What is voice search?

So, you’re on the move, you’re walking down chippy lane in Cardiff, its pouring down with rain, and your new to the city- so you ask Google “find me a local taxi company”- and Google, as always does an amazing job, it presents you with 3 local businesses on the map listings, that’s the Google My Business results, and a lot of organic results. So, voice search, makes it even easier for people to find the products and services they want in Cardiff- in matter of fact, it makes it an absolute piece of cake.

So, how does a business, like a local taxi company get onto page on of Google- when someone is making a voice search. Well, the answers simple, the onsite SEO has to be good, the content marketing needs to be good quality, and written for “long tail keywords”-such as “please find me a local taxi company in the city of Cardiff”.

Why is it important our seo agency optimises our website for voice search?

Well, like most seo agencies, we think that more and more people will be using voice search to find the products and the services they want, it just is much easier for shoppers, especially when say their other hand is carrying a carrier bag, as they walk along the street.

What are long tail keywords?

So long tail keywords are simply long descriptions of the products or services your business sells, so for example, this might be “orthopaedic mattresses which can be delivered the next day”. SEO companies, like ours, need to optimise your company website for many long tail keywords. We have helped many businesses get on page one of Google.co.uk, for hundreds of different long tail keywords.

Remember when we used to type our queries into Google? Well, the future’s here, and it’s asking, “Hey Siri, where’s the nearest fish and chips shop?”

 

Voice Search SEO

 

 

 What is voice search anyway?

 

Voice search is a nifty bit of technology that takes your voice, translates it into something the internet understands, then spits out the answer you need. It’s a little like having a robot butler who understands what you’re saying and fetches you the information you’re asking for.

It’s been kicking around since the 1950s. Fast-forward to the present, and it’s everywhere. It’s on your phone, in your laptop, even lurking inside your smart TV.

 

A popularity contest – Smartphones vs. Smart Speakers

Voice search queries evolve faster than a speeding bullet, and if you want to keep up, you need to understand how they’re used.

 

 

 

 Traditional SEO vs Voice search SEO

 

Voice search SEO is very different compared to traditional SEO. People use longer, more conversational queries with voice search. This means you’ll want your content to sound like a chat down the pub, with questions and answers that line up with these conversational queries.

 

 Who Is using voice search?

 

It’s not just tech-savvy millennials who are asking their phones where to find the best curry. A 2018 study by BrightLocal showed that 58% of consumers had used voice search to find info about local businesses in the past year. The most common tool used? Smartphones, of course. The least common? Smart speakers.

 

 

  A Tip for voice search SEO

 

Optimising your content for voice search is key to getting your website noticed. However, knowing your audience is just as important. Businesses that target men aged 18-34 using smartphones will get the most out of optimising for voice search SEO.

 

 Has voice search shaken up SEO?

 

Well, it’s been a decade since voice search first started making waves. And while it has shaken things up a bit, it hasn’t quite caused the tsunami some predicted by some seo agencies. It hasn’t dramatically reduced organic clicks, but it has certainly changed the game a bit.

 

 

 

 Voice Search – A handy tool in the SEO Toolkit

 

Voice search is here to stay, and it’s an essential part of any digital marketer’s toolkit. It hasn’t replaced traditional SEO practices, but it’s certainly changed them. To get the most out of it, you’ll need to optimise your website for voice search, using long-tail keywords, natural language, and conversational content.

 

F.A.Q

 

Of course, while the smartphone remains our go-to gadget for a quick voice search, smart speakers are gradually edging their way into our lives. According to some brainy types at Ofcom, smart speaker ownership in the UK nearly doubled during the pandemic, jumping from 22% to a whopping 39% by the end of 2022. Manufacturers like Amazon, Apple and Google must be absolutely chuffed!

 

The linguistic acrobatics of voice search

 

Now, optimising for voice search requires a different mindset than traditional SEO. When people use voice search, they often speak in longer, more conversational sentences. It’s critical to make your content mirror this natural language and incorporate questions and answers that align with these types of queries. By doing so, you increase your chances of showing up in voice search results, boosting your visibility on the good old search engine results page (SERP).