“Siri, look up the weather today… Alexa, find me the best-rated recent horror books.” The list of questions that we verbally ask our devices can get long really fast. We now live in a world that is synchronous with smart technology that ten years ago we would have said was impossible. Hell, we even ask our T.V.s to find specific shows for us now. It’s easy and convenient. That being said, we should preface this entire article by saying that typing a search and voice search are not the same. The main difference is that when people ask a question they usually speak more naturally, using long keywords. Text search is usually shorter and gives more options to choose from. With voice search being so popular and fast, your website must be optimized for SEO voice search now as well. It will help increase how many voice searches you appear in and improve user experiences so, here are some ways to help improve your website for voice search results.
1. Use conversational language in your web content: If you feature blogs, make sure that they are written conversationally. This will help with organic search results because this style is considered more relevant concerning voice search. When writing, speak to the reader. Use terms such as I, we, you, etc.
2. Make sure your site is fast to load: Nobody likes a slow site. Attention spans are getting shorter. Ensure your site loads in under 2 seconds to keep the user from experiencing negativity with the brand. This is considered when Google ranks your site.
3. Optimize for mobile: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Websites MUST be optimized for mobile. Most people search on their phone. If your site is impossible to read and navigate, you will lose your audience. Not only this, Google again, considers it when ranking your site.
4. Target long-tail keywords: Since voice search is more specific long-tail keywords can better optimize. These are 3 or more words that contain who, what, when, where, and how questions. There are keyword research tools you can use to find which long-tail keywords work for your brand.
5. Localize your business: If your brand is local, it’s important to add a location to your pages. Use visual content that tags the specific location of the area. Use local keywords and a Google business profile.
6. Try to land Google Snippets: A Google snippet is a short piece of content that is above search results. They come from pages that rank high for a specific query.
Following these practices will help optimize your website SEO for voice search in our world of artificially intelligent devices. Even if you don’t see results right away, they are happening trust us. Using these tips will help better your chances of reaching more customers. Modern consumers crave convenience so make sure your website offers what they need.
