One of the aspects of the Internet that continues to be developed today is voice search. While it has been around for a while, it is still being improved to be able to help make it a staple for modern-day search activities. We are going to help you learn how Google voice search can change the game in 2019.
As voice search is expected to get dramatically bigger this year. Businesses are also trying to prepare their sites to be able to work with this functionality with ease. The commotion is not misplaced as voice search is largely tied with the continuingly growing share of mobile devices in search activities. Some would even argue that optimizing for voice search, is one of the best SEO tips for 2019.
Why People Use Voice Search?
To date, the dominant way to search is still done through typing queries. But voice search is already available, and it is primarily used because of the following reasons:
- Mobile phones are still on the rise, and so is mobile search. Mobile devices will sooner or later take over the larger piece of the pie when it comes to search. Given the smaller screen, as well as hardware that is more supportive of voice search, there’s no question that voice search will become the more preferred method for searching. Not to mention the growth of the Internet of Things. More and more devices would work well with voice search to eliminate the need for a mechanism to enable type searching.
- Voice search can provide answers quickly but with less effort. Under normal circumstances, it is undeniably easier to say your queries as opposed to typing them out. Voice search is also commonly attached to the function of voice assistants, and a lot of queries are coursed through them, which is now becoming more accurate than ever. With voice assistants growing bigger and having more complex capacities, voice search is sure to flourish alongside it.
With all of these, here are some ways optimizing for voice search is a game-changer for 2019:
Make Use of Structured Data
One of the ways for you to be able to maximize your voice search optimization is to make use of structured data. Also called as schema markup, structuring your data means providing labels on what kind of information you put on your site so that crawlers would be able to understand it better, and can help make your content be used to be the answer to relevant queries.
Structuring your data also allows your content to be taken in independently working pieces, instead of being taken as a whole. For example, a voice search coursed through a voice assistant asking about your business hours would not need other information aside from your business hours and if you are able to label your data properly, your operating hours would be returned as a result of the voice search.
Perhaps a bonus is that structuring your data does not just help web crawlers digest your content better. It also helps organize your data in a way that makes it visually more appealing.
Lengthen Your Keywords
Aside from the actual way a query is made, a major difference between traditional type search and voice search is that the latter typically makes use of complete sentences. When one does a voice search, it’s usually a full question. Most are not a phrase as compared to type searching which commonly focuses on the keywords. This is because, of course, it’s a lot easier to speak than to type. And when we do speak, our natural way to do it is in a complete manner.
With that in mind, you should also make your keywords longer as to simulate how a query will be made by your users. Natural language processing is also enabling a better understanding of voice queries. Everyone does it so your keywords should conform to how one normally speaks.
Create FAQ and Blog Pages
A page in your site that can help maximize long keywords, and would best reflect usual queries that are relevant to your page is the Frequently Asked Questions page. It makes use of questions and then followed by answers. Questions that are similar to what’s already there can pick up the answers you have a place. With that in mind, you should put relevant questions in your FAQ page. This is so it would be easy for your page to cover as many queries as possible.
Another key page that you should have is a blog. Aside from coming up with tons of content that’s used by web crawlers to help you become a candidate for certain queries. You can also come up with blogs that directly questions from your customers. Your FAQ pages typically have limited space so answers are not always elaborated but coming up with a blog post that can discuss in detail can boost your content’s relevance to certain queries.
Strengthen Your Local SEO
Studies have proven that a vast majority of voice searches, especially those coursed through voice assistants, are largely local in nature. This includes questions on location, direction, and contact information. It is then very important that you strengthen your local efforts, and that you localize your content as well.
One of the strategies that you should not take for granted is being present in Google My Business. This helps you have a solid local presence that can allow you to be present even in navigation apps.
As for your content, make sure that you dash it with bits that can help localize your business. Mentioning that your business is based in a certain city, is just one of the ways to do this. There are many ways for you to be able to localize your content.
By boosting your local SEO, you are helping out your voice search as well.
Conclusion
Voice search is anticipated to grow as early as this year. It is important that you don’t get left behind. You should start your efforts in optimizing your site for voice. Keep in mind the above voice search optimization strategies. Do your best to apply them to your site now before it’s too late.
