“Hey Siri, where’s the best coffee shop near me?”
Voice search has changed the way people find information online. With the rise of smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, more consumers are using voice commands to search for products, services, and businesses. In fact, by 2024, it’s estimated that more than half of all internet searches will be voice-based.
This shift means businesses need to optimise their online presence to stay competitive. Traditional search engine optimisation (SEO) isn’t enough anymore – you need to make sure your content is structured for conversational, spoken queries.
1. Use Conversational Keywords and Natural Language
When people type a search query, they often use short phrases like “best pizza Sydney.” But when they use voice search, they’re more likely to phrase it as a question or full sentence, such as “Where can I find the best pizza in Sydney?”
Voice searches are more natural and conversational, so your content needs to reflect this. Instead of just focusing on short, generic keywords, incorporate long-tail keywords that match how people actually speak.
For example, if you own a bakery, instead of optimising for “gluten-free bread Sydney”, try:
- “Where can I buy gluten-free bread in Sydney?”
- “Which bakery has the best gluten-free bread near me?”
By answering these types of questions in your content, you increase your chances of ranking higher in voice search results.
2. Optimise for Local SEO
Most voice searches have local intent, meaning users are looking for businesses near them. Queries like “find a plumber near me” or “what’s the best coffee shop in Melbourne?” are common, making local SEO essential.
To improve your local search rankings:
- Claim and optimise your Google My Business listing. Ensure your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation are accurate.
- Use location-specific keywords in your website content and meta descriptions.
- Encourage customer reviews, as they help with voice search visibility.
- Include “near me” in your content, since voice searches often include this phrase.
Google prioritises businesses that provide clear and relevant local information, so making these changes will help your business show up when people search through voice assistants.
3. Improve Website Speed and Mobile Performance
Voice searches are often done on mobile devices, which means your website needs to be fast and mobile-friendly. If your site is slow or difficult to navigate, users (and search engines) will move on to a competitor.
To improve your website’s speed and usability:
- Optimise images to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality.
- Enable browser caching to improve loading times.
- Use a responsive design so your site looks great on any device.
- Reduce unnecessary plugins and scripts that slow down performance.
Google favours sites that load quickly and provide a smooth mobile experience, so prioritising speed and responsiveness will help with both traditional and voice search rankings.
4. Create FAQ Pages That Answer Common Questions
Voice searches often take the form of questions, like “How do I fix a leaking tap?” or “What’s the best way to remove pet stains from carpet?”
By creating FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) pages on your website, you increase the chances of your content being used as a direct answer in voice search results.
Here’s how to optimise FAQ pages for voice search:
- Write in a conversational tone that mimics how people naturally speak.
- Use structured data markup (Schema) to help search engines understand your content.
- Keep answers concise – voice assistants pull short, direct responses from websites.
If you provide clear, well-structured answers, your website has a higher chance of being featured in Google’s “Featured Snippets”, which are commonly used in voice search responses.
5. Focus on Featured Snippets and Position Zero
When people use voice search, digital assistants often read out the top-ranking result, also known as “Position Zero” or the “Featured Snippet.” This is the answer box that appears at the top of Google search results.
To optimise for Featured Snippets:
- Use clear headings and subheadings to organise content effectively.
- Write concise answers (40-60 words) at the start of blog posts and articles.
- Use bullet points and numbered lists for step-by-step instructions.
By structuring your content in a way that search engines can easily extract and display, you improve your chances of being chosen as the go-to answer in voice searches.
Stay Ahead with Voice Search Optimisation
Voice search is no longer a futuristic trend – it’s happening now. Businesses that optimise their online presence will have a competitive edge in reaching more customers through digital assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
By using natural language, optimising for local searches, improving website speed, creating FAQ content, and targeting Featured Snippets, you’ll position your business for higher rankings and better visibility in voice search results.
Voice search is shaping the future of digital marketing. Are you ready to adapt? If you need help optimising your business for voice search, Oracle Tree can guide you through the process. Let’s chat.
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