Google Voice Search is growing in popularity, and for a good reason! It’s a quick and convenient way to get information without typing it into a search engine. If you want to take advantage of this trend and increase your website traffic, you need to optimize your website for Voice Search SEO. Today, we will discuss how Voice Search works and how you can optimize your website to rank higher in Google’s search results.
Voice Search: What Exactly Is It?
Voice Search is a speech recognition technology that allows users to perform internet searches by speaking into a device. Voice Search can be used on smartphones and computers to home assistant devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Google Voice Search Queries Are On The Rise
Voice search queries have been on the rise in recent years due to the increasing popularity of home assistant devices. Google reported that the number of voice searches conducted on its platform has quadrupled since 2016! This trend will continue, so it’s essential to ensure your website is optimized for Voice Search SEO.
How Do People Use Voice Search?
Voice search is used differently than traditional text-based searches. Voice search queries are typically longer and more conversational in nature. For example, someone might say, “What’s the best Voice Search SEO company?” rather than simply typing “Voice Search SEO company.”
Here are a few statistics that reflect its popularity:
- 71% of people say they use Voice Search more than once daily.
- 58% of Voice Search users say they use it to find local businesses.
- 36% of Voice Search users say they use it to make a purchase.
As you can see, Voice Search is becoming an increasingly popular way for people to search the internet. If you want your website to be seen by as many people as possible, optimizing it for Voice Search SEO is essential.
Why Does Voice Search SEO Matter?
Voice Search SEO is important because it allows your website to show up in the search results when people use Voice Search. Voice Search queries are processed differently from traditional text-based searches, so optimizing your website is crucial.
Voice Search as an SEO Factor
Voice Search is a ranking factor in Google’s search algorithm. If your website is optimized for Voice Search, it will rank higher in the search results.
For example, let’s say you own a plumbing company in Fairfax, VA. If someone searches for “plumbers Fairfax VA” using Voice Search, Google will use Voice Search as a ranking factor to determine which websites to show in the search results.
If your website is optimized for Voice Search SEO, it will have a better chance of appearing in the search results.
SEO Vendor’s Tips On Voice Search Optimization
The rise of Voice Search has led to changes in how SEO is conducted. Here are a few tips on Voice Search optimization from our team of SEO experts:
Focus on User Intent
One of the most important things to keep in mind when optimizing your website for Voice Search is user intent.
When someone uses Voice Search, they typically look for quick and easy answers to their questions. This means that you need to create content focused on answering people’s questions.
For example, if you own a plumbing company, you might want to create a page on your website that answers the question, “What are the most common plumbing problems?”
By thinking about user intent, you can create content that is more likely to appear in Voice Search results.
Make Use of Conversational Language
One of the most significant changes Voice Search has brought about is the use of conversational language. Voice Search queries are typically longer and more natural sounding than traditional text-based searches.
For example, someone might say, “What’s the best Voice Search SEO company?” rather than simply typing “Voice Search SEO company.”
To optimize your website for Voice Search, you need to use keyword phrases that sound natural and reflect how people speak.
Transform Text Searches into Long-Tail Question Queries
Another way to optimize your website for Voice Search is to transform traditional text searches into long-tail question queries.
Let’s come back to our plumbing company example. People will search for “plumbers Fairfax VA” using Voice Search. To optimize your website for this query, you would want to use a keyword phrase: “What’s the best plumbing company in Fairfax, VA?”
This may seem like a small change, but it can make a big difference in how your website ranks in the Voice Search results.
Focus on Featured Snippets
Google Voice Search results are often pulled from Featured Snippets. These are brief answers to questions that appear at the top of the search results.
To optimize your website for Voice Search, you need to focus on creating content that is likely to be featured in a Featured Snippet. This means writing clear and concise answers to common questions people have about your business.
Again, if you own a plumbing company, you might want to create a page on your website that answers the question “What are the most common plumbing problems?”
By creating content that is likely to be featured in a Featured Snippet, you can increase your chances of appearing in the Voice Search results.
Use Informative and Authoritative Content
Voice Search results are often pulled from informational and authoritative content. If you want your website to appear in the Voice Search results, you need to create informative and authoritative content.
One way to do this is to focus on creating blog posts that answer common questions people have about your business.
Looking at our plumbing company example, you might want to write a blog post that answers the question, “How do I know if I need a plumber?”
By creating informative and authoritative content, you can increase your chances of appearing in the Voice Search results.
Use Structured Data Markup
Structured data markup is code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand your content better. Voice Search queries are typically processed using structured data, so it’s essential to make sure your website has structured data markup.
If you’re unsure how to add structured data markup to your website, we recommend working with an experienced SEO company like SEO Vendor. Our team of experts can help you add the correct type of structured data markup to your website so that it appears in the Voice Search results.
Make Sure That Your Website is Fast, Mobile-Friendly, and Secure
Voice Search is typically done on mobile devices. This means that if you want your website to appear in Voice Search results, it needs to be fast, mobile-friendly, and secure.
You can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to see if your website is mobile-friendly. You should also ensure that your website is secured with an SSL certificate.
Make Sure That Your Google My Business Profile is Updated
If you want your website to appear in Voice Search results, you need to make sure that your Google My Business profile is updated.
Your Google My Business profile is what appears when people search for your business on Google Maps and Google Search. It’s essential to keep your profile up-to-date so that people can find the correct information about your business.
To update your Google My Business profile, log in to your account and ensure that all of your information is accurate. You should also add photos, videos, and other content to help people learn more about your business.
Voice Search & Home Assistant Devices
Home assistant devices allow people to search for information using their voices. These are becoming more and more popular. The total number of U.S. homes with voice assistants is predicted to surpass 30 million by the end of the year.
Looking at some statics from Think With Google, we see that Voice Search is becoming more popular. In 2018, 41% of adults used Voice Search daily. This number is up from 35% in 2017.
We can also see that the use of Voice Search is highest among 18-24-year-olds (50%) and 25-34-year-olds (46%).
This trend is only going to continue to grow. This means that it’s vital for businesses to optimize their website for Voice Search.
Local SEO Optimization for Home Assistant Devices
Google Assistant is the only one with a program made specifically for users who are looking for local services. If you want your business to appear in Voice Search results, you need to revisit your local SEO strategy to Google Home Devices.
Here are some things that you can do to optimize your website for Google Home Devices:
- Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions.
- Create informative and authoritative content.
- Use structured data markup.
- Make sure that your website is fast, mobile-friendly, and secure.
- Make sure that your Google My Business profile is up to date.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to optimizing your website for Voice Search.
For other home assistant devices like Alexa, Cortana and Siri, focus on the tips for the general voice search SEO.
Now that we’ve covered everything let’s quickly look at factors that affect voice search SEO.
How to Rank on Google Voice Search?
Google Voice Search is available on both mobile and desktop devices. When it comes to ranking on voice search, there are the factors that Google takes into consideration:
Relatable
The result must be something that the user is looking for. This one is pretty obvious.
Relevant
The result must be relevant to the user’s location, history, and current context.
Recent
The result must be recent enough to be still relevant.
Short & Sweet
This one is important because users typically want a quick answer to their questions. The answer should be short and sweet. If you’re ranking on Voice Search, make sure that your content is concise and to the point.
Authoritative
Google wants to provide users with results from an authoritative source. Your website needs to be seen as an authority on the topic. You can build authority by creating high-quality and informative content.
So, that’s all about Voice Search SEO. By following the tips we’ve outlined, you can increase your chances of appearing in Voice Search results. Contact SEO Vendor today if you need help optimizing your website for Voice Search. Our experts can help you boost your website’s traffic from Google through Voice Search.