Voice search is a new addition to digital marketing. It’s not just about optimizing for keywords anymore. People search with their voices differently than how they type, and if you don’t optimize your content for it, you’ll miss out on a huge opportunity to earn more customers.
Voice search is more personal than text
With voice search, you have an entirely new opportunity to connect with your audience and provide value. Voice search drives more traffic to websites than text-based searches. Around 20% of mobile queries are voice-based. But what makes this type of search so powerful? It’s more personal than text. When you ask a question in your own voice, it feels closer and more intimate. There’s less barrier between you and the information you seek out.
You can also get straight to the point—no need for any small talk! There is no awkwardness when asking, “Where is the nearest pet store?” or “What restaurants are nearby?”. The answer is just a few seconds away instead of waiting weeks for an email response. This immediacy makes voice search much more efficient than traditional methods, where people often forget what they were looking up in the first place when they receive an answer from customer service reps who might not even know themselves!
People search differently when using voice compared to typing
You should optimize for voice search because people use it in different ways than they use text search. People are more likely to be specific about what they want when talking to a computer. Asking, “what is the best restaurant in town?” instead of just typing in “restaurant.”
With voice, you have more room to get specific with your questions and requests, which is why we saw such high conversion rates on our first try at this feature!
Voice search is less formal and more conversational
As you can imagine, voice search is less formal than text. It’s also a more conversational interaction and requires fewer steps to complete. This means that people are more likely to ask questions if they can’t find the answer with a simple query. Google found that 52 percent of mobile queries in 2017 contained some form of question or request for clarification.
Because voice search is intuitive and accessible, it’s a great way to engage with customers by providing answers directly from your app or website—especially when multiple options are available (such as different recipes).
People use voice in different ways than text
People use voice in different ways than text. They’re more likely to speak naturally and less likely to use the same word or phrase repeatedly. They also don’t hesitate before asking questions, so you must answer them quickly and accurately with content that matches their query.
Plus, when people search for a product or service, they often look for a specific type of business – like “Italian restaurants near me.” With this kind of query (common when using Google Assistant), finding an answer requires understanding local intent beyond general keywords or phrases. Your website must be optimized for voice search if you want your restaurant to appear first in these types of queries!
Voice searches are longer and richer than text searches
People are more likely to speak less formally and conversationally when it comes to voice search. In a recent Google and Yale University study, researchers found that the average length of a voice search query was longer than those typed into the search bar. Voice searchers also tend to use more words than their counterparts doing text-based searches, who typically only use one or two simultaneously. This means that you should optimize your content for this type of user behavior—users will ask questions when they ask for information using their voice rather than typing.
Optimize content for long-tail keywords, not short ones
The key to optimizing content for voice search is long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive than their shorter counterparts, so they’re a better fit for voice search. Longer search queries are more likely to be converted (because people tend to be more interested in a particular topic when they use longer phrases), and they’re also more likely to be used in voice search queries.
Optimize for long-tail keywords and voice-search questions
As with traditional search, optimizing your content for long-tail keywords greatly increases traffic and engagement. One of the most important differences in voice search optimization is that people are less likely to use broad or generic terms when looking through their smart speakers. Voice searches tend to be more conversational and specific, so you must create content that matches these informal queries.
One example would be if someone asked, “What do I need for a solo camping trip?” You could answer this question by providing information about what you’ll need for a camping trip through text or images. Still, if someone asks it verbally, it’s much easier to answer them directly: “You’ll want warm clothing like fleece pants and sweaters.” Please pay attention to how you can use natural language processing (NLP) on your website; this will help ensure users get accurate answers from their devices!
Conclusion
In conclusion, optimizing for voice search is a highly effective way to increase your exposure and get ahead of your competitors. It’s important to understand how people search differently and optimize accordingly so that you can provide the best experience possible for your audience and stay ahead of the competition.
