Introduction

You should all know by now that staying ahead of the curve is a must in digital marketing. Voice Searches Have Dominated One of the largest changes in recent times has been the changing face of search, thanks to voice-activated searches. Voice search has now become a key part of online behavior thanks to the rise in smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home, coupled with the growth in the use of mobile assistants such as Siri and Google Assistant. Due to this increased focus on voice search, optimizing content for a more natural speech pattern has become non-negotiable; failure to address the shift will leave brands struggling behind in their online presence.

The Rise of Voice Search

Voice search is more than just a fad, in fact, it signals the ultimate paradigm shift when it comes to engaging with technology. Recent research shows that almost half of all searches are now voice-induced. So this trend is fueled by the ease and efficiency of voice search. Users can simply ask their devices a question, getting an instant answer instead of typing out a query.

Mobile assistants and smart speakersAnimatedThe driver has already entered the wired car, while the mobile assistant makes our lives better nowadays, this type of device costs not much. From checking the weather to setting a reminder or finding out where the nearest coffee is, voice search helps people do all sorts of things. The growing reliance on voice-activated technology changes the game significantly when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO).

Importance of Voice Search Optimization

Voice search (as we established) is very different from traditional text-based searches. People speak in a more natural language when talking to their devices. They don’t search “best pizza restaurant NYC”, they ask: The most popular and effective users’ perspective requested username for someone who’s already there. With this shift, optimizing for voice search becomes a whole different ball game as compared to traditional SEO.

Moreover, in voice search you get an immediate answer instead of the usual set of results that shows for a text query. It’s a crucial aspect in some industries too, like agriculture where users could ask “What is the best tractor for my farm”. rather than typing a query. Now more than ever it is of utmost importance that your content shows up in these direct answers For example, if you created an app based on content like a ‘guide to choose the best tractor’, and it is not voice-searchable bet that can lead your app missing out huge traffic.

Tips to Improve Voice Search Optimization

1. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords

Longer, more specific searches: Voice queries usually involve asking a question. Elongated-tail keyword phrases will need to be used (since voice searches are in natural language). Are you going to continue targeting the keyword “buy shoes online,” or will start optimizing for something like, “Where can I buy comfortable running shoes online?”

2. Use Conversational Language

Voice search is conversational, so make your content the same way. Use real talk, like you would speak to someone. This not only helps to establish your content for voice search but will enhance user engagement as well. You should use question-based phrases like how, what where, and why, etc. because these are the most commonly used query words during voice searches.

3. Optimize for Local Search

Any voice search is local to some degree. Normally, people use voice search to look for local businesses or services. You want to attract this audience; hence you should make sure your content is local SEO-friendly. That includes taking care of issues like claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing, using local keywords on-site as well, and making sure that your website is mobile-ready & has a loading speed fast enough to make you happy.

4. Answer Common Questions

For quick answers: This is one of the biggest reasons why people use voice search. When it does, write content that solves those problems by directly answering some of the common questions related to your industry. Mark these answers using structured data, as voice search engines can quickly identify these and show them in the results.

5. Optimize for Page Speed and Mobile

Since voice search is typically done on a mobile device, you’ll need to have a responsive and fast-loading website. Page speed matters for another reason: since Google ranks mobile-friendly sites higher in search listings, being a slowpoke can hurt your website’s rankings. Ensure that you are optimized to load the fastest possible and deliver a seamless experience across any device.

6. Leverage Structured Data

Moreover, structured data or schema markup helps search engines understand your content better. By using structured data, you increase the chance for your content to show up as rich snippets or direct answers since these are frequently read by voice searchers.

7. Featured Snippet Content

Short descriptions of information pertaining to a particular keyword, which many of us see at the top when you type in your search phrase on Google. And in fact, these snippets can almost automatically come out of voice assistants. For voice search, be sure to create easy-to-read, informative material that specifically responds to common user queries. Improve Chances of Being Featured with Bullet Points, Numbered Lists & Direct Answers

The Future of Voice Search

As voice search grows, there is no doubt that its influence on SEO will increase even more. Those brands who act now and adapt to this shift will position themselves better as the voice search audience increases. All it takes is a willingness to grasp how voice search works and adjust your content strategy accordingly.

With more powerful natural language learning and advances in artificial intelligence, we predict the future of voice search to be even further woven into people’s daily interactions with virtual assistants becoming all-knowing. This will go on to blend the lines between human-machine interactions, forcing brands more than ever before into a game of voice search optimization catch-up.

Conclusion

The impact of voice search on SEO is evident, and its prominence in the digital ecosystem cannot be overstressed. To ensure they are still seen and heard in a voice-activated world, brands can therefore optimize for voice search. Look for things a user would be likely asking and create content wherever makes sense, to address those questions but through the use of natural language as best you can. Need to optimize your content for voice search in 2018.