Voice search optimization is no longer just the future of effective online marketing it’s already at the forefront of every proven search engine optimization strategy. Great SEO demands fresh, unique, engaging, and well-written content that users can learn from and relate to. It needs to be easily accessible and digestible. Voice search optimization allows brands to accomplish all of their online marketing objectives by reaching out to a much wider target audience than they could have previously imagined.
Surprisingly, even though voice search has become wildly popular amongst mobile users, and major tech companies have already leveraged its popularity, many businesses still fail to optimize their web site content accordingly. Users can now make search inquiries, get directions, get contact information, search for businesses, purchase products, and do so much more all with the help of artificial intelligence and voice search technology.
Here are a few tips for implementing effective voice search optimization for your brand.
Believe it or not, how you structure the data in your content pieces and throughout your web site matters just as much as the quality of content you produce when it comes to attracting new users.
Featured snippets are those short, yet informative tidbits of information that appear at the top of a search engine response page when a search query is made. They typically cater to food, health, financial, medical, and home improvement-related search queries, but the repertoire is growing. Featured snippets are usually derived from the most relevant content pieces found on the Internet. In fact, Google crawls through thousands of web sites in a matter of nanoseconds to find the most relevant answer to the question being asked.
For Google, high-quality content is king. But, structuring your data in concise, easy to understand paragraphs or bullet points is another sure-fire way of getting it featured.
Content optimization is so much more than keyword stuffing. In fact, keyword stuffing is a practice that’s been largely abandoned by most SEO experts because it devalues and diminishes the quality and readability of the content. Readers catch on rather quickly when all you’re trying to do is get them to click on your URL rather than actually providing them with useful information.
The proper strategy for content optimization is to incorporate a few vital keywords that are currently trending based on your industry and the subject matter that you’re writing about without making it overly obvious. You should also structure the content in such a way that it’s easy to read and comprehend for the average reader who may stumble upon your web site. Use reliable sources and always fact check any information that’s presented on your web site.
Whenever possible, consult with field experts and get them to review your content for accuracy and readability. If you’re providing medical, financial, or health advice always use reputable sources and provide links.
Long-form content has a lot of proven success when it comes to attracting more users. The reason is simple. The longer the content is, the more opportunities there are to organically incorporate keywords without having to stuff them in.
With that said, however, it’s also important to keep the language as simple and easy to understand as possible. Depending on your audience, you’re most likely trying to cater to the average person and not a Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist. But that’s not to say that you should dumb down the language per se; just keep it simple enough so that the average person can easily understand the point you’re trying to get across.
To ensure your content ranks well and appears as a featured snippet, include common questions throughout. Subheadings are a great place to do this. Use questions as your subheadings and then the following paragraph should answer them in a brief and straightforward way. Depending on the nature of your business, the writing style can be as fun and informal as you want it to be.
Voice search technology was born out of the need for convenience, which was largely inspired by mobile users. These are people who are constantly on-the-go and rely on hands-free technological features.
Mobile-friendliness has become a staple of modern web design. Any web sites that lack this all-important feature are far behind the fold and will have to play catch up if they want to stay in the game. Users are more likely to navigate away from a page or web site that lacks mobile-friendly features, and this includes a responsive web design that’s automatically formatted to fit any screen.
On that same note, web site loading speed is also a mitigating factor when it comes to keeping users on your web site, regardless of the device they’re using. Simply put, if a page takes way too long to load as in more than two to three seconds most people are very likely to leave. And where will they end up going? Straight to your competitors, that’s where. Regularly testing out your web site speed using Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool will help you stay on top of things.
Local SEO is paramount to voice search optimization. As mentioned, most people who use voice search are mobile users who are on-the-go and don’t have time to stop and physically type in their search queries.
To optimize your web site for local SEO, make sure you claim your Google My Business listing and verify it immediately. Keep all the information including store hours, phone numbers, e-mails, and addresses always updated. Use “near me” search terms and geotags such as “dentist office in the GTA” so that users can easily find you when they need your products or services. If you’re a multi-location or service-based business, make sure you have unique location pages for each physical storefront and service area.
Need help implementing effective voice search optimization for your web site?
Numero Uno Business Growth Specialists is here to help! Our team of experienced web designers and SEO experts can create a strong online marketing strategy that’s designed to increase web traffic and conversion rates for your web site through voice search optimization. Contact us today to learn more!
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