As we all know, the rise of voice search has revolutionized the way people access information and interact with technology. With the increasing popularity of virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Home, voice search is rapidly becoming a preferred method for finding information. In fact, recent studies have shown that 55% of households in the United States now own a smart speaker, and that number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
As a result of this trend, the search landscape is changing. And if you’re a business and/or a website owner, you should adapt your content strategies accordingly to keep up with this changing landscape. In this article, I’ll explain to you all about voice search and how you can change your content strategy to suit it.
Current content structure and challenges to voice search?
If you have been creating and publishing content for some time, you may know very well how you insert certain grammatically incorrect keywords in between your content to make it more visible in search engines. Well, how we have been targeting keywords for quite some time might not work well with voice search.
One of the biggest challenges with voice search is that it is based on natural language processing (NLP), which is significantly different from traditional text-based search. NLP requires a different approach to keyword optimization, as people tend to use longer, more conversational phrases when they speak. This means that you should focus on including long-tail keywords in your content, rather than short, one or two-word keywords that are typically used in text-based searches.
What to consider while optimizing your content for voice search
Optimizing your content for voice search involves a number of important factors, including making sure your website is easily readable by search engines, using conversational language in your content, and including long-tail keywords that people are likely to use in a voice search. Other than long-tail keywords (which I’ve already explained previously), here are a few important considerations to optimize your content for voice search.
Well-structured and conversational content
In addition to focusing on long-tail keywords, it’s also important to make sure that your website is easily readable by search engines. This includes ensuring that your website is properly structured, with a clear hierarchy and well-organized content.
Another factor that is crucial for optimizing your content for voice search is to make sure that your content is written in a conversational tone. People tend to use more natural language when they speak, so it is important to write your content in a way that is conversational and easy to understand. This involves using simple language, avoiding technical jargon, and writing in a way that is engaging and accessible to your target audience.
Mobile-friendly website
Many voice searches are performed on mobile devices. Therefore. It’s utterly important to make sure your website and its content are mobile-friendly. Creating a mobile-friendly website has been important for quite a while as more people access the internet from a mobile device than any other device. However, even though your site is mobile-friendly, giving attention to small details is crucial since you perform most of your backend tasks from your desktop.
Local search optimized
Many voice searches are performed with the intention of finding a local business. This means you should include your business’s address and phone number on your website, as well as information about your business’s hours and services. You should also make sure that your website is listed on local directories, such as Google My Business, which can help improve your visibility in local search results.
Continuous Testing
Tracking and measuring the success of your voice search optimization efforts ensure you’re in the right direction. This can be done by using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your website’s traffic and see how people are finding your site. You can also use these tools to see which keywords people are using to find your site and make any necessary changes to your content to improve your visibility in search results.
Final words
The rise of voice search has changed the landscape of search and has important implications for businesses and website owners. By focusing on long-tail keywords, making sure your website is easily readable by search engines, using conversational language in your content, and optimizing your site for local search, you can ensure that your website is easily discoverable when people are looking for products or services related to your business.
By staying ahead of the curve and adapting to the changing landscape of search, you can stay ahead of the competition and continue to reach your target audience effectively.
Michael Ghimire 