Search engine technology really did evolve over the last couple of years, with updates coming from giant search companies like Google that have been rolling in to help users get the best search results.
These updates over the years not only helped boost search results but also gave way for new technologies like voice search and mobile sites.
What Is A Voice Search?
Voice search allows users to speak to their devices instead of just typing in keywords or phrases to the search query and generating results.
Audio technology utilizes speech recognition to help understand what users are saying. Then, the results are delivered orally to the user.
Although you might think that this is a brand new concept, voice search technology has been around for some time.
Also, programs like Siri, Microsoft Cortona, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa all use the capabilities of voice search.
Now, we’ll explore the 6 ways how voice search is changing SEO:
1. Keyword Length
Because spoken words aren’t as precise as written words, generally, queries are longer than three or four keyword searches. In fact, according to Backlinko voice queries have an average of 29 words in length.
It’s because people often speak more than they would type. For instance, “I need a coffee shop in Brooklyn” is what the content might need to address instead of “coffee shop in Brooklyn.”
Your content might also include particular benefits of getting coffee in a particular cafe, or it might identify the different types of coffee served in the coffee shop. Essentially, the longer keyword phrases are, the higher will be the probability for conversion.
2. Specific Keyword Phrases
With voice search, keyword phrases are more specific. When people search by voice, they’ll probably be more detailed.
So, they might say, “I need a cozy coffee shop in Brooklyn that serves artisan coffee.”
Websites that have specific content that identifies them as a coffee shop serving artisan coffee will rank higher on search results and will be shown to users.
3. Voice-Activated Content
Another thing that you need to keep in mind when you consider SEO and voice searches is the difference between how people type over how they speak.
As we mentioned earlier, users that utilize voice-assisted search are more likely going to use grammatically correct, with full sentences, as compared to using non-sentences or phrases when inputting a question or phrase on search engines.
So, for you to optimize your content for voice search, use a clear, conversational language that will help you answer specific questions.
4. Semantic Search In Action
Apart from keywords, Google also relies on several factors such as the previous searches of users, as well as the pattern of their searches. The purpose of this is to deliver results based on what the user is looking for.
This is otherwise known as “semantic search.” Essentially, this is just a fancier way of saying that search engines are getting better in what you’re looking for.
Before the semantic search was introduced, searches only make sense with keywords alone. But semantic will know if you’re searching in Brooklyn, and chances are, you’re also looking for movie schedules near you.
Here is an example of how semantic search works. When you search for movies on your laptop or smartphone in Brooklyn, Google knows that you’re looking for movie times in the city, instead of a movie about Brooklyn.
Because users are more conversational with voice searches, your brand content needs to account for that. Optimize for different, longtail keywords to achieve optimal results.
5. Huge Business Opportunity
A lot of uses that are utilizing mobile searches are using it to look up local things in their area. What are the top Mediterranean restos near me? What are the best retail stores nearby?
22% of queries coming from voice search are searching for location-based content. That’s why, brands, retailers, and local businesses should take advantage of it, and create a local voice search SEO strategy.
This will bring in more traffic to your site, as well as boost your sales. Overlooking local SEO services will be a missed opportunity on your part.
6. Increase In Mobile Search
As voice search represents a much easier way than typing down a specific request, the number of people using it has always been rising consistently over the last couple of years.
This effect is also coupled with the number of people using smartphones, therefore resulting in a boost in mobile search.
More and more people are also likely to use their smartphones and other mobile devices instead of using a desktop of a laptop when looking up information.
In fact, a study from Northstar Research reveals that 55 percent of teenagers are using voice search each day.
Moreover, 56 percent of adults are also utilizing it to make them “tech-savvy.” The same thing goes with usersho are mainly using it to ask for specific directions.
It’s Time To Get Ready For Changes
Over time, SEO won’t be based on what users on typing on search bars anymore. In the future, it’s going to be based on what users say when they searching via voice. T
hat means that if you want to rise on top of the search results, you need to look for a way to change your content, cater to what people are saying when they want to find something online.
As more and more people are switching to voice search, and voice search marketing, you need to implement SEO that will help you cater specifically to voice search. That way, by the time everyone is starting to use it, you’re already miles ahead of your competitors.
The only way to achieve that is to make your site have precisely what voice search technology is looking for. Also, don’t forget to create content based on what voice searchers need as well.
