“Hey, Google, why is voice search important?”
We’re glad you asked. It’s clear that voice search is here to stay – in fact, nearly 50% of consumers are using it for web searches now. Here are our 5 simple SEO tips to optimize your site for voice search.
Think Local
Over half of consumers have used voice search to find a local business in the past 12 months. Last year “near me” searches were up a whopping 900%. Take advantage of this trend by using local keywords in your title tags, meta description, and internal links. Include mentions of landmarks near your location, other local businesses, and the phrase “near me.” Improve your local SEO by making sure your location, hours, and contact information are correct.
Go Mobile
Studies show that most voice searches are made on a smartphone, so make sure you optimize your site for flawless mobile scrolling. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool is a great place to start.
Focus on the FAQs
Voice search queries are more likely to be questions. An easy way to optimize your site for voice search is with an FAQ page. List the common questions asked verbally about your business and give concise responses. Include question keywords like “how,” “what,” “when,” “why,” and “where.”
Chat it Up
This one goes along with #3. We don’t speak like we Google, so make sure you include long-tail keywords with a conversational tone. For example, instead of “digital marketing agency Ontario,” try, “What’s the best digital marketing agency in Ontario?” Use filler words like “the,” “to,” and “for.”
Get Speedy
The loading speed of your website is critical for SEO, and voice search is no exception. To speed things up, use compressed images and videos, reduce plugins and redirects, invest in exceptionally fast hosting (we run on Closte, by the way, and can’t recommend it enough!), and use a Content Delivery Network.
Conclusion
We’re experiencing a voice search revolution, and you don’t want to let your business get left behind. These simple SEO tips will help you optimize your site for voice search, but that’s only the beginning. Check out the rest of our blog for more great SEO tricks, or reach out! We’ll help you grow your business with our content and digital marketing strategy expertise.
