How to Optimize a Website for Voice Search
What is Voice Search?
Voice search is a technology that allows users to search the internet using natural language voice commands instead of typing into a keyboard.
This technology is commonly used with smart speakers, virtual assistants, and mobile devices with voice recognition software. Users can ask questions, request information, and purchase using only their voices.
The goal of voice search is to make searching the internet faster and more convenient, allowing users to complete tasks hands-free and without needing to type.
As technology advances and becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it is expected to play an increasingly important role in the world of search engine optimization (SEO).
Here are some steps to help you optimize your website for voice search:
- Use natural language keywords: When optimizing for voice search, use keywords that people would use when speaking, such as "best Thai restaurant near me" rather than "Thai restaurant near me".
Example: "Where can I find the best Thai food in town?"
- Optimize for featured snippets: Featured snippets are short answers to a user's query that appear at the top of the search results page. To optimize for featured snippets, ensure that your content provides clear and concise answers to common questions, using clear headings and bullet points to help break up the information.
Example: "What are the hours of operation for the local Thai restaurant?"
- Use schema markup: Schema markup is a code that you can add to your website to help search engines better understand the content on your pages. Use schema markup to provide information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and hours of operation.
Example: Use schema markup to add information about your business location, phone number, and hours of operation to your website.
- Make sure your website is mobile-friendly: Many voice search queries are made using mobile devices, so it's important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate on smaller screens.
Example: Use responsive design techniques to ensure that your website looks great and is easy to use on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
- Use conversational content: Voice search users are often asking questions, so it's important to make sure your website's content is written in a conversational tone and answers common questions in a clear and concise manner. Example: Write content that uses conversational language and answers common questions, such as "What are the most popular dishes at the local Thai restaurant?" or "What is the price range of dishes at the local Thai restaurant?"
Why optimize for voice search?
It is widely reported that voice search usage has been on the rise in recent years and is expected to continue to grow in the future.
According to a recent study by ComScore, it is estimated that 55% of households will have a smart speaker by 2022, which is expected to drive an increase in the number of voice searches.
Additionally, the widespread use of virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant has made voice search more accessible and convenient for users, increasing its usage. The exact number of voice searches constantly changes and depends on many factors, such as technological advancements and consumer behavior.
