Voice search is the future of internet browsing & SEO.
With voice search, people can dictate what they want to find on the internet and get results without typing anything into a search engine or clicking links.
This type of interaction has been predicted for years but it is finally here with Google Home and Amazon Echo devices becoming increasingly popular.
Voice searches are expected to surpass text-based searches by 2020 so now is the time to optimize your website for voice searchers!
If you’re interested in attracting more voice search users to your website, you can learn all there is to model your website after this trend in this ultimate guide.
Table of Contents
What is Voice Search?
Voice search is an internet-based way to find information.
Instead of typing into a search engine or clicking links, voice searchers simply say what they want and get results without the need for traditional input methods.
Voice search isn’t all too complicated.
In fact, you’ve likely conducted a voice search before.
If you’ve used a smart speaker or your iPhone to find something online, then you’ve engaged in a voice search.
How Does Voice Search Work?
Search engines like Google Home use artificial intelligence (AI) to understand natural speech patterns and respond accordingly using algorithms that analyze words, grammar, syntax, topic/domain knowledge, and so on.
AI has been used in computers since its inception but this new wave of voice searches relies heavily on it because people can be rather unclear when speaking aloud.
Voice search is carried out by smart speakers, such as Amazon’s Alexa.
Google Home, Apple’s Siri, and Amazon Echo devices are all voice search enabled.
What Differences Does Voice Search Present?
Voice searches present many differences from text-based searching that can be advantageous for those looking to optimize their website.
Here is an overview of some of the key changes:
- Voice Search is Highly Personalized – People may ask a question in one way but have different questions or answers when using voice search so it needs to be personalized for each person.
- Voice Search Provides Better Understanding – Interactive voice searches rely on AI and natural speech levels which means they will understand what people say better than other search engines like Google where you need to type out words precisely to get accurate results. In other words, voice search and AI is able to disambiguate keywords that a text search might not pick up. This makes them more efficient!
- Voice Search More Accessible & Convenient – Text-based searches are often more difficult to use and take longer whereas voice search is easier because people can simply say what they want without worrying about typing anything.
What Are the Top Concerns in Voice Search?
While the technology for voice search continues to improve, not all is sunshine and rainbows.
Many consumers still have misgivings about privacy and other issues associated with voice search.
What Segments in Voice Search Are Growing Fastest?
Voice search is impacting everything we do, but there are a few segments that are growing much faster than others.
What Are the Top Reasons for Using Voice Search or Voice Assistants
Voice search and voice assistance are having an impact in many areas of search. Here are the top areas.
How to Optimize Your Website for Voice Search
The good news is that optimizing your website for voice search isn’t too difficult. It’s actually all about adapting to the way people are using smart speakers to conduct these searches.
Below are some helpful tips that will show you how to properly optimize your website for voice search.
Prioritize Long-Tail Keywords
During a voice search, people use the longest and most conversational keywords to find what they’re looking for.
It’s easier to search for long tail keywords when you can just speak and don’t have to type.
Unlike traditional SEO, your time and energy will be spent locating these types of keywords and embedding them on your website.
The cost of hiring an SEO to optimize for long-tail will also be less expensive.
Create Interactive Content
The best websites for voice search have interactive content that is easy to understand and engaging.
Don’t neglect this when optimizing your website for voice searchers!
Leverage Repetitive Phrases
Hiding repetitive phrases in the body of your text will make it easier for those who are searching by speaking aloud to find what they’re looking for.
This also makes your work more efficient because you don’t need as much unique content on the page if some of it can be repeated or hidden within other sentences.
Your goal should always be a balance between useful information and repetition so people get what they want quicker with less effort from them!
Remember, time is money when it comes to optimization!
Create Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
FAQs are another great way to create more interactive content on your website.
This is especially important when it comes to voice search because people will have questions and you need a place for them all!
This is also a great place to store long-tail keywords.
For example, if you run a restaurant and post the question “what are your opening hours” on your website, you can lead more website visitors to your store to convert.
Keep Content Up-to-Date
It’s also essential that the content you publish be up-to-date so people can get accurate information about what they’re looking for quickly.
When updating old or outdated posts, replace links with new ones as well as use updated terms in order to make sure everything stays relevant at all times.
Make Sure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly
Voice search will soon be the most popular way for people to find information on their phones, so you need mobile-optimized design and content that is easy for them to read and navigate. This means your website needs a responsive design as well as text size options for better scrolling.
Optimize for Featured Snippets on Google
If you want your content to be featured on Google’s voice search results, then make sure your website is optimized for snippets. This means high-quality and up-to-date information that people will find useful in the context of their query so they can get what they’re looking for as quickly as possible.
Smart speakers commonly pull from feature snippets when users ask broad questions. This presents the opportunity for potential customers to interact with your business.
Plus, a featured snippet holds the first position in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
The higher your website ranks atop the SERPs, the more visibility it will have from people who may be interested in buying your products or services.
Need Help Optimizing Your Website for Voice Search?
As you can see, there are a lot of steps to optimizing any website to show up for more voice searches. Depending on your level of effort and resources, your strategy can definitely be successful.
Do you need some help with creating a successful voice search SEO strategy? If so, contact us today to speak to a member of our team.
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