Voice search and SEO – for digital marketers looking to get ahead of the competition, this is the trend to prepare for. Voice search is projected to be responsible for half of all search queries by 2020 – more on that below – and why not? The average human can type roughly 40 words per minute, but they can speak approximately 150 words per minute, per WordStream, allowing for more specific searches with less effort. The time is now to ensure your company, brand, products or services make it to the top of those search results faster than you can say “Yo Google.”
Learn more about voice search and SEO, and how you can prepare your website for the voice search revolution.
What is Voice Search?
Simply put, voice search is speech recognition technology that allows users to search the web via voice command. When your friend says, “Hey Google, tell me how many home runs David Ortiz hit in the 2013 MLB season” – that’s (a very specific) voice search. Or when you ask Siri for directions to the closest Italian restaurant, that’s voice search. Or when your mom asks “Alexa, what’s the weather going to be like tomorrow?” that’s – you guessed it – voice search.
Voice search got its start in Google Labs, the place where Google engineers brainstorm new technology and test ideas that may eventually popular products (like Gmail). Google voice search started with humble beginnings. Originally, people called a phone number from their mobile device. Next, a prompt requested your search keywords. But over time it became integrated with apps like Google maps. Now it’s compatible with dozens of products and apps and even influences how Google’s search algorithm handles certain queries. Learn more about the history of voice search here, or watch the video below:
Hands-free and very convenient, voice search redefines search and SEO as we know it. You can identify this trend in the flesh, so to speak, just by recognizing the popularity of bestselling voice search-enabled products like Amazon’s Echo line and Google Home. In fact, Google reported in 2016 that 20% of all mobile search queries conducted on the Google app were made by voice search. Experts predict that 30% of all searches will be conducted by voice by 2020.
With these stats in mind, find out what people are using voice search for.
What Are People Using Voice Search For?
The lure of voice search is easy to understand – it’s a hands-free way to find out the information you need in a matter of seconds. Backlinko explains the three factors behind the quick growth of voice search:
- It’s faster to search with your voice than typing, as mentioned earlier in this post. The quicker you search, the more quickly you get results.
- It’s perfect for mobile search – especially for looking up information while driving (i.e. directions) or dictating a text while stuck in traffic.
- Convenience. It’s a lot easier to ask a question than it is to type one.
The last point is especially clear when looking at the type of queries people use voice search for. For example, convenience helps with some obvious searches such as:
- pulling up directions.
- calling someone.
- dictating a text.
- checking the weather.
But, increasingly, people rely on use voice search for simple questions, like finding recipes. Previously, searches relied on the Google search bar! Now, it’s just easier to ask out loud instead of type. Plus, recent SERP changes place more importance on natural language. So, optimizing for voice search helps your site and works well with smart speakers connected to digital assistants. This also becomes more important as Alexa and Google Assistant gain prevalence within the home.
Voice Search and SEO: the Future of Digital Marketing
So, what does the voice search revolution mean for the future of digital marketing? First, it’s already making an impact on how digital marketers possibly optimize sites for SEO!
On another note, WordStream writes that voice search will contribute significantly to the powerful strategy of people-based marketing. This highly personalized method allows advertisers to target people based on who they are, not just based on their behaviors. WordStream argues that voice search technology employed by search engines like Google will learn commands and keywords through natural language processing. Over time, Google learns the unique characteristics of your voice, and the way you speak, your browsing interests, and other personal information – all of which will come in handy to advertisers looking to curtail their strategy.
Best Practices to Optimize Your Site for Voice Search and SEO
The Digital Examiner reviewed voice search and SEO tips from experts throughout the digital marketing industry. Here, we share some of the most important actions you can take now, as told by Forbes, WordStream, and Backlinko, to prepare your brand’s digital marketing strategy and website for the voice search revolution.
Include Short, Concise Answers in Your Content
Backlinko suggests inserting short, concise statements that can be used to answer voice queries quickly, accurately and succinctly.
Use Schema Metadata
As WordStream explains, schema is the markup language that provides search engines with additional information about the information on a site, essentially allowing site owners to better describe what the data on a website means. This makes it easier for Google to understand your site, boosting visibility in search results – voice or otherwise.
Write Content with Natural Language, at a Ninth Grade Reading Level (or Below)
Voice searches are less robotic and more natural than typed searches – so it would make sense that the returned results mimic this, per Backlinko. It also helps Google find a match to the natural query among the content on your website. Additionally, avoid jargon and fancy language in your content. Why? The average voice search result is written at a ninth grade reading level. Focus on clear, concise language to better optimize your content for voice search results.
Use Long Tail Keywords in Content (and Bid on Them, Too)
Voice searches are typically longer than typed searches, and we often end up using long tail keywords in our natural speech (whether we realize it or not). Embrace the long tail or niche keyword as you develop website content. This makes more relevant to voice search queries. Plus, bidding on long tail keywords is often cheaper than shorter queries and generally provides better click-through rates.
Harness the Power of the ‘Near Me’ Search
The “near me” search – i.e. “Find a gas station near me” or “can I buy Chinese food near me” – is a rapidly rising SEO trend, according to a post published by Forbes Agency Council. If your brand has brick-and-mortar locations that sells food, products or services, you absolutely must optimize for the “near me” search with the appropriate keywords and phrases.
Update Your Google My Business Listing
Ensuring your company’s Google My Business listing provides accurate and up-to-date details helps it meet prospective customers’ relevant “near me” searches. In turn, this helps drive more foot traffic to your store. Consider adding high quality images so that your shop stands out among other nearby options presented by Google to the searcher.
Ultimately, these optimizations help put your brand’s digital marketing strategy ready for the future. As a result, your strategy remains ahead of the competition in the voice search and SEO revolution.
