Podcast

Episode 143: SEO & AI Content Creation for Freelancers, with Tim Davidson

By Zach Swinehart

In this episode, Zach talks to Tim Davidson from https://cleancommit.io about effective AI content creation for freelancers.

Tim shares his innovative approach to using AI for content that stands out, avoiding the common pitfalls of generic AI-generated text.

They discuss the importance of fine-tuning AI models to produce high-quality content, the challenges of using ChatGPT, and how to enhance your content with better prompts and fine-tuning techniques.

Tune in to learn how to leverage AI to create impactful content that drives engagement and results for your freelancing business.

Get Tim’s AI Content Template!

  • You can find the AI Content Template here.

Tim’s starter “System Message” from the example we covered today:

"You specialise in blogging about medical clinics, specifically chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and alternative medicines.
When you're prompted with a headline and bullet points, expand on the topic of the headline and reiterate the bullet points in the voice of Tim Davidson and add more detail so they become full thoughts instead of simple bullet points.
Ensure your response is a detailed paragraph between 600 and 1000 characters.
Write with a casual, professional tone.
Write in British English.
Explain your suggestions thoroughly and avoid making unbacked claims."

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AI-Generated Summary:

  • 0:00 – 2:00 — Zach introduces the podcast and Tim, discussing common pitfalls in AI content creation.
  • 2:00 – 4:00 — Tim shares his background and the successful results of his agency, Clean Commit IO.
  • 4:00 – 6:00 — Zach and Tim discuss the challenge of making AI content engaging for audio listeners.
  • 6:00 – 8:00 — Tim describes his journey to developing a successful AI content workflow.
  • 8:00 – 10:00 — Tim talks about the effectiveness of his AI content approach, especially in light of Google algorithm changes.
  • 10:00 – 12:00 — Tim explains the impact of internal linking on boosting page rankings.
  • 12:00 – 14:00 — Tim describes the process and importance of keyword research in content creation.
  • 14:00 – 16:00 — Tim outlines the steps of his AI content workflow, emphasizing keyword research and content brief creation.
  • 16:00 – 18:00 — Tim discusses tools like Keywords Everywhere and Surfer SEO for finding effective keywords.
  • 18:00 – 20:00 — Tim explains the importance of filtering keywords to avoid damaging site credibility and maintaining topic relevance.
  • 20:00 – 22:00 — Tim discusses the importance of organized keyword mappings for better Google rankings.
  • 22:00 – 24:00 — Tim emphasizes the benefits of spending time on keyword research for long-term content success.
  • 24:00 – 26:00 — Tim outlines his preferred cadence for content creation and how volume and consistency impact traffic.
  • 26:00 – 28:00 — Tim explains how to avoid keyword cannibalization by branching out content topics and focusing on keywords with data support.
  • 28:00 – 30:00 — Tim and Zach talk about assessing the effectiveness of content through traffic, signups, and client feedback.
  • 30:00 – 32:00 — Tim explains the challenge of assessing content effectiveness without significant data and compares it to cold emailing.
  • 32:00 – 34:00 — Zach and Tim discuss the suitability of SEO content strategies for freelancers versus immediate client needs.
  • 34:00 – 36:00 — Zach highlights the value of having historical content for authority and nurturing relationships.
  • 36:00 – 38:00 — Tim shares that while AI content creation lowers the skill bar, subject matter expertise is still needed for unique insights.
  • 38:00 – 40:00 — Tim details his process using Surfer SEO to generate outlines, which are then refined and personalized using ChatGPT.
  • 40:00 – 42:00 — Tim discusses the flexibility of switching keywords if an article outline is not satisfactory.
  • 42:00 – 44:00 — Zach and Tim explore the trade-offs between time investment and content quality for AI-generated articles.
  • 44:00 – 46:00 — Tim elaborates on his process, starting with keyword research using Surfer SEO and refining outlines with ChatGPT.
  • 46:00 – 48:00 — Tim describes the system message setup for fine-tuning ChatGPT’s responses using Google Sheets.
  • 48:00 – 50:00 — Zach and Tim discuss the use of the OpenAI API for training models to produce content in a specific voice and style.
  • 50:00 – 52:00 — Tim explains how to create a system message for ChatGPT to use for writing style fine-tuning.
  • 52:00 – 54:00 — Tim details the process of copying the system message and writing sample paragraphs in your style for ChatGPT to rewrite.
  • 54:00 – 56:00 — Zach recaps the process: creating a Google Sheet, writing sample paragraphs, and having ChatGPT rewrite them in its default style.
  • 56:00 – 58:00 — Tim discusses uploading the CSV file to Novel Crafter to convert it into a Json file for OpenAI API fine-tuning.
  • 58:00 – 1:00:00 — Tim demonstrates how to use the OpenAI platform to create a fine-tuned model, including selecting the base model and naming the model for organization.
  • 1:00:00 – 1:02:00 — Tim explains that if you want ChatGPT to generate longer content, you should write longer examples in your style.
  • 1:02:00 – 1:04:00 — Tim and Zach discuss adding specific details in the system message to ensure ChatGPT matches their preferred writing style.
  • 1:04:00 – 1:06:00 — Tim demonstrates how to refine content outlines generated by Surfer SEO using ChatGPT for better flow and coherence.
  • 1:06:00 – 1:08:00 — Tim shows how to copy and paste headings and bullet points from Surfer SEO into ChatGPT for expansion, ensuring content matches the desired voice.
  • 1:08:00 – 1:10:00 — Tim corrects an issue with selecting the right model in the OpenAI playground and emphasizes the importance of using the correct preset for consistent results.
  • 1:10:00 – 1:12:00 — Tim discusses how to use Surfer SEO for ranking content and the process of improving content scores by adding details and keywords.
  • 1:12:00 – 1:14:00 — Zach and Tim talk about troubleshooting if the AI-generated content is not up to par and adjusting training data and temperature settings.
  • 1:14:00 – 1:16:00 — Tim explains the importance of fine-tuning the model with relevant examples and the trial-and-error process for better results.
  • 1:16:00 – 1:18:00 — They discuss how to handle Surfer SEO scores and the workflow for improving content outlines and incorporating feedback.
  • 1:18:00 – 1:20:00 — Zach considers his approach to customizing Surfer SEO outlines and integrating his expertise for better content quality and SEO performance.
  • 1:20:00 – 1:22:00 — Zach and Tim discuss the importance of using Surfer’s outline to efficiently include keywords and improve article ranking.
  • 1:22:00 – 1:24:00 — Zach highlights the significance of adding personal touch and stories to enhance the final article, even if it slightly affects the Surfer score.
  • 1:24:00 – 1:26:00 — Tim advises on balancing Surfer scores with unique content and maintaining a high-quality tone, emphasizing a score above 70 is ideal.
  • 1:26:00 – 1:28:00 — They delve into the importance of content clustering and creating interconnected webs to avoid isolated topics for better SEO performance.
  • 1:28:00 – 1:31:00 — Tim explains the benefits of deep, thematic writing and the impact of internal linking on Google’s ranking algorithms.