show the relationship between diabetes and eye problems. Provide a source for every article. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Tweak the same prompt for different topics or to find a wide range of sources or authoritative material. 


Optimizing for Core Web Vitals and Technical SEO

Besides content creation, ChatGPT also helps you with the technical side of things. Here's how.

Improving Page Speed and User Experience

To do this, start with the Semrush Site Audit tool. Go to the Core Web Vitals section to get insights on your website's loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. For example, we ran a site audit and found that we needed to improve certain pages for Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).

Semrush site audit

Semrush site audit

ChatGPT can fix quite a lot of issues related to site speed and user experience such as resizing images and minifying CSS and JavaScript.

For example, you can use this prompt to resize an image: 

Resize the uploaded image to 1 MB between 1000 and 2000 pixels wide. Rename the resized image file to include a descriptive, SEO-friendly name.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Technical SEO Fixes

In the Crawlability tab in Semrush, you'll see which factors are resulting in a crawl budget waste. For example, if you have duplicate or similar pages on your website, you don’t want the search engine bot to crawl them all. So, you should add canonical tags. ChatGPT can help you do that.

Use this prompt for it: 

I have a baking website where the same recipe page is accessible through multiple URLs due to tagging and categorization. Can you give me the code for WordPress to implement the canonical tags correctly?

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Content Personalization and Dynamic Content

ChatGPT is an excellent tool for AI content personalization since it can bring variation in your content based on whichever factor you provide, be it location, audience age, preferences, or even device type.

Generating Personalized Content Variations

Personalization ensures your messaging speaks directly to your audience’s priorities, increasing engagement and building stronger connections with your brand. Creating personalized content starts with understanding your audience’s unique needs and concerns. For example, when targeting Baby Boomers or Gen Z with tailored landing page copies, it’s essential to first determine their pain points and then craft messaging that resonates.

Use a variation this prompt to identify pain points, adjusted for your industry and target audience:

What are the main concerns of Baby Boomers when choosing skincare products?

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Once you have these insights, you can craft audience-specific content:

Create a landing page copy for my skincare website focused on Baby Boomers. Emphasize anti-aging benefits, highlight the science behind our ingredients, and mention our commitment to quality and trust.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

For Gen Z, follow the same process: 

What are the main concerns of Gen Z when choosing skincare products?

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Then craft a personalized landing page for them:

Write a landing page copy for my skincare website targeting Gen Z. Focus on eco-friendly packaging, natural ingredients, and our brand’s social responsibility initiatives.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Notice how even the tone is different when addressing Baby Boomers versus Gen Z - that's because personalization isn’t just about what you say—it’s about saying it in a way that truly connects. It’s this kind of tailored messaging that doesn’t just catch attention, it sparks a connection, leaving your audience feeling understood and valued.


Dynamic Keyword Insertion

Similarly, if you've conducted individual keyword research for each group, you can enter this data into ChatGPT and ask it to include relevant keywords in each copy to personalize content for different audiences.

For example, you may be a roofing contractor with services across three cities. You have different landing pages for each city, including geographical keywords. Create an Excel sheet with the keyword research you've done for each city and upload it to ChatGPT.

Or, you can get ChatGPT to find these keywords by using this prompt: 

I’m a roofing service provider with services in three cities: Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. Create a table with geographical keywords for each city that I can use in my content. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Then, use this prompt to insert the relevant keywords into your landing page copies for each city:

Create landing page copy for my roofing services targeting three different cities: Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. Use the relevant keywords for each city from the Excel sheet. Also, highlight our service: roof installation, repair, replacement, inspections, and maintenance. Tailor the descriptions to the specific needs in each city (e.g., hurricane-resistant roofs in Miami, snow-related considerations in New York). Include CTAs that encourage potential customers to request a free quote, schedule an inspection, or contact us for emergency repairs.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

You can then expand each section (or add new ones) as required. 


Determining User Intent and Aligning Content with It

With an influx of AI-generated content, search engines have turned toward user intent satisfaction to rank pages rather than mere keyword stuffing. While AI SEO keywords are still imperative, knowing their intent and then creating content around it is non-negotiable. Let's see how ChatGPT helps.

Analyzing User Intent

If you have a list of keywords, you can upload them to ChatGPT or type them in the search bar and use this prompt to find the intent behind them.

Analyze the user intent behind the provided keywords. Also, explain what users are looking for when they type each keyword in the search engine, focusing on which needs they need fulfilled.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT will not only tell you the intent but also provide a brief analysis of how to approach the topic based on what the searcher is seeking. Similarly, you could have the tool study intent from SERPs. 

Search for your seed keyword on Google and copy the search results. Then, paste them in a custom GPT like Data Analysis - SERP that is specifically made for identifying user intent and pain points.

Then, use this prompt to analyze the SERP results. 

Analyze these search results and identify the target audience and search intent behind them. Also, explain how the SERPs are meeting the identified search intents. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Aligning Content with Searcher Intent

Once you know the intent guiding certain queries, you can then write content on them accordingly. Alternatively, let ChatGPT do this.

For example, in the example above, ChatGPT recognized different user intents for queries. Let’s say you want to write content under the first H2 in which you introduce video marketing to readers. You want to cater to the informational intent, particularly targeting small business owners. 

Use this prompt to ask ChatGPT for this content. 

Write content under the heading ‘’what is video marketing?’’ for my article on using video marketing for small businesses. My target audience are small business owners who want to use short-form video content in their marketing strategies. Their intent is purely informational. Keep the tone conversational yet informative. I want the content to come across as approachable for small business owners. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


Schema Markup and Structured Data Suggestions

It won't be a comprehensive list of ChatGPT marketing strategies for search engines without mentioning structured data and schema markup. Both traditional and AI-based search engines need to know what your content is about to rank it accurately. With ChatGPT, you can help them in this comprehension.

Generating Schema Markup

The most straightforward use case of ChatGPT in this regard is for schema markup generation. You can do this for everything from product reviews to FAQs, images, and event listings with this prompt.

Generate an event listing schema markup using the following properties and their values:

  • Name: [event name]
  • Start Date: [start date]
  • End Date: [end date]
  • Location: [location]
ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT will create a schema markup in JSON-LD. You can take it a step further by asking the tool what else you can add to make the markup more comprehensive.

Here's the prompt:

Which other properties should be included in the schema markup you have displayed? Suggest properties that would help boost our web page’s visibility in search results. 

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output

Once ChatGPT recommends more properties, you can then ask it to create the markup again, including those properties.


Optimizing for Rich Results

To check if the structured data on your website is up-to-date, check the Markup section in Semrush's Site Audit. The page will show you the number of pages that have invalid structured data. Click on "View all invalid items" to see them.

Semrush Site Audit

Semrush Site Audit

Click the tag button next to each item to test the web pages in the Rich Results tool. If the tool returns any results with invalid structured data, use ChatGPT to fix the issue.

Semrush Site Audit

Source: semrush.com

Download the report showing the invalid structured data items on your website and then upload it to ChatGPT.

Use this prompt to get ChatGPT to suggest fixes for these issues. 

Using the provided Semrush analysis of the structured data for my website, suggest the properties and values to be included in the markup. Also, recommend tools and resources that I can use to resolve the identified structured data issues.

ChatGPT output

ChatGPT output


ChatGPT for SEO: Powerful, But Not Perfect

With practice (and a ton of AI prompt optimization), you can get ChatGPT to do quite a lot for your SEO efforts. However, that's not to say ChatGPT can automate it all.

First things first, ChatGPT has no real-time access to data as keyword research tools do. It doesn't have a database of billions of keywords, either. The suggestions it provides are based on the information and keywords that you provide it with. It cannot actively track and analyze search engine algorithms or gather data on your competitors.

That's why you need to use a tool like Semrush to get actual keyword insights from the SERPs and monitor your competitors' strategies.

Another downside of ChatGPT is its generic output, especially when it comes to content generation. Even after you provide it with sufficient information, the tool may produce content that lacks proper flow and coherence. ChatGPT also has an affinity for making run-on sentences and blanket statements, both of which are a no-no in content creation.

ChatGPT's inability to bring variation and context into content creation is more concerning to SEO professionals in specialized industries such as fintech or healthcare. These industries require precise, specific information that ChatGPT may not be able to provide. For example, ChatGPT doesn't always include industry-specific information and references to its content, resulting in the content being surface-level at best.

Then, there's the issue of inaccuracy, too. While no industry wants incorrect information in its content, it can be especially damaging for highly regulated industries, often resulting in penalties and trouble with the regulatory authorities.

Even with everything that ChatGPT can do, it's quite likely that you may not see the SEO results you want. After all, the success of your SEO strategy can also depend on factors that ChatGPT has no control over, such as website design, user experience, and backlinking. So, you'll need human SEOs to be actively involved in all the aforementioned use cases to use ChatGPT to its full potential.

Use our SEO ROI calculator to measure how ChatGPT-assisted SEO works out for you.


Prompt Your SEO Success With ChatGPT

All the ChatGPT prompts we've mentioned in this guide can help you reduce the time and effort you're currently spending on your SEO efforts. ChatGPT serves as an SEO assistant if you give it the right instructions and input.

Use our prompts as the starting point for your SEO strategy, and then modify them to fit your needs. The more specific you are, the better outputs you can expect from the AI tool. However, keep ChatGPT's limitations in mind during this process.

Compensate for these limitations with paid SEO tools and human oversight. For example, Semrush can be used to provide ChatGPT with real-time keyword data. Similarly, human SEO professionals can derive insights from the outputs generated by ChatGPT and come up with creative solutions that AI may not be able to think of. You get the point. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I use ChatGPT for SEO keyword research?

ChatGPT can help brainstorm keyword ideas, find related terms, analyze search intent, and create content clusters. Just ask it to suggest keywords for your niche or target audience or even long-tail variations of a main keyword. You can also use it to explore questions people might ask about a topic, which can be great for blog posts or FAQ sections. While it won't replace dedicated tools like Semrush, it's super handy for initial ideas and content planning.

What are the best prompts to create SEO-optimized content with ChatGPT?

Use specific, structured prompts to create SEO-optimized content with ChatGPT. Here are some examples.

  • Create an SEO-friendly blog post outline about [topic] focused on [primary keyword].
  • Write a meta title and description for a page about [product/service].
  • Generate a list of FAQs related to [keyword].
  • Provide engaging H1 and H2 headings for an article on [keyword].

Can ChatGPT help optimize my existing content for SEO?

Run your existing content through ChatGPT and ask it to suggest optimization tips. The tool will recommend ways to improve the content structure, headings, keywords, information gaps, and related topics. You can also use it to generate new title tags and meta descriptions for your pages. ChatGPT can also rewrite paragraphs with a focus on specific keywords. It's also great for enhancing readability by simplifying complex sentences or adding transitions.

What's a good prompt to analyze my competitors' SEO strategies?

Here's a prompt you can use: Analyze the SEO strategy of [competitor's website] based on their content, keywords, backlinks, and structure. What are their strengths and weaknesses? However, note that ChatGPT will base its response on the basic data it has access to, so its analysis may not be as thorough as an SEO tool like Semrush. If you want detailed information about keyword gaps, competitor SEO strategies, traffic analytics, paid and organic traffic, and other SEO metrics, Semrush is a better and more comprehensive option.

Can ChatGPT help with backlink strategies for SEO?

You can ask ChatGPT to suggest outreach templates for pitching guest posts, recommend types of sites to target (like niche blogs, industry directories, or forums), or generate ideas for link-worthy content like infographics or reports. The tool can further create this content, too. If you only need recommendations, ChatGPT can guide you on the best practices for building relationships with other websites and influencers.

How do I generate SEO-friendly meta descriptions with ChatGPT?

You can use this prompt to create an SEO-friendly meta description with ChatGPT: Write a 150-160 character meta description for a blog post about [topic] using the keyword '[primary keyword]. If you're not satisfied with the result, regenerate the output until you're satisfied. Likewise, if you want ChatGPT to specify a certain thing in the meta description, such as the presence of a template in your blog post, you can mention it in the prompt.

Can ChatGPT handle technical SEO tasks like optimizing page speed?

Not directly. ChatGPT can't optimize page speed or handle technical SEO tasks like minifying code or compressing images. However, it can help you understand what might be slowing your site down and explain best practices. You should use a dedicated technical SEO tool like Semrush Site Audit to conduct a thorough audit and then use ChatGPT to find fixes for the errors the tool has found on your website.

What's a good prompt for generating content ideas with ChatGPT?

A simple prompt you can use for content ideation is: Suggest 10 blog post ideas related to [your niche or keyword] that are trending or have high search intent. If you want to cover a topic angle that hasn't been explored yet, you can use this prompt: What are some unique angles I can use to write about [topic]? ChatGPT will then suggest different perspectives for you to cover.

How often should I update my SEO content with ChatGPT?

Ideally, you should update your SEO content every 3-6 months to keep it fresh. However, since ChatGPT doesn’t get real-time data updates, it won’t be able to notify you if your content has lost its relevance. Use Semrush to monitor your content's performance and find opportunities for improvement. For example, the Position Tracking tool monitors keyword performance on the SERPs. If you get an alert that one of your keywords has lost its rank, you can then use ChatGPT to update its content or cover topics that the now-ranking competitor is covering. 

About the Author
Nadica Naceva, Head of Content at Influencer Marketing Hub, is a seasoned writer and reviewer with in-depth expertise in digital and content marketing. Leveraging her extensive experience in guiding content creation and strategic direction, Nadica brings a critical eye and analytical approach to reviewing articles and educational pieces. Her commitment to accuracy, integrity, and innovation with each review helps IMH grow as a leading source in influencer marketing. Her insights are backed by first-party data, ensuring content meets the highest standards of relevance.