Voice search has revolutionized search engine optimization. It eliminates the need for screens. Digital assistants tend only to relay one answer to voice searches, meaning a business that can provide the top answer could increase the number of customers who shop in their stores.
Voice search allows SEO top-answer suppliers to be distinguished from their competition by providing consumers with the simple, zero-choice solution they are looking for.
Until recently, consumers used digital keypads and keyboards to request services and ask questions. Voice search is now part of the equation. Consumers increasingly switch to smartphones and at-home digital assistants for simple voice searches.
Many businesses are asking themselves the same question: Will voice search technology affect how I advertise online? Advanced Digital Media Services has put together the best strategies to optimize your website for voice search and help you succeed.
What Is Voice Search and How Do People Use It?
Voice search optimization has been a prominent part of search marketing since speech recognition technology. In 2011, the tech giant introduced Google voice search to digital marketers and online businesses. At first, it was more of a novelty feature than something that users liked to use.
Digital marketing professionals can analyze how voice search works and the most recent Google voice search statistics and identify new trends to help them understand how their customers’ search patterns are changing.
In the following year, half of all internet searches will occur by voice. No matter what topic, the competition for position zero is fierce. However, we want to help you prepare for the inevitable. We will explain three key characteristics of voice search.
1. Voice searches tend to be more complex.
Search engines were traditionally limited regarding how many words or phrases we could type when searching for information. Voice searches are more conversational. Voice search allows us to ask questions as if we were speaking with someone.
You might type “best coffee shops Los Angeles” in a traditional search. Google voice search might be more appropriate for a query like “What are some of the top-rated coffee shops in my area?”
Longer-form voice search queries (also called long-tail) include the 5 Ws and H: who, what, when, where, why, and how. These words and phrases can help you increase your chances of landing the feature summary in search results.
2. Voice search is the most popular way for people to locate local information.
Voice searches are typically used to locate local information. Rather than the exact location, the phrase “near me” is used more often in Google voice search. This type of localized search has seen a nearly 130% increase in usage year-over-year.
This information is essential, so include the correct keywords in your content. If you are targeting localized searches, make sure to include:
- “Near you” and “near me,” in heading tags, anchor texts, and meta descriptions.
- Many areas and locations that you serve.
- Landmarks and local institutions that define your location.
3. People expect instant results.
People search for information on a topic or business but don’t always click the first link. Local businesses are likely to have clear goals, i.e., a phone number, business hours, and reviews that are all substantial.
Someone is looking for a criminal defense attorney in their local area. Google will display the closest law firms within their area and give them a phone number, address, working hours, and reviews. They can also quickly note the information if they are only interested in reviews or the phone number for a particular law firm and continue their journey without stopping at its website.
Positioning your business for voice search optimization
The adoption of smartphones has exploded, resulting in significant changes to the Google search command landscape. With regards to searches, we are rapidly moving into a voice-first world.
Furthermore, businesses are increasingly adopting e-commerce platforms, which means you must be safe and optimize your website, content, and other assets to keep up with changing times.
There is a real scramble to get the few customers you have. You don’t want to miss out on a piece of the pie.
How can you optimize voice and wearable technology for a competitive advantage over your customers?
Step 1: Create a plan of action.
It would be best to adapt your business to voice search requirements as voice searches become more popular. This means that you need to create a strategy. It is crucial to assess all the keywords you need and your current content and future needs. Next, you will need to create new content.
Step 2: Register online.
You can prepare for voice searches if you’re local by making sure you’re listed online. If you’re a local business, this is a good option. If you’re not local, skip this step.
One, wearable tech products have small display sizes. Smartphones also use voice assistants, such as Siri for Apple and Google Assistant for Android.
The assistants cannot show local business listings, unlike Google text search results. Instead, they display business listings first. You are not optimizing the website in this step.
Step 3: Search for keywords.
Your customers will use voice search, not keywords. This means that you will need to manage a longer keyword because of the human nature of human communication.
Instead of targeting “pineapple birthday cakes” as a keyword, you should focus on “do you know any reliable vendors for pineapple cake?” Voice doesn’t deliver you options but directs you to the product’s action.
You can also invest in SEO software to narrow down the most relevant keywords to your site.
Step 4: Optimize for Local Search.
Once you have completed your local listings and created local content, it is time to optimize your listing for local search. Voice searches are geared towards information about the places someone is looking for. It could be “Best places to buy fast food in New Jersey” or “Fast food restaurants in New Jersey.”
How to Optimize for Voice Search
The mentioned steps guide companies who want to be seen on the internet with what they need to do to optimize their website and other assets to be easily found by customers. This strategy will lead to more leads, engagement, and eventually, more revenue as conversions increase.
Here are 8 strategies we recommend you implement to maximize voice search SEO for your business.
1. Faster page loading time
Page loading speed is a key ranking factor for any strategic SEO. With the increase in digital content, including voice, your site loading speed will be a ranking factor in the future.
Websites with simple and easily understood content rank higher on the first page of search engine results pages. Remember that Google and other search engines prefer web pages with fast loading times.
2. Use long-tail SEO
Although long-tail keywords aren’t as common as they used to be, they are still a great way to optimize your website for voice search.
It works well for two reasons. Voice searches can be made through much more text than usual. Smart assistants are also designed to provide answers to all queries.
Long-tail SEO is a great way to optimize for featured snippets. It will send you to the top of search results.
3. Target your audience’s questions
Voice searches tend to be in the form of questions. Consider the questions people ask Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. All of them are in the form of questions. These questions include, for example, “How do I bathe my dog?” Make sure your content is relevant to your target audience’s actions, needs, and preferences.
4. Create voice search-friendly content
You must ensure that your content is easy to read and conversational. Avoid jargon and keep the content simple for businesses to rank high in searches. It’s like this: Old searches were short and awkward, but the new ones with voice are more natural and extended.
5. Create more local content
Many voice searches are directed at local content. However, you don’t need a local business to produce local content. Locally relevant content that addresses your customers’ needs will go a long way in improving your SEO for Google search commands and wearable tech.
People are more likely to ask their phones, “Where is the nearest sushi place?” than to do extensive research on a topic. People want quick answers, and they need them to be local.
You can compare voice search and local businesses in many ways. Voice search seeks easy, near answers, and local businesses feed off queries from nearby people who use voice searches. Optimizing for voice searches is made more accessible by updating the local business listing.
6. User experience is everything
Voice search is different from regular SERPs. It focuses on one website to query. You should ensure that your voice assistant can quickly access the information you require. Your site must be mobile-friendly, fast, secure, and HTTPS secured.
7. Use structured formatting and schema
Google voice responses mostly come from a Google Featured Snippet. These answers are sometimes referred to as quick answers or summary answers from selected websites and often include a link back to the source.
You need to ask the right questions and then answer them most helpfully. Your website should be prominently featured if you provide concise answers to your audience’s questions. Ensure that your blogs and other content are concise, easily read, and on-topic to be eligible for the featured snippet.
8. Don’t forget about regular SEO
Focusing on great content and old-school SEO will make you successful in voice search. Websites with high social engagement, higher rankings, and high domain authority perform better in voice searches.
Incorporate Voice Search SEO in Your Strategy With ADVDMS
Voice search optimization is more than a marketing trend. It is a must-have. If you don’t start preparing now, you risk losing out on the voice search market to those who are already prepared. It will be harder to keep up with your competitors as voice recognition improves and voice assistants such as Siri, Cortana, and Google increase in popularity. Businesses must perform voice search SEO better than regular SEO to remain at the top of their game in 2022.
SEO Services in Denver from Advanced Digital Media Services offers simple, intuitive strategies to optimize your website for voice search, help you beat your competitors, and make your company a leader within your industry. Learn more about what we can do for your business today. Call us.
