Voice Search in 2019: How to Optimize for SEO

In 2019, numerous types of digital trends are on the rise including Mobile First, Facebook Live, and AI. We’re witnessing a surge in technological trends and a massive increase in the number of people that are using smart phones. Not only are more people using smartphones to get information from the web, but they’re also using voice searches. ComScore asserts that by 2020, 50% of all searches will be voice dominated and Garner states about 30% of all searches will be done without a screen by 2020.

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THE FUTURE OF VOICE SEARCH

Voice search is here in the present, and consumers are quickly adopting it and will continue to do so. People are using their digital assistants in their own homes, with Google stating that 72% of people who own voice-activated speakers say that their devices are used as part of their daily routines. Of this percentage, 52% of people keep their voice-activated speakers in their living rooms. Personal assistants learn from our speech patterns and personal preferences to gain meaning and assist us throughout the day. As time progresses, they are getting more intelligent and can determine our behavior.

The digital assistants of today’s day and age are surpassing primary voice input and are evolving to understand the consumer’s intent and buying behaviors through data to assist consumers to take actions. With half of the searches coming in through Siri, Cortana, and Google, marketers will need to determine a way to help consumers in having ready access to the information they’re seeking. Optimizing for voice search requires different strategies from those for traditional Search Engine Optimization.

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HOW TO OPTIMIZE

Search engines are placing a higher emphasis on voice search optimization due to its prominence. SEO ranks websites accurately so users can find the information they are looking for as quickly as possible. User experience is at the forefront of search engine optimization.
It’s essential to adjust marketing tactics to provide answers to questions across all formats from text search to voice search. Optimizing for voice search requires different strategies from those for traditional SEO. Here are some tips for digital marketers to gain insight on how to adapt to voice search:

1. Use Longer Phrases in Your Content:

Make sure content is in a clear, conversational voice. It’s important to write the way that you speak. When using voice search, people are talking into their devices as opposed to typing on a keyboard, so they are using full sentences. To assure that your content is optimized for voice search, include those long-tail keywords that sound more natural in conversation as opposed to shorter keywords that perform well in desktop SEO.

2. Make Sure Your Website Loads Quickly

Just like traditional SEO, Google voice search supports websites that load quickly. You want your target audience to be able to access information immediately. Make sure:

• Your site is responsive and efficient on mobile devices
• Images are optimized
• Files are compressed
• You utilize website caching to improve webpage speed
• Reduced server response time

3. Create A FAQ Page

An excellent way to optimize is to create an FAQ page that focuses on those long-tail and conversational keyword phrases. Try to group frequent questions on the same page. Use natural-sounding questions, so it’s compatible with human speech. Simple content will help. The average Google voice search result is at a 9th-grade level. 

4. Use Structured Data and Schema Markup

Using structured data can help the search engines understand your data more efficiently. It makes it easier for search engines to understand your content and its context accurately.

5. Focus on Local Searches

Optimizing local research is a vital step. Statistics show that 22% of voice searches are seeking location content. If you invest in local content, you have a higher chance of producing voice search content. Using phrases such as “near me” will help with this. When using “near me,” Google’s voice search algorithms go to Google business listings with this phrase. Google Business is where your brand’s name needs to be listed. By making your information available, you are assisting with your site ranking on Google in the local search world.

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Up until 2011, Siri, a digital personal assistant did not exist. The invention of voice search changed how people access information. With this new model of search, marketers and consumers are both experiencing a shift. There are many diverse strategies businesses can take to keep pace with the ever-evolving way society interacts with technology. The main takeaway is that marketers can adapt to this change by altering their content and structuring their data more efficiently to answer the question of the consumer searching. Voice Search is here to stay. It’s important to keep on track and optimize to benefit your SEO.

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