What is Voice Search?
Voice search for the consumer was introduced in 2011 with Apple’s virtual assistant Siri. “A feature all about our voice,” Apple Leadership Phil Schiller said at the Apple special event. “What we really want is to be able to talk to our device. Ask a simple question: ‘What’s the weather going to be like?’”
Voice search is technology that’s been integrated into TVs, phones, home devices and computers. Voice search recognizes speech commands or questions and uses the internet and AI to respond accordingly. Today, people can still ask about the weather, and also add items to a shopping list, or even ask their personal assistant to turn off the lights, now that we have “smart homes.” The leading home devices are the Amazon Echo and Google Home, and there are an estimated 20 million US households with more than one Amazon Echo.
Why Optimize?
Voice search has been increasing in popularity with 40% of US internet users using a voice assistant monthly (and we think that’s probably more like daily). When you optimize your marketing content for voice searches, you are helping your site’s SEO and ranking. You are allowing people who use smart speakers to find your business and products. Optimizing your content can even give your page authority to be one of the top picks in the voice search. This means your district or organization has the opportunity to be recommended to users by Alexa! Who would’ve thought AI would become an opportunity for third party endorsements.
3 Tips on How To Optimize
- Use Long Tail Keywords in Online Content
“Alexa, what are the best family friendly activity during Spring in Atascadero?”
If we wanted to Google for the same search we would type “family friendly activities in Atascadero spring,” being specific about “family friendly,” “spring” and “Atascadero.” Using those longer question keywords in your content will help people find exactly what they are looking for in your content when they’re searching for specific queries.
People will find you at the top of their search when they Google, “family friendly activities in Atascadero,” if your content includes those keywords in your web and social content.
2. Keep Your Language Conversational
Voice searches have a different structure than traditional Google searches: They are conversational. Your company blogs should be using “I,” “you,” “we.” Continue to utilize your established brand voice for blogs — your blogs should be useful but less formal and more relatable, like you’re talking to a friend.
3. Local SEO through Google Business
Creating and maintaining a Google business profile is a great way to ensure your business comes up on Google’s business listings. It’s a great way to keep up with customers’ questions and keep them informed about business hours, location, contact info and get people connected to your website. But it is critical to keep this information updated! You don’t want potential customers getting incorrect information, which would actually be worse than giving no information at all.
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