Voice Search Optimization: The Next Frontier in SEO
Voice search is becoming more and more popular. Many people are starting to search using voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google instead of typing keywords. This means search engine optimization needs to adapt to focus on voice search. Optimizing for voice search requires new strategies compared to regular SEO. In this post, we will discuss important voice search optimization techniques that SEO professionals need to know.
Voice Search User Behavior
People are increasingly using voice to do searches. They ask their voice assistant questions and expect direct answers. Voice search queries tend to be longer and more conversational. For example, someone may search “What is the weather forecast for Los Angeles next Tuesday?” instead of just “Los Angeles weather”.
Voice search users are not looking for a list of links. They want a specific answer or piece of information read back to them quickly. This means optimizing for featured snippets is very important for voice search.
Optimizing Content for Voice Search Queries
Since voice queries are more conversational, content needs to be optimized for long-tail natural language queries. Instead of just focusing on exact keywords, use relevant conversational phrases that people may speak to their devices.
For example, an article about “types of dogs” could include phrases like
- what are the most popular dog breeds
- I wonder what the friendliest dogs are
- can you tell me easy dogs to train
Along with keywords, these natural language queries should be added throughout the content.
Use a conversational tone when writing content optimized for voice search. Avoid awkward-sounding keywords stuffed into sentences. The language should sound natural like you are explaining something to a friend.
Adapting On-Page SEO for Voice Search
Some on-page SEO best practices are still relevant for voice search. Strategic keyword placement in titles, headings and meta descriptions continues to be important.
However, the focus should be on conversational phrases instead of just one-word keywords. For example, an H1 tag could be “How to Choose the Best Dog Breed for Your Family” instead of just “Dog Breeds”.
When writing meta descriptions, phrase them in natural language as if answering a question. For example:
“Want to know the most popular and family-friendly dog breeds? This article compares different types of dogs and helps choose the perfect pet for your home.”
Following voice search best practices can also help on-page optimization. Use shorter paragraphs and sentences that get straight to the point. Bold important keywords related to the topic. Break up text with subheadings and bullet points.
Voice Search and Link Building
While traditional link building is still important for overall SEO, the focus should be more on quality over quantity. For voice search optimization, get reputable sites to link to your content using natural mentions.
For example, an influential blog in the dog space could link to your “types of dogs” article by mentioning it in a sentence like:
“If you’re looking for help picking the right dog breed, this guide by [Your Website] has a great comparison of popular options.”
Partnering with relevant influencers and having them mention your brand name naturally in videos and podcasts can also be effective for voice search optimization.
Analyzing Voice Search Performance
To understand how your website performs for voice search queries, check Google Search Console and Alexa Skills analytics. Look at impressions, clicks and CTR for queries categorized as “voice” or “voice search”.
This can help identify voice search patterns and top queries to focus optimization efforts on. For example, you may see high impressions for “what dog sheds the least” but low CTR. You can then optimize pages targeting that query.
Monitoring your conversion rate from voice searchers is also important. Are they completing desired actions like calling your business, booking appointments or making purchases?
Creating Voice-Specific Content
Having content developed specifically for voice search can improve performance. For example, create a “types of dogs” podcast optimized for related voice queries. The transcript of the audio content should be SEO-optimized.
Short videos designed to answer voice search questions can also be effective. Optimize video titles, descriptions and subtitles targeting voice queries.
Conversational blog posts and FAQ content also cater well to voice searchers.
Technical Voice Search Optimization
There are some technical considerations for optimizing for voice search. Implement structured data markup like JSON-LD and schema. This can help your content get featured in voice search results.
Make sure your website is fast-loading and mobile-optimized. Voice searchers expect quick answers without delays.
Check that your site is crawlable by voice assistants. Add a robots.txt file and sitemaps if needed.
The Future of Voice Search SEO
Voice search usage is expected to keep growing over the coming years. SEO strategies will need to continue adapting to this shift in search behaviour. Brands that embrace voice search optimization early will have a competitive advantage.
Focusing on long-tail conversational queries, natural language optimization and voice-specific content should be top priorities for voice search engine optimization.
As voice assistants get more advanced, they will be able to have more natural conversations. SEO may start optimizing for dialogue trees rather than just single queries.
The Future is Voice Search – Are You Ready to Optimize?
Optimizing for voice search and voice assistants requires new approaches compared to traditional keyword-focused SEO. But it also opens up new opportunities for brands to connect with customers through conversational content. Implementing voice search optimization techniques can help improve website visibility and performance in voice search results.
Being an early adopter of voice SEO will increasingly become a necessity to stay ahead of the curve. Contact the SEO experts at Orion Digital today to learn how we can help optimize your website for voice search success.
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