How to Optimize for Voice Search

Businesses are working overtime to keep up with ever-changing online habits of consumers. One modern concept that’s steadily gaining traction among consumers is voice search. Society craves instant gratification, making devices such as the Amazon Alexa and Google Home highly sought-after.

Studies suggest that by 2020, 50 percent of internet searches will be assisted by smart speakers. Currently, 58 percent of consumers use voice-activated search engines to research businesses. As these figures continue to rise, businesses are looking for ways to fulfill client desires. Here are some tips on how to optimize for voice search and, in turn, expand your reach.

Maximize Your Online Exposure

First, you’ll need to get listed online. The easier your products and services are to locate, the more business you’ll garner. This tip is especially important for local businesses to heed.

When people use Siri and Google Assistant to look up information, the results aren’t as abundant as they would be with a basic Google text search. With that said, you want to ensure that your website is at the top of search engines. Getting listed is a step in the right direction.

Once you’ve cemented your position at the forefront, SEO comes into the mix. Implementing search engine optimization tactics is a surefire way to maintain your high ranking. More importantly, this practice will allow you to get a leg up on the competition. With time, you’ll become one of the first businesses customers gain access to when they use voice search to research your services.

Create Local Content

Though this may sound counterintuitive, creating local content will help your business amass a broader clientele. Once you’ve earned respect from nearby neighborhoods and regions, your reputation will skyrocket. As a result, prospective clients will be champing at the bit to employ your services.

According to an internet trends report, 22 percent of voice searches are geared towards local queries. With that said, catering to a specific audience is a vital component of SEO voice search. The more tailored your material is the more relevant your audience will be.

Work Towards Fast-Loading Times

Voice-activated devices put a premium on expediency. Google Home, for instance, generates results based on the amount of time it takes for a website to load. The quicker the loading time, the more favorable you are to voice-enabled gadgets.

There are plenty of tools available that’ll show you your site’s average loading time, but more often than not web owners are unsure of how to mitigate the issue. If your website is bogged down, consider optimizing the images, reducing the HTML and integrating a content-delivery network.

Opt For Long-Tail Keywords

The debate between long-tail vs. short-tail keyword stuffing has long been mired in controversy. As SEO professionals continue to unearth the merits of search engine optimization, long-tail keywords are proving more efficient. This notion rings especially true when referencing SEO voice search.

When individuals perform searches via smart technology, the terms and phrases they use are often lengthier than text searches. Many attribute this to the convenience of talking over typing. The longer your keywords are, the more likely they are to sync up with voice searches.

Structure Your Data

Haphazard operations have no place in the business realm. When creating your website, it’s particularly important that your data be structured. This means placing reviews at the top of your website, highlighting your services on the front page and making information easily scannable.

When smart applications such as Amazon Alexa crawl the web, websites that boast these features are more likely to be chosen as suitable results. Not only does it make the potential client happy, but it leaves smart technology satisfied with the job well done, too.

Provide Clear-Cut Answers

When searching the web, even via voice-activated devices, no one likes to be given the runaround. Filling your website with impertinent information will only sully your reputation. As a result, gadgets such as Google Home will write off your company as disreputable.

An easy way to circumnavigate this undesirable scenario is to provide a wealth of helpful information to your valued visitors. Every piece of data that goes onto your site should be deemed worthy by audiences. Anything less than relevant details will be disregarded much like your company itself.

Takeaway

Priming your business for the inevitable rise of the voice-enabled revolution is a savvy way to remain on top of ongoing trends. Though voice search SEO is unconventional and, as a result, balked at, the growing prevalence of this concept is too great to be ignored. The above advice on how to optimize for voice search intends to keep your business profitable as this imminent transition unfolds.