Voice search is a growing trend that’s here to stay
In fact, with the increasing popularity of smart speakers and smartphones, the trend towards voice search is only set to grow.
The rise of voice search is affecting your small business more than you might think, especially when it comes to SEO.
#1. Adapt your keyword research strategy.
People use different keywords depending on the type of search they carry out – voice search or traditional search.
For example, if someone is looking for a hair salon in Vancouver using a traditional search, they’ll probably use “salon de coiffure Québec” or perhaps “salon de coiffure à Québec”. But, if she performs a voice search from her smartphone, she could say “where is the nearest hair salon?”.
#2. Have an FAQ page.
When you’re researching keywords for voice search optimization, you’ll find that most voice search keywords are actually questions, and it can be difficult to integrate them into your content as naturally as traditional keywords.
A FAQ page is a great way to provide answers to common questions people have, while using voice search keywords in a totally natural way.
#3. Get listed on Google My Business.
In addition to questions, the keywords “near me” are incredibly common in voice search. And the key to ranking for “near me” keywords is to register and optimize your Google My Business listing.
Fill in as many fields as possible, include high-quality images and stay active by posting and replying to reviews and questions.
#4. Make site speed a priority.
Most voice searches are performed on mobile devices, and most people who use voice search are looking for immediate answers. This means that site speed is essential, especially mobile site speed.
#5. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly.
As mentioned, most voice searches are done on mobile, which means your website needs to be mobile-friendly, and that starts with having a responsive design.
Responsive designs automatically reconfigure themselves, regardless of the device used, maintaining the functionality and aesthetics of the desktop site. Find out if your website passes Google’s mobile-friendly test.
#6. Make your content more relevant with Schema markup.
Schema markup is data that provides Google and other search engines with more information about your website and content. In other words, they help search engines to better understand and rank your content.
Google’ s aim is to provide its users with the most relevant search results. The more context and relevance you can add, the better, and using schematic markup is a great way to achieve this.
#7. Be more conversational.
People who type a keyword into Google search differently from those who query Siri or Alexa. The biggest difference is that people are much more conversational and natural in the way they search when using a virtual assistant or smart speaker.
Reflect this change by making a point of ensuring that your content is natural and conversational. You’ll improve your ranking and offer your visitor a better experience.
