The latest bit of verbiage from Google stating to not write content for search engines has really been getting to me. One of the reasons my website ranks well is I'm continently trying to figure out ways in which potential customers would search and interact with Google to find my website.

I often joke with my staff, clients and people working in the field that I try and "think like Google" I research different combinations of keywords, both long and short. Synonyms, different title tags, etc. All the while using tools like Ahrefs, Search Console and Semrush for assistance. After I'm done creating content before I hit publish my brain thinks like so "How and why can I get people to interact with this content? What would make my content stand out from the other websites. Are there specific keywords or phrases people would be searching for to find this content".

If my content wasn't king all the SEO techniques, tools and keywords in the world wouldn't allow me to continue to rank. The bounce rates would be through the roof and there wouldn't be any return visitors. Nor would past readers be interested in clicking on my content. Which again is king.

So did Google get this wrong by saying not to create content for search engines, while at the same time deploying AI to mimic actual human responses? Seems that if this keeps up, Google won't have a need or care for actual publishers and instead thinks AI is capable of delivering the best results each and every time.