Voice search is a type of technology that allows users to search online using natural language, instead of typing.
It uses voice commands or questions to locate information quickly and accurately.
Voice search can be used on digital assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, and Google Home.
For example, a user can ask their virtual assistant to “find a restaurant near me” and the digital assistant will provide several options.
Voice search is changing the way people search for content online, making it more conversational and natural.
According to Statista, In 2021, there were around 120.4 million users of voice assistants in the United States, which amounted to 46.2 percent of the population.
The number of voice assistant users is predicted to increase to 130.1 million users in 2025.
This shift has implications for SEO strategies
As voice search becomes more popular, brands must consider how to optimize their content for voice search queries.
Simply put, if you want to reach as many relevant search engine users as possible, then you need to prioritize voice search optimization.
In order to optimize your SEO strategy for voice search in 2022, there are several steps you should take.
Structure your content with Schema markup
Schema markup is a type of code that helps search engines understand the context and intent behind your content.
This is important since voice searches use natural language, which can sometimes be ambiguous or vague.
Voice searches use more conversational language than typed searches, making it important to focus on long-tail keywords and phrases rather than single words.
When creating website content or blog posts, incorporate structured data such as FAQ pages to give the most relevant results when users make a voice command.
This also helps if someone is using a digital assistant like Alexa or Siri as they can understand and interpret information better from structured data sources.
Optimize content for local searches
Optimize your website for local searches by adding location-specific keywords, such as city and state names.
This is especially important for businesses that rely on local customers, as voice searches are more likely to include geographical information.
For example; if a user were to ask their digital assistant “where can I find the best pizza in Los Angeles,” the digital assistant would need to understand that this is a local query and provide results from Los Angeles.
Build authority and trustworthiness
Search engines use trustworthiness and authority as a metric when ranking websites.
When optimizing your content for voice search, you should focus on building these two factors in order to increase your chances of appearing in the featured snippet box.
This can be done by creating high-quality, authoritative content that is backed up by reputable sources.
Optimize your website for mobile use.
Since voice search is typically used on mobile devices, it is imperative to optimize your website for a seamless experience on smaller screens.
This means making sure your website runs smoothly on different devices and that all content can be easily accessed and navigated from any device.
Personalize your customer experience
By leveraging profile data collected through social media accounts like Google My Business (GMB) or other customer loyalty programs you can create tailored content that speaks directly to your target audience and satisfies their needs.
This will ultimately help improve the user experience and increase your overall ranking for voice search queries.
Monitor changes in technology
Finally, keep track of changes in voice search technology. Voice search is still a relatively new technology and as it continues to evolve, so should your SEO strategies.
Stay up to date on the latest trends and make sure you’re optimizing for voice search so that you don’t fall behind the competition.
Bottom line: allow your brand to tell its own story.
Whether you wish to safeguard your website for the future, draw in local customers, or simply foster your brand’s expansion, voice search optimization can be incredibly advantageous.
Unlock the potential of voice search and watch your leads, as well as sales skyrocket in 2022