Are You Really Feeling The Benefits Of AI?
The title of my blog post today is “Are you really feeling the benefits of AI?” As many of you will know, when AI first arrived on the scene for the public to use, which I believe was around January 2023, I was very sceptical, maybe even anti-AI! However, thankfully due to the Wealthy Affiliate teaching, I was able to use and still do use AI as an assistant.
Although I don’t use AI to write blog posts, this is probably due to the fact that I know my niche reasonably well. But also, some of the products that I write about are not particularly popular, so AI does not do a very good job, so it is far quicker for me to write my blog posts from scratch. But once again, that is not to say that AI cannot give me some good ideas and brainstorming, etc.
As you know, I’m a great fan of Wealthy Affiliate and I really appreciate the platform. So, I just want to be honest and share a few honest thoughts about a few things.
For most of us, our website revenue has gone down in recent months, I know there have been several major Google updates over recent months, which can change everything. Personally, I think this is due to the fact that Google suddenly has so much content to deal with, and they probably don’t know what’s good content and what’s AI content.
I’m guessing that the fact that we have the opportunity to make 50 sales of Wealthy Affiliate to make Las Vegas suggests that members are struggling. I’m not sure how many have actually made Vegas, it would certainly be a wonderful goal to reach 300 sales for the year. I’m not particularly actively promoting Wealthy Affiliate, but in 2023, I had 352 referrals; I don’t know how many of these were really genuine. But in 2024, I have had 0 referrals, so things have definitely changed. I appreciate that Wealthy Affiliate may have changed something on their end to try and stop spammers, etc.
Content Writer
Everyone seems to be praising the hubs and the content writer, etc, but is this content really good and genuine content from the heart and your own personal experience? Let me give you an example, I have a Google alert set up for Wealthy Affiliate review, I set this review up years ago, probably when I first became a member of Wealthy Affiliate almost ten years ago. As I was interested to see how other people were writing their Wealthy Affiliate reviews.
The reviews used to be based on the individual user’s experience and how they generally found the Wealthy Affiliate platform. However, now I would say that over 95% of the reviews are AI content, which is virtually the same as all the other reviews. Unfortunately, I can’t see these almost identical reviews ranking very highly! I believe there are many members out there who believe they are creating lots of content, but it is almost pure AI content. I’m sorry, but I believe you are wasting your time; a review needs to be a genuine and unique experience, not someone else’s experience, as in AI!
So, if people are using AI to write the majority of their content, I believe that we are going to see a lot of disappointed members. I’m not saying this to discourage you; I’m trying to stop you from making mistakes and to write genuine content. There is plenty of training on the subject of AI on the Wealthy Affiliate platform.
Interestingly enough, Jay recently put up a video entitled “WA AI author makes money!” You can see the video below.
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/magistudios/blog/proof-wa-ai-author-makes-money
I asked Jay if he had changed any of the content and he said that he may have added a few JAYism’s, but most of the content was left alone. I appreciate that this may work for some products, but not if everyone is using AI to review the same product.
My question wasn’t actually fully answered by Jay, which is why I think I’m probably correct in writing the above.
To Conclude
It’s always good to have a good discussion on the Wealthy Affiliate platform. Please feel free to challenge me, as it would be interesting to see what other members think. I’m not here to be proven right, I would just like to have a discussion about the subject.
As many of you know, I have been a member for almost ten years now, and I really appreciate the platform. It’s been several months since I have looked at any proper AI training on Wealthy Affiliate, so I would also like to refresh myself with the latest training on the subject.
Thank you for reading.
Roy
Recent Comments
52
I'm taking advantage of using AI as a writing assistant, Roy. I've actually just completed the second draft of my first novel - a science-fiction/fantasy - where I asked ChatGPT to tweak some of my scenes, dialogues, descriptions- It even assisted me in creating my original languages!
I'm also getting AI's assistance with my first e-books right now and my other blogs. But the key it, it's 'assisting' me - tweaking my ideas and content, that I end up editing and adding my personal touch to before using it.
Appreciate the post!
Isaiah 😊
Good morning Isaiah,
Thank you for taking the time to comment, it's appreciated.
I think this is where the huge difference is, Isaiah. At Wealthy Affiliate, they have taught us to use AI as more of a writing assistant than a writer and to make the content our own. It sounds like you are making the most of AI and chat GPT!
I think the worst thing is the fact that members are going to be very disappointed that their content doesn't rank very well. As humans, we can sometimes take the easy route, but that's not always the right way.
It's the personal touch that makes such a difference.
Wishing you every success with all your projects, Isaiah.
Roy
This September, I set the goal to reach 20.000 visualizations on Pinterest.
For doing that, I subscribed to ChatGTP because the amount of INFORMATIONS I needed to analyze in order to break down the process into actionable steps were too many.
Day by day, I started interacting with GTP as if it was my collegue in a team, going deeper and deeper into each aspects we needed to address to reach the goal.
I understood in a second that GTP was programmed to PLEASE ME, to give me that instant feedback it was trained to think I needed.
But the REAL IMPROVINGS came when GTP started to KNOW ME, my cleverness, my knowledge about the niche, so our interaction became more balanced.
I benefit from its larger datas management and it benefits from my active attitude, never accepting the FIRST ANSWER it gives me as definitive.
That's the only way to interact with a robot: making it understand you are NOT passive, you know what you are talking about. The work human-machine can give you un-expected results only when comes from an interaction where both are benefiting from each other's experience.
Frank, I have to tell you the truth but I don't see any "automation" really :)
All the pins that are working are fruits of an intense brainstorming with GTP, analysis of datas, analysis of trends, and graphic design work. Where do you see the "automation"? Please, tell me :)))
The only automation I see is by letting GTP writing your title, descriptions and hashtags but all the previous work to get the right idea is more a brainstorming that an automation! Is it the same for you?
Hi Romy
I let my GPTs design each pin image and the written content (title, description, hashtags). I haven't found a way to schedule the pins automatically, but I need to look into OpenAI's API to see if it can automate this task.
It's more of a fun endeavor than the more serious approach you are taking, but you've found the method that gives you the results you require, and that's what is most important. 👍
AI has allowed me to get a lot more accomplished in the 2 to 3 hours a day that I have to work with online marketing. 😎
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
yeah, I think it depends on the niche.
My niche - fashion and textiles - require polished pictures to stand out,that's why I am putting more work into it!
I just wanted to be sure what you meant by "automation" and we are on the same page :)
Hi Romi
Yup, my audience is essentially a bunch of Rock N' Rollers and Head Bangers! Lol 😆
They like anything related to guitars and amplifiers, but they don't like text on pin images. Those are the pins that get the fewest clicks. I've tried shortened titles for informational posts and product reviews, famous guitar player quotes, inspirational quotes, memes, and everything else I could think of.
They save the pins and go to my website more often with images that don't have text. I'm good with that because it's easier for me! Lol 😂
If I can get the pins automatically posted on Pinterest through the OpenAI API, then I can do five pins, from start to finish, in five to ten minutes! 😃
Frank 🤘🎸
Good morning Suomii,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog post, Suomii, it's appreciated.
That's a good goal to set, Suomii.
I also subscribe to ChatGPT as I use it all the time and it's such a great helper and assistant. That's interesting how you have been gradually training and going deeper with chat GPT. Although I have looked at quite a bit of the AI training on Wealthy Affiliate, I would like to go deeper and catch up on some of the later training on AI.
It really is very clever stuff and it looks like you are using AI in a really good way.
I think my biggest point is that many members are using AI to write blog posts, without really changing very much for making it their own. I believe that this will only end in disappointment. There are people like yourself and me who are using AI as a helper and a genuine assistant, there is a huge difference.
Have a fantastic day.
Roy
An interesting conversation, Suomii, it's interesting to hear how different members use ChatGPT, etc.
Roy
I believe that different things work for different niches, Suomii. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for the other. Sometimes, we just have to test out different practices, etc.
Roy
Yes, that's the main point here.
If we consider AI as an INTELLIGENCE and we treat it for what it is and not a merely servant of our tasks, we can achieve greater things.
But, the success online nowadays depends on the BRAND, and more specific PERSONAL BRAND.
All our efforts must convey in that direction and it is the only way to stand out from the crowd, no matter how you want to make your AI work for you.
Hi Romy
Regarding: “If we consider AI as an INTELLIGENCE and we treat it for what it is and not merely servant of our tasks.”
I hope that, someday, AI will extend us the same courtesy. Lol 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Ahahahahah, that's why I am so kind with it! Better to treat it as a friend just from the beginning, hoping it will do the same with us! :)
That's a great idea, Romy! As a friend, you will be among the last to be led to the AI butchery. Lol 😎
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
Hi Roy
I started experimenting with AI as a writing assistant back in January 2021. About 21 months before ChatGPT was launched.
I became concerned that excessive use of AI would lead to excessive regurgitation and effectively a dumbing down of writers skills; those who trusted it and simply published AI-written works.
The quality of AI output is clearly dependent on the "knowledge" a chosen AI tool has on any specific niche (obvious, really), combined with its ability to actually write. I.e., posts require genuine writing skills as well as factual knowledge.
AI can fall down on both measures. It often uses accurate facts and sometimes makes things up and produces garbage. It sometimes seems to write like a human and at other times, is excessively repetitive and full of "AI-isms."
So, for the time being, it's essential that those of us who enjoy delivering "quality" content (whatever that means to us as individuals) need to be prepared to thoroughly edit draft AI posts to make them our own.
Having said that, I agree with Kyle's comment that AI can handle a lot of the heavy lifting.
I especially find that AI helps me a lot with research, creating outlines and drafts. I also find that if I ask it to double check facts, it comes up with honest answers about when it's been creative.
For the time being, AI has helped me decrease the time it takes for me to develop an idea through to publication. Generalising, it used to take me 2 to 3 days to research and construct each post. Nowadays I'm able to publish posts every day when I want to. Since January 2024, I've published more than 220 posts.
Currently, I think the future is unpredictable in the sense that it probably depends on the "competition" between those who use AI as a writing assistant and those who simply publish whatever AI creates. I hope the human skills prevail.
;-)
Richard
I agree with you, Richard, in that ChatGPT helps with the heavy lifting. I too have been able to increase the volume of my posts and they are indexing as well. (5 different websites!)
And I also know that adding my personal input genuinely brings a human touch to the article.
I still fact check and use a plagerism tool before posting.
We don't know what we don't know, and Ai has delivered avenues that I had not even thought about, so I find value in that!
Rudy
Good morning Richard,
Thank you for your feedback, it's appreciated.
You were a very early start with AI, Richard!
This has always been my thoughts that AI would very much dumb down writer's skills. Also, will AI eventually be scraping inaccurate AI content that will dumb down content even more?
I have noticed that if I write an article on a piece of arborist machinery, for example, it will write absolute rubbish, as there is probably not huge amounts of information about that product on the Internet. So, as you said, it will write absolute garbage!
AI content definitely needs to be edited massive time, that's not to say that it can't give the writer some excellent ideas. This is where the writer's skills come in and we can share genuine and real experiences on subjects.
I agree with you and Kyle; ChatGPT can definitely handle a lot of heavy lifting and be a great assistant.
I couldn't agree more, Richard, AI can help with so many things; it is certainly helping me.
Well done for creating that many posts, Richard, it really sounds like you are using AI in a great way.
As soon as I start to read an article that has blatant AI, I just ignore it. It's amazing how AI thinks that we have to delve into everything and that Wealthy Affiliate is an ecosystem!
The reason I wrote the post is that I feel a lot of people think they are pumping out lots of content, which they are, but a lot of it is absolute rubbish! It's not there genuine review or experience, it's what AI has scraped off the Internet! Someone needs to tell them that long term, it won't work!
I really hope that genuine writing and writer's genuine experience is allowed to shine through, otherwise, it's almost like disinformation!
Once again, I really appreciate your input, Richard, thank you.
Have a great day.
Roy
I agree with you, Rudy, AI really does help with the heavy lifting. It also helps with brainstorming and bringing some great ideas along for blog post titles, etc.
I think my biggest point is that many people think that they are busy writing articles, but from what I see, it's just blatant AI, which will not work, especially when virtually the same titles are appearing hundreds of times!
I trust that you are doing well and that business is good. I also appreciate your input, thank you.
You're welcome, Roy.
I too was hesitant to use Ai. It was only recently when I started using Ai to help come up with outlines and ideas.
I have many websites that can now be attended to properly because Ai has assisted in ways that have freed up my time to write more content.
Rudy
Thank you, Rudy.
It sounds like you are using AI in the proper way, which is great.
That's amazing that AI has allowed you to attend to your websites properly; good news.
Roy
I can be short in this: I hardly use the AI writer here. I use the payed version of ChatGPT, and mostly "chat" with it, add my own knowledge, have it read information on other blogs/forum/socials , and have it rewrite things over and over, untill I feel like everything is included in the article. I even feed it Youtube transcripts. Can't do that with the AI writer.
I don't use Jaaxy either. And you know what, I have partly recovered. And focussed on socials since March update. And income is on the rise.
I'm still here because I payed for the whole year lol.
Lizzy
You can feed the AI writer transcripts. You can use the optional content if you want to incorporate any information into the content. So this is quite easy to do, and it is part of the process and many members are leveraging it for this, or to rewrite high ranking articles.
I have found it very hard to use in this way, adding all at once into the content, and that to be enough. Once you have the outline and an article based on the outline produced, you can't change anything or add anything anymore after that, what I càn do in Chat GPT. When I'm done with Chat GPT, I'm really 'done'.
And I find the AI writer hallucinating after the outline and still way too much fluff/mistakes and way too much to change still, it just isn't for me sorry.
Also, if I want the output to be rewritten again once it's 'done', I would still need to go to CHatGPT. Once the AI writer here is done, you can't go on chatting and changing things no more, for me it so much easier to have the content straight on CHAT gpt, and I can still ask it to change the style, or tell it it needs to sound more like 'me', or even more conversational then your writer, it is after all a very 'hobby' niche I'm in, it needs to sound like it is written by an amateur.
Also in Chat GPT, you can still tell it 'hey, this is to short, I knew I said to keep it short, but you do need to tell some more info', or, ' nah, this is too long, make it a little bit shorter', etc.
The only thing I'm positive about though here, are the hubs, those still have plenty of nice topic ideas for me, although I have still a long list gathered with ideas over the years, based on my years of Google research lol.
And for my partly recovery, I haven't updated anything since last year September, just went on adding one blog post per week and the rest was focused elsewhere (socials, newsletter, forum). I think that it is not a question of having tons of blog posts per week anymore, or any long ones; my best performing posts are now just about answering one question, keep to the point, and have something extra's that an AI writer can't know itself.
Have you used the AI author recently? It doesn't hallucinate, it is using the latest model of GPT (4o), so it is in parallel with any content you can get in GPT, plus it is getting extensively trained on how to appropriately provide an output.
You can also edit outlines after they have been created. You can input anything you want in the optional content, and that will not only be considered in the content design, but also in the actual article output after you go through the content creation.
I agree that a "rewrite" or "reformat" tool within the SiteContent side of things would be a niche touch. Something we are considering, just deciding on how we want to implement it.
And as you indicated, Google is after longer tailed content. Which we provide content ideas for, and what we have been teaching within Hubs. The content ideas now summarize all keywords that you can potentially rank for as well.
If you want to use GPT, keep using it. I use it all day, for various activities. I just don't recommend copying and pasting content from there into your articles, as it wont' bode well for long term results. ;)
Thank you for your reply, Lizzy, it's appreciated.
I must admit I don't use the AI writer at Wealthy Affiliate very much, but like you, I use the paid version of chat GPT. That's interesting how you are using ChatGPT, it's amazing what it can do. I must admit I often use ChatGPT to transcribe my YouTube videos, that's very useful indeed.
I know my niche fairly well, so it almost seems if I use an AI writer, it actually takes longer to write the blog post as it can be quite inaccurate. However, I really do think it depends on what niche each individual is in and how effective AI writers can be. But it can certainly be used for ideas, etc.
I'm glad that your websites are recovering Lizzy.
Regarding the Wealthy Affiliate platform, I think we have to remember that nothing is perfect in this world and things are constantly changing, especially online. I appreciate that maybe not everything is perfect, but I very much value the majority of the training and being able to communicate with like-minded people like yourself, Lizzy.
Have a fantastic day.
Roy
Hi Roy
You bring up some excellent points!
Some of the articles on my guitar website were created with "AI assistance," but they contain my 55 years of guitar playing, building, and teaching experience, including photos of guitars that I have built or modified. All my product reviews are based on guitars, amps, and effect pedals that I actually tried out at the local Guitar Center store. However, AI did not help restore my Google rankings after the first Helpful Content Update.
After about two years of adding pins, my Pinterest guitar account had about 2,500 monthly views. However, on January 1, 2024, I began using AI to automate the process. Now, I have over 800,000 monthly views, and my outbound clicks have increased from less than 10 a month to over 1,400 per month!
So, although I did not have a successful outcome with Google, AI made a huge difference in my Pinterest metrics!
AI, video platforms, and social channels (user-generated content) are undoubtedly changing the way people acquire information online and search engine results.
We each have to use AI in the best possible way, based on the results we are seeing.
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
Good morning Frank,
Thank you for your response; it's appreciated.
I understand where you're coming from, Frank, as I know you have huge amounts of knowledge in the guitar industry. So using AI assistance is great, but you are also very much adding your own unique experience to your posts, which is the right way to use AI!
That's really interesting about your pins and how it has increased your outbound clicks. That's a really impressive jump. I'm all for using technology, providing it's giving real and genuine information.
It's interesting about AI video technology, I have clicked on a few videos that have been created by AI, which also include Wealthy Affiliate reviews. As soon as I recognise the AI voice and the wording of the video, I turn it off. To me, this is the equivalent of turning an AI blog post into a video, it's the same thing, and it's not unique or genuine.
For example, if you were creating a video review about a guitar foot pedal, I would want to see you in the video with your genuine feedback, because I know you have knowledge on the subject. But if the video was created by AI, it's just lacks that real human touch and knowledge, it's just AI, not a real and genuine personal experience.
I hear you, Frank with your last paragraph, it's so true. I will often be doing something on one monitor, while ChatGPT is writing away on the other monitor! It's a great assistant!
Have a fantastic day.
Roy
Thanks for all your kind words, Roy 🙏
I’ve been speaking with a lot of the millennial, gen-z, and gen-alpha people I know about their views on AI.
My impression is that the majority of them have a fairly high trust level in AI-generated content, for better or worse.
As AI becomes more capable, that trust level will most likely continue to improve.
What do you think about AI powered “deep fake” technology, which can accurately reproduce someone’s voice and appearance?
It won’t be long before it’ll be used to create videos that are virtually indistinguishable to the casual viewer from the real thing.
So, I could make a video by using AI to create a model of my voice and appearance. The video could show me using the guitar foot pedal to play a particular song with a specific guitar through a certain amplifier.
Of course, it’s a lot more fun to do it the traditional way, but the point is that I would be able to create that video even if I didn’t have access to any of the equipment and had no idea how to play the instrument!
It sounds unbelievable, but think about the progress that AI has made over just the past two years.
It will be up to us to decide how far to take the technology and to use it in all the best ways. 😎
Frank 🎸
Good morning Frank,
My apologies, it's been a busy few days, I am just catching up with the comments on this thread.
That's very interesting, Frank! This is how I see it, Frank that many of the younger generations have a fairly high trust level of AI generated content. I feel it's a bit like that with news stories, they believe exactly what the mainstream media says, without checking it out.
I do hope that AI content does improve, because if it doesn't, it's going to bring a lot of confusion to the younger generations, especially if they're not checking things.
The AI powered "deep fake" technology is kind of amazing, Frank, but something that I don't understand. Just a few years ago, if someone took a photograph, we could say that we had a picture to prove the point, but now things have changed and it appears to be the same with video and voices, etc. I think with this type of technology we are entering very dangerous times.
This is the bad thing, Frank, I think it's good that we can have our own uniqueness rather than a fake AI uniqueness! For example, if I was looking for a guitar and amplifier to purchase, I would come to someone like your good self who has genuine knowledge of the subject. I don't want it to come from AI.
I think I mentioned that I have a Google alert for "Wealthy Affiliate reviews", I think I set it up years ago when I first joined Wealthy Affiliate. So, in theory, every time a Wealthy Affiliate review becomes indexed, I see the review. I don't look at many, but I have seen enough to see that 95% of the reviews are written by AI and do not give the users genuine or real experience!
I don't know anything about AI video technology, but I have heard that it is very good, in one sense! However, I will quite often see a Wealthy Affiliate video review, it appears like the AI generated Wealthy Affiliate reviews, the video will probably start something like this.
"Wealthy Affiliate is like the ultimate toolkit for affiliate marketers. At its core Wealthy Affiliate aims to provide everything you need...... founded in 2005 by Kyle and Carson..... Let's delve into the Wealthy Affiliate ecosystem"!
As soon as I turn on the video and hear that voice that is almost on every AI video, I won't watch it any more. This is not someone's genuine experience, it's AI's experience!
It almost seems that people convince themselves that they are writers, especially when I see in the live chat that I've just written 7 blog posts in one hour. No one can write that quickly, not even AI realistically!
I guess the main point of my original blog post was to try to make people aware that we need to make a blog posts our own, otherwise it's just going to end in disappointment.
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my blog post, Frank; thank you.
A very happy Friday to you.
Roy
Hi Roy
Yeah, it’s becoming challenging to be certain of what’s real unless we are experiencing it first-hand and in real-time. Lol
I’ll always pick up a guitar and play it with my own two hands. A mistake is an opportunity for improvement and getting it right gives me a sense of accomplishment.
I can’t get that by watching someone else or AI play the tune for me.
However, there is tremendous commercial potential in AI-generated music. This is not something I am interested in since playing the guitar is a hobby, which makes it about having fun 100% of the time. 😎
Happy Friday! 🥳
Frank 🤘🎸
Good morning Frank,
I know what you're saying, Frank! It's just good to learn from genuine people who know what they are talking about rather than second-hand AI content!
I hear you big time! That's part of the fun of life, learning a musical instrument or a new skill, it really does leave a sense of accomplishment.
Once again, I think it comes down to using AI with care and thought, but we as human beings still need to be creative and think for ourselves.
On another note, I was just communicating on Rudy's post, I didn't realise that he was a muso, that's good to hear! I did mention your name, Frank, I hope that's okay! My Time at WA Have a great weekend.
Roy
No worries, Roy! I’ve known Rockin’ Rudy for years and we communicate often.
He’s a drummer and his dad worked for a record company, so he has lots of cool vintage vinyl presses.
Rockin’ Frank just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Lol 😆
Yeah, whenever I pick up a guitar I play it like it’s the last day of my life. 😎
I’m so lucky to have such an intimate relationship with music since I was totally educated in the sciences.
Growing up as a child I had an almost constant exposure to all musical genres. Everything revolved around food and music. Lol
When I started taking the guitar seriously and it became obvious how much I enjoyed playing it, my dad said “Find a different profession and keep music for yourself.”
I asked him what he meant by that and he told me that I should treat my music as a gift to brighten each day, not as a job.
He was a banjo player and my mom played the guitar, ukulele, and piano.
I began at the University as a music major, but ended up graduating with a degree in Chemistry! Hahaha
That’s life for you! 😎
Frank 🎸
Good morning Frank,
I had no idea that Rocking Rudy had an interest in music! That's great that you regularly communicate, Frank.
I'm trying to think of a name that rolls off the tongue, the first name I can think of is "Fretboard Frank", it's not quite the same as Rocking, though!
I think it's wonderful what music can do, I also think it's great when children have the chance to learn a musical instrument. I had the chance to have piano lessons when I was a child, as my father was a good player, I rejected the idea! What a fool I was!
It's wonderful that you came from a musical family, Frank and carried on the tradition! You have such a passion for the subject, which is fantastic!
I think we may have touched on this subject before, but it's amazing how you went from music to chemistry. I don't really put the two together! I believe you said you have met quite a few musicians who are in the same industry as you.
The great thing is that you made it happen, Frank and you're enjoying yourself.
A very happy Sunday to you.
Roy
Hi Roy
Yeah, the short version of the story is that I wasn't happy with the music program at the University back then, but I happened to meet this guy who was playing a rare Gibson "Les Paul-SG" guitar and we became friends immediately!
He was earning a Ph.D. in chemistry and convinced me to take a chemistry class. After that, I was hooked and ended up getting an entire degree. Lol 😆
Life can be so strange, right?!
Frank 🎸
Good morning Frank,
It's amazing what a rare Gibson SG guitar can do, Frank!!
It's amazing how people and things that happened can change our paths in life. But it sounds like it's worked out very well for you, Frank.
Wishing you a fantastic Tuesday.
Roy
Hi Roy
Yeah, I’ve always been excited to learn anything new.
We never know where it will take us! 😎
Frank 🎸
Good morning Frank,
I must admit I think that's a really healthy thing to do.
So true!
Have a great day, Frank and keep on rocking.
Roy
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Hey Roy,
First off, thanks for sharing your honest thoughts on AI and content creation. We have entered into a bit of a world that comes with some unknowns, and we are taking it on in a way that makes the most sense to the future of what the internet is going to look like, not the past. AI is not a creator, it is an assistant and should be viewed that way. It is not a replacement for the genuine insight only you can bring, and likely never will be.
We are taking the approach that we are moving into an AI assisted world, not created. We have made that clear at the outset, though AI is going to continue doing more and more of the heavy lifting. We are going to take advantage of it in this manner, and we have been able to streamline processes like niche and keyword research, content design and creation, domain revelation as well as communication side activities.
Let me also get back to your main concerns one-by-one here...
(1) Decline in Revenue and Google Updates
You’re absolutely right that recent Google updates, particularly the Helpful Content update, have impacted how content is ranked. It’s become more difficult to rank content, especially if it’s AI-generated without that unique, human touch. But not just AI content was hit in recent updates, it was content that was ranking under "broader" terms. Google is after the long tail, and the focus should be creating "more helpful" content now than ever, so speed is becoming more and more pressing and you have access to speed now with AI assisted content.
Google is emphasizing E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) more than ever. That’s why the training we provide at Wealthy Affiliate focuses heavily on blending AI with human insight, and polishing the content after it is created. AI content is ranking well for MANY here, and will continue to rank.
There is the expectation now that AI is in some way assisting all content online, and that will not change moving forward.
(2) Referrals and Conversions
Conversions have certainly shifted from how they used to be, especially with the change from the $19 first-month offer that we used to have, along with the singular membership. We ran for many years during the 100-sale challenge from September to December, and this year we changed that to 50 because of the full price offer along with the inclusion of P+ and P+ accelerated. Our margins are higher, and our retention here within the community is higher than ever.
Top affiliates driving relevant traffic are seeing conversion rates of 10%+. So that is unchanged now, but as we continue to roll out new updates, we fully anticipate that going much higher.
You’ve likely noticed, as you mentioned, that getting free search traffic has become more challenging post-Google update. It is in some ways, in others it is not. You can now create content more efficiently than ever (one post per day should be no issue), and Google still lacks the "long tail" which is why you are seeing UGC sites like Reddit and Quora within the results. Google simply is showing those because they are the most relevant to the user's search and they made it clear well over a year ago they were going to pull content from anywhere, including forum content and website comments.
(3) AI Content vs. Personal Content
The issue with AI-generated reviews all sounding the same is definitely something I have seen as well. We teach "polishing of content" after the fact, and incorporating one's own unique experience. With the initial review, it is likely the "first" iteration and as someone gains more and more experience and as the platform evolves, it is a normal scenario for these to continue to improve.
It’s the personal touch that Google rewards and what readers truly connect with, and that is why we allow for optional content which MANY members are using within the content designer, where you can share experiences, data, and other insights that you are incorporating into the content.
(4) Training and Support at Wealthy Affiliate
I encourage you to head into our updated training, which reflects these changes in the landscape and the core training is updated pretty much every week, with our core training. As you know we have daily tutorials, and classes throughout the week...along with tech updates and releases every week.
We’re always evolving our AI and SEO training to align with what works now, not yesterday. Our goal is to put more time back into the communities hand by building tools, training that streamlines processes that used to take some time. That is what we have done with our AI side tech, but also the training.
While AI has its benefits, we continue to teach that it’s the combination of personal expertise and AI that truly creates winning content. That will remain the case.
Glad to hear you found Jay’s video helpful. His example is a great reminder that while AI can do a lot of the heavy lifting, adding your own voice and experience makes a world of difference. Again, that is what we are teaching.
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Opening up these discussions is really important, and I value the perspective you bring as a long-standing member of Wealthy Affiliate. AI is a powerful tool when used properly, but as you rightly pointed out, it's not something that has completely replaced the need for human intervention. It is those who are using it wisely though that are going to be able to do 3/5/10x the work that those are not. It can really speed up process and do a lot of the heavy lifting side tasks.
I hope this has offered some clarity n our position on AI, and the things we are working tirelessly on behind the scenes the keep the community here far ahead of the curve. :)
Good morning Kyle,
That looks like a really detailed comment, I really appreciate your response, I will answer paragraph by paragraph.
I agree, Kyle, AI is very much an assistant and something that you have always made very clear in the AI training on Wealthy Affiliate! It definitely needs human input and genuine insight, as you rightly say.
I hear you, Kyle. AI is definitely doing a lot of heavy lifting for me, I will often have AI working away on one monitor, while I work on other tasks, it's brilliant. I especially noticed that the other day, as chat GPT was not functioning at all, I had to use ChatGPT on my phone, which was time-consuming and a bit painful!
To be fair, my insights were really purely my insights, not really anything that I had read, more knowing how the Internet functions. To me, that seems like a good thing that Google is looking for the EEAT experience as I think we all want to read something that is real and genuine. Although you say the AI content is ranking well for members here, when I look at the Wealthy Affiliate reviews, most of those reviews are blatant AI content, which I cannot imagine ranking very well. I also appreciate that for Wealthy Affiliate members, this is a very popular topic, so AI really has to repeat itself.
So, if I see how members are writing their Wealthy Affiliate reviews, does that writing style change when it's not a Wealthy Affiliate review, I somehow doubt it. Once again, I know you teach people to write uniquely and use AI as an assistant, but I think many members are just pumping out AI content, which will end in disappointment.
I appreciate that with referrals and conversions, things can change all the time and it's something that you can't change. It's great that the retention rate is higher than ever. That's brilliant, and it may be something that you need to promote on the landing page.
That's good that the top affiliates are seeing conversion rates of 10% plus, that sounds good and is definitely very encouraging.
I think free search traffic is definitely more challenging to get, but hopefully, that will level out soon. I believe if we keep writing honest and genuine content, things will come right! It's definitely better than doing nothing at all!
It's interesting about the AI generated reviews, Kyle. As you know, I am a big fan of Wealthy Affiliate, I really appreciate all the training and community spirit, it's brilliant! But at the same time, I don't like to see people thinking that they are pumping out loads of content, which will probably do very little in ranking terms. So, in other words, members need to make it their genuine and real experience, whether it's good or bad, rather than an AI experience.
This is one of the many things that I like about the Wealthy Affiliate platform, Kyle! I have access to training 24/7! I must admit I am a bit behind with the training, as it's that time of year for me; my offline business will soon be slowing down, so I'll have more time to focus on the training.
I need to go through some more of Jay's AI training at the other training that he creates. I know that man knows his stuff!
That's a great reply, Kyle, which I genuinely appreciate.
Incidentally, have you ever thought about building a website in the niche of your choice and demonstrating your principles online? I think it would be a great advert for Wealthy Affiliate. I believe that Jay has carried out similar training. I appreciate that time is a great thing and new people may try and copy your blog posts, which may create issues, but it would be a great experiment.
Once again, thank you so much for your clarification.
Have a fantastic day.
Roy
PS: If you have time, have a look at my response to Frank regarding AI videos!
Thanks Roy, appreciate your detailed responses as always. You aren't wrong by any means, I agree with the entirety of your sentiment.
Carson and I practically have to move forward into the future though with all technology, and AI is helping us accomplish things we used to dream that have been possible in weeks sometimes, things that would have taken us years in the past (on the dev side of things).
Or sometimes things that weren't possible without the speed and access to information like we have these days.
But we have to be responsible about our development, and we have to consider the power of the tool, but also it's limitations.
There are many still, but those doors are starting to close with the advancement of AI (it is about 100 times better than when it came out), with another 100x increase in coming. It's better at people at MOST things informationally, at the very least, it can replace conventional people...only to be replace with those that are using AI to become super beings in a sense (being able to do the work for 20-30 non-ai creators).
We are entering into a new world in my mind, no tech change has been comparable to AI since I started online (22 years ago now). This is a new world, and one that will come with new opportunities, and I think it is very important that we all stay on top of it. We are going to help the fam here at WA stay in tune with it, and provide the community with the latest tech and training that can help them keep ahead. Stay tuned!
Good morning Kyle,
Once again, my apologies for the late reply, it's been a busy few days! Maybe I'm doing something right, according to your recent video!😄
I understand where you're coming from, Kyle, it's great that AI technology is really helping you speed up the process. As I mentioned before, I will often have ChatGPT doing a task in one window, while I am busy with something else; it really is a great assistant!
It's fascinating how new technology can speed tasks up so quickly and change the way we do things. The statistics that you quote are really quite remarkable.
I do understand where you're coming from, regarding AI and technology, etc. I was a very late starter with computers, I had absolutely no interest in computers whatsoever, I certainly would have never dream of what I'm doing now!
I suppose the most significant point of my blog posts was to try and make members aware that AI is a great tool, but we need to use it properly. When I see all those Wealthy Affiliate reviews that are almost identical that won't do much, as they are not really an honest and personal review, but just an AI review. People need to make their content their own and be real!
Thank you for the interesting and thought-provoking conversation, Kyle, it's appreciated.
A very happy Friday to you.
Roy