SEO Tip: Optimize Your Content So That It Is Voice Search Friendly
SEO Tip: Optimize Your Content So That It Is Voice Search Friendly
Optimize your content so that it is voice search friendly
In today’s fast paced world the function of Voice Search offers convenience and efficiency. It enables the user to work faster, to multi-task and to do so hands-free. The rise of COVID-19 has more people turning to voice search, reinforcing the growing popularity, be it necessity or trend. This information and the statistics to follow showcase the importance of creating content that is voice search friendly.
What is Voice Search?
Voice search is a function found on a mobile device or voice activated speaker that enables the user to conduct an internet search by voicing the inquiry into a search engine.
Examples of Voice Activated Devices you may be familiar with:
- Google Assistant
- Apple’s SIRI
- Amazon’s Alexa
- Microsoft’s Cortana
What is Voice Search Friendly – What is Voice Search Optimization?
You may start by answering the following question;
What does it mean to have content that is Voice Search Friendly?
Well, content that has been optimized is content that has been created with the user’s experience in mind. The content will lend itself to a more conversational tone, so that when a request is submitted to the phone or voice activated speaker, the search engine is able to identify phrases and retrieve the information requested.
Voice Search Optimization is applied so that your website pages have a better opportunity of being sourced by a simple Voice Search command. When optimizing for Voice Search, ensure that you optimize in the same manner in which people conduct verbal searches.
I asked Google the following:
“Give me Dufferin Media’s phone number.”
Google brought up Dufferin Media’s Google My Business Page
“Who is the owner of Dufferin Media in Orangeville?”
Google brought up Sarah Clarke – LinkedIn
“What is the population of Orangeville?”
Google told me the population of 28,900
“Tell me about downtown Orangeville.”
Google brought me to the Downtown Orangeville Website
The Voice Search response was successful in answering all 4 queries. This is particularly useful to the consumer as they attempt to find businesses in the area. Technology is meant to make our lives easier. Today you can simply speak into your phone, “Google, what take-out restaurants are nearby?” and you will receive links and maps at your finger tips.
The convenience of this technology is obvious and the solution for business is to adapt and ensure that all business information is accessible to the consumer; whether that information is sourced online with keystrokes or a voice command.
How Do I Make Voice Search Friendly Content?
Voice Search functionality is on the rise. The success of your content will be in it’s accessibility. The content should not only appeal to the user who is typing queries but also to the vast growing population making use of Voice Search technologies.
PROtips:
- Keep your content clear & concise.
- Use common words & terminology
- Avoid the use of slang, jargon and short forms. These terms are not search engine friendly.
- Ensure your copy, title tags & content is created with a conversational tone.
- Focus on keywords & long-tail keywords and phrases. Make use of “everyday” language and conversation. Read more: Include Long-Tail Keywords in Your SEO Strategy
- Make use of feature pages like FAQ & blogs that incorporate the above into the delivery.
- Optimize content to fulfill the consumer’s anticipated Voice Search request; the top three search requests seek information about the following: Information, Navigation and Transaction.
Content that is created to serve both a typed search and a voice search is ideal. It would not be advised to ignore Voice Search altogether. Voice Search is already proving acceptance from the user. It would be in the best interest of the business to make the content accessible to the consumer by adapting to the technology.
Convincing Statistics About Voice Search Usage:
- According to Google, 27% of the users online make use of voice search on their mobile phones.
- ComScore reports that more than 50% of smartphone users engage with voice search technology.
- In a study conducted by Gartner, they predict that by 2020 30% of browsing will include voice search.
- In 2017, BrightLocal found that 58% have used voice search to find a local business, in addition to, citing that 46% of people use voice search daily to find local businesses.
- According to an Adobe Analytics study, the most common voice activated speaker searches are as follows: music (70%), weather forecast (64%), fun questions (53%), online search (47%), news (46%), and directions (34%).
