What impact will Voice UI have on SEO and the threat it poses to Text-Based Search

Text-based search has been served a power-packed punch from voice UI, which is predicted to become the future of how consumers locate and search information online. To this point, Microsoft’s Cortana alone accommodates over 100 million monthly users. It’s predicted that by 2020, 50 percent of all searches will be completed through voice UI. Admittedly this puts a significant spin into strategies relating to search engine optimization and specifically text-based SEO. Though you may not require a complete overhaul, there are big changes that any freelancer or agency wants to get in on today before these become prominent issues down the road. 

Long-tail keywords

Targeting long-tail keywords is the future. As consumers are more comfortable speaking detailed search than texting it, voice searches have been notably more specific. Through voice UI, expect consumers to include more extensive requests, meaning a site’s SEO will have to make room for these longer search terms. This can be seen as a positive for conversion rates however as the more detail included, the higher likelihood the consumer will be closer to making a purchase.

More conversational, less formal

Speaking in the language of the consumer is already an important point and it’s going to be even more so in the months ahead. Written texts need to be written in the same way that people speak. Remember, we talk differently than we write. In text, we may use less words and more specific terms to search. When using a voice UI to search, we may be more conversational. Creating content that naturally matches the tone of the intended target audience.

Content that answers questions

Instead of searching for specific keywords, consumers like to use voice UI to ask questions. Thereby, content should be formatted accordingly. Ask a question and then, answer it, and do so as accurately and as comprehensively as possible. Begin by understanding the information the intended target audience is searching for. Then, build question-and-answer articles on these, incorporating sales-friendly language into the text and a CTA that ensures the deal sees a close.

Geo-targeted local listings

Creating content with a keen focus on local is going to be key moving forward. According to estimates, consumers on voice search are three times more likely to include a location than if they were on text-based search. Beyond using localized keywords, ensure that your business is registered in the appropriate directories, monitor online reviews and turn out as many five-star reviews as is possible, and include Schema markup code with local info such as addresses.

Mobile-ready websites

The biggest percentage of voice searches in the next decade are going to come from mobile platforms. If your site is not already mobile responsive, get it to place where it’s mobile-ready. Where traffic is coming is changing and a premiere experience needs to be provided to mobile users because they will soon make up the largest portion of every site’s traffic. Thus, consider testing mobile usability using the Mobile-Friendly Tester from Google and ensure that pages are loading fast, that content is properly positioned, and that any icons, buttons, and links are properly sized.

Voice search is changing the effectiveness of current search engine optimization strategies. Though text is not going away anytime soon, voice search does require focus to be put on slightly different areas. For more information on how to up your SEO game for voice search, contact Unlimited Exposure today to speak with a representative.