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When you think of Search engine optimization, have you considered including voice search?
Probably not! Most businesses still haven’t coped with this trend yet, and those who tapped into it might not have exploited its maximum potential!
Voice search optimization is no longer just a nice thing to have. It has become a necessity. As it is one of the fastest-rising e-commerce trends and is becoming a hype these days, so businesses shouldn’t miss out.
It was found that voice search optimization is used by 55% of people globally; that is why it’s essential to understand it very well and learn how to master it.
So, what is voice search?
It comprehends and handles a user’s spoken search query. When a user activates a voice assistant like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant and asks a question or makes a request, the device captures the user’s voice and transmits it to a speech recognition system. Then the system examines the user’s voice to change it into text and conducts a search using a search engine or virtual assistant. After that, the search outcomes are either read aloud to the user or shown on the device’s screen, depending on the device and the nature of the query.
It relies heavily on natural language processing (NLP), which helps the system understand the meaning and the intent behind the user’s spoken query.
But what’s the difference between voice search and text search?
People in voice search usually ask a question on their devices, similar to speaking to another person, unlike text search, in which people must type specific phrases or keywords. Also, it differs from text search for several reasons, including the conversational nature of the search query. It tends to be longer and more descriptive. In addition, it may include keywords and phrases that are not commonly used in the text search. Another important thing that needs to be considered is that people tend to be more concise when they use voice search.
Understanding the nature of voice search will help you better optimize your website and reach a wider audience. When you realize the differences between it and text search, this will help you prepare your website for such a type of search.
So why is a voice search important for your business?
You are probably asking yourself why there is a big deal around voice search optimization, right?
It is because search optimization is the new trend. According to statistics, voice search drives more than $2 billion in sales, that is why making voice search optimization part of your strategy will help you sell more and boost revenue. As users now find it more convenient than text search. According to PWC, users prefer it for quick tasks, with 71% favoring voice assistants for efficient searches.
This trend isn’t limited to Western countries only; the use of voice search is growing exponentially in the Middle East, according to Go-Gulf. 50% of all online searches are done via voice search, and 30% of queries are conducted without a screen.
Besides, Voice search optimization can increase your visibility, enhance your user experience, and give you better insights as you will understand the intention behind every search query.
Now that we understand what it is and why it’s essential to optimize your website for it, it’s about time to learn some tips from Thamara to master voice search optimization effortlessly.
Voice search optimization best practices:
1. Use long tail and question keywords
Users usually use long-tail keywords and descriptive phrases to search for what they need cause voice search saves them time and effort. That is why you need to incorporate long-tail keywords into your advertising strategy. According to research, the average voice search result is about 29 words long. So, you need to stay within this word count to get the best results.
Also, queries often include question words like “how,” “what,” “where,” “when,” and “why.” It’s a good idea to include these keywords in your content to make it more relevant for voice searches; it was found that question keywords are up to 61%. Moreover, Google’s voice search results usually use language at a ninth-grade level, according to Backlinko. So, using complex or fancy words might lower your chances of appearing in voice search results. Instead, focus on creating conversational content that mirrors the way people speak when using voice assistants. Using common filler words like “I,” “the,” “of the,” “on the,” “to,” “for,” and “a” can be beneficial in this context.
2. Focus on local searches:
You need to focus on optimizing your website for local search queries such as “near me”, “in my area”, “in my country” and “nearby”. As it was found that 58% of consumers use it to find information about a local business online. It is also expected that a significant surge will happen in 2024 for “near me” and local searches, which make up 76% of voice searches. They will be set to triple as users look for local business information directly.
3. Pay attention to your website loading speed:
As we all know, in traditional search optimization, search engines usually prioritize websites that provide a good user experience, and page speed is one aspect of that. Typically, websites must load within 2.5 seconds on a desktop browser and 8.6 seconds on a mobile browser to retain user interest. However, for voice searches, the ideal loading speed is 4.6 seconds, which is 52% faster than a text search. So, you need to work on your site loading speed for better search visibility.
4. Use schema markup
Search engines consider multiple elements beyond content when deciding a page’s relevance and position in search results. One of these elements is Schema markup, also known as structured data. While it doesn’t directly impact rankings, it can provide an advantage, especially in voice search, giving an edge over competitors.
Essentially, it’s metadata: information about your site’s content. It’s embedded in your site’s source code, unseen by visitors, but it helps search engines organize and categorize your content. This strategy is often underused because it demands additional effort. Using schema markup will help search engines find snippets from your content and display it to users. As A study found that over 40 percent of voice results were pulled from the featured snippet.
5. Make sure you have an FAQ section.
One effective way to address various relevant questions without overcrowding with keywords is by having an FAQ page. This page offers solutions to common queries about your business, adding value and credibility to your site.
Typically, searches include words like “who, what, when, where, and how.” like we said before. So incorporating these terms in the questions you answer can be beneficial. Writing natural-sounding responses for each question can optimize for longer keywords commonly used in voice search. Ensure your FAQ page is easy to locate, loads quickly, and operates smoothly. Each question and its answer should be clearly visible. Enhancing the overall customer experience can involve providing a way for them to communicate if they still have queries after going through your FAQ page.
6. Be mobile-friendly:
More than half of the internet traffic worldwide comes from mobile devices. If that’s not a compelling reason to emphasize mobile optimization, then consider that 27% of mobile users use voice search on their smartphones. Google sees the mobile user experience as a crucial element of a high-quality website and includes it in its rankings. To appear in search results for both text and voice queries, it’s important to adopt a responsive design and implement other strategies to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. This is a vital step in remaining competitive in voice search.
You can have a look at these articles if you want more tips about UX enhancement:
Your Ultimate Guide to avoid Poor UX! And UX Marketing: Is it important?!
Bottom line
Voice search optimization has become the new trend that is expected to grow more in the following years, and you need to prepare your business for such changes and advanced technologies to own a competitive edge. It’s time to start including voice search in your SEO strategy to gain more visibility and increase your sales.
