Voice search is changing the way people interact with search engines. With the rise of smart speakers and voice assistants, voice search is becoming an increasingly important part of SEO. In order to stay ahead of the competition, it is important to understand the role of voice search in SEO and how to optimize for it.
One of the key differences between traditional search and voice search is the way people search for information. Voice search tends to be more conversational and long-tail, which means that optimizing for voice search requires a different approach. Here are three strategies for optimizing for voice search:
- Optimize for Featured Snippets: Featured snippets are the boxed results that appear at the top of Google’s search results. These are often the results that voice assistants will read aloud in response to a voice search. To optimize for featured snippets, create content that answers specific questions that people are likely to ask. Use concise, well-structured answers that are easy for a voice assistant to read aloud.
Example Case Study: The content marketing platform, HubSpot, increased their traffic from voice search by 97% by optimizing for featured snippets.
- Focus on Local SEO: According to a study by BrightLocal, 58% of consumers have used voice search to find local business information. This means that optimizing for local SEO is essential for businesses looking to capitalize on voice search. Make sure your website is optimized for local keywords and that your Google My Business listing is up-to-date.
Example Case Study: Pizza Hut used voice search optimization to increase their local store visits by 61%.
The rise of voice search is transforming the way users interact with search engines, with experts predicting that it will account for more than half of all searches by 2022. Optimizing for voice search can help businesses to improve their visibility in search results and drive more traffic to their website.
To optimize for voice search, consider the following strategies:
- Focus on long-tail keywords: Voice searches tend to be more conversational and natural than typed searches, so it’s important to optimize for long-tail keywords that reflect how people speak. Use tools like Answer the Public and SEMrush to identify the questions and phrases your target audience is using to search for your products or services.
- Use structured data: Structured data provides search engines with more information about your website’s content, which can help them to better understand and present it in search results. Use schema markup to add structured data to your website, including information about your business, products, and services.
- Improve website speed: Voice search users tend to expect fast and seamless experiences, so it’s important to optimize your website’s speed and performance. Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to identify and fix issues that could be slowing down your website, such as large image files or excessive use of JavaScript.
Two examples of companies successfully optimizing for voice search are:
- Domino’s Pizza: Domino’s has made it easy for customers to order pizza via voice search by integrating with platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Customers can use voice commands to place an order, track its progress, and receive updates on their delivery.
- Spotify: Spotify uses voice search to help users discover new music and podcasts. Users can ask for recommendations based on their mood, genre, or artist preferences, and the app will provide personalized suggestions.
Sources:
- https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-guide/voice-search-strategy/
- https://yoast.com/what-is-structured-data/
- https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/
- https://gtmetrix.com/
- https://www.dominos.com/en/pages/content/order/virtual-assistant/
- https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-01-25/spotify-for-voice-is-now-available/
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