The rise of voice search is undeniable
With the rise of Alexa, Siri, and Cortana, people expected voice search to change SEO monumentally.
Companies of different sizes are incorporating it into their business because of the fast-growing release of different conversational AI like Amazon Alexa Google Home Apple Homeshod.
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| Some 45% of Americans and over a third of people in the U.K. and Germany use voice search technology as the basis of their buyer journeys. |
Research shows that One-third of users from the US approximately 111 million use it in one of the following ways:
- Searching for products
- Checking for whether.
- Map checking
- Conversation assistance and so on.
Statista 2022 voice search report shows that over 4. 2 billion people around the world used virtual assistance for years.
Semrush report also shows that 58% of U.S. smartphone users use voice to search for information about a product or service. This indicates people use voice at the consideration and conversion stages of the funnel as well.
Ranking for it now is not merely a choice but a recommendation because customers are leveraging it to look for products.
To follow closely with search and to rank for voice search when customers leverage it, here are the recommended tips that can help you.
1. Make Use of Natural Language
Voice search platforms, like virtual assistants and smart speakers, are designed to understand and respond to natural and conversational language. Using natural language in your content helps optimize it for voice search in several ways:
1. Reflects User Behavior: People tend to use more conversational queries in voice search compared to typed searches. Adapting your content to match these natural language patterns increases the likelihood of your content being matched with voice queries.
2. Matches User Expectations: When users interact with voice-enabled devices, they expect a more conversational and human-like interaction. Crafting content in a natural language style helps meet these user expectations and enhances the overall user experience.
3. Long-Tail Keywords: Voice searches often involve longer and more specific queries (long-tail keywords). By using natural language, you naturally incorporate these long-tail keywords, making your content more likely to match the specific queries users make through voice search.
4. Featured Snippets: Many voice search results come from featured snippets. Structuring your content in a way that answers common questions directly and conversationally increases the chances of your content being used as a featured snippet in voice search results.
Remember to focus on creating content that genuinely answers users' questions in a natural, conversational manner to optimize for voice search effectively.
2. Use Question-based titles
Voice search often involves users conversationally asking questions.
By using question-based titles on your content, you align your page with the natural language patterns of voice search queries. This increases the likelihood that your content will be relevant and appear in voice search results.
Let's say you have content about "ways to breed cats" You can leverage something like "Can you feed a kitten with an egg? " or "Should I bathe a 4-week-old cat?". Questions and answers like this might be interesting to your audiences who are learning to breed cat
Question-based titles also make your content more user-friendly and can improve the overall user experience, as they directly address the queries users may voice into their devices.
It's important to create content that not only includes questions in titles but also provides clear and concise answers to those questions within the content.
3. Leverage long-tail keywords
Voice search resonates well with long-tail keywords. Unlike typing, where we often abbreviate or use traditional keywords, voice searches tend to be more conversational, incorporating location, intent, and even brand names.
This shift towards natural language queries has made long-tail keywords, specific phrases like "best gluten-free pizza near me," the new kings of voice search optimization.
Why? Think of it like talking to a friend. When you want a pizza, you wouldn't just say "pizza," right? You'd likely clarify with "pizza restaurant" or even "Where can I find a delicious wood-fired pizza near me?" Voice search algorithms listen for these longer cues to understand your true intent and deliver the most relevant results.
This focus on context doesn't mean short keywords are obsolete. Users might begin with broader terms like "pizza" and then refine their search with subsequent voice queries. But, understanding the power of long-tail keywords is crucial for optimizing your content and capturing that valuable voice search traffic.
Remember, voice search is all about conversation and intent. By crafting content that speaks the language of your audience, using natural language and specific keywords, you can unlock the full potential of voice search and become the trusted answer to those "pizza restaurant near me" whispers.
Extra tip: Don't forget about local SEO! With location queries being so common in voice search, optimizing your website and Google My Business listing for local keywords can give you a major edge in the "pizza near me" race.
4. Include Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Voice search is changing the game, and one secret weapon for getting heard? Your FAQ section. Why? FAQs speak the language of voice searchers, directly answering their questions with concise, keyword-rich information.
Think of them as magnets for featured snippets, those coveted top search results that put your answers front and center. Plus, their conversational tone resonates with voice users, boosting their experience and keeping them engaged.
But the benefits go beyond a single page. FAQs are treasure troves of long-tail keywords, the specific phrases voice searchers often use. This opens the door to capturing valuable traffic from users seeking detailed information.
And don't forget mobile: FAQs shine on smaller screens, perfect for the mobile-first world of voice search. Ultimately, a well-crafted FAQ section isn't just user-friendly, it's a strategic move for any website aiming to thrive in the age of voice-powered queries.
While FAQs are a better strategy, they should not be included in a page to have how-to content unless it serves different purposes
Google encourages using complementary content formats like FAQs and how-to guides, but only if they serve distinct purposes and enhance user experience.
5. Optimise for mobile responsiveness.
Voice searches are mostly carried out on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
Google uses the mobile version of your website to crawl and index your content. So, optimizing for small-screen devices is strongly recommended if you want your site to do well.
Sites that are not responsive tend to have a higher bounce rate and that can signal a bad user experience for Google which affects your site performance.
You can check how your site is doing on mobile devices using tools like PageSpeedInsight
This tool will help you to analyze its performance and also recommend what you need to fix for better page results on mobile phones.
6. List your business in Google Business Profile(GBP)
Google Business Profile is a section created by Google for local business owners to list their business to aim to show up on the map when they are searched for.
If you haven't listed your business on it, you can claim it here.
Businesses listed in GBP are likely to rank higher in search than those that are not listed.
For example, a customer searches for a "pizza restaurant near"
Google will list the business with pizza restaurants at the top of the page along with a map to locate the place.
This is a big advantage for you if you correctly set your GBP.
Though it is not a requirement for webmasters, it is recommended especially for people with storefronts.
One thing to help you stand out is to incorporate the right keywords about your business that people might likely search for.
If you run a pizza restaurant, you can add keywords like "pizza hut", pizza near me" and so on. This will help search engines understand your content.
Moreover, Google determines the ranking of local listings by considering relevance, distance, and prominence, but not necessarily in that order of priority. If a business further away is deemed more suitable for your needs, the search engine may recommend it over the closest one.
To enhance your visibility, ensure all sections of your Google Business Profile (GBP) are filled out, including the addition of compelling images. Additionally, take the time to read and respond to all customer reviews for a more engaging and distinguished online presence.
Keyword research tools might be a big help to assist you in knowing what your audiences are searching for.