How to Shift SEO to a Voice Search Optimized Content Strategy
Changing ways of searching for information online has included more consumers using voice search on their smartphones, tablets, and devices like Google Home, Microsoft Cortana, Alexa, Siri, Amazon Echo, and more.
Add to this more consumers are moving to mobile devices instead of browsing the Internet on laptops, desktops, or tablets. A lot of searches get done through voice, such as finding a local restaurant, getting directions, or finding out the weather. By 2020, about half of all Internet searches will be done through voice.
Positioning your brand for long-term success is key to understanding voice search. Unlike written words, voice search is more conversational, natural in tone, and statements made or queries are longer. The future of SEO is voice search which is why we’ve put together this quick guide on elevating brands to where they need to be to ensure they remain successful in tomorrow’s landscape of search engine optimization.
Microdata
Microdata can come in many forms. One such is a sitemap submitted to Google which would include data such as your location, pricing, store hours, and address and phone number. Microdata markups can also be written to communicate various things relating to your business and the products or services offered. Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper is a great tool, in this sense.
Experiment with voice search yourself
To better understand how people are using voice search, use it yourself. Look up and try to understand how users in your target market may be using it. If you understand interactions like these, you can then transfer this knowledge to how you supply voice search SEO questions with answers. It’s all about meeting the demand with supply from you and your website rather than a competitor’s.
Scannable content
Anyone viewing content on their mobile wants to do so quickly. Use short, simple sentences. Paragraphs should be kept short. Headers should be used to help break up the content. Make it easy to read.
Google ‘My Business’ listing
If you haven’t already, register a Google ‘My Business’ listing. This optimizes an existing SEO campaign and legitimizes your brand in Google’s eyes, identifying your industry, address and location, business hours, and other pertinent information. This makes it more likely that when a voice search is performed, especially if the keyword of location-related, you come up.
Long-tail keywords
When we converse, we don’t do so in short sentences. Most of us are detailed, use more words than we need to, and are more natural in our spoken word. When using voice search long-tail keywords are recommended. Think about real speech and possible keyword variations. A lot of voice search involves asking questions. The more long-tail keywords you use, the more likely you will grab someone who is asking their voice-enabled device a question using the same word sequence.
Few examples of long-tail keywords, Who is a Shopify developer in Toronto, or Find an affordable social media marketing company, I need help with my eCommerce website.
New voice search SEO strategies will certainly present in the years to come as more people shift away from screen Internet and jump on screen-less use. Digital marketing will have to adapt. Rightfully with voice-centric SEO, you can get your brand in a good position so that you stay ahead of the trend rather than having to play catch-up a few years down the line. For these and other digital marketing related to video, SEO, email, content marketing, eCommerce and more, speak with an expert at Unlimited Exposure today.
