How to Optimize My Website for Voice Search

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One of the greatest advances in search engines today is voice search technology. As you may already know, you can make use of voice search by tapping the microphone icon in the search bar and speaking to it whenever you are searching for a query. This very convenient feature is particularly used on mobile devices; which is very telling about the changing ways people search for information online. As a matter of fact, this has now affected how SEOs optimize websites. If you are one of those who want to know how to handle this change before it entirely overtakes the whole world of SEO, then you are on the right page. In this article, we have written down below some useful ways to optimize your website for voice search.

Before we dive into optimizing your website, there are some things you need to keep in mind about voice search:

  • You have to remember that unlike the usual search keyword phrases that you type into the search box, voice search is more conversational and natural in tone.
  • Since voice search is typically done on mobiles, they are often more locally focused. Mobile devices are more active when it comes to knowing your location. So if you are looking for something, then expect to have more targeted results.

Now that we’ve set those things up, we can now move to optimization. Tips are as follows:

Think Local for User Intent

As stated above, people who use voice search are more likely to receive targeted results, which pertain to local content and information. This includes address, opening hours, prices of products, type of business, etc. So you should remember the intentions of users when it comes to search queries through voice search. Make sure that when you are structuring your site and its content, basic informative questions should be answered. Ensure important information can be found on your site and is readily available for Google to gather. You have to make it effortless for Google to rank you higher in search results, which can be done through accessible website/business information.

To further help you with this, your website’s content must be able to target the following people:

  • Information Searcher – This is people who are looking for details about a product of service
  • Location Searcher – For people who want to go to a local business and buy from a local store
  • How-to Searcher – This goes to those who want instructional materials or information
  • Product Searcher – People who are at the edge of buying a product and are looking for convincing information about it

Use Long-Tail Keywords

With voice search being conversational in nature, it is best to adopt long-tail keywords as part of your optimization strategy. They are, as it says, longer search terms and phrases than the typical search query. Long-tail keywords also comprise up to 70% of searches. So using them is necessary. Your keywords must mimic how people talk and ask questions beyond the Internet. This means that you have to be quite specific. Doing this could set you up for a higher search results’ position in voice search queries.