Many of us use voice assistance like Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant and Cortana daily. In fact according to a recent survey, over 75% of the UK population uses them. But have you ever wondered how our reliance on these helpful voice assistance can help your small business? In this article we’re going to explore what voice search optimisation is and how you can make it work for you.
What is Voice Search Optimisation?
Voice Search Optimisation is the process of optimising your online content to be easily discoverable through voice-activated devices and virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or Google Assistant. Instead of typing queries, users simply speak into their devices, making searches faster, more convenient, and increasingly popular.
How it Can Benefit Your Small Business
Voice search is not just a trend; it’s a game-changer for small businesses. With voice search on the rise, businesses that optimise for voice search can reach a wider audience and enhance their online visibility. By catering to the conversational queries users pose to voice assistants, businesses can tap into a new realm of customer engagement, leading to increased website traffic, higher conversion rates, and ultimately, more revenue.
How it Differs from Existing SEO Practices
Voice search optimisation differs significantly from traditional SEO practices. While traditional SEO focuses on typed queries and concise keywords, voice search is more conversational. People using voice search tend to phrase their queries in a natural, conversational tone. Therefore, your content should be structured to provide clear, concise, and conversational answers to common questions relevant to your business.
Tips to Implement Voice Search Optimisation
- Different voice assistants use different search engines to pull information – Siri uses Bing, while Google Assistant uses, well, Google. As a business it is important that your optimisation strategies accommodate these differences.
- Improving your website’s technical SEO is key. You need to ensure your website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and has clear, concise metadata. Technical aspects like these play a crucial role in voice search optimisation, just like they do in more traditional SEO. A fast-loading, mobile-responsive site is favoured by both users and search engines.
- Utilise Local SEO. Many voice searches are local in nature (“find a restaurant near me”), making local SEO imperative. Claim and optimise your Google My Business listing, encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, and ensure your business information is consistent across online platforms.
- Create FAQ Pages. Voice searches often take the form of questions. Crafting detailed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages with natural, conversational language can make your content more voice search-friendly.
- Optimise for Long-Tail Keywords. Voice searches are typically longer and more detailed than typed queries. Optimise your content for long-tail keywords and natural phrases your audience is likely to use.
- Implement schema markup (a structured data markup) on your website. It helps search engines understand your content better, improving the chances of your content being featured in voice search results.
As the digital world and technologies continue to evolve, staying ahead isn’t just an advantage—it’s essential for small businesses. Embracing voice search optimization isn’t merely following a trend; it’s adapting to a fundamental change in how users navigate the internet.
By grasping its intricacies, appreciating its advantages, and employing the right techniques on your website to optimise for voice search, your small business can not only keep up with the times but also lead the way in 2024 and beyond.
