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Originally Posted On: https://www.pwmedia.com/how-does-the-rise-of-voice-search-impact-your-business
In recent years, technology has transformed the world in which we live. From smartphones to smartwatches, we have never been more connected with friends, family, and the businesses we know. Voice search has been one of the most popular features in recent years, with research estimating that 40.2% of Americans now use it regularly.
What exactly is voice search, and how can you use it to elevate your business? This blog will look at some of the biggest benefits voice search can offer your brand.
What is Voice Search?
Before we look at how voice search can positively impact your business, it is first important to understand precisely what it is.
As the name suggests, voice search is a way to search the internet through speech. Artificial Intelligence (AI) recognizes your voice and uses the words you say to provide the search results through your smartphone, smartwatch, or computer.
Voice recognition software is not new and dates back to the 1950s. However, using it to search the internet is far more recent and began around 2011.
That initial software was quite cumbersome and not particularly user-friendly. Fast forward to today, and things have changed drastically. Everything from Apple’s Siri to Amazon’s Echo now incorporates some form of voice search, and asking questions aloud to our devices has become the norm for countless homes across the globe.
What Is the Impact of Voice Search on Small Businesses?
As the popularity of voice search continues to rise, it’s clear that businesses of all sizes need to consider its impact. There are many ways that it can affect your company, but some of the most significant include:
1) SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most significant areas that voice search impacts. Verbal queries require a simple answer to a who, what, where, or how question, which means your keywords will need to become more conversational, and long-tail keywords will become more important.
2) Reach
Research has shown that the average voice search results are 52% faster than traditional written queries. This means the more optimized your site is for voice search, the higher the visibility of your business and the more hits you’ll receive. With more visitors, you will likely see an increase in sales.
3) Customer experience
With voice search becoming increasingly popular and convenient, customer expectations are changing. Focusing on voice search is no longer just a nice additional feature; it is quickly becoming an essential requirement for small businesses looking to give consumers the very best experience.
Studies have shown that 22% of voice searches are for local information, which is a great way to build a closer connection with customers in your community.
4) Competitive edge
Finally, focusing on voice search is also essential if you want to remain ahead of your competitors. Voice-based ad revenue is expected to reach $19 billion by the end of this year. f you want to continue to expand and drive sales, you will need to ensure you are optimized—no matter the size of your brand, i.
How Can You Optimize Your Content for Voice Search?
There is no denying the impact voice search has on small businesses now and in the coming years. However, how do you optimize your content to ensure it maximizes your results? Here are some tips:
Focus on local SEO
Local searches are one of the most popular reasons for voice search, so ensuring that your website and online content are optimized for local SEO is crucial.
46% of all Google searches are now from users looking for local products and services, so your business showing up on page one is critical.
Local SEO follows many of the same principles as standard SEO but also requires:
- Fully optimized and managed Google Business Profile
- Local citations
- Reviews from customers
Be conversational
The days of stuffing your website with relevant keywords are thankfully long gone. To succeed with your SEO strategy, be as authentic and natural as possible. Search engines want to give their users the best experience possible, so being as human as possible with your text is vital.
Voice search takes this even further, as people talk in a far more natural and relaxed way than they do when typing a query. That is why your website needs to be engaging with users in a light and conversational manner.
Be structured with your data
Voice searches are designed to answer straightforward questions. That is why search engines now examine a wide range of factors when deciding where to display a website in the results, and schema markup is one such area.
Schema data is your site’s metadata that a search engine scans. It helps to ensure a search engine can quickly identify what each page of your website is about and whether it answers a user’s query.
Ensure your website is optimized for mobile
Smartphones are now part of our everyday lives, and in 2021 there were over 4.32 billion searches made using a phone—that’s over 90% of all internet users! The vast majority of voice searches are made via a mobile device, so you need to ensure your website is optimized for smartphones to show up when users are making queries.
This is not just an essential part of optimizing your site for voice searches but a crucial aspect of any SEO strategy.
Develop an FAQ section
Finally, another top tip is to have an area on your website dedicated to the most commonly asked customer questions. Voice searches typically begin with a who, what, where, when, how, or why. Creating responses that answer these questions will help your website climb the search rankings.
The clearer and more precise you are with your answers, the easier it is for search engines to understand, and the higher up you will appear.
Need Help Optimizing Your Site?
As the popularity of voice search continues to accelerate in the coming years, your small business must be prepared. If you want to stay ahead of your competitors and boost your reach, you want to ensure that your website is fully optimized for vocal queries.
However, we know how tough it can be here at PW Media. That is why our highly experienced team is here to help you. For over two decades, we have been providing cutting-edge internet strategies for businesses just like yours, helping to increase visibility and maximize conversions.
To learn more about how we can help you, get in touch today!
