Ways to Optimize your Content with Voice Search

Despite being around for just a few years, voice search technology is growing really fast and it seems like it’s here to stay. The technology that allows users to search the internet through voice rather than the traditional way of typing is growing really fast. Experts are certain that voice search is the future of SEO and you should probably incorporate it in your website if you haven’t already done so.

With voice search, the user speaks into their device and they get the information they need. In as much as you have already optimized your content for search engines, you can’t afford losing traffic just because you do not cater to some users’ needs. As such, your content needs to be optimized for voice search.

You might already have heard about Alexa, Google assistant, and Siri. These tools use the speech recognition technology to decide what the user is saying and then respond. You can issue commands or ask questions through your mobile device from wherever you are. This great technology will determine SEO competitiveness and it’s one that you should adopt to improve your ranking.

 So, to ensure that you do not miss out, these tips could help you optimize your content for voice search:

1. Optimize for local search

There is no better time to optimize for local search. Fill in all the required details on your profile and always ensure that they are up to date. Your address, contact information and details such as working hours should also be accurate to avoid misleading users. Also, ensure that you log in to your profile more often to ascertain that no malicious person could have edited your profile thus altering with the accuracy.

When your profile details are accurate and up to date, the users around you will locate your business with much ease. Let’s say a user is looking for restaurants that serve pizza in XYZ city and they ask “which restaurants serve pizza near me”. The search engine will automatically give the suggestions nearby and your restaurant will be among them if your profile is up to date

Tuning your online campaigns for local search increases the overall capability of getting business from the neighborhood.

You also make it easier for users to know when you are open and when you are closed. It’s misleading when your profile reads that you are open on a Sunday when you do not usually open on weekends.

2. Write as you would speak

You realize that written and spoken language is completely different. Normally, people use short forms to save time while writing. But while speaking, it’s unlikely that you will use short forms. For instance, while looking for recommendations online, you will type a very short phrase and Google will give you a range of results related to your search. But with voice search, the phrases are longer. When making your content, ensure you skip the short forms and think what the user would say while speaking and not typing.

For instance, a user would type “ABC Spa direction”. But if they were speaking, they would probably say “Where is ABC spa” or “take me to ABC spa”. The latter is the kind of language you should be using to optimize your content for voice search.

3. Keep it really simple

Unless it’s really necessary, always skip the jargon. Use simple words that the user would use while searching for something online. Drop all those newly learned words and instead use natural and clear language. Use phrases that ordinary people would use while having a conversation or when asking questions. Ambiguous words can be misleading and you will end up losing users. Also, ensure the choice of words matches the context in question. You can have experts such as sketchcorp professional copywriting to help you with this.

At the same time, integrate it into your website with simple technology. You realize that people don’t easily adapt to change and sometimes they will only use it when it is inevitable or absolutely necessary. If they come to your website and feel that your voice search tool is sophisticated to use, your investment will be in vain.

4. Make your content mobile friendly

Your site may be mobile friendly but if your content is not, you are losing it. Since people walk around with their mobile devices, voice search is mostly used by mobile users. For you to accommodate them, the content must be mobile friendly. This involves optimizing your images so that they are mobile friendly, using shorter headlines, writing shorter paragraphs as well as understanding the reading patterns of mobile users.

Getting this right is actually one of the big wins you will get with voice searches. Mobile phone use has been found to have an even higher tendency to use their devices for search voice. In that case, you might as well be losing traffic if you don’t get it right.

5. Keep the searchers in mind

All the above points are important but this is probably the most important one. Don’t think like a marketer when making your content. Instead, try and think like a searcher. If a user wants to purchase your products or services, what factual information would they want to know? And how would they phrase the query about what you provide? From there, build up a list of FAQs and their respective answers. Also, include questions when making your content. The question could appear as the introductory part or even in the middle not just for ranking but questions also keep the user engaged.

Conclusion

It really isn’t hard, is it? It’s just you embracing the new changes, doing what you should do and watching things get better. As with any other technology, the best way to adapt is to evolve as technology evolves. Voice search will inform a lot of future business and it will be one of the key industry drivers, especially with SEO. Use it to your advantage, be an early adopter and implement it correctly for your websites and beyond.