Times are tremendously changing for internet users, with technology giving them a better user experience. For example, you now don’t have to use the search bar, especially with the advent of voice search. This technology allows internet users to search the web using their voices. As a result, smartphone users have shifted from typing their searches and embraced voice searches.

Voice search has become more popular because it helps users become more conversational with their gadgets. Also, it positively impacts the SEO and the eCommerce world since users use them to order products or services hence more transactions. Thankfully, this article explores voice search and its implications for SEOs, so keep reading to learn more.

How Voice Search Works

The functionality of voice search is based on speech recognition technology. Voice assistants first understand and react to your speech through natural language processing. This technology then combines individual letters with blocks of sounds and converts them into contextual text. The search engine then uses the text to submit the search results you are looking for.

Our brain does this within milliseconds, but the speech recognition programs in voice search require problem-solving algorithms to perform the same process for understanding. Since millions of people search the web using their voices, brands need to embrace this technology for search engine optimization.

Types of Voice Assistants and Devices

There are three categories of voice assistants; here is a discussion of each.

1. General-purpose voice assistants
   These voice assistants help users with general things like making calls, setting alarms, and scheduling meetings. Good examples of this type of voice assistant include Google Home, Bixby in Android, and Siri, while the devices are Samsung devices and iPhones.
   
   All general-purpose voice assistants are on smart devices, smart speakers, and smartphones. Some of these voice assistants are strategizing and focusing on working like the in-app voice assistant. Here is a brief overview of the most common general-purpose voice assistants.
   
   a)Amazon Alexa
   Amazon Alexa is a cloud-based voice service, and it’s available on billions of devices from third-party device manufacturers and Amazon. The service helps you if your device can connect to Alexa and you have access to the internet.
   
   Alexa allows you to create a natural voice that gives customers a more intuitive interaction with the technology they use daily. That’s made possible by the service’s voice recognition feature.
   
   Alexa makes life easier for you in many ways. It can read the latest headlines, switch off the lights in your room, control your smart devices, and play games and songs, among other things. Alexa also boasts several privacy protection layers, giving users control over their experience.
   
   b)Google Home
   This smart speaker helps users set up and control google devices, home displays, and speakers. The speaker uses AI to obey specific commands and answer queries. Google Home boasts a compact design that lets it fit in your office or home and is available in many colors.
   
   This convenient and timely technology gives users complete control over their homes. Each button in this speaker controls a particular service or device. You can use it to switch on lights, ask questions, make calls, view your camera, test Wi-Fi speed, lock the door, and much more.
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2. Stand-alone voice assistants
   This category of voice assistants is not inside an app, but users use communication channels in a stand-alone app. They get built for particular domains and limited use cases. The assistants are self-sufficient and boast superb command and dictation for any application.
   
   Here is a brief overview of one of the most common stand-alone voice assistants, Suki.
   
   a)Suki
   Suki is an assistant that helps you do tasks quickly and easily. Your user experience with Suki will be seamless across Androids and iOS, so you can use it anywhere, provided you have the internet. In addition, this virtual assistant gives real-time intelligent insights using natural language processing, machine learning, and knowledge graphs.
   
   Doctors mostly use Suki for clinical documentation, information retrieval, and diagnosis coding. Its dictation and commands for any application are unmatchable.
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3. In-app voice assistants
   These voice assistants are available in apps to elevate and ease the customer experience. Most brands are adding this voice assistant to their primary apps and websites, and that’s why it’s becoming popular. In addition, businesses primarily using the in-app voice assistant service provided by world-known providers such as Google Cloud are doing well.
   
   Some brands that have embraced in-app voice assistants include YouTube, Bank of America with Erica, and Flipkart. That’s the most attractive voice assistant option for businesses, thanks to its execution speed and excellent conversation designs.

Implications of Voice Search for SEOs

Voice search is broad and impactful when it comes to SEOs. First, however, it would be best to understand its implications on search queries, keywords, and other SEO aspects.

The impact of voice search on search queries and keywords

Voice search is handy for users searching for information by allowing them to use SEO and speak their intent keywords to their devices. The devices with voice assistants provide the information the users need from various sources, thus expanding the search verticals companies need when optimizing.

You’ll realize there is a difference between traditional search queries and voice searches. When using voice search, users can use natural language to give commands like speaking to someone. That eradicates any confusion and ensures customers get the correct answers to their search queries. Therefore, your brand must create more conversational questions.

When using voice search, your SEO optimization plan must focus on users’ keywords and phrases and how they verbally search. By incorporating long search queries, your conversion probability will also be higher. Also, align the plan with the information they are searching for.

Below are some voice search SEO tips that will help you.

• Create an FAQ page
• Focus on conversational keywords
• Ensure your brand name is readable
• Add a schema Markup to your content
• Ensure your content is valuable and informative
• Understand the behavior of your device and the type of customers you target

The importance of optimizing for long-tail keywords and natural language

The competition around primary keywords is growing daily hence the need for creative solutions to ranking. Using long-tail keywords is a strategy that will help you rank and attract more audience to your website. That explains why SEO experts use such keywords.

So, what’s a long-tail keyword?

A long-tail keyword is a keyword phrase with three or more words. The best thing about the keywords is that only some people search for them. Here are the other benefits of long-tail keywords.

• Lower competition
• Better conversion rates
• They are cheap to bid on
• Allows content personalization
• Help new websites rank quickly
• They are available on Google Analytics
• The keywords are the best for voice search

The need for local SEO and the role of structured data

Local SEO has many benefits for small and large businesses. It enables companies to connect with the people in the neighborhood. This could be a village, town, or city. It is essential since most consumers use Google to learn more about local businesses.

Here are some benefits of local SEO.

• Increased sales
• More foot traffics
• Enhanced levels of trust
• Improved conversion rate
• Reduces the cost of advertisements
• Better online visibility leads to more calls
• Builds connections with local businesses

Besides the use of local SEO, your content will rank better if you incorporate structured data. This standardized format classifies the content of a web page. Structured data helps Google to understand your page, products, and more about your website. It also creates a better web appearance, permits greater web reach, and improves visibility.

Best Practices for Optimizing for Voice Search

Voice Search is one of the best technologies that brands can use. This is confirmed by the many voice-search-enabled devices flocking the market. In addition, it offers the best user experience, especially with the following optimization practices.

Optimizing website content for voice search

The best way to optimize your website content is to use voice assistants to optimize your keywords and key phrases. This will increase the chances of your content appearing on voice search results.

It also helps you to answer verbal questions using voice search and present your page content to users waiting for the results. One of the best ways to optimize your website content is by ensuring it’s compelling and persona-based.

Optimizing for local SEO

If you want your business to be visible among the local businesses on Google search, embrace optimization for local SEO. The best way to optimize Local SEO is by improving your internal linking structure and keeping your name, address, and phone number consistent on Google. Having a mobile-friendly website also helps in SEO optimization.

Optimizing for featured snippets

Featured snippets are short snippets appearing in the first position on Google search results to answer a searcher’s question quickly. Use this practice to provide your audience with brief and valuable answers to their questions.

There is power in featured snippets, so you should own them for your content. They also notify Google when your page is the best to answer a relevant question.

Moreover, snippets increase voice search opportunities because they get read loudly by voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri. The best way to optimize for featured snippets is to understand the searcher’s intent and choose the right keywords.

Optimizing for structured data

Your voice search optimization may only be complete with optimizing for structured data. Besides the benefits mentioned above, structured data improves readability for human language machines and search engines.

The best way to optimize your structured data is by matching your website with rich results and linking your entities to authority sites. You can also optimize by building a semantic network.

Optimizing for mobile

This process gives visitors accessing your site via mobile devices a user-friendly experience. There is a mobile shift, and only a few people have time to use desktops. So if you properly optimize for mobile, the interaction between your brand and the customer is complemented.

One of the best tips for mobile optimization is sending mobile-friendly and easy-to-read emails. Also, embrace mobile messaging tactics and add value to every word.

Conclusion

The world is evolving daily with the constant introduction of new technologies in digital marketing. Voice search is a powerhouse for many global brands thanks to its many benefits.

Google Home and Amazon Alexa are mobile users’ most popular voice assistants. Voice search is convenient and best for SEOs as it gives users the correct information from various sources.

The future for voice search is promising. Many consumers across the globe prefer voicing their