The Future of Voice Search and SEO
The Future of Voice Search and SEO
The Future of Voice Search and SEO
Voice search has been around for a few years now, but it has only recently gained traction as more companies and individuals adopt the technology. In the near future, voice search is expected to become even more popular, with a predicted one-third of all searches expected to be made via voice by 2020. With this in mind, it is important for businesses to understand how voice search will affect the future of SEO.
In this article, we’ll discuss the current state of voice search, the changes it will bring to SEO, and the steps businesses can take to capitalize on the opportunities offered by voice search. By understanding the implications of voice search on SEO, businesses can maximize their visibility in organic search results and ensure their content is seen by potential customers.
What is Voice Search?
Voice search is a type of search technology that allows users to search the web using voice commands instead of typing queries into a search engine. Voice search is available on a variety of devices, including mobile phones, computer systems, and virtual assistant devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home.
Voice search is becoming increasingly popular as it is much faster and more convenient than typing searches. It also offers the potential to reach wider audiences, as many people feel more comfortable using their voice than typing out queries.
How does Voice Search Affect SEO?
Voice search has the potential to significantly change the way businesses approach SEO. It has been estimated that nearly 20% of mobile searches are now made using voice search, and this figure is expected to increase as more people adopt the technology.
One of the most significant changes that voice search brings to SEO is that it encourages users to use natural language, rather than typing in exact keywords. For example, instead of typing in “best restaurants in London”, a user might ask “where’s the best place to eat in London?”
In order to optimize for voice search, businesses need to adjust their content and SEO strategies to account for this shift in language. This means focusing on long-tail keyword phrases that are more likely to be used in natural language queries.
How Can Businesses Capitalize on the Opportunities Offered by Voice Search?
Businesses should take a proactive approach to optimizing for voice search, as this technology is only going to become more popular in the near future. Here are some of the steps businesses can take to capitalize on the opportunities offered by voice search:
1. Research and Identify Voice Search Keywords
The first step for businesses is to research and identify the most common voice search keywords and phrases that are likely to be used by their target audience. There are a variety of tools available to help businesses identify the most relevant search terms, including Google’s Keyword Planner and the Voice Search Insights tool from SEMrush.
2. Optimize for Long-Tail Keywords
Once businesses have identified the keywords they should focus on, they should optimize their content and website for these long-tail keywords. This means including these keywords in the titles, headings, and body of their content.
3. Improve Site Speed and Responsiveness
Voice search is becoming increasingly popular on mobile devices, so businesses should ensure that their sites are optimized for mobile. This means improving site speed and ensuring that the site is responsive on all devices.
4. Create Content for Featured Snippets
One of the best ways to maximize visibility in voice search results is to create content that is optimized for featured snippets. Featured snippets are short summaries of web content that are displayed at the top of search results pages, and they are increasingly being used for voice search results.
5. Improve Voice Search Visibility with Local SEO
Finally, businesses should ensure that their sites are optimized for local SEO. This means creating location-specific content that targets local keywords, optimizing for local citation sources, and ensuring that the business is listed on local online directories.
Summary
Voice search is expected to become increasingly popular in the near future, and businesses should take steps to capitalize on the opportunities offered by this technology. By optimizing for long-tail keywords, improving site speed and responsiveness, creating content for featured snippets, and improving local SEO visibility, businesses can ensure that they are seen in voice search results.