AI Content Creation: My Process for High-Quality, SEO-Friendly Articles

Without a clear process, AI-generated content can feel generic, miss SEO opportunities, or just not sound like you. The trick? Use AI as a tool, not a shortcut.

This AI content creation process helps you:

• Get AI to generate usable content (not fluff)
• Add human insights to make content feel authentic
• Ensure everything is SEO-friendly and engaging

If you’re tired of AI content that feels lifeless, this guide will help you do it right.

1. Find relevant keywords your content can rank for 

Start by identifying keywords with strong ranking potential. If your boss or client hasn’t given you a target keyword, use Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer to find one.

To get some initial topic ideas, use the AI keyword suggestions feature to generate fresh angles.

If you already have a topic, analyze its keyword difficulty (KD) and search volume to refine your targeting. You can also check out other matching keywords for a more specific angle to write about:

Well-chosen keywords ensure your content has the best chance of ranking from the start.

2. Identify the search intent behind the keyword 

Search intent determines what kind of content Google ranks for a keyword. It’s based on Google’s understanding of what searchers want when looking for something.

Here’s how AI can help analyze intent. Start by checking the SERP results for your target keyword:

Look at the top-ranking pages and identify what kind of content shows up—like how-to guides, product pages, informational content, and so on.

You can also use the Identify Intents feature to let AI give you a percentage breakdown of what’s working in the SERPs for your specific keyword:

Understanding intent ensures your AI-assisted content aligns with what users expect, increasing its ranking potential.

3. Come up with a unique angle and ideate a handful of titles 

A great piece of content starts with a unique angle.

Without one, your content risks blending in with everything else on the internet. AI tools can help spark ideas, but the real magic happens when you find a fresh perspective that makes your content stand out.

Start by browsing topic suggestions in Ahrefs AI Content Helper.

Look for interesting themes, unique approaches, or angles that competitors haven’t covered yet. For example, if you’re writing about sustainable gardening, you might explore:

• Cost-effective sustainability strategies
• Mediterranean-inspired eco-friendly gardens
• Uncommon sustainability hacks that work

Here’s an example of how the tool provides topic ideas for you to browse:

Once you have a direction, move to the title ideation stage. Use the free AI Writing Tools to generate multiple headline variations.

Adapt the tone and format to match your content strategy. And then choose from the different title formats the tool creates.

4. Structure your content and cover competitor gaps 

Now that you have a unique angle, it’s time to structure your content effectively. Instead of starting from scratch, use AI Content Helper to generate ideas.

Start in the headings tab:

The goal is to figure out what sub-sections your article will include. When you find heading suggestions you think will fit your angle, insert them into the content editor:

Select the most relevant headings and reorder them to fit your unique angle. The goal isn’t to copy competitors—it’s to cover what they missed and improve on what they got right.

As you structure your content, consider also adding subsections that don’t exist in competitor articles. These sections will help your content stand out while improving search relevance.

5. Add something new, unique, or interesting 

One of the biggest mistakes in AI-generated content is repeating what’s already out there.

To create high-quality content that stands out, add elements that AI alone cannot generate.

Some ways to bring originality to your content:

• Share personal experiences that add credibility
• Conduct small experiments and report real data
• Challenge common industry assumptions with fresh insights
• Interview experts for perspectives AI can’t replicate
• Use AI for research assistance, but provide human analysis

For example, when we created a post on advanced SEO, we didn’t just summarize best practices.

We gathered community feedback, ran AI-assisted analysis, and used that to generate fresh insights and a graph that was wildly popular on social media.

Think beyond just writing—consider what makes your content valuable beyond AI’s capabilities.

6. Start filling each content section with AI as needed 

With your angle, structure, and unique elements in place, it’s time to start writing. AI can help speed up this process, but it’s best used as a tool, not a replacement for human judgment.

Follow these steps to efficiently create high-quality AI-assisted content:

1. Generate drafts for individual sections: Focus on one section at a time keeps quality high.
2. Edit AI-generated content: This improves clarity, removes generic phrasing, and ensures accuracy.
3. Optimize for SEO: Check keyword usage and topic relevance in Ahrefs’ AI Content Helper.
4. Check for readability and tone: Rewrite AI-generated sections to make them sound natural.
5. Add final touches: Include visuals, case studies, or examples that make your content feel authoritative.

AI speeds up content creation, but human oversight ensures quality. By following this structured process, you’ll produce AI-assisted content that ranks, engages, and feels authentic.

Final thoughts

AI is a powerful tool, but content still needs human insight and strategic execution to succeed. This process helps you efficiently integrate AI into your content workflows while maintaining the depth and originality that make content rank-worthy.

Want to streamline your AI content process? Download the full SOP to get started.

Got your own content marketing SOPs you’d love to share? We’re building an SOP library—connect with me on LinkedIn and share your favorite SOPs!