Every day, millions of consumers turn to Google, Alexa, and Siri for answers and recommendations. But getting your content in front of these searchers isn’t a given. You'll need to tweak your keyword research, on-page SEO, and technical SEO strategies to account for the complexities of voice search. In this article, I’ll show you how to do just that. You'll learn what makes voice search optimization different, how you stand to benefit from it, and my six tips for climbing to the top of the voice search results.
Key Takeaways
Voice Search Optimization: It's a subset of SEO focused on making your site appear in more voice search results.
Prevalence of Voice Search: Almost one-third (31.5%) of surveyed American voice searchers use it daily or multiple times per day.
Benefits: Optimizing for voice search helps win more traffic, improves broader SEO efforts, and enhances user experience.
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Six Optimization Strategies:
Research Voice-Specific Keywords: Focus on long-tail, conversational, and question-based keywords.
Audit Existing Content: Make it more conversational and readable for voice search.
Optimize Content: Use pronouns, simplify language, and answer questions directly.
Improve Technical SEO: Add schema markup and ensure mobile-friendliness.
Implement Local SEO: Optimize for Google Business and other local directories.
Monitor Results: Use tools like Ubersuggest to track performance.
What is Voice Search Optimization?
Voice search SEO is a specialized strategy within the broader field of search engine optimization. It involves tailoring your site to better rank in voice search results. Unlike traditional SEO, which often focuses on typed queries, voice search SEO requires consideration of how people naturally speak to their devices. This means optimizing for different keywords and improving technical elements like site speed and mobile usability.
Example: Typed vs. Voice Search
Typed: "Restaurants near me"
Voice: "What are some good restaurants in my local area?"
How Voice Search Has Evolved
Voice search has become more conversational due to advancements in AI and technology. According to Nikki Brandemarte, Sr. SEO Strategist at NP Digital, it's about providing relevant, conversational answers rather than hitting a specific keyword density. This shift means focusing on the context and intent behind queries, offering direct and natural responses.
Benefits of Voice Search for SEO
Get More Traffic
With voice search becoming commonplace, especially on smartphones and smart home devices, optimizing for it captures a vast audience. The number of voice assistant users in the U.S. is expected to grow from 142 million in 2022 to over 157 million in 2026.
Boost Other SEO Efforts
By adding long-tail keywords and answering questions, you enhance your site's topical authority. This approach aids in appearing in Google's featured snippets and AI Overviews, benefiting your overall SEO strategy.
Optimize the User Experience
Voice search optimization requires improvements in technical aspects of your site, such as making it mobile-friendly and using structured data like schema, which collectively enhance user experience.
6 Tips for Voice Search Optimization
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Research Keywords for Voice Search
Focus on long-tail, conversational, and question-based keywords.
Use tools like Ubersuggest and AnswerThePublic for insights.
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Audit Content
Look for opportunities to integrate voice-specific keywords and make your content more conversational.
Use tools like Hemingway for readability checks.
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Optimize Content
Use pronouns and natural language.
Add FAQ sections to address common questions.
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Remember Technical SEO
Implement schema markup and ensure mobile optimization.
Use Google's PageSpeed Insights to improve site speed.
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Implement Local SEO
Optimize your Google Business Profile and build citations.
Focus on local keywords and landmarks relevant to your business.
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Monitor Results
Use tools like Ubersuggest to track keyword performance and keep your strategy updated.
See How Digital Marketing Can Drive More Traffic to Your Website
Brand Voice Strategy: Let our team help you create your brand voice to attract your ideal customer.
Market Growth Opp Research: Discover untapped traffic opportunities.
Local SEO: Dominate your local market with effective strategies.
Competitive Link Analysis: Understand your competitors' strategies.
Geo-Targeting: Find your customers in your desired location.
Content Marketing: Create epic content that generates links and attracts traffic.
Paid Media Advertising: Achieve clear ROI with effective paid strategies.
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Search Box Optimization: Own a keyword in your local area.
FAQs
Q: What is voice search optimization (voice search SEO)?
A: Voice search optimization involves tailoring your website to appear in search engine results for voice-based queries, which are typically more conversational and question-focused than typed searches.
Q: How does voice search affect SEO?
A: Voice search requires marketers to target different keywords, write in a conversational style, and use schema markup to improve site visibility in voice search results.
Optimizing for voice search can significantly enhance your organic traffic. With a growing number of voice searches happening daily, the techniques you use for voice optimization are integral to a comprehensive SEO strategy. So, why not start now? "Hey Siri, what have readers got to lose?"
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