Hey Siri, why should I optimize my website for voice search?

The growing use of smart speakers and voice assistance programs has led voice search to become one of the fastest-growing ways consumers interact with the Internet.

A 2019 study found that two in five respondents said voice-activated devices are essential to their lives. It is estimated that in 2020, about 50% of searches will be voice searches. One study found that 19% of respondents said that they use Siri at least once a day. Another study found that 55% of teens and 44% of adults said that they use some form of voice search every day.

As of late 2017, almost one-third of the 4.6 billion Google searches each day were voice searches.
That number is likely to grow. Smart speakers are expected to be a popular Christmas gift again this year, and a growing number of devices support voice search.

More than 60% of 25-64 year-olds said they expect to use voice devices more in the future. 71% of wearable device owners say they’re likely to perform more voice searches in the future.
So, Voice Search is growing.

Hey Google, what does all this mean for digital marketers?

It means that you need to optimize your site for voice search. Otherwise, you will risk missing customers and potential customers.

Alexa, how do I optimize my website for voice search?

People speak differently than they type. Voice search tends to use longer phrases or sentences and is more conversational. Voice searches are generally “long-tail” questions. It’s the difference between typing “Fairfield, CT, weather” and asking “What will the weather be like in Fairfield Connecticut, on Friday?” or “Will it rain today?”

To catch the attention of voice searches, focus your web content and your SEO keywords on longer phrases and sentences. Consider adding full sentences as targeted keywords and adding phrases in your headers to address typical questions related to your business or industry.

Use natural-sounding language. As people increasingly interact with your site through voice search, it’s important to write in a way that is clear and understandable, whether your words are read or heard.

Provide clear, concise answers to questions. Voice search is looking for answers and writing that may be longer or in-depth than what text searches are looking for. However, longer does not equal long-winded. You still want to avoid jargon and unnecessary wordiness. Keep the language conversational and to the point.

Make sure your website is fast, mobile-friendly and secure. Whether the search is voice or text, search engines and consumers prefer pages that load quickly and look sharp on any sized screen. Many of the best practices for text search are still important when working with voice search.

Make sure your Google My Business profile is filled out completely. The more information you provide, the better search engines can find you and direct potential customers to you. Make sure the information is accurate and updated regularly to improve the natural rank of your listing on Google Maps.

If you would like to discuss how to expand upon your current Paid Search or SEO effort to include voice search, or if you would like to have a general conversation about which digital marketing tactics work best for your industry, feel free to reach out to us at AdEdge at 203-682-4585, email us at info@adedgemarketing.com, or schedule a 15 minute call. From all of us at AdEdge, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!