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Optimizing Voice Search | 5 Things That Every Marketer Should Do

People are searching in different ways.

And every few months, humans are rethinking how we create and serve content based on user behavior - and we are.

With Siri, Google Voice, Alexa, and Google Home, the rate of adapting to these recent features has been crazy and by 2020, it is expected that 50% of all the searches will likely be carried out via voice.

What is Voice Search?

Voice search actually allows users to speak into a device as opposed to typing keywords into a search query to generate results and find out what they are looking for.

Voice technology uses speech identification to understand what users are trying to say with extreme accuracy. After a few moments, it will deliver results spoken orally to the user.

Although it seems like a fresh idea, voice search technology has been used by most users for a while. Programs such as speech-to-text and voice dialing are great samples of voice search.

Additionally, programs such as Google Assistant, Siri, Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa are all utilizing voice search capabilities.

Although particular devices can be optimized for voice search, mobile brands, platforms and websites can be optimized for it as well.

How Voice Search Impacts SEO Rankings?

Voice search largely improves user experience and because of that, by the year 2020, half of all online searches will be made through voice search.

Due to its prolific use, search engines such as Google are placing a higher emphasis on voice SEO.

After all, the point of SEO is to rank websites accurately so users can find the best information for their search query as quickly as possible. User experience is, ultimately, at the forefront of search engine optimization.

Last January 2018, an estimation of one billion voice searches was tracked every month, which proves that voice search is really on the rise.

By 2020, half of the searches will be carried by voice. So by 2020, half of your potential shoppers won't see your website even if you're ranked fourth in the SERPs.

But it is necessary to remember that voice search SEO and traditional website SEO are two different methods.

Therefore, some circumstances that affect website rankings may or may not have the same impact on voice search – and vice versa.

Luckily, there are some suggestions that can help you match the two SEO strategies and rank your website for search listings and audio search.

Why Should We Optimize for Voice Search?

First, we have to recognize how popular voice search is actually becoming.

As stated above, voice search is projected to be 50% of all searches by 2020, but what’s more stunning is that 30% of web browsing sessions will be done without a screen in 2020.

Can you imagine that?

This means not only do we have to show up when people are using voice search, but our content has to be optimized for users who search without a screen.

But you don’t have to wait until 2020 to see how successful voice search is.

In 2016, Google announced that 20% of mobile queries were by voice. Since then we have seen that number increase.  There were 1 billion voice searches in January of 2018 alone.

Saying “voice search is coming” has quickly become outdated.

What Makes Voice Search Unique?

We are living in a world where we are completely surrounded by devices that support voice assistants and always-on microphones that are just waiting for their trigger words to answer our most burning questions.

We live in a digital world and it is important to keep up with the trends, especially for marketers and entrepreneurs like you.

The popularity of Voice Search Assistant

Voice assistants are everywhere which means voice search is everywhere.

Because of this, we are seeing users search using different queries, and asking questions in different ways.

Searches are becoming more human and queries are longer, with more conversational words.

So here are our Top 5 Strategies for optimizing your website to be voice search-friendly.

5 SEO Strategies for Voice Search

Understand the Potential of Voice Search Users

Audio Search significantly improves user experience – and because of that, by the year 2020, half of all online searches will be made through voice search.

Due to its prolific use, search engines such as Google are placing a higher emphasis on voice search optimization.

After all, the point of SEO is to rank websites accurately so users can find the best information for their search query as quickly as possible. User experience is, ultimately, at the forefront of search engine optimization.

Use Long-Tail Keywords

When users use voice search, they are usually hoping to complete an activity – such as playing a song or purchasing a product – or wants to get information on a particular subject.

When users search for content on desktop or mobile, they tend to communicate in short, almost bullet-pointed phrases.

Just like if a user wanted to find a great web designer, they could type “top web design companies” into Google.

But if they used voice search, a user might say “Who are the top web design companies in the world?”

To ensure that your content is optimized for voice search as well, include those long-tail keywords that sound more natural as opposed to shorter, more active keywords that perform well in desktop SEO.

Optimize Your Website Speed

Just like traditional search engine optimization, Google voice search supports websites that load quickly.

Admit it. Even to ourselves. When the wesbite loads like a turtle, we hit the back button and search for better results that can give us the details quickly.

Website speed is really important.

When you evaluate the speed of your website,

Ensure that:

  1. Your site is responsive and works well on mobile devices.
  2. Images are optimized.
  3. Files are compressed.
  4. You utilize website caching to improve page speed.
  5. Your server’s response time is reduced.
  6. And other tasks that speed up traditional websites.

Analyze Searcher’s Intent

Keep phrases short and simple. Voice search results are typically written at a 9th-grade reading level at most. So, although your information may be high-level, break it down in a way that is easy for anyone to comprehend.

Listen to Your Customers

22% of voice search queries are looking for location-based content. Therefore, brands have a higher chance of producing voice search content if they invest in local content.

Try using phrases like “near me”

Why You Should Keep Up With the Trend in SEO?

“I really don’t understand why I need to keep up with the trends in SEO”

Well your customers and your potential customers are also searchers in the web.

Keeping you in-the-know when it comes to what to do and not to do when it comes to optimizing a site can be rather tedious.

This is because you will need to constantly search the web for updates, news, and even rumors about algorithm changes, new best practices, and so on.

But know that it will be worth it.

The ones who rank are those who are always being up to the game.

Of course, you will still need to know whether or not the trends that you are reading are indeed worth implementing on your pages.

Besides, all these are for your website, for your brand, for the quality fo your content and for your living.

In fact, one study found that voice search eCommerce resulted in $1.8 billion in Amazon revenue. That figure alone is expected to increase to $40 billion by the year 2022.

You can check out our Guide to Voice Search Optimization for more information on this topic.

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