How to Optimise Your Website for Voice Search
Published on 14th August 2024
Voice search has come a long way from being just a sci-fi fantasy. Today, asking Siri for the nearest coffee shop or telling Alexa to set a reminder is something many of us do daily. As this technology becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, making sure your website is optimised for voice search isn’t just a good idea - it’s essential. With more people relying on voice commands for everyday tasks, making your site voice-search-friendly can give you a significant edge. Here’s how to get your site ready for this growing trend and ensure you’re not left behind.
Table of Contents:
Why voice search matters
Voice search is now a huge part of how we look up information, changing our search habits entirely. Instead of typing short phrases into a search bar, people are asking full, conversational questions. For example, rather than typing ‘best sushi London’, someone might say, "What are the best sushi restaurants in London?" This shift highlights a major change in user behaviour and search engine interaction.
As more people use their voices to search, your website needs to be optimised for these kinds of queries. That means your site should align with the way people naturally speak and phrase their questions, not just the traditional text-based searches. Adapting to this trend involves using conversational language, targeting longer and more specific keywords, and structuring your content to answer common questions directly. By doing so, your site will remain relevant and easily discoverable in the era of voice search.
Tips for optimising your website for voice search
Let’s dive into some practical tips to make your site voice-search-friendly. These tips will help align your content with how people use voice search, making it easier for virtual assistants to find and suggest your site. By following these strategies, you’ll boost your chances of appearing in voice search results and ensure your site is more user-friendly overall. Whether you're just starting out or looking to tweak what you have, these easy-to-follow steps will help improve your site.
1. Write in a conversational tone
Since voice searches are more like casual conversations your content should sound natural and friendly. Write as if you’re chatting with a friend. Avoid overly formal language and technical jargon. For example, instead of saying, "Our firm provides comprehensive digital marketing services," you might say, "We help businesses grow online with smart digital marketing strategies."
This conversational style not only makes your content more relatable but also helps it align better with voice search queries.
2. Focus on conversational and long-tail keywords
When people use voice search, their queries are longer and more detailed. They’re more likely to ask complete questions rather than just a few keywords. For example, instead of searching ‘best gyms’, they might ask, "What’s the best gym near me that offers personal training?"
To tap into this, target long-tail keywords and questions in your content. Think about what users might say when they’re speaking to their devices, and include those phrases in your text. You can use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner to find these keywords or look at the ‘People also ask’ section on Google for ideas.
Adding an FAQ section to your site can also be a smart move. It helps answer common questions directly and increases the chances of your content being picked up in voice search results.
3. Make sure your site is mobile-friendly
Most voice searches occur on mobile devices, so your site needs to look and work great on smartphones. Google also considers mobile-friendliness a ranking factor, so it’s essential for both voice and text searches.
Use Lighthouse from Chrome to check how your site performs on mobile devices. Ensure your site loads quickly and is easy to navigate on smaller screens.
4. Prioritise local SEO
Many voice searches are about finding local businesses or services. When someone asks, "Where’s the nearest coffee shop?" they’re usually looking for something close by.
To make sure your business shows up in these searches, focus on local SEO. Start by setting up and keeping your Google Business Profile listing up-to-date. This listing provides important info like your address, hours, and contact details. The more complete and accurate your listing, the better your chances of appearing in local voice search results.
5. Speed up your site
Nobody likes a slow website, and that’s especially true for voice search users looking for quick answers. Google also factors page speed into its rankings, so a fast site is key.
Check your site’s speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. Look for ways to improve load times, such as optimising images, reducing server response times, and leveraging browser caching.
6. Aim for featured snippets
Featured snippets are those handy answer boxes you see at the top of Google search results. They’re often read out loud by voice assistants, so getting your content into one of these snippets can be a big win.
To target featured snippets, structure your content to answer questions clearly and directly. Use bullet points or numbered lists to make it easy for Google to pick up your content. Tools like SEMrush can help you identify opportunities for featured snippets.
7. Use schema markup
Schema markup is a type of code that helps search engines understand your content better. It includes details about your business, like hours, location, and reviews.
Adding schema markup to your site can make it easier for search engines to find and display your information. Although it involves adding some code to your site’s HTML, some tools and plugins can help simplify this process.
Why it’s worth it
Optimising for voice search isn’t just about keeping up with the latest trends - it can also boost your overall SEO. When you tweak your site to be voice-search-friendly, you're not only catering to those who use voice commands but also improving your site's performance in regular search results.
Also, many of the same strategies that work for voice search, like speeding up your site and using natural language, will help your SEO across the board. As voice search evolves, keeping on top of these changes will help you stay ahead of your competitors. So, follow these tips and you’ll attract more visitors, keep your audience engaged, and keep your site ahead of the game.
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