Hear This! Voice Search Optimisation Should Be Your Priority

What is voice search? Voice search is a technology that allows users to search the internet or access information on their devices using voice commands rather than typing out a search query and can be used to search the internet, access specific websites, find information about local businesses, and more. Voice search is often used through voice assistants, such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri, software programs allowing users to interact with their devices using voice commands. Voice search is becoming increasingly popular, as it allows users to easily and quickly access information and perform tasks without typing out a search query. ‘…Around half of all internet users in the US… are users of voice search‘ and ‘27% of the global population is using voice search on mobile devices.’ It’s especially convenient for users on the go, as it allows them to access information and perform tasks without typing on a small smartphone keyboard. It is also helpful for users who may have difficulty typing, such as those with disabilities or mobility issues. Overall, voice search is important for businesses and website owners looking to reach and engage with consumers. What is voice search optimisation? Voice search optimisation is the process of optimising a website or its content to improve its ranking in the results of voice search queries. There are a few key strategies that can be used to optimise a website for voice search: By following these strategies, you can improve the ranking of your website in voice search results and make it more easily accessible to users through voice assistants. What are long tail keywords? Long-tail keywords are specific and highly targeted keywords that are typically longer and more specific than shorter, more general keywords. They are usually made up of three or more words and are often more descriptive and specific than shorter keywords. For example, “red leather shoes” is a long-tail keyword, while “shoes” is a shorter, more general keyword. Long-tail keywords are often more effective for voice search optimisation because they more closely match the way people naturally speak and ask questions. Using long-tail keywords in your website’s content can help improve its ranking in the results of voice search queries, as they are more specific and relevant to the user’s search. By including long-tail keywords in your content, you can make it more likely that your website will appear in the results of voice search queries related to your business or industry. What is structured data? Structured data is a standardised format for providing information about a webpage and classifying the page content. It allows search engines to understand the content of a webpage and provide more relevant and accurate search results. Structured data can be added to a webpage using a variety of formats, including JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linked Data), Microdata, and RDFa (Resource Description Framework in Attributes). The most commonly used format is JSON-LD, which is a simple JavaScript notation that can be added to a webpage’s HTML code. By adding structured data to your webpage, you can help search engines understand the content of your webpage and improve its ranking in search results. This is especially important for voice search optimisation, as structured data can help search engines understand the content of your website and present it more accurately in voice search results. There are many types of structured data that can be added to a webpage, including information about products, events, people, organisations, and more. By including the appropriate structured data on your webpage, you can help search engines understand the content of your webpage and improve its ranking in search results. How to add structured data to your webpage? There are a few different ways to add structured data to your webpage: Regardless of which format you choose, it’s important to make sure that the structured data you add to your webpage is accurate and up-to-date. This will help ensure that search engines can accurately understand the content of your webpage and improve its ranking in search results. What headings should you use for voice search optimisation? When optimising your website for voice search, it’s important to use clear and concise headings and subheadings to make it easier for voice assistants to understand and present your content. Here are a few tips for choosing headings and subheadings for voice search optimisation: Why should you optimise for voice search? There are a few key reasons why you should optimise your website for voice search: Overall, optimising your website for voice search can help increase its visibility, improve the user experience, and increase its reach to a growing market of users accessing the internet through voice assistants. How many people use voice search? It’s difficult to accurately estimate the number of people who use voice search, as this can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including the specific voice assistant being used, the device on which the voice search is being conducted, and the region in which the search is being conducted. 57% of Australians use voice search, and it’s now the second choice for mobile search behind using the mobile browser. Overall, it is clear that the use of voice search is increasing all the time and that it is an important consideration for businesses and website owners looking to reach and engage with consumers. Disadvantages of optimising for voice search While optimising your website for voice search can have many benefits, there are also a few potential drawbacks to consider: ‘Traditional search and SEO focus mainly on the keyword terms and how your website ranks for them. You can get clicks from Google if your website appears on the first page and even if your website ranks at position number two, three, five, or even ten. Voice search focuses on searching in a more conversational tone. For example, when you Google search “What are the best basketball shoes for kids?” it will return a page with a variable number of paid ads (usually three or four on top of