There’s a quiet revolution happening in the world of SEO, and it’s not coming from keyboard clicks – it’s coming through the spoken word. Voice search has been steadily rising, whispering significant changes into the SEO playbook. With smart speakers and voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant becoming household staples, optimizing your content for voice search is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a present-day must.
Why the buzz? Well, voice search is all about convenience. People are increasingly looking for faster, more efficient ways to find information without the hassle of typing. Plus, the answers provided are usually from the very top of search results – the coveted “position zero.” So, how do you tune your website to hit the high notes for voice search? Here are five ways to fine-tune your content for the world of SEO where speaking trumps typing.
- Conversational Keywords are Key
When we type, we abbreviate. “Best Thai food NYC” might be a typical text-based search. But when we speak, we’re more conversational. We’re likely to ask, “What are the best Thai restaurants in New York City?” This means your keyword strategy needs to be tuned to natural language, focusing on long-tail keywords that mirror how real people talk and ask questions verbally.
Action Tip: Start by sprinkling questions and answers throughout your content that align with the conversational tone of voice queries. Tools like Answer the Public can help you understand the questions people are asking around your topic.
- Make Local SEO Your BFF
Voice searches are three times more likely to be local. Think about it: you’re on the go, you need something, so you ask your phone. It makes sense that “near me” searches are popular on voice. This means local SEO should be your best friend forever (BFF) if you want to capture those on-the-move query makers.
Action Tip: Claim your Google My Business listing, ensure your NAP (name, address, phone number) details are consistent across the web, and incorporate local landmarks and locations into your content to give it a local flavor.
- Speed and Mobile Optimization Aren’t Just Nice – They’re Necessary
We want our answers fast, and we want them on the move, which means your website better be mobile-friendly and quick-loading if you want to play in the voice search game.
Action Tip: Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to check your website’s speed and make improvements as needed. Ensure your website is responsive and looks great on all devices, from the smallest smartphone to the largest desktop.
