AI Blog Posts: Real Results After 6 Months
Can AI-generated blog posts actually rank on Google? We have 6 months of Ahrefs-verified data from HPspelet.se showing the answer is yes. Here are the numbers.
All data independently verifiable via Ahrefs. Last updated February 2026.
Month-by-Month Progression
SEO results compound over time. Here is exactly what happened, month by month.
| Month | Keywords | Traffic/Mo | Total Articles | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | Site analysis, keyword research, first articles published |
| Month 2 | 12 | ~15 | 60 total | Google indexing new pages, first long-tail keywords appearing |
| Month 3 | 45 | ~50 | 90 total | Topical authority building, more keywords entering top 100 |
| Month 4 | 85 | ~94 | 120 total | Compounding effect starting, some articles reaching page 1 |
| Month 5 | 130 | ~180 | 150 total | Strong topical authority, mid-competition keywords ranking |
| Month 6 | 172 | 301 | 180 total | Flywheel in full effect, +55 keywords in last 30 days alone |
Traffic estimates based on Ahrefs organic traffic data. Actual Google Search Console numbers may be higher.
Why It Worked
Four factors drove the growth from zero to 172 ranking keywords.
Keyword-First Strategy
Every article targeted a specific keyword identified through competitive analysis. No random topics, no guesswork. The system analyzed what the site's competitors ranked for and found gaps.
Daily Publishing Consistency
One article per day, every day, for 6 months. Google rewards publishing consistency. Sites that publish sporadically get treated differently than sites with a steady cadence.
Long-Form Depth (3,000-5,000 Words)
Each article was comprehensive enough to fully cover its topic. Not 500-word filler, but genuine depth with proper heading structure, FAQ sections, and related internal links.
Niche Focus (Swedish Education)
All content targeted a specific niche with lower competition than English-language markets. The system identified this advantage automatically and created content in Swedish for Swedish searchers.
Cost Comparison: What This Would Have Cost Otherwise
The same 180 articles over 6 months, priced across different content providers.
| Approach | 6-Month Cost | Articles | Per Article | Your Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FirstSearch (actual cost) | $594 | 180 | $3.30 | 0 hours |
| Freelancer ($300/article) | $54,000 | 180 | $300 | 450+ hours |
| Content agency | $18,000-36,000 | 48-72 | $375-500 | 48+ hours |
| In-house writer | $30,000+ | 72-96 | $312-417 | 120+ hours (management) |
Note: freelancer and agency estimates assume they could match 30 articles/month, which is unlikely without a large team. For a detailed cost comparison, see our SEO content cost breakdown.
What the Articles Look Like
Every article generated by FirstSearch follows a consistent, SEO-optimized structure:
This structure is comparable to what a $300-500 freelance article delivers. The difference is volume: FirstSearch produces 30 of these per month at $3.30 each. Learn more about how AI content performs in search rankings.
Get Results Like HPspelet.se
172 ranking keywords. 301 monthly visitors. $594 total investment. Connect your website and let FirstSearch build your organic traffic the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do AI-generated blog posts actually rank on Google?
Yes. This case study demonstrates it with Ahrefs-verified data. HPspelet.se went from 0 to 172 ranking keywords using entirely AI-generated content. Google's ranking algorithm evaluates content quality, relevance, and authority, not whether a human or AI wrote it. What matters is that the content is comprehensive, well-structured, and targets real search queries.
How long does it take for AI blog posts to rank?
Based on this case study, first rankings appeared in month 2-3. Meaningful traffic started in month 3-4. By month 6, the site had 172 ranking keywords and 301 monthly visitors. The key variable is publishing consistency. Daily publishing builds topical authority faster than weekly or monthly publishing.
Is AI content penalized by Google?
No. Google has stated that AI-generated content is not inherently penalized. Their guidelines focus on content quality regardless of how it was produced. The HPspelet.se data confirms this: 172 keywords ranking, traffic growing month over month, and an 88/100 health score. Google is rewarding this content, not penalizing it.
What quality level are the AI articles?
Each article is 3,000-5,000 words with proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3), FAQ sections, meta descriptions, JSON-LD schema markup, internal links, and AI-generated images. This is comparable to what a mid-range content agency produces at $300-500 per article.
Can I verify these results independently?
Yes. HPspelet.se is a public website. You can check its metrics using Ahrefs, Semrush, or any SEO tool that provides domain analysis. The data in this case study was pulled from Ahrefs in February 2026.
Will these results work for my niche?
Results vary by niche, competition level, and existing domain authority. HPspelet.se started from zero with a Domain Rating of 3, which means the results came primarily from content quality and topical authority, not from existing brand strength. Niches with less competition will likely see faster results. Highly competitive niches may take longer.