I Automated My SEO Content. My Team Finally Stopped Complaining

Working in an AI company, using AI isn’t optional. It’s expected. It's a way of life!

So naturally, I started looking beyond just using AI for outputs. I wanted to see how it could improve the way we work. Not just faster outcomes, but smarter workflows.

I'm in a way blessed that I have a coding background, so I decided to experiment with something simple but powerful, using Google Apps Script. It’s free, flexible, and surprisingly capable if you know your way around it. I also used a combination of Claude and Minimax-M2.7 to troubleshoot and fix my code.

Me and my team now when AI and automation did all the work for us

The Problem: Content Creation Fatigue

If you’ve ever worked in marketing, you know this pain.

Coming up with SEO content ideas consistently is exhausting. Not because tools don’t exist, but because the process is fragmented:

• You brainstorm topics
• You validate keywords
• You refine prompts
• You generate content
• You edit and structure everything

Yes, AI can write. But good content still needs:

• Relevance to your brand
• Alignment with your domain expertise
• Proper structure for SEO and readability

Even with tools like Semrush helping identify keyword trends and competitor gaps, the team still had to “figure things out” every single time.

So I asked a simple question:

What if we could automate the entire workflow?

The Solution: A Lightweight Content Automation Engine

I built a simple system that connects Google Sheets, Semrush, and Gemini into one streamlined pipeline.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Input the Idea

The team just fills in a “Topic” column in Google Sheets.
Think of it as the marketing angle or content idea.

That’s it. No prompting gymnastics required.

Step 2: Automate Keyword Intelligence

Using Google Apps Script:

• The script runs twice a week
• It reads new topics from the sheet
• Connects to Semrush via API
• Pulls relevant and trending keywords

No manual keyword research. No switching tabs like a caffeinated octopus.

Step 3: Generate Structured SEO Content

This is where Gemini comes in. By combining those keywords from Semrush together with the given topic, I designed a structured prompt that ensures every output follows SEO best practices:

• Strong, keyword-led title
• Meta description
• Clear introduction
• 5 to 6 structured sections
• Natural keyword integration
• FAQ section
• Conclusion with CTA
• Clean markdown output
• 1200 to 1800 words

The key here isn’t just AI generation.
It’s forcing consistency in quality and structure.

Step 4: Review and Approval Loop

Once the content is generated:

• The task is marked “Completed” on Google Sheets
• An email is triggered to me and the team
• Content is reviewed, edited, and approved before publishing

Human oversight stays in place. Just without the heavy lifting.

The Outcome: Less Friction, More Output

What used to be a messy, multi-step process is now streamlined into:

1. Input topic
2. Let automation handle the heavy work
3. Review and publish

Simple. Scalable. Repeatable.

And most importantly, the team no longer dreads content creation.

Why This Matters (Especially Now)

Search behavior is changing fast.

People are:

• Starting with AI tools
• Cross-checking via reviews, Reddit, and YouTube
• Only then visiting brand websites

Which means your content needs to be:

• Structured
• Relevant
• Easy for both humans and AI to understand

This kind of workflow doesn’t just save time.
It positions your brand to show up where decisions actually happen.

Key Takeaways You Can Apply Today

1. Don’t Just Use AI. Systemise It.

Most teams use AI as a tool.
The real advantage comes when you turn it into a process.

If your team is still manually prompting every task, you’re leaving efficiency on the table.

2. Structure Beats Creativity (At Scale)

Good content isn’t just about ideas. It’s about consistency.

A strong framework ensures:

• Better SEO performance
• Easier readability
• Higher chances of being surfaced by AI

Think of structure as your unfair advantage.

3. Reduce Friction, Not Control

Automation doesn’t mean removing humans.

It means:

• Removing repetitive work
• Keeping strategic control
• Letting your team focus on refinement, not creation

The goal isn’t to replace marketers.
It’s to make them dangerously efficient.

If you’re still treating content as a manual craft, it might be time to rethink the system.

Because in an AI-first world, speed matters.
But structured speed wins.

What about you? What's stopping you from automating your workflows?

Shopping Without Searching? Should Retailers Be Excited or Nervous?

Google’s message in the recent NRF 2026 (National Retail Federation's "Retail's Big Show," held January 11–13, 2026, in New York City) makes one thing clear. Shopping is no longer about clicking links and hopping between tabs. It is becoming a conversation.

Future of shopping is powered by AI recommendations

With AI built directly into how people search, ask, and decide, Google wants retail to move from “find a product” to “finish the purchase” without ever leaving the chat. That is exciting. Also slightly terrifying if you are not ready.

1. Shopping Starts With a Question, Not a Website

Instead of typing “best carry-on luggage,” shoppers may ask Google’s AI something like, “I’m flying for five days, what should I pack?”

That flips the funnel upside down.

The upside:
Brands can show up earlier, when people are still figuring things out. Helpful answers build trust fast.

The downside:
If your product info is unclear or outdated, you may not show up at all. No clicks. No second chances.

2. Personalization Gets Smarter, and Creepier

Google talks about retailers offering deals or suggestions based on past purchases. Packing cubes at checkout is helpful, but recommending something you already bought last week is less impressive.

The upside:
When done well, it feels like a good store assistant. Thoughtful, relevant, and convenient.

The downside:
Do it badly and it feels like someone read your diary. Nobody wants that.

3. The Checkout Disappears Into the Conversation

With Google Pay built in, discovery, decision, and payment happen in one flow. No app switching. No forms. No friction.

The upside:
Fewer drop-offs. Faster decisions. Great news for conversion rates.

The downside:
Retailers lose some control over the brand experience. Google owns more of the journey, and that is a big trade-off.

4. Retailers Become Data Partners, Not Just Sellers

To make this work, retailers need to feed Google clean, accurate, and structured product data.

The upside:
Brands that invest early will benefit from better visibility and smarter recommendations.

The downside:
If your tech stack is messy, this future will be painful. AI is honest. Brutally honest.

5. Convenience Wins, But Differentiation Gets Harder

When everything feels seamless, brands start to look similar.

The upside:
Smaller brands can compete if their products solve real problems and are well explained.

The downside:
If your only edge is price or promotions, that edge disappears quickly.

So, Is This the Future of Retail?

Yes. But not just because Google says so.

People want less effort, fewer clicks, and better answers. AI-driven shopping delivers that. The winners will be brands that focus on clarity, usefulness, and trust, not just visibility.

In the future, the best marketing may not feel like marketing at all. It feels more like help.

And honestly, that is not a bad place for retail to land.

What do you think? Would having AI as part of your shopping journey excite you?

Which AI Wins in This "Triple Threat" AI Battle?

Let's be honest, the AI landscape feels like a never-ending fighting match between heavyweights ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Grok (and many more) doesn't it? Everyone's declaring a themselves a winner. But what if I told you the real victor isn't an AI model, but YOU? That's right, after spending considerable time putting these heavyweights to the test in my daily digital marketing grind, I've come to a fascinating conclusion: it's less about who's "best" and more about who's "best for you."

I've been using these AI for various tasks, integrating them into my workflows and tasks to see where they truly shine. Here’s a peek into my personal usage:

• ChatGPT: This has become my go-to for almost anything. From answering daily questions and diving into research to tackling complex calculations and organizing data, ChatGPT has proven itself incredibly versatile.
• Google Gemini: When I need to dig deep into marketing research, especially for tasks like SWOT analysis or detailed competitor breakdowns, Gemini seems to offer a more comprehensive output. Its ability to integrate with Google's vast knowledge base really stands out here.
• Grok: For quick-fire daily questions and direct comparison prompts (like "what's the difference between X, Y, and Z?"), Grok is surprisingly agile. It's great for getting immediate, concise answers.

To give you a clearer picture of my experience across the three, here's a detailed comparison with scoring on some key areas:

(Click of larger view)
Disclaimer: AI comparison table with scores are solely based on my personal usage and experience.

Summary and Overall Findings:

My journey with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Grok has been incredibly insightful. ChatGPT continues to be a robust all-rounder, excelling in general content creation and complex queries due to its strong language capabilities and user-friendly interface. Gemini truly shines when it comes to detailed research and tasks that benefit from its seamless integration with Google's vast information ecosystem and productivity tools. Its growing multimodal capabilities are a definite plus for comprehensive marketing efforts. Grok, while having a distinct personality and real-time social media awareness, is more of a niche player for quick, trending insights, but its accuracy can be a trade-off.

The "propensity to hallucinate" is a common thread across all three, though the sources of potential misinformation vary. This underscores the critical need for human oversight and verification, regardless of which AI you're using.

The True Winner of the AI Battle? You!

Ultimately, the "winner" of the AI battle isn't fixed. It's not about one AI dominating all others. Instead, the true victor is the user. Each AI has its unique strengths and weaknesses, much like tools in a comprehensive toolbox. Your success hinges on understanding these nuances and, most importantly, crafting effective prompts that guide the AI to deliver the desired outcome. The better you understand what each AI is good at, and how to ask the right questions, the more powerful and useful your results will be.

What about you? What AI do you use as your daily go-to and why?

Google AI Mode. Adapt or Disappear from Search Results

Google is bringing something huge to the table, and it’s called AI Mode. This isn't just a small tweak; it's a massive shift in how we all search and find stuff online. You know how you used to type something into Google and get a list of links? Well, that's changing.

Image credit: Google Blog

Think of AI Mode like your super smart assistant, powered by Google's Gemini AI. Instead of just giving you links, it actually answers your questions. You can ask it complicated stuff, even chat back and forth, and it'll pull info from everywhere – text, photos, videos – to give you a complete, human-like answer right there on the search page. It’s like it’s done all the digging for you!

So, what does this mean for your brand and your online presence? Big, big news.

1. Why Your Website Might Get Fewer Traffic and Clicks

Your old SEO playbook might be outdated! This is the tough pill to swallow. If Google’s AI gives someone a full, direct answer to their question, why would they need to click your website link? They probably won’t. This means a drop in your organic click-through rates (CTR). We’re talking about "zero-click searches" becoming more common. If people aren't clicking, that's fewer eyeballs on your site, right?

2. What About Your Ad Money (PPC)?

Now, this is an interesting one. Google's not just going to leave ads out; they're putting them right into those AI answers (watch the AI Mode video above know more). That will be a new spot to be seen, which could be great, but it also means advertisers are going to fight like crazy for those prime AI-powered spots. This could push up your Cost Per Click (CPC) for the most valuable ad placements. Also, if users get their answers from the AI, they might scroll less, making traditional ads at the bottom of the page less effective. You'll need to be super smart about how you bid now.

3. Forget Optimizing Keywords, Start Thinking "Why" (Intent and semantic based)

This is where the game truly changes. Just stuffing your website with keywords isn't enough anymore. Google's AI is smart enough to understand the "why" behind your search. It’s about user intent.

Let's say someone searches for "best running shoes for flat feet." They're not just looking for words; they're looking for guidance. If your website has a detailed guide on choosing shoes and shows them where to buy, you're hitting that intent. The AI can then help them ask more questions, like "which brand is best?" – and your content needs to be ready to answer.

Or, imagine someone just types "Apple." Simple, right? But the AI, being super smart, looks at other things they've searched for recently. If they looked up "iPhone 15 reviews" or "MacBook Pro," the AI knows they mean Apple Inc. If they just searched "healthy recipes" or "fruit salad," the AI knows they mean the fruit. This is called semantic targeting – understanding the deeper meaning, not just the exact words. Your website content needs to make sense, deeply!

So What You Can Do Right Now?

It’s not entirely doom and gloom. Here’s how you start preparing:

• Become the Ultimate Expert: Google’s AI loves authority. Make sure your website clearly shows who is writing the content and that they know their stuff. Build trust, get good reviews, and make sure Google knows you're the real deal.
• Give Direct Answers, Fast: When you write for your website, imagine someone asking a question, and answer it directly, right at the top. Use bold headings, clear lists, and short paragraphs. Make it super easy for the AI to grab your info.
• Build Your Website Like a Smart Library: Don't just have random pages. Think of a big main topic (like "everything about coffee"). Then, create smaller, detailed pages that link back to it (like "how to brew espresso," "types of coffee beans"). This tells Google's AI you're a true deep expert on the subject.
• Boost Your Brand's Overall Buzz: The AI looks at everything. So, keep your online reputation sparkling clean. Get good reviews, get mentioned by other reputable sites, and use videos and pictures on your site – the AI loves all kinds of media.
• Watch and Learn, Always: Don't just focus on old metrics. See if the AI is mentioning your brand, how much traffic you're getting from those AI-driven searches, and if those users are actually converting. Keep testing new ideas, because this AI thing is moving fast.

The digital game has changed. Google AI Mode isn't just coming; it's here. Adapt your strategy, focus on being truly helpful and authoritative, or risk fading into the digital background. Your move!

How do you think this will impact your brand or business?

A Marketer's New Secret Weapon: Peeking Inside Google Gemini's Brand Insights

As digital marketers, we're constantly juggling a million things. From crafting the perfect social media post to analyzing campaign performance, staying on top of how our brand is perceived online can feel like a never-ending task. Wouldn't it be great to have a quick and easy way to understand what's being said about your brand across the vast digital landscape? Enter Google Gemini's Deep Research – your new secret weapon for a quick and insightful brand pulse check.

Image credit: Techrdar.com/Shutterstock

I’ve been using this tool quite a bit of late for brand research, competitive analysis and getting a sense of brand sentiment. Let me tell you, this is a game changer! Think of Gemini's Deep Research as your always-on virtual assistant, sifting through the noise online to give you a clear snapshot of your brand's performance. It's not about complex data analysis that requires a PhD, it's about getting a feel for the overall sentiment and key themes associated with your brand – whether it's on websites, social media buzzing with opinions, or even how your app (if you have one) is being received.

Why is this so valuable for us marketers? Imagine launching a new campaign for a brand. Instead of manually scrolling through countless comments and reviews, Gemini's Deep Research can quickly give you an overview of whether the initial reaction is positive, negative, or neutral. This allows for swift adjustments to your strategy if needed. Furthermore, the tool excels at uncovering key themes. Are people raving about the new flavor you just launched? Or are there concerns being raised about the delivery experience for your product orders? Gemini's Deep Research can help you identify the recurring topics and conversations surrounding your brand, highlighting what's resonating and what demands your attention. It serves as a starting point of knowing what to fix.

Image credit: Google Blog

While your primary focus is your own brand, gaining a broader understanding of the market is always beneficial. You can use Gemini's Deep Research to get a general sense of how your competitors are being discussed online, providing valuable competitive insights without the need for overwhelming data. Moreover, catching a negative trend early can be a significant advantage. If there's a sudden increase in complaints about the user-friendliness of your mobile app, this tool can flag it (as it crawls through and aggregate ratings and comments on Google Play and Apple App store), enabling proactive measures before the issue escalates. Finally, knowing what your audience is talking about and their experiences can be incredibly useful for shaping your content strategy. If customers consistently praise (or complaint) on the affordability of your products on social media, this could be a powerful starting point for your next marketing campaign.

Think of Gemini's Deep Research as your initial exploration. It provides a broad overview, a feel for the online atmosphere surrounding your brand. It's not intended to replace in-depth analytics platforms, but rather to offer a quick and accessible understanding.

For example, if you're managing the online presence for a local restaurant chain like Nando's Malaysia, you could use Gemini's Deep Research to see what people are saying about their new menu item across various platforms. Are the reviews overwhelmingly positive? Are there any common criticisms regarding the spice level? This initial insight can then guide your deeper analysis and inform how you tailor your communication.

The beauty of using Gemini for this purpose lies in its intuitive design. You don't need to be a data scientist to interpret the results. It presents information in an easily digestible format, highlighting key trends and sentiments without overwhelming you with intricate charts and graphs.

In our dynamic digital landscape, staying informed about your brand's online presence is essential. Google Gemini's Deep Research presents a potent yet user-friendly method for digital marketers in Malaysia to conduct a rapid pulse check, pinpoint significant themes, and acquire valuable insights to refine their strategies. So, why not explore its capabilities and discover what it can reveal about your brand's online narrative? It might just offer the fresh perspective needed to elevate your overall marketing strategy.

What do you think? Is this a game changer?

Somewhere In The Near Future...

This week, Google gave a glimpse of "Project Glass" in a video and blog post. Still in an early prototype stage, the glasses looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. 

Will Google Glass be how we interact and do things in future?
Image credit: theverge.com

The glasses also showcase a whole suite of Google applications (Google Maps, Google Places, Google Plus, etc.). While I feel it might still take another few years before this actually takes off, at the rate Google is going, it doesn't seem that impossible and probably not too far away.

Another video that I find interesting is how digital screens will be used in the near future. This concept is brought to you by TAT (The Astonishing Tribe), a company that consists of engineers, visual artists and interaction designers who eat, sleep, and breathe User Interfaces. The company was acquired by RIM in December 2010, the very same people who brought you the Blackberry and Playbook.

The Google Job Experiment

I always say self-branding is important as it portrays how one sells his or herself. In the case of Alec Brownstein, he needed a job so he did something out of the norm to get the attention of some of the world's top creative people such as David Droga, Tony Granger, Gerry Graf, Ian Reichenthal and Scott Vitrone, all of which are well known figures in the creative and advertising industry.

Image credit: ifdesign.com

He didn't do it by sending out resumés to them, but instead all it took Alec was $6 to run a Google Adwords campaign which feature their names to which the search result had a message that read something like: “Hey, David Droga, Gooogling yourself is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun, too.” which links back to his website to let them know how he can be contacted. This again displays the power and capabilities of Search Marketing, and how it can benefit someone or an organization.

Oh...and Alec landed a job at Y&R New York at the end of it. Simply brilliant!

Google Buzz = Buzz Kill?

Google recently launched Google Buzz, a service to share updates, photos, videos, and more. There are a lot of criticisms when it went live 2 days ago, I for one am a skeptic, but also understand what Google is trying to achieve by doing so.

It certainly looks like a mediocre attempt to emulate Friendfeed and it certainly feels like it's a half baked product in terms of features. But if you look at how Google is positioning it in terms of a marketing stand point, it looks more like a beta or even alpha version of the upcoming Google Wave. Right now, Buzz is available as an extension on Gmail while they improve on Google Wave.

What I don't like most about it it's the way it's presented. Latest "buzz" threads are not displayed in reverse chronological order like Facebook or Twitter updates...which means users need to scroll all the way down to read new updates in a particular Buzz thread. Active Buzz threads are on the top, while the less active ones are below. Although it’s annoying, it does kinda make sense, because “buzz” is really what it’s all about; which are the more talked about topics/threads.

There also isn't a clear indication of who has updated what thread, unlike Facebook have with their "Notifications" tab. Also base on my usage, I’m only notified on Gmail on the threads that I’m participating in, and don’t get updates on those which I’m not. I might be wrong though. Bear in mind, you can also now share photos, videos and links using Buzz…nothing new really...all features that can and will expand into Google Wave in future.

In summary, I think Buzz is released to do what it's meant to do; to create "Buzz"...simple as that...nothing more in terms of function. If you ask me, Google definitely did a good job by getting users like you and me to use Buzz as a test platform for the development and enhancements for Google Wave in future.