Ultimate Guide for Voice Search Optimization

by ​Al Gomez, Guest Contributors

Artificial Intelligence or AI is in the constant spotlight for the past years in marketers and business owners’ conversations. And if there’s AI integration, there is voice assistant usage. You may find that the internet is littered with tips and tutorial about voice search optimization for your site. Especially on your content.
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However, why is it such a big fuss for you to get ready for voice search?

Voice Search Optimization Guide

Statistics for Voice Search
Voice search is causing a great impact on digital marketing. Furthermore, according to Comscore, 50% of searches are going to be voice-activated by 2020. And 30% of the searches will be done by screen as Mediapost had predicted.

The numbers don’t lie. Know how users input their queries.

And for that, here is the guide that you will be needing to optimize your website’s content for voice search.

Research Voice Search Platforms
If you want to start on the right foot, you have to know the guidelines. Equip yourself with the knowledge on how voice search platforms get the answers to queries. By doing so, you will have a better chance of figuring out what to do first to make your optimization easier.

Every voice search assistant works differently, if not similar. You will be able to know and cover the basics of their function so chances of your content getting picked on different assistants increases.

Make Use of Long-Tail Keywords
Humans don’t ask for “pizza” using voice search and get the answers they wanted compared to typing it on a keyboard. One of the differences that voice-activated queries have is the implementation of long-tail keywords. Instead of one or two keywords, you will have to go to the specifics.

Therefore, instead of “pizza”, you opt to long-tail keywords such as “three cheese pizza recipe” or “overload Hawaiian pizza ingredients.” This makes it easier for voice assistants to get the right answer to the query being asked.

Prioritize the 5 Ws and H Questions
In lieu long-tail keywords, always remember that most voice search queries are applying the 5 Ws and H. The Who, What, Why, When, Where and How. The part where users search with the use of keywords is no more in voice search.

You have to make sure that your content is the answer to those questions. Form your long-tail keywords in the possible questions that people will have. Long-tail keywords have the reputation to give less traffic, on the bright side, it gives higher conversion rate.

Optimize for Humans, Not Search Engines
As mentioned before, your content and how you optimize is should be human-friendly. Before you were optimizing content for search engines. However, that is not the case when it comes to voice search.

Employ long-tail keywords, the 5 Ws and the H, and the most important of all, natural language. Imagine asking a friend, you won’t be asking them pizza ingredients, right? Think “What are the ingredients of pizza?” and “When will it snow tomorrow?”

Take Advantage of Schema
Schema markup doesn’t just make your content stand out in the Search Engine Results Page or SERPs. If applying schema markup for your content for types searches, the rich results and snippets can make users understand if your content is fit for their query.

Schema markup in voice search also does that. They are supplement information that enables search engines to understand what your content is about and in what context. If you are featuring the movie Cars, you apply a markup that states your content is about the Cars movie and not about real cars.

ALWAYS be Mobile-Friendly
Just because users are utilizing voice search doesn’t mean that you have to stop optimizing your site for mobile-friendliness. Bear in mind that not all people get to use searches without having a screen such as Alexa and Google Home.

Most voice searchers are doing those from their mobile phones. You never know that one of them might decide to check on your site from a voice search answer. If your website is not mobile-friendly, it will give bad user experience to your potential visitors generated from voice search query.

The Future of Searching the Web
Change is inevitable, no one can control it and no one can bend it to their will. It’s either sink or swim for people all over the world. Even if the future is still slightly fuzzy, at least with our current technology, we will be able to imagine it with a bit of clarity.
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The future of content and SEO optimization in voice search lies in your hands. Optimize and prepare for further development of our technology. Doing so will give you a leg up on competitors. Preparing will also make you more than ready to tackle new changes the dynamic world of the internet can give.
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Author’s Bio:

SEO consultant Al Gomez is the man behind Dlinkers - Digital Marketing & Consultancy, a company dedicated to complete digital marketing services. With more than ten years of experience, he enjoys supporting smartpreneurs like himself achieve online success.