The way search engine optimization (SEO) is applied to your website is constantly changing, especially thanks to the latest technologies and tools that allow users to search for anything that uses voice instead of their hands. This is where voice search optimization comes into play and becomes useful to learn about in our ever-changing world of advanced technology.
This article explains what voice search optimization is and why it’s so important for digital marketing.
What Is Voice Search Optimization?
Voice search optimization is the process of optimizing the content of your website so that your website is within the top page when people use their voice to ask relevant questions.
The voice assistant uses natural language processing. In other words, it learns about what the user is talking about and in return gives you customized unique searches. Unlike keywords that can be physically identifiable when searching on a computer, voice search is more natural and interactive. This means that voice search naturally takes much longer.
By 2023, the global value of voice-assistant e-commerce transactions is expected to amount to almost 20 billion U.S. dollars, growing fourfold from the figure from 2021. This means that people will be using their voice assistants like Siri, Cortana and Alexa more to easily find what they’re looking for. It could be that they’re looking for a nearby restaurant or they might just want to quickly pull up their local weather report.
One thing that you must remember is that voice searches don’t usually present a list of results to the user, they have their own method to decide which result is most relevant based on factor such as relevant and authority on the particular subject.
For voice search optimization there is no middle ground, you will either rank first, or you won’t rank at all.
What’s The Difference Between Each Voice Assistant?
- GOOGLE ASSISTANT uses Google Search to pull up results, as you might have guessed. Results are typically pulled from top organic listings.
- SIRI also uses Google Search (as of September 2017, previously Bing) to pull general queries but they use Apple Maps for local businesses. If you haven’t already, now is the time to register your business with Apple Maps.
- CORTANA uses Bing which isn’t the most popular search engine around but it’s still up there with the main three.
- ALEXA is a voice assistant app that uses its own database of knowledge from Amazon when answering queries but still depends on Bing as a backup.
- BIXBY by Samsung can’t currently search for information like its competitors can.
To summarize, most personal assistant apps use Google Search as their main source of information. This doesn’t mean that Bing should be disregarded though, as a lot of people have Microsoft devices and therefore, have access to Cortana.
Get Ready for Voice Search or Get Left Behind
As technology advances and improves, the younger generation will naturally continue to adopt the new technology and embrace it, which includes voice searches.
It’s not just the younger generation, but different age groups also use voice search. According to Google, 41 percent of adults, along with 55 percent of teens, are using voice search.
Close to 50% of people are now researching products using voice search according to Social Media Today
1 out of 5 mobile queries are voice searches, according to Google.
If people can get things done without lifting a finger, of course they will.
According to Gartner, 32% of people like to use hands-free technology to get things done on the go.
The way voice search is moving on to the next level, it is important for companies to optimize their website for voice search or get outdated.
Conclusion
Because times are changing, and each year even more advanced technology hits the shelves. Recently released devices have built-in voice assistants that the younger generation will likely like, and today almost half of all searches are done by voice, therefore, it’s absolutely essential to stay ahead of your competition. There is no further debate about if voice search will fade away over the years. The popularity and usage will only increase in the coming years. Stay ahead of this trend so you don’t get left behind!
I hope that you now feel ready to take on the new year! With a strategic approach and some prior organisation, you have the opportunity to significantly boost sales and grow your brand. If you need help implementing any of the above suggestions, please contact me! You know I am always happy to help.
Ethan is a Full Stack Web Developer and SEO Specialist based in Pittsburgh, PA. In his free time, Ethan enjoys working on various projects involving Ruby, Vue and AWS applications.
Ethan graduated from The Firehose Project coding bootcamp in 2016 with a focus on Ruby on Rail and Computer Software engineering.