How Google voice search has emerged as the new SEO weapon?
- Nov 1, 2019
- By Rajeev Nar
Siri came out for the first time in the year 2011, and it gained immense popularity. This novelty was launched as a cool test, however, it’s up-to-the-mark information and laughable responses won over the hearts of the people.
It’s amazing, don’t you think? Instead of typing your queries you speak them and this transformation will change the whole scenario of SEO. To future-proof their website, the website owners will need to optimise their website differently and prepare it for the voice search.
What is Google voice search?
The latest technology allows you to make Google search by speaking rather than typing it in the search bar. The popular digital assistants such as Alexa, Siri and Cortana are based on this technique only.
Benefits of Google voice search over typing
Voice recognition has emerged as the most accurate and versatile technology. The users have started to realise the importance of and benefits of voice command.
Users prefer voice search because of the following reasons:
- It allows them to multitask.
- Voice search speeds up the process.
- Users get instant answers and information
- It makes their daily routine easier.
How speech will affect eCommerce?
Initially, Google voice search was used for finding directions, recipes and weather reports, but it has become a relevant part of eCommerce sales as well.
As per the consumer report, 29% of Americans use a voice search device to make purchases. An additional 41% of people also use this technology for online shopping at some point in their journey.
As more users have started relying on this technology, the others are getting more comfortable with it. With this increasing user-base, optimising the websites becomes even more significant.
How Google Voice Search will affect SEO?
The way we write is quite different from the way we speak. Firstly, it is faster than typing and secondly, natural human speech is usually longer than we type. This way voice search will create major implications for SEO.
For instance, if you want to search for CBD gummies you will type ‘CBD gummies’ or ‘CBD gummies near me’. It will become more specific while speaking. You will search “Where can I find best gummies near me?” or “Where to buy the best gummies from?”
It simply depicts that people ask a question while speaking rather than using a key phrase.
Optimise your voice search applications
Optimise your website in such a way that it caters to the growing demand for voice search and remains competitive for written keywords simultaneously. Luckily, there a few optimisation techniques that work best with both voice search and typing.
Write conversationally
Whether you are writing for speech or for search queries, conversational tone will help your content brag better Google rankings.
Optimise your content with the most common and higher-volume keywords. Using long-tail keywords instead of short ones can help you optimise content for speech queries.
For instance, users will search for ‘best mattress’ while typing, but it will be ‘best mattress for bad backs’ or ‘best mattress for a sound sleep’ while typing. Apart from this optimisation difference, long-tail keywords are easily digestible for the readers.
The content written in a conversational tone seems realistic and is far more appealing.
Focus on short answers
Your content should contain short answers to commonly asked questions. This is the key to optimise content for voice search. Typically, you should write 2-3 sentences long answer.
It becomes easier to provide an answer within an excerpt or FAQ as Google pulls speech queries from long texts. The simpler and shorter answers are the key to reach higher ranks. Unlike text search, speech reads out the top answer. Therefore, it is important to have your content reach the top rank.
Write long-term content
Snippets are the first thing that appeals speech queries but that does not mean you should start preparing short content. Google rewards long-form, in-depth written content.
Create quality, long-term content which is relatable in every term. It will naturally increase the authority of your website.
Implement local SEO
Finding local business is the most popular use of voice search. Phrases like “near me” or “local” is mostly used. The procedure includes listing your address, contact details and location at different places like Yellow Pages, Google My Business or Apple Maps. Speech query will combine all the answers to find an appropriate answer.
Schema Markup is another important part of local SEO. Rich snippets and Meta descriptions are other ways of updating your business.
Wrapping Up
Voice search is not the future, but it has taken over present as well. Luckily, the latest optimisation techniques allow you to optimise your website for written and speech queries once at a time.
The well-experienced SEO marketers of RVS Media have a good understanding of latest SEO trends that include keywords, content length and breaking up content in such a way that it is easily crawlable in search engines and intelligible to users.
Our SEO strategies are bound to improve the rankings of your website on desktop, mobile and other digital assistant searches.