You probably didn’t even know you needed to rank for voice search until recently, right?
The most interesting thing about online marketing is how quickly it changes. First, video marketing took over, and now the new trend is voice searches – and it’s here to stay.
According to Google, about 20% of all mobile queries are voice searches. Thanks to the launch of products and services like Siri and Alexa, more and more users are now using voice commands to look for what they need. This has increased the need to rank for voice search.
In fact, it’s believed that teenagers prefer to talk rather than text. They love the ability to ask Google for what they need instead of typing it out – and adults are quickly following – making it important to optimize your content for voice search.
Let’s talk about what is voice search and why it is important to pay attention to voice search optimization so you can rank for voice search:
What is Voice Search?
Also known as voice-enabled, voice search is a technology that allows users to use a voice command to search for what they need.
Voice search is different from a typical search because it does not involve typing. You directly ask the smart speaker (like Amazon Echo), mobile, or whatever device you are on, to search for what you need.
Why is It Important to Take Care of Voice Search SEO?
A growing number of people now use voice search to look for what they need. Let’s have a look at some stats:
- 41% of adults and 55% of teens use the voice search feature at least once a day.
- Page speed is one of the main factors when it comes to voice search SEO. In fact, pages that rank well for voice searches load 52% faster than average pages. So make sure to avoid these costly web design mistakes.
- Google seems to prefer short answers for voice search queries. The average length is just 29 words.
Users use the voice function for a variety of things including to call someone, dictate texts, play a song, and more. However, since we are talking about search engine optimization, we must concentrate on how users use voice commands to search the web.
It is important to mention that pages that rank well for written queries do not always rank well for voice queries. However, high authority sites typically rank well. Work on your backlinks to generate more authority.
Competition is growing by the day. You need to do better than your competitors if you want to excel and watch your business grow. Voice search SEO is the next big thing. You need to make sure to optimize your site for voice search to stay ahead of the curve.
How Can I Rank for Voice Search?
According to reports, most users prefer voice search since it’s faster and offers more ease. Hence, you need to work on improving page load times. Users do not have the time to wait for a page to load. This is also why Google appears to prefer pages that load faster.
The next step is to know what people search for. Voice searches are different from regular searches. We do not talk the same way that we type. For example, most users will search for “cheap shoes NYC” when they want to buy cheap shoes in NYC. However, that’s not how you talk in the real world. So your voice queries will be different.
You will most likely ask Google to find you ‘cheap shoes in NYC’. Some users will speak a complete question like “where can I find cheap shoes in NYC.” The difference is minimal but it’s there.
According to reports, snippets can play a major role in voice search SEO and can help you rank for voice search. Hence, aim for featured snippets. This is because Google Assistant and Google Home read out featured snippets when they answer a specific search.
Make sure to answer specific questions and stay concise. Also, your overall SEO ranking plays a vital role, too. You can’t expect to optimize your page for voice search if it does not rank well overall. So pay attention to your overall SEO strategy.
You need to work on the information that you provide so you can rank for voice search. Know what people search for when they use voice search. For example, about 39% of users want to find information about a specific business when they use the voice search feature. Taking care of your Google My Business Page and online reviews can do the trick.
The voice search market is expected to hit the $601 billion mark soon. You need to be a part of the race today so that you can rule the voice SEO game.
Get in touch with us to learn more about how voice search SEO can help your business and why it’s growing. We offer affordable voice search optimization services and content marketing strategies tailored for your goals.
