Get ahead: Here’s how to optimize your website for voice search

Consumers prefer voice search over text and the reason is simple – it is the same as why one calls rather than texts.

And the reason is that it is easier to speak than it is to type.

Understandably, in today’s busy age, your consumers will go for the option that is more convenient.

Do you see where we’re going with this?

If you indulged in voice search optimization in 2019 using a top-notch voice search optimization strategy, chances are that you saw an increase in customers and, hence, in sales.

If you didn’t, you may want to reevaluate in 2020. While it is an option that can be overlooked, that is not the smartest move. Let us tell you why.

Why does your website need voice search optimization?

• When it comes to adults in the US, 42.7% make use of voice search.
• According to Comscore, 50% of all online searches in 2020 will be voice searches.
• An astounding 65% of all Amazon Echo or Google Homeowners don’t want to return to typing their queries instead of speaking them out loud.

These statistics are enough to show you why voice search is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity for businesses when it comes to their SEO strategy. Voice search optimization grew in popularity in 2019 and that isn’t about to change any time soon.

Voice assistants like Siri, Cortana, and Google Voice Search are becoming more and more popular and you need to keep up with this shifting trend.

Google Assistant can now even understand the nuances of the English language, something that could only have been dreamt of before the prevalence of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The bottom line is this:

You need a website that is optimized for voice search.

And if you were thinking about delving into voice search optimization in 2019 and didn’t find the opportunity, 2020 is your window.

So, how do you do it?

In this blog post, we will share some tips and tricks that will get you started with voice-optimizing your site.

Getting started with voice search optimization

When it comes to voice search optimization, 2019 saw many businesses realize its importance and take active steps to improve their site’s visibility.

But as 2020 brings newer technology and better opportunities our way, the chance to become the first result in the SERPs for more search queries than not is very attractive.

And we help you do just that.

As with any other aspect of optimization, there are many voice search optimization strategies that can help you modify your site in order to drive more traffic to it.

What you need to do is to figure out a plan of action that meets your requirements in the best way possible.

We discuss a few of the strategies that can help you cater to a much wider (and more audible) audience than ever before!

User intent should be the basis of all your efforts.

User intent, or search intent, basically refers to what the user is looking to achieve as they carry out a search.

It goes beyond the keywords that the user uses and tries to understand exactly what it is that they are searching for.

Understandably, you need to be fully aware of the search intent of your target audience. That is the only way you can make sure you are ACTUALLY addressing their queries.

And once you are able to do that, you will automatically be able to drive traffic to your site because the information you provide will be relevant and useful.

AI can track the kind of queries that people usually search for, allowing you to cater to the audience’s requirements with ease.

Discover and respond to action queries effectively.

It has been found that while all people searching for something on the web are looking for information of some sort, the nature of that information varies.

While a text Google query could just be looking for information, voice queries are often action queries.

What does that mean? It means that the user is looking to take action.

This action could be anything – they may be looking to buy something, to avail a service, to look for a place to go to, and so on.

So, why is this useful for you? Well, YOU may be the answer they are looking for – the solution they need to meet their requirements.

Once you have discovered the user intent of your potential consumers, you can then cater to their needs in the best way possible.

Follow the language style and patterns of your current and potential customers.

You need your content to answer the queries of people who have the potential of becoming your consumers.

To do this, you need to first understand your audience and the way in which they communicate. Across the board, though, one thing is for sure – you need to draft your website content in as natural a tone as you can.

Why is this important?

The answer is simple: People interact with their voice search assistants in a causal, conversational tone. If you want your content and website to appear at the top of the SERPs when someone uses voice search to look for something relevant, your content needs to follow the same conversational style.

For example:

San Diego is nicknamed America’s Finest City. Let’s say you run a bakery in San Diego. When someone in the vicinity asks Google Assistant, for example, for “the best bakery items in America’s Finest City,” you want your website to appear at the top of the page.

You will only be able to achieve that if you used the nickname in your content.

Research and discover the best long-tail keywords.

Voice searches are usually carried out when people are searching for something specific. This also means that the keywords they will use for the search will be longer.

These are long-tail keywords. And it is absolutely essential for your content strategy to revolve around long-tail keywords.

Let’s look at this with an example too:

Let’s say you own an auto repair shop in San Diego.

Now, when someone carries out a voice search that goes something along the lines of “Find me the best auto repair shop in San Diego at affordable prices,” you want to appear as one of the first results – if not the first.

How do you achieve this?

You need the long-tail keyword, “best auto repair shop in San Diego at affordable prices,” as part of your content.

Having said that, make sure you’re not indulging in keyword stuffing. While keyword optimization is a major part of any SEO strategy, keyword stuffing takes away from the uniqueness, relevancy, and helpfulness of your content.

And these are elements without which you can’t dream of driving traffic to your site.

FAQ pages are a must.

When people are using Siri and Google search, for instance, to search the web for something, they often ask questions.

“Siri, what are the best restaurants near me?”

“Cortana, where can I buy a good phone?”

“What should I do to get rid of my headaches?”

Do these questions sound familiar? Of course they do. Because you have asked your voice assistant these very questions – and many other similar ones.

Now, as a business owner, what is the easiest way to make sure that you appear in the SERPs as the search engine digs up web pages that best answer the user’s question?

You include the questions in your content.

And what is the best way to do that?

By investing some time into creating an FAQ page, of course!

While you can also include relevant questions as part of your core web page content, an FAQ page makes it easy for you to provide a concise answer to the user’s question – just what they are looking for.

You can incorporate your long-tail keywords into these FAQ pages too – win-win all around.

Optimize your Google My Business listing.

This is one of the top considerations when it comes to appearing at the top of the SERPs in response to a voice query.

Your Google My Business page should have complete information that is relevant, updated, and optimized.

This is because when someone searches for a product or service that you provide, your business information should appear up top. This includes, but is not restricted to the following:

• Business name
• Address
• Contact information
• Business hours
• Industry

This does two things:

First of all, you’re more likely to appear in the search engine results. As such, using voice search, local SEO can be in your back pocket.

Why?

Now we come to the second of all – because people in the vicinity will get all the details they need about your business.

So once you have managed to make sure you Google My Business page shows up in search engine results, your potential consumers will be more likely to convert because they will have all the information they need to get in touch with you and take action.

Make your page speed doesn’t hold you back.

People who are carrying out a voice search on their phones are often doing so on the go. Either that, or they need instant results, or both.

Now, if they are in a hurry to see results, you can imagine what kind of an impression a website that takes an age to load will leave on them.

But that’s not at all.

That is something you need to worry about when you’ve managed to appear in the top results in the SERPs.

A low page speed, however, can greatly reduce the chances of your website even appearing near the top of the results.

It is, thus, essential for you to make sure your website is clean and quick. The site must also offer the best possible user experience to your customers and potential consumers.

It is also important to note that this is a lot more important on mobile devices than it is on a desktop. This is because voice searches are mostly carried out on mobiles.

And while we’re talking about mobile devices, make sure that the site is mobile-friendly. This ensures that the user experience is not compromised.

Mix It Up and Accelerate Your Growth

The best strategies are those that address the needs of the business that is employing them.

And no one knows your business better than you or your digital marketing agency.

So whether you choose to go for top-notch SEO services in San Diego or take matters into your own hands, choose the strategies that best address your needs and ensure their proper implementation to see mind-boggling results!

You may not have used voice search optimization in 2019 to your advantage but it isn’t too late! Let 202o be the year of change!