7 Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your Website For Voice Search (And Why It's Important)

Some decades ago, no one would have imagined that robots or voice-controlled virtual assistants would become part of our everyday lives. And look at us now, asking Alexa for suggestions and recommendations with just one click. The fact that it has become much more convenient than typing has led many people to own an Alexa or another virtual assistant to help with their daily queries.

This is the power of voice search, and it's becoming increasingly important in the digital age. With the rise of other smart devices and voice assistants like Google Home and Apple's Siri, more and more people are turning to voice searches to find information, make purchases and get answers to their questions. In fact, according to a study conducted by Insider Intelligence, approximately 40% of internet users in the U.S use a voice search assistant on a monthly basis. Moreover, the number of smart speakers is estimated to exceed $200 million by 2023 in the U.S, which will only increase over the years.

As a marketer, it's crucial to understand how this is changing the way people interact with the internet and adapt your strategies accordingly.

In this article, we'll explore what voice search optimization is, its importance and 7 tips and tricks to optimize your website for this growing trend.

Defining voice search optimization

Voice search optimization involves tailoring website content, structure and metadata to prioritize and cater to voice search queries, ensuring that a business's online presence ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) for voice-based searches. This process requires a deep understanding of natural language processing (NLP) and long-tail keywords, as voice searches typically involve complete, conversational sentences rather than simple keyword phrases.

Moreover, it's essential to create engaging and relevant content that seamlessly incorporates the relevant keywords while addressing the users' intent and needs. Implementing voice search optimization strategies is not only crucial for enhancing the user experience but also for staying ahead in the digital marketing game. By optimizing for voice search queries, you can tap into the growing number of voice search users, ultimately driving more organic traffic, boosting brand visibility and fostering customer loyalty. 

Why should you optimize your website for voice search?

There are several reasons why optimizing your website for voice search is essential:

1. Growing number of voice search users: As smart devices and voice assistants become more popular and affordable, the number of voice search users is expected to grow exponentially. According to Statista, 72% of voice assistant owners claim that these devices became crucial in their everyday routines reporting that it'd be difficult for them to go back to not using them. Furthermore, 55% of teenagers report using voice search daily.
2. Voice search is a different user experience: Users who use voice search often have different needs and intentions than those who type their queries into a search bar. Optimizing your website for voice will help you better understand and cater to these users, ultimately improving their experience on your website.
3. Staying competitive: As voice search becomes more prevalent, websites that don't optimize for it may struggle to maintain their visibility and rankings in search engine results. By staying ahead of the curve and optimizing your website for voice search, you can maintain your competitive edge and ensure your website remains relevant and visible to your target audience.
4. Increased visibility: Increased visibility has become a crucial factor for businesses to thrive, making the optimization for voice search more important than ever. As voice-enabled devices continue to gain popularity, users are increasingly relying on voice assistants for quick and convenient search results. By optimizing your content for voice search, you not only tap into this growing user base, but also significantly improve your online presence and visibility.

Seven tips and tricks to optimize your website for voice search

When it comes to optimizing your website for voice search, here are seven tips and tricks to help you get started:

1. Long-tail keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases that users are more likely to use in voice search queries. They often have lower search volumes than shorter, more general keywords, but they tend to have higher conversion rates because they're more targeted.

To optimize your website for voice search, focus on incorporating long-tail keywords into your content, meta tags and headings. To do that, start by conducting thorough keyword research to identify the most relevant and commonly used long-tail phrases in your niche. Then, craft engaging content that answers users' questions and seamlessly integrates these keywords into your text. By doing so, you not only cater to voice search users but also improve your overall SEO strategy, making it easier for potential customers to find and engage with your brand.

2. Target question keywords

Users often ask questions rather than typing in regular terms. As a result, question keywords like "how to," "what is," and "where can I" are essential for voice search SEO. Identify common questions your target audience might ask and create content that answers these questions using natural, conversational language. Make sure you cater to longer questions as the way searchers construct a question by voice is different than the way they do it by text. In fact, these voice queries tend to be more specific than text queries. Note that the typical question keywords will be: why, when, what, how and where.

3. Optimize your website for featured snippets and quick answers

Featured snippets and quick answers are the search engine's way of providing concise, relevant information to users in response to a search query. These results often appear at the top of the search engine results page (SERP) and are frequently used by voice assistants to answer voice queries and address user intent.

To optimize your website for featured snippets and quick answers, structure your content using headings, bullet points and numbered lists, and provide clear, concise answers to common questions. This in turn will increase your website's visibility in search results, drive organic traffic, and ultimately enhance user experience.

4. Enhancing local SEO with Google My Business and schema markup

Local SEO is essential for businesses that rely on local customers, and it's even more critical for voice search optimization. Voice search users often search for local information, like restaurants, stores, and services near them. To optimize your website for local voice search, claim and optimize your Google My Business listing, and use schema markup to provide search engines with detailed information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and hours of operation.

5. Conversational language and concise answers

Voice search users are more likely to use natural, conversational language when asking questions. To optimize your website for voice search, write content that reflects this conversational tone and provides concise, easy-to-understand answers. Avoid jargon and complex language, and focus on addressing your users' needs and concerns as directly and clearly as possible.

6. Optimize for mobile devices and tablets

Most voice searches are conducted on mobile devices and tablets, so it's crucial to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Use responsive design, optimize your website's loading speed, and make sure your content is easy to read and navigate on smaller screens.

7. Build FAQs pages optimized for voice search

A well-structured FAQ page can be a goldmine for voice search optimization. By answering common questions and using conversational language, you can increase your chances of appearing in voice search results and provide valuable information to your users. Be sure to use schema markup on your FAQ page to help search engines understand and index your content.

Challenges and opportunities in voice search optimization

As the voice search trend continues to gain traction, digital marketers are faced with a new set of challenges and opportunities in optimizing their content for voice search.

The challenges of voice search

Understanding the nuances of user behavior: Unlike traditional text-based searches, voice searches tend to be more conversational and natural, often containing long-tail keywords that reflect better the user's intent. These long-tail keywords, while less competitive, can provide valuable insights into user needs and preferences, allowing digital marketers to create targeted and relevant content. However, identifying and incorporating these phrases into content can be a complex and time-consuming process, requiring constant research and adaptation to stay ahead of the curve.

Increasing diversity of voice-enabled devices: As each of these devices comes with its unique algorithms and ranking factors, digital marketers must adopt a multi-platform approach to voice search optimization, ensuring their content is accessible and optimized for various devices and platforms.

The opportunities of voice search

Despite these challenges, the rise of voice search presents numerous opportunities for digital marketers and businesses. For instance, focusing on long-tail keywords and natural language can lead to the creation of more engaging and user-friendly content. 

Additionally, voice search optimization allows for the exploration of emerging markets and audiences, as it is increasingly popular among younger users and those with accessibility needs. Moreover, as this trend continues to grow, businesses that embrace and adapt to these changes can position themselves as industry leaders and innovators. 

Final thoughts

Voice search technology is changing the way people interact with the internet, and it's crucial for marketers to adapt their strategies accordingly. By following these seven tips and tricks, you can optimize your website for voice search, enhance your users' experience, and stay ahead of your competition.