Dec. 10, 2025: Earlier this year, a lot of creative bloggers were told to block AI from their websites. When blocked, Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT, and other AI models, can’t scan your website for information, or “steal” it for their summaries. The fear is that if you show up in the AI result, your website will get fewer clicks. Clicks are essential for ranking, ad revenue, and everything else that generates the necessary funds to do what you do. While this could be true, blocking AI could actually be hurting you, more than helping. (Scroll to the bottom for some AI strategy tips, otherwise keep reading!)
In the creator space, the most important part of what you do is visual. You have your pictures, your how-to’s, your videos, downloads, and step by step instructions. While AI is getting better, it isn’t that great with the visuals. So while your supply lists, general directions, and wordy musings could end up in the AI summary, that’s not generally what is happening. What you are missing, by excluding AI, is showing up as an option for clicks right at the top of the page.
For example, I used AI mode on Google, ChatGPT and Gemini to compare the results of my search. Since it’s December, I made a simple search: “Santa Beard Countdown.” I tried Google first. Apparently, this request was generic enough that Google didn’t even try to give me a summary. I got a bunch of pictures and some pages of results. Pretty normal.
Because I didn’t get an AI summary. I tried AI mode. This mode gave me a quick idea of what a Santa Beard Countdown was, and the materials I needed, but next to almost every line was a link to a creator page. There was also a list of optional pages on the right hand side and at the end. THIS is one of the reasons you don’t want to block AI. You want to show up in the recommended links that AI considers useful, for the person who is doing the search. This feature actually increases clicks.
ChatGPT
Next, I went to ChatGPT. I put in the same search. This time, ChatGPT didn’t give me links (although I have seen it do this in the past) but instead offered to create a printable for me. It gave me some directions and asked some questions. I ended up telling it I wanted a black and white pdf, for a 24 day countdown, and I wanted it to be cute and in a classic style. This is the image ChatGPT created for me, after our conversation.
I think it’s going to be quite sometime before ChatGPT can create anything better than the creative homeschoolers, teachers, and graphic designers out there, for anyone looking for crafting help!
GEMINI
Lastly, I put in the same search in Gemini. Gemini didn’t give me links OR offer to make me a pdf. Instead, Gemini gave me search terms that I should use in Google to find what I was looking for. These search terms are for specific websites and their Santa beard countdowns, so if I were to search them, I would be lead to, and need to click on specific websites to get more information.
While there are certainly concerns about AI and it’s ability to replace human work, in the creator space, ERA Content Optimization argues that it would be better to learn more about how AI can help you gain clicks, instead of being fearful of what these programs will do with your content.
TIPS for Making AI Work For You
- Keep using a lot of visuals and descriptive Alt tags in your images so AI will be more likely to pull your images into a search.
- Large Language Models (what AI really is) prioritizes features like FAQ’s and How-To sections, which makes it easier for the LLM to analyze content and see if it is relevant to the search.
- Use Headers frequently and include lists inside your content.
- Use long tail keywords. What this means is, use the natural phrasing that readers would use to search for your content. For example, if I were to create a Santa Beard Countdown post, within my text I would make sure to naturally use the phrases, “How to make a Santa Beard countdown,” and “the best Santa Beard countdown,” and “a Santa Beard countdown for kids.”
- Use your Google Search Console to learn what keywords and phrases are showing up the most under the “impressions” column and be sure to incorporate those into your content.
If you are concerned about how you are showing up online, or need help maximizing your SEO strategy, including how to better take advantage of AI, contact us so we can help you grow. If you have concerns about how to protect your content from AI usage, that is also valid, and we can help you with maximizing or minimizing exposure based on your needs and experience.