Voice search is a recent technology that allows you to make online searches using voice prompts. Although it has been developed for over 11 years, it has only recently become a mainstream technology.
It is estimated that voice search usage will increase to 50% in 2020. It is vital, therefore, for you to optimize your business site for the use of voice technology. As businesses continue to embrace eCommerce platforms, you want to ensure that your content and website are moving with the times.
So, what are some ways in which you can optimize your website for voice search in order to gain a competitive edge?
1. Develop A Solid Plan of Attack
As users continue to make the voice search switch, it is important to adapt your company to both current and future voice search requirements. To do this, you have to develop a winning strategy. You have to analyze your current keyword strategy and what you need for the future. You then have to consider producing new content with your findings.
2. Conduct Keyword Research
The way in which people voice search is different to that of typing. This means you will have to consider changing the way you incorporate keywords into your content. For example, instead of using keywords like “antique furniture Melbourne”, you will want to consider something like “where is a good place to buy antique furniture in Melbourne?”. Voice is more about directing the user to a product’s action as opposed to delivering results options.
If you find it difficult to develop a quality keyword strategy that adheres to these changes, you can simply enlist the services of a reputable digital marketing agency to help put you ahead of the competition.
3. Optimize Your Business for Local Search
You have to optimize your local listing and its local search content. Most voice searches go after information about places that a person has to visit. For example, it could be about “best places to buy Thai food in Melbourne” or “Thai takeaway in Melbourne”.
4. Reduce Website Loading Time
Every savvy marketer knows that page loading speed is vital to SEO rankings. So, with the increasing amount of digital content (including that of voice) available online, the faster your website loads the higher it will rank in the future.
Websites that contain simple, easily-digested chunks of content rank higher in search engines. Google and other search engines favour websites with fast loading times, so you want to ensure your website is quick to load in order for it to appear when a voice search is made.
5. Target Audience Questions
Most voice searches are conducted in the form of a question. Think about how you would question a voice assistant and create content based upon this style of search. For example, you might ask Siri, “how to prepare my veggie patch for winter?” You want to ensure your content fits these types of audience actions.
6. Produce Voice-Search Friendly Content
Always create content that is easy to read and digest. Your content should be conversational and flow easily. For an automated voice to understand a search, the content has to be written in a clear and concise manner, without too many confusing additives.
7. Create Plenty of Local Content
Many voice searches are local content-specific. Producing locally-relevant content that is specific to the needs of your target audience goes a long way to putting you ahead of the voice search/wearable tech competition. Furthermore, your business doesn’t have to be local to produce local content, and you can create plenty of local content that will drive traffic from across the board despite your location.
8. User Experience is Key
As opposed to regular Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), voice search focuses on one website for its queries. Ensure that the voice assistant will be able to easily access your information. This also means you require an incredibly mobile-friendly site, with fast loading times and secure HTTPs.
Conclusion
As voice search and wearable technology are set to have a huge impact on the digital world in the year ahead, it is vital for you and your business to be prepared for the shift. Otherwise, you may find yourself falling behind when you previously thought your digital strategy was sound.
By completing such actions as increasing site loading times, producing new content and simplifying said content, you should have a solid method in place for the not-too-distant future of search engine action.