A few weeks ago, a story came out that made a lot of generative AI users pause.
A Tasmanian travel company published an AI generated blog that sounded perfectly normal on the surface. It described a peaceful destination called Weldborough Hot Springs, positioning it as a must visit location for travellers exploring the region.
The only problem was simple but serious. The hot springs didn’t exist.
Tourists actually drove out to Weldborough expecting to find a relaxing geothermal spot, only to arrive at a cold river and a confused local community. The blog had been generated using AI, published without proper review, and it created a real world impact that went far beyond a simple typo.
This is one of the clearest examples we’ve seen of what can happen when generative AI is used as a shortcut rather than a tool.
And it matters for every business owner reading this, especially if you’re relying on blogs to improve your Google ranking. Because blogging is still one of the most effective SEO strategies available, but only when it’s done properly.
When AI content goes wrong, it goes wrong in public
The Tasmania example is a textbook case of AI hallucination.
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT don’t search the internet the way Google does. They don’t verify facts or confirm whether something exists in the real world. They generate language based on patterns, which means they can sometimes produce content that sounds confident and polished while being completely incorrect.
In this case, an AI generated travel blog invented a location, described it in vivid detail, and published it as though it were real.
The consequences weren’t just online. Visitors wasted time and money, locals had to explain the situation repeatedly, and the company’s credibility took a hit. The content was eventually removed, but the damage was already done.
From an SEO point of view, it raises an even bigger issue.
If Google sees your website publishing inaccurate or misleading content, it affects trust. Google’s algorithms are built to reward helpful, accurate information, especially when it comes from businesses with real experience. If your blogs feel automated, unreliable or generic, they don’t just fail to rank. They can weaken your website’s authority over time.
For small businesses, that’s a risk you simply can’t afford.
Blogs are still one of the best ways to increase Google rankings
Let’s be clear. Blogging still works.
For trades businesses, service providers and local companies, blogs remain one of the most effective ways to show up in search results, answer customer questions, and build trust before someone even picks up the phone.
What’s changing is how people find that information.
Google is already using AI in search. Instead of showing only traditional links, it is increasingly providing AI generated answers at the top of results. This means your content isn’t just competing for clicks anymore. It’s also competing to be the source that Google’s AI chooses to summarise.
That makes high quality blogging more important than ever.
A good blog helps you:
- appear for more local searches
- explain your services clearly
- build authority in your industry
- support your main service pages
- give Google more reasons to trust your website
But writing blogs consistently is hard. Most small business owners in Hobart or Geelong are flat out running jobs, managing staff, quoting work and keeping things moving. Sitting down to write a well structured SEO blog is rarely top of the list.
That’s why tools like ChatGPT are so appealing. Used properly, generative AI can make blogging easier, faster and more sustainable. Used poorly, it can create the kind of oversight we saw in Tasmania.
The best practice approach to writing blogs with generative AI
If you want to use ChatGPT for blogging safely and effectively, the mindset shift is simple. AI should support your expertise, not replace it.
You provide real services, local knowledge, customer questions and accurate information. AI provides structure, speed, formatting support and optimisation suggestions. That combination is where results happen.
How to avoid publishing the wrong thing
If there’s one lesson from the Tasmanian example, it’s this: never publish AI generated blogs without review.
Before a blog goes live, you need to check:
- Are all claims accurate?
- Are locations and examples real?
- Does the content match Australian standards?
- Does it sound like your business?
- Would you be comfortable saying it directly to a customer?
This is especially important for trades and service businesses. If you’re writing about safety, compliance or urgent repairs, accuracy isn’t optional. It’s part of your reputation.
AI SEO is changing what blogs need to do
Google is becoming an AI-driven, answer-focused search engine, which means blogs need to do more than repeat keywords. They need to clearly answer questions, demonstrate experience, and be written in a way that both humans and AI systems can understand.
This is where AI SEO services become a real advantage when done properly.
At GOOP Digital, we help businesses in Hobart and Geelong adapt to this shift through:
- AI SEO strategy
- AI content optimisation
- blog writing that supports both rankings and AI visibility
Our AI SEO services in Hobart and Geelong are designed for small businesses who want better rankings without losing credibility.
Custom GPTs are the future of blogging for small business
One of the most exciting developments in marketing right now is custom GPTs.
Instead of relying on generic AI outputs, we can build a GPT trained around your services, your tone of voice, your location and your ideal customers. This means your business gets an AI writing assistant that produces blogs that actually sound like you, not like the internet.
For businesses in Hobart and Geelong, this is a major step forward. It allows blogging to become scalable without becoming generic.
How GOOP Digital helps businesses blog smarter with AI
At GOOP Digital, we work with small businesses every day who want to improve rankings but don’t have time to write content consistently.
We offer two clear pathways.
If you want it completely handled, we can write SEO focused blogs for you that are designed to rank and written in a way that builds trust.
If you want to create content internally, we can develop a custom GPT that supports blog writing with your brand voice and strategy built in.
Both options are grounded in what works today:
- AI SEO that supports modern Google search
- AI SEO services in Hobart and Geelong built for small business
- AI content optimisation that improves visibility without sacrificing credibility
As AI search becomes more common, businesses that invest in high quality content now will be the ones that stay visible in the future.
Good blogs don’t just rank. They build trust, generate leads, and support long term growth.
If you’re ready to grow your visibility with AI SEO in Hobart or Geelong, contact us. We are here to help.