Have you ever tried a voice search? If not, go ahead. Try it.
Voice search is unstoppable, so get used to it.
Voice search represents a major shift in the way people use the internet.
By 2020 (that’s not far away), voice searches will comprise one-third of all internet searches.
Already, nearly half a billion voice assistants are in use. Because of this, tens of millions of people use their voices to search the internet.
To accommodate the trend, Google, Bing, and other search engines are investing heavily in voice technology to deliver an effective user experience.
Right now, Google’s voice algorithms are more than 95% accurate. Such accuracy means that more people are willing to use voice search
To accommodate smartphone and smart home users, Google has created special rules for ranking and displaying results from spoken searches.
In other words, the popularity of voice searches is also affecting the traditional search experience.
To put it differently, the same principles that improve your business’ performance in voice-based search can boost your ordinary SEO.
Continue reading to get some practical tips for leveraging voice search for your business.
Why do People use Voice Search?
First, people use voice search Google because it’s convenient. For example, if they’re using their hands, they can speak to Google rather than typing their query. Essentially, voice search facilitates multitasking.
Additionally, searching by voice is fast. Users can press a single voice search button or say, “Hello Siri” to search the internet. That’s a lot faster than they can unlock their phone, launch their search app, and type their question.
Finally, people increasingly depend on voice because voice search gives them good results. In short, people can quickly ask questions and get concise answers. Moreover, voice search results give users an easy way to extend their learning experience.
Voice Search Success Factors
Now that you know the importance of voice, how do you get the Google voice search app to refer users to your website?
You could ask the same question of other voice assistants:
- Siri (Apple iPhone, iPad, Mac).
- Cortana (Microsoft Windows, Xbox).
- Alexa (Amazon Echo).
- Google Now (The best voice search app for Android).
- Roku voice search.
Of course, if you’re ready to start optimizing your business for voice searches, you should contact ABS Marketing right now.
However, if you’re still learning, continue reading. Below, you’ll learn some basic tips for getting your business noticed in voice search results.
Readability
Readability is a major voice search ranking factor. To create an outstanding experience with spoken search users, Google provides simple and concise answers.
Why? It’s because Google must read the search results out loud to users. (Remember that many people are now using screen-less devices such as Alexa and Google Home.)
So, text that’s easy for humans to read is also easy for a machine to read.
Time is also a factor. After all, voice search users want instant, relevant answers. For this reason, Google will give top priority to short, effective sentences.
Just imagine if Google started reading dozens of paragraphs containing meandering sentences in response to a simple voice search! If that happened, people would stop using Google.
Bottom Line: If you want your business to have a chance to succeed with vocal search, the content you publish must be easy to read.
If you’re not ready to sign up with ABS Marketing right now, start improving your content with 11 Writing Tips for Improving Readability and Communicating Better.
Conversational Style
For a long time, Google has been emphasizing content that Answers questions. For this reason, structured content has become essential to the success of any online marketing strategy.
Now that the world has embraced voice searches, Google is taking the next step by prioritizing conversational style.
As you write content for your website or social media profiles, think about how you use voice search. Most likely, you ask questions. Everyone else asks questions too.
Use the “5 Ws” as guidance.
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- To what extent?
- Why?
- How?
Answer the above questions as you write and you’ll prepare your business for speech search.
Context
In case you didn’t know, Google is always snooping. Even when you have your microphone and location services turned off, Google still listens to you and knows where you are.
Google also knows how fast you are going, what the weather is like where you are, and what other people are near you. Of course, Google also knows what businesses are nearby.
The same goes for everyone who has a smartphone.
With that being said, context is playing a major role in search results.
So, if you want to reach customers who are in a particular place and participating in a certain activity, you should write your content to meet that context.
Voice Search Statistics
Researchers have published voice search stats reveal a lot about what you need to do to optimize your content. The following are just a few of the many relevant metrics.
Page Speed
Google serves voice search results from web pages that load quickly. Certainly, this is to continue an exceptional user experience should you tap a link to get more information.
By the way, page speed is also a ranking factor for mobile and desktop search.
Typical websites that are included in the results of voice searches are twice as fast as the average web page.
Is your website slow? If so, you’re losing money. Contact your digital marketing agency for help.
Domain Authority
Google tends to serve voice search results from content that’s hosted by authoritative domains. So, while your website is new, you must focus on becoming an authority in your industry.
Featured Snippets
Close to half of all of Google’s results for voice searches come from featured snippets.
What is a featured snippet?
A featured snippet is a concise search result that answers a question on a search results page. A featured snippet eliminates the need for someone to visit a website to get needed information.
Snippets take the form of paragraphs, lists, and tables. Paragraph snippets are the most common featured snippet.
How do I get a featured snippet?
You can get your website placed in featured snippets by optimizing your content for relevant keywords. Also, you should use a Q&A format. Above all, you should publish concise, easy-to-read, valuable information.
Generally, website content that has sound search engine optimization fundamentals has a chance to earn a featured snippet.
Did you know that ABS Marketing is an SEO services agency?
Long Form Content
Google wants to provide users with an efficient search experience. Thus, they minimize the effort required for people to find the information they want.
You don’t have a lot of time, so you might tend to post short-form content on your website. That shortcut can cost you a lot in the long run.
What is short-form content? It’s content that meets the minimum requirement for SEO. For the most part, that’s 400 to 1,000 words. It provides general information without dealing with details.
What is long-form content? It’s content that provides an in-depth treatment of a topic using more than 2,000 words.
Voice search results almost always come from long-form content.
Overall, voice results contain only 29 words. So, why does Google draw from long-form content? Probably so that users can get all the additional information they need from a single query.
HTTPS
For a long time, Google has prioritized search results for websites that use SSL encryption.
What is SSL encryption? SSL stands for “Secure Sockets Layer.” It is the technology the encrypts the information that’s exchanged between your web browser and a website.
When you see a green indicator to the left of your browser’s address bar, you’re visiting an HTTPS website that uses SSL encryption. To use different words, no one can see the content of the data that’s exchanged.
SSL is essential to online security, so Google will always place HTTPS content above unencrypted, HTTP content.
If you don’t have an HTTPS website, don’t expect to find you by making a voice search.
Why does ABS Marketing Excel at Voice Search?
ABS Marketing is the premier online marketing agency in the southeastern United States.
We provide a full range of digital services including strategy, content marketing, and SEO. We’re also a full-service Instagram marketing agency. We also provide professional Facebook management services.
Our team stays up-to-date with the latest trends in voice. Beyond that, we take a common-sense approach to innovation.
Every voice optimization campaign we manage includes some basic characteristics:
Keyword research
We guide you into keywords while considering the semantic properties of voice queries.
Site speed
We’ll take decisive action to increase the page speed score of your online content. You might need ABS Marketing to develop a website for you that’s optimized for speed from the ground up.
Content
We create custom voice search marketing campaigns with the intention of growing your business.
In particular, we’ll help you address voice users at every stage of the buying cycle. Consider the following voice search for a widget.
- Product awareness: “What’s the best widget?”
- Interest: “Can I use a widget to make a cake?”
- Assessment: “Which widget works better for kids?”
- Intent: “How much does a No Name widget cost?”
- Customer service: “Why does my blender make my widget stop?”
- Repeat business: “How can I make my widget more useful?”
If you operate a physical shop, you’ll also need content that answers other questions such as, “Where is Your Store?” and “What are Your Store’s hours?”
Actions and Skills
We can create custom Google Actions and Alexa Skills to make your business even more accessible to voice. Also, these can provide a two-way conversational experience for voice users.
Cutting Edge
ABS Marketing acquires proficiency with innovative technologies as they emerge. Afterward, we never stop learning. We use our dedication to excellence to ensure that our clients never fall behind.
Voice Search – Act Now
Every day, Google processes hundreds of millions of voice searches. If you’re not optimizing your online content for voice-based search then you’re losing money.
Fortunately, help is available. ABS Marketing Liberty SC is a leading voice search agency.
Contact us. We can create a custom strategy that will help your business embrace the future of online marketing.
Learn More about Voice Search
Find out why voice search will dominate SEO in 2019 at Forbes.com.
