Voice search has become a predominant method of searching the web. Recent surveys show that the majority of teens and adults use voice search more than any other method of search. There is a plethora of reasons behind this; voice search is quick, easy and most-importantly – user friendly.
In order to accommodate for this shift in SEO optimization, websites are forced to implement voice search into their own navigation and browsing. However, finding the right way to do so can sometimes be intimidating. Let’s take a look at five easy steps in which you can optimize your site for better voice search in order to improve your ranking and traffic overall.
1. Local over global
Global SEO is just as important as it was when it comes to website content. However, local optimization plays a predominant role in voice search optimization. This means that you should focus on your site as a sole entity without paying attention to industry trends.
One of the first things you should do is claim your business’ name and location through Google. This will allow people to conduct voice search and find you on the map (or search engines) without typing. Local optimization also means that you should enable voice search plugins in accordance to your content and navigation links.
If someone says “Categories”, your site’s categories should show up despite what the common term might be in your industry. Ensure that your unique content’s wording remains intact and make sure that the local search function works properly.
2. Mobile optimization matters
The single biggest market for voice search use is mobile. Smartphones, tablet devices and other mobile gadgets allow for on-the-fly internet use. People often search for terms, locations, news and other information while outside.
Use this to your advantage as it means that you can attract more visitors to your site if you pay attention to mobile platforms. Mobile optimization means that several factors play a huge role in whether or not your site will rank well:
- Site’s loading speed
- Length of navigation phrases and content overall
- Size of your multimedia content
- The responsive design of your navigation elements
The user will have an easier time conducting voice search to navigate your site if you take these factors into consideration. The site will load faster, register their requests more carefully and allow for quicker browsing in general. Not to mention the implications this will have on your SEO ranking since you will register as a “mobile friendly” site.
3. Use human logic
Individual users have a different way of conducting voice search depending on their query. Some people will use short and direct commands. Others will use sentences and fully-developed questions. It’s important to take these facts into consideration when you develop your voice search optimization.
You can always create an FAQ page with common terms and commands for voice search. When it comes to SERP however, you will have to use technical SEO. Technical SEO takes keywords, formatting and overall accessibility of your content into consideration. Optimizing your content effectively is a matter of following industry standards.
For example, international sites with a varied following should always translate their content. Using a service such as Pick Writers can easily help you translate and optimize your SEO for better ranking and overall visibility. Make sure to always think like a human when optimizing your content. Voice search works by using human logic – not just ones and zeroes of standard SEO.
4. Short and cohesive
While people do ask questions through voice search, very few people actually “talk” to it. Applications such as Cortana and Bixby are specifically designed to act as voice companions for smart devices and desktop computers. Voice search does not and should not be as comprehensive as they are.
Instead, focus on building a functional, cohesive whole when it comes to your site’s voice navigation. Use short commands and queries that people would normally use to go through your pages. The most comprehensive commands should be your articles’ titles and their use in order to open them.
Otherwise, you should strive to give your visitors a chance to explore the site without the need to type or use their hands in any way. Words such as “Next”, “Subscribe”, “Comment” and others should be the sole commands available for regular use. Anything more will only confuse your visitors and make it much more difficult to get to the real point of your website.
5. Track and reevaluate
Lastly, no SEO optimization lasts forever – the same applies to voice search. Make sure to track your site’s performance from the moment you fully implement voice search. You will quickly start noticing changes in your visitors’ navigation patterns.
You can also ask your readers directly about their experience with your voice search optimization. They might have essential information which you can use to better the process even further. The continuous development of your site’s voice search will allow for more comprehensive and rich browsing experience.
Bonus point: Chatbot implementation
Implementing voice search means that you are enabling your visitors to a more enjoyable and faster browsing experience. Why not go a step further and implement chatbots as a means to develop voice search even more? Chatbots are machine-learning scripts that can easily serve as your customer support agents.
Creating and implementing these scripts into voice-search enabled websites is a painless process with great RoI. This will also boost your SEO ranking even further since Google thinks highly of well-programmed chatbots that can help users with common web issues.
In summation
Voice search is not only an option for sites that plan to grow – it has become a necessity. The rising popularity of mobile devices and an ever-shorter attention span of web users have made it invaluable.
Evaluate your site and do some technical SEO optimization before you step into voice search implementation. You will have a much better idea of the state your site is in as well as any areas in which you might lack. Once you see the benefits of voice search firsthand, you will quickly become fond of the capabilities it can offer to everyone.
Author Bio:
Kristin Savage has graduated from Columbia University where she was majoring in Germanic Languages. Besides English as her mother tongue she also speaks German and Dutch fluently. Currently Kristin is studying Spanish and planning to obtain her PhD in Applied Linguistics since she is interested in how to use her to some extent practical knowledge of language processes in everyday life.