What we need to know about voice search optimization
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has evolved beyond just the strategic placement of keywords. While it’s still important, it’s not as important as it used to be. These days, content as a whole matters more than any keyword, so we can say that content is KING. Voice search is also making businesses around the world rethink their SEO strategy.
Many companies have made efforts to become “mobile friendly” in recent years, but it is a factor that has often been overlooked until now. Currently, more than 100 million mobile phone and tablet users have Google’s voice search app installed on their devices.
It is much easier for a mobile Internet user to simply say what they are looking for instead of typing it. Users often simply prefer to ask a question rather than indicate a particular keyword. If our website content provides answers to questions mobile users may ask, it has a better chance of ranking high.
According to research, Google provides direct answers to queries in at least 19% of all searches. Clearly, the search engine was inclined to give answers to users. If your content isn’t organized in a way that helps Google provide answers to search queries, it could hurt your voice and mobile rankings.
Here are some ways we can prepare our website for voice searches:
· Create content with a natural voice…fluent English/spoken English. Avoid using formal language. Think the same way consumers will speak when searching. This way, you will be able to get your message across conversationally.
· The FAQ strategy works best if you plan to create content for voice search optimization. Answer questions like “Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?” Address the answers to these questions not only on the website, but also in blogs and social media posts.
· Long-tail keywords are ideal for optimization: long-tail keywords and keyword phrases in the form of a question. Make them sound natural. Don’t try to force fit a keyword phrase into your content.
Stay away from keywords
The importance of keywords in SEO has decreased over the years. Google has been declining the importance of keyword-focused search queries, due to low-quality keyword spam content on the web. When users use any search engine, they want to be shown relevant websites that contain real information about what they’re looking for, not a random page with keywords spammed all over it.
These days, voice search makes the requirement for quality content even more essential. Importance should be given to sentence- and question-based searches rather than keyword-focused ones.
The technology behind it:-
For now, you don’t have to worry about implementing any markup code for voice search rankings. While there are a number of technologies associated with creating voice search, current SEO practices are enough to keep you ranking high. You won’t have to tweak your web design too much, at least for now. Only include voice search in your overall strategy.
