In 2022, around 142M people in the US used voice assistants. By 2026, that number is expected to jump to 157.1 million voice search users. So, it’s a smart move to include voice search optimization in your strategy.
If you are new to the topic, don’t worry. This post will cover everything you need to know about voice search optimization (VSO), including what it is and how to optimize your site to be discovered when people use their voice to search.
It is all about enhancing your online visibility so that you show up in voice search results. The main aim is to be chosen and read out loud by voice assistants when people use voice search.
These digital helpers include Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, and Amazon’s Alexa.
Voice search is quite different from the usual text-based search. The way we ask questions changes a bit.
For example, if you want to find an Italian restaurant close to you, you might type “ Italian restaurant near me” into a search engine.
But you’re more likely to phrase a voice search query like this: “Hey, Siri, can you find an Italian restaurant nearby?” We interact with our voice assistants as if they were actual people.
This means voice search queries tend to be more conversational, longer, and often come out as complete sentences or questions.
To get picked up by voice assistants, you need to optimize for these kinds of queries.
The Importance of Voice Search Optimization for SEO
Optimizing for voice search helps you reach more people than optimizing for text-based searches alone.
According to Statista, the use of digital voice assistants is projected to keep increasing.
Number of Digital Voice Assistants in Use Worldwide from 2019 to 2024 (in Billions)
In five years from 2019 to 2024, the number of digital voice assistants increased over 2 times. Many people use them for routine tasks like setting alarms or playing music. But people also use digital assistants to find information.
To increase the chances of appearing for voice search queries, you should use strategies that will also help your overall SEO. Focus on speeding up your website, incorporating voice search keywords into your content, and ensuring your site is mobile-friendly.
Trends of using Voice Search in SEO Voice search
The trend of voice search is becoming more and more popular because of its convenience thanks to the premises and launching pads that are being developed at the present time. That is:
- Smart speaker devices
In the U.S, about 40 million people own smart speakers. In Vietnam, these devices are also gaining popularity as technology integrates into daily life.
Initially dominated by names like Alexa and Siri, voice recognition and command technologies have rapidly advanced, leading many tech companies to develop their own products.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Voice Processing
Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning have greatly improved how users interact with smart devices, especially for online searches.
For example, Google’s RankBrain can interpret words and phrases to deliver accurate results. It even predicts answers based on patterns in existing data when encountering unfamiliar queries.
- Growing Popularity of Voice Search for Local Services
More and more users are turning to voice search to discover local products and services. Recent statistics indicate that around 58% of individuals have used voice search to gather information about nearby businesses.
How to optimize Voice Search Optimization (VSO) effectively
To optimize VSO effectively, follow these strategies:
1. Focus on Conversational Keywords
- Long-Tail Keywords: Use natural, conversational phrases people use when speaking.
- Question-Based Queries: Optimize for “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, and “how” questions, as voice searches often start this way.
2. Optimize for Local SEO
- Google Business Profile: Ensure your profile is updated with accurate contact details, address, and opening hours.
- Location-Based Keywords: Include phrases like “near me”.
3. Create FAQ Pages
- Structure content with frequently asked questions (FAQs) that directly address user queries.
- Use schema markup for FAQs to enhance rich results.
4. Improve Website Speed and Mobile-Friendliness
- Optimize loading time and ensure mobile responsiveness, as most voice searches occur on mobile devices.
- Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test and improve performance.
5. Focus on Featured Snippets
- Write concise answers to commonly asked questions.
- Structure content using headings (H1, H2) and bullet points to make it snippet-friendly.
6. Use Schema Markup
- Implement structured data to help search engines understand your content better and provide rich results.
- Focus on LocalBusiness, FAQPage, and How to schemas.
- Need help getting started? You can follow this guide on how to add a product on Shopify to familiarize yourself with structured content setup in eCommerce.
How Schema and Snippet Enhance Your VSO
Voice Search Optimization (VSO) leverages Schema Markup and Snippets to make your content more discoverable and readable for voice assistants like Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri. Tools like SearchPie can simplify this process, ensuring your website is optimized for voice search effectively.
Schema Markup provides structured data that helps search engines interpret your content better. This structured information is critical for voice search queries, which often rely on direct answers or rich snippets.
To get started, please go to the Google Booster, and click Schema & Snippets.
Snippets provide immediate answers to user queries, often pulled from FAQ pages, blogs, or product descriptions.
Rich Snippets of Product Pages
Search Pie app will add a markup to your product pages so Google can provide detailed product information as a rich result in Google Search, including Availability, a product Image, Price, and Review Ratings. Let’s check out this example to get a more specific view of rich snippets of product pages.
Rich Snippet of Collection Pages
Search Pie app will add a markup to your collection pages so Google can provide detailed collection information as a rich result in Google Search, including Image and Product List.
Rich Snippet of Blog/Blog Post Pages
Search Pie app will add a markup to your Blog & Blog Post pages so Google can provide detailed collection information as a rich result in Google Search.
Store Information
Search Pie will add a markup to your home pages so Google can provide detailed store information as a rich result in Google Search. It helps Google recognize your web page as an e-Commerce store.
Reference page means The URL of a reference web page that unambiguously indicates the edition. For example, a Wikipedia page for this specific edition.
Please fill in the information about your store in as much detail as possible on these boxes and then click Save.
Local Business
Local SEO is the practice of increasing the search visibility of brick-and-mortar stores with physical locations. With Local Business structured data, Search Pie will help you tell Google about your business hours, different departments within a business, reviews for your business, and more.
To add this local business snippet, it will direct you to the Local SEO tab.
When you sign in your Google Business Profile here, you will see the results on the right side. These are our suggestions about what you should do to improve your local SEO.
Conclusion
Voice search optimization can increase leads for your business and boost sales.
By using these tips, you can attract more voice search users to your business. If you feel overwhelmed by the steps needed for this optimization, remember you can use SEO tools to upgrade your voice search optimization process.