Since the emergence of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, voice search has already experienced rapid development. Voice search will probably keep growing in popularity over the next few years as more people get accustomed to using these technologies.

The increased use of smart speakers and other voice-enabled devices is one aspect that might help voice search optimisation develop. Businesses will need to improve their content to be easily found by voice search as these devices grow more prevalent in homes and workplaces.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) developments may also improve the precision and efficacy of voice search. This might encourage more individuals to use voice search for difficult enquiries.

How To Optimise For Voice Search?

Focus On Conversational Language

People tend to use more conversational language when speaking to voice assistants, so it’s important to use natural, conversational language in your content. Try to anticipate the types of questions your audience may ask and provide clear, concise answers that sound like natural speech.

Use Long-tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are phrases that are longer and more specific than typical keywords. They are often used by people who have a clear idea of what they are looking for and are searching for something very specific.

Long-tail keywords are crucial for voice search optimisation since voice searches are frequently longer and more conversational than text-based searches. For instance, a user might ask a voice assistant, “What’s the best pizza restaurant nearby?” rather than typing “best pizza restaurant” into a search engine.

You can begin by figuring out the precise terms that your target market is most likely to use in voice search enquiries to optimise for long-tail keywords. To find these long-tail terms, use programmes like Google Keyword Planner or other SEO keyword research tools.

Once you have identified relevant long-tail keywords, you can use them strategically in your content. Be sure to include them in your headlines, subheadings, and throughout your content in a natural and conversational way. But be careful not to overdo it or stuff your content with keywords, as this can harm your SEO.

Optimizing for long-tail keywords can help you better match the intent of voice search queries and improve your chances of appearing in voice search results.

Optimize For Featured Snippets

Voice assistants often read out featured snippets (also known as “position zero” results) in response to voice search queries. Try to optimize your content to appear as a featured snippet by providing concise, clear answers to common questions.

Focus On Local SEO

As many voice searches are location-based, you can appear in local voice search results by optimising your content for local SEO. To make it simpler for search engines to comprehend the location of your company, make sure to mention it in your content and use schema mark-up.

Local SEO is an essential factor in voice search optimization, especially for businesses that rely on local customers. Voice searches often involve location-based queries such as “near me,” “closest,” “in my area,” or “around me.” Therefore, it’s important to focus on local SEO to ensure that your business appears in relevant voice search results.

Optimize your Google My Business listing to ensure that your Google My Business listing is updated and complete with all the relevant information, including your business name, address, phone number, business hours, and website URL. This information will help Google understand your business and improve your visibility in local search results.

Use naturally occuring location-based keywords and phrases in the content, meta descriptions, titles, and URLs of your website. Use terms like “greatest pizza in San Francisco” if you, for instance, own a pizzeria there.

Citations and backlinks are links to your website from other authoritative websites, directories, or social media profiles. They are important ranking factors in local search results. Focus on building high-quality citations and backlinks from authoritative sources in your industry or location.

Schema markup is a type of structured data that helps search engines understand the content of your website. Use schema markup to include important information such as your business name, address, phone number, and reviews. This will improve your visibility in local search results, including voice search results.

A Mobile-friendly Website Is A Must

Since mobile devices are used for the majority of voice searches, having a mobile-friendly website is essential. Make sure your website runs quickly and is simple to use on mobile devices.

According to Google, a search result’s mobile friendliness affects its ranking. This implies that your website might not rank as highly in search results, including voice search results, if it is not mobile-friendly.

With their mobile devices, customers want websites to load quickly and be simple to use. Your website may be slow to load or challenging to use on mobile devices if it is not mobile-friendly, which could result in a bad user experience and reduce the likelihood that your website will show up in voice search results.

In conclusion, voice search optimisation may increase your website’s search exposure, enhance user experience, give you a competitive edge, boost engagement, and future-proof your online presence.