Voice search is increasingly important and optimizing for voice search is essential for businesses to stay competitive in today’s SEO market.
In the US and UK, 28% of consumers claim to use voice assistants daily, which is well over a quarter of users.
This guide presents eight strategies for voice search optimization, including conversational keywords, featured snippets, local SEO, and voice-friendly content.
We will also highlight critical technical elements and new opportunities in voice features and accessibility.
Whether starting out or looking to improve your strategy, read on for practical tips to succeed in SEO.
1. Master Conversational, Long-Tail Keywords
A key difference between text search and voice search is the use of conversational, long-tail keywords.
For example, someone might type, “best Italian restaurant NYC,” while a voice searcher would ask, “What’s the best Italian restaurant in New York City?”
To improve visibility in voice searches, focus on long-tail keywords that reflect natural speech.
Use question phrases like “what,” “where,” and “how.” Tools like AnswerThePublic and AlsoAsked can help you find common questions in your industry.
Example
For instance, a meal delivery service might encounter questions like, “What’s the healthiest meal delivery option?”
The company can increase its chances of ranking in voice searches by creating content that answers these.
2. Aim For Position Zero
Featured snippets, or “position zero,” are short answer boxes at the top of search results. They’re crucial for voice search, as they provide direct answers for virtual assistants.
To improve your chances of getting a featured snippet, offer clear answers to common questions in your field. Use bullet points, numbered lists, or short paragraphs (40-50 words) for easy reading.
Example
Imagine a skincare brand that creates a series of “How to” blog posts addressing common concerns like “How to get rid of acne scars” or “How to build a basic skincare routine.”
By structuring their content in a voice-friendly way and providing direct, actionable answers, they can improve their odds of earning featured snippets for these queries.
3. Prioritize Local SEO
Many voice searches are local, like “coffee shops near me” or “directions to the nearest gas station.”
To take advantage of this traffic, businesses should focus on local SEO.
First, claim and improve your Google Business Profile. Ensure your business name, address, phone number, hours, and other details are accurate.
Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews, as these can appear in voice search results.
Also, use local keywords throughout your website and create specific pages or posts with phrases like “best [product/service] in [city].”
Example
Consider a local home services company that wants to improve its visibility for voice searches.
This business could use the ‘LocalBusiness’ schema markup, target “near me” keywords, and create city-specific service pages.
This would help search engines understand where the business operates and improve its visibility in local voice searches.
4. Speed Up Your Website
Voice searchers want quick answers, and slow-loading websites can lose them. Page speed is crucial for ranking in both regular and voice searches.
Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to check your load times and find improvements.
You can speed up your site by compressing images, minifying CSS and JavaScript, using browser caching, reducing redirects, and upgrading your hosting.