Optimizing Your Site for Voice Search

Is your site being discovered and delivering the best experience for voice searchers? Today, we all need to be thinking about how to optimize for voice search. If not, your site could be missing out on new traffic, sales and customers. Voice search is not only increasingly popular but it has many benefits that typing cannot offer, such as context awareness, zero scrolling or paging, and hands-free use. Maximize your site experience by optimizing it for voice search. Get started with these simple tips to optimize your site for voice search today!

1. Use conversational keywords

Usually, when using Google Search, we input specific details on the search engine, often being as precise as we can to guarantee the most accurate results to our needs. When using voice search, however, users generally interact with the AI assistants using normal conversational language, just as if they are speaking to another human. Voice searches are often used by users who are not clear on their search parameters, usually having to input longer variables seeking a solution. In these cases, the individual will seek to explain their query to the search engine, hoping that with increasing details, a solution arises. Consequently, therefore, it is paramount that you set up your website such that it can effectively and easily understand user queries, before providing swift and accurate responses. When users use voice search online, they often make inquiries using long sentences, instead of shorter phrases. Consequently, in tandem with optimizing keywords, the website also needs to utilize long tail keywords for maximum effectiveness.

2. Use Long-tail keywords

Long tail keywords help businesses attract customers specifically seeking their expertise or services online. With long tail keywords, the business will draw customer traffic, specifically who seek the services the business offers. While long-tail keywords may reduce overall traffic to your site, they help businesses zero in on specific customers. Additionally, long tail keywords also make websites suitable for voice searches, which generally consist of long and specific search parameters. As previously highlighted, voice searches include numerous keywords, since the individual cannot accurately describe what they seek. With the higher number of keywords input in the search engine, businesses with long-tail keywords hold a significant advantage. As the keywords increase, so does the probability to match with your content, which will ultimately get selected by the search engine algorithm. The closer the keywords match with the search query, the higher the probability of selection.

Optimizing your website by managing long-tail keywords will help the site garner more organic visitors, with a higher conversion rate. While traffic may be lower when long tail keywords are strictly implemented, the business can record increased sales because online visitors can find them by searching for their specific needs. Ensure that the keywords are simple, all while maintaining effective SEO. With voice searches, users are unlikely to use jargon, and instead, seek answers through simple inquiries. Setting up your keywords using simple languages enhances your website’s visibility on the search engine results page.

3. Design for Mobile

Internet use has greatly increased in the last decade, with much of the global population having access to an internet-capable device. Statistically, more than 90% of the global population has access to the internet through their mobile phones. Usually, voice searches get conducted through mobile phones since they are usually within closer proximity to the user. Additionally, most people will have much of their online life set on their mobile phones, making it crucial for any savvy business to adapt their content for access on mobile phones. Consequently, therefore, all web designers and organizations need to optimize their websites for mobile viewing. Mobile-friendly websites have shown greater resonance with users since they can effectively interact with their favorite websites without having to change devices. Adapting the website content for mobile phone use not only makes it more convenient for users but also exposes the business to more potential clientele, giving the business greater potential for growth. Caution should be taken to avoid making common copywriting mistakes that might hinder the reach of your content.

4. Add a FAQs Section

The FAQs section is increasingly becoming essential in a website since it both bolsters the website’s visibility on search engine results and also quickly provides information to website visitors with ease. The FAQs section lists some common questions frequently sought by visitors, with accompanying solutions. However, having a FAQs section on your website is not enough. The section must get appropriately set, accommodating all types of online visitors. With the increased use of voice search, it is crucial that the FAQs section gets set up such that it increases the probability of visibility on the search results. As earlier elaborated, voice searches primarily involve queries in conversational language, which in turn, requires the FAQs section to get set up using similar language. Traditionally, FAQs get set up formally, which limits the accessibility by voice search. Seek to set up the questions as if having a direct conversation with the visitors. With a more organic tone, the FAQs will have a greater chance of exposure high on search engine results. Identify important questions and answers you feel are best answered by your business, and then optimize them for voice queries, such that they increase your website’s presence on the top of the search engine results page. These questions should then get structured in natural language, such that your result comes up whenever a question similar to yours gets posed on Google search.

5. Have an Optimized Google My Business profile

Google My Business is a tool that grants businesses to adequately manage their online presence on Google’s search Engine Results and Google Maps, displaying vital information about the business. With the tool, you can display information like opening and closing times, as well as contact details and a link to your business’ website. Many business owners, especially small business owners often forego the tool, citing it redundant yet they are easily accessible by their customers. However, it is crucial that all businesses set up Google My Business since this significantly enhances any business’ online presence. Furthermore, the tool is free, and the benefits are substantial for any business, regardless of its size. Potential customers using voice search can reach your business if you update your Google My Business profile. For instance, a customer can be seeking a bakery within their location, and your cake shop, being in proximity, will get listed as one of the options. However, these results will only emerge if a business has an up-to-date profile. When setting up the profile, seek to include as much important information as possible. Most crucially, however, is to include an accurate business address, since this will determine the ease potential customers have when locating your business. Include a suitable description, describing your business and utilizing relevant keywords regarding your business. This data, with proper keywords, can help boost your business’s visibility online, even in voice searches.

6. Localize your experience

While optimizing your website for voice search, also ensure that you pay close attention to the local region where your business resides. While search results may get revealed globally, remember that your primary customer base resides within the region of operation, and thus the content must get optimized for easier access by potential customers within the locality. For instance, there may be dialects, or even cultural practices inherent to your region of operation, and you should optimize your website’s content for easier access and understanding by the locality as a priority. Research on the various communication tendencies exhibited by residents within your region, and thereafter set up your website, as well as the content within it in a manner that comfortably appeases any visitors. Google’s algorithms also present results based on their suitability to the region, and thus, setting up your website for your locality will enhance the probability of getting higher rankings on the search results.

7. Interact with Social Media Users

Social media is another essential tool that if well utilized, can accord a business immense growth. As the access to smartphones increases, so does the use of social media. Today, social media is a critical tool for any business, as here, the business can conveniently reach potential clients, and also provide assistance more effectively without necessarily having to physically visit the business premises. Social media is a platform that can significantly boost a business’s growth, but only if utilized appropriately. Primarily, the business needs to keep an active social media presence, on three platforms specifically; Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Facebook and Instagram dominate the industry, and any ambitious business needs to seep into this vast potential to promote growth. As a business owner, you should ensure frequent communication with other social media users, seeking to grow your brand’s reach. Social media presents an opportunity for immense growth, and this can get achieved even without a significant marketing budget or campaign. The business owner needs to engage with other users frequently, post content frequently, and promptly respond to any inquiries. Through social media conversations, a business owner can gather vast and crucial data regarding questions posed by the public, and also details regarding how to enhance customer service and satisfaction. Social media also gives a business a glimpse into the type of questions potential customers have regarding the business, helping set up the FAQs section more effectively.

Becoming a smart, adaptive company for voice-activated technologies means taking a serious look at how you optimize your site for voice search. The tips shared above can help you attract more customers. Voice search is here to stay so make sure you don’t get left behind!