Voice Search | Ultimate Guide to Optimising Voice Search SEO in 2023

Are you looking to improve voice search optimisation in your business? This Ultimate Guide to Optimising Voice Search in 2023 provides you with all the tips and techniques you need to get ahead of the competition and rank for the top queries. We will cover everything you need to know about voice search, its history, and tips for optimisation.

With this guide, you’ll soon be an expert at taking advantage of voice search and its potential for success in 2023.

Explanation – What Is Voice Search Optimisation?

Instead of inputting text into a search box, users may now conduct searches simply using voice commands thanks to voice search technology. Natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition technologies are used in voice search to enable vocal interaction between users and digital assistants. Users may conduct web searches using voice search without having to type, so they can access digital information from their devices hands-free.

Voice search optimisation aims to increase the visibility of web pages, content, and other digital assets in voice search results. By utilising the most recent technologies, you can write content specifically for voice search questions, increasing the likelihood that your page will appear in relevant searches.

The various factors that are utilised to rank search results when someone uses voice commands must also be considered when optimising for voice search.

History – How Voice Search Came to Be

Voice search has become an increasingly popular way to access information and control devices. Since its early iterations in the 1990s, when voice recognition technology was first developed, it has come a long way. Voice search now allows users to input commands by speaking into their computers rather than typing them out.

In the early 2000s, more advancements were made, and voice searches began appearing on mobile phones, which increased with the increasing use of mobile search and the move to the mobile-first index. The technology was still relatively simple but yielded better results than earlier incarnations.

Voice search took a significant leap forward with the advent of tools like the Google app, Microsoft’s Cortana, Apple’s Siri, and Amazon’s Alexa in 2011. These digital assistants allowed for more natural conversations between humans and machines, making voice search significantly easier to use than ever before. As the technology continued to evolve and advance from 2011 onwards, more features such as complex commands and multiple languages support were added.

Today, voice search is an integral part of modern life as it helps people find information quickly and easily via their smart devices, such as smart home components, smart speakers, etc.

How Does Voice Search Work?

Voice search uses natural language processing (NLP) technology to convert human speech into a machine-readable format. It begins by recognising the spoken words and then interpreting them according to their programming. The interpretation is then used to find the information or perform the task the user requests.

Voice search utilises sophisticated algorithms and machine learning techniques to recognise speech, comprehend languages, and understand users’ intentions. It also relies on deep neural networks that can interpret variations in pronunciation to process commands accurately. Once the voice search has found what it is looking for, it will present it appropriately, such as a list of results or an answer directly from the digital assistant.

Differences between Voice Search and Traditional Search

Traditional searches involve typing a query into a search engine such as Google or Bing. This type of search is often limited to specific keywords and can yield many irrelevant results. Conversely, voice search can understand complete questions and context, allowing for more targeted results.

Voice search also offers faster results compared to traditional search. Traditional searches require the user to type in their query before submitting it to the search engine. With voice recognition tech, users can quickly access what they need without manually entering each character of their query.

Moreover, voice search provides users with enhanced personalisation due to its capability of interpreting natural language discussions. By doing this, consumers can interact more effortlessly with digital assistants and get results personalised uniquely for them according to their specific needs.

Uses of Voice Search

Some of the most common voice searches people use include asking for directions or searching for a local business or restaurant. Others include looking up information about a specific topic, playing music, and getting the weather forecast. 

Instead of using search bars, people are using voice search functionality to control connected home devices such as bright lights, checking sports scores and schedule reminders.

Why Are More People Using Voice Search on Mobile Devices?

More people are making use of voice search due to its convenience and speed. Voice search allows users to quickly find the information they need without manually typing in each query character. 

Voice search offers more personalised results as it can understand complete questions and context to deliver more relevant results. Using voice search is becoming more popular with the rise of intelligent assistants like Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and Google Assistant, making it easier for users to access what they need.

Using Google Voice Search, people easily can perform web searches, make calls, set reminders, and more. 

Voice Speech and the Rise in Smart Speakers

With the rise of intelligent assistants, accessing information with just a few simple words is becoming easier than ever. Voice search and smart speakers offer a level of convenience that was previously unimaginable, making them an increasingly popular option when searching online.

Who Are The Key Companies Creating Smart Speakers?

The key companies creating smart speakers are primarily tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Apple. These companies are heavily invested in providing users with the best voice search capabilities. 

They have developed intelligent assistants – Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant – that make accessing the answers you seek easier with just a few words. Other companies, such as Sonos and Bose, are also developing their own versions of smart speakers and integrated solutions for popular streaming services like Spotify and Pandora.

The Hummingbird Update: Brief History of Google Voice Search

The Hummingbird Update has dramatically changed how users use voice commands to interact with Google search. Before this update, voice searches required more specific wording and were generally less accurate than text-based searches. 

However, the addition of natural language processing (NLP) has allowed more conversational language to be used when searching via voice commands, resulting in more accurate results. Additionally, Hummingbird has enabled Google to better predict what a user is looking for based on incomplete information and suggest related topics. These developments have made it easier and faster to find answers through Google searches using spoken words.

The Future Of Voice Search SEO and Google Voice Search

The future of voice search and Google is an exciting one. With the Hummingbird Update, Google has become even better at understanding natural language and predicting users’ wants.

There is potential for further developments, such as custom voice assistant bots with embedded AI that can respond to user queries in real time. Ultimately, this could usher in a new wave of digital communication where users interact with computers just by talking to them.

Voice Search Queries on the Rise

According to voice search statistics, there has been a 250% increase in mobile voice searches since 2017. This is likely to continue as more people become comfortable using voice commands on different devices. People will be taking advantage of their convenience instead of writing search terms to get relevant search results. 

This trend towards conversational language means that users expect more accurate results when they use voice search, requiring Google to be even better at predicting what each user is searching for based on context. As technology continues to advance, voice searches will become even easier and faster in the future. Hence, businesses will need to mould their marketing strategy accordingly, i.e., optimising their sites for voice search.

Utilising Voice Technology For Local ‘Near Me’ Searches

Local ‘near me’ searches are being increasingly powered by voice technology. With the help of technologies like Google Maps, voice search users can search for local businesses and services simply by speaking their queries into their phones or devices.

This technology has made it much easier to find exactly what you’re looking for in your immediate area with minimal effort. As more people become comfortable using voice commands, this is likely to become a more common way of finding local businesses and services. This trend could also give rise to new opportunities, such as virtual shopping experiences where users can browse products nearby by talking to their devices.

Many voice searches are related to finding local business listings. For example, people may conduct a voice search about “Best chiropractor near me” or “Italian food near me.”

Enhancing Ad Campaigns for Local Searches

Ad campaigns for local ‘near me’ searches can be enhanced by leveraging voice technology. By targeting users using voice search queries, businesses can ensure that their ads appear front and center when people are looking for their services or products. 

Another way businesses can capitalise on the convenience of voice searches is to create unique ads tailored to this type of query. For example, ads could showcase specific offers or discounts that apply when users use a particular keyword to make a voice search purchase. This kind of targeted advertising could effectively drive conversions and sales.

Need help with an ad campaign? Digital Estate offers professional advice and services for ad campaigns designed specifically for your business.

How to Utilise AdWords’ Location Extensions

AdWords’ Location Extensions are a great way to get more real estate on the SERP and provide more information to local searchers. With this feature, you can show your business address, phone number, map marker, and ad text. This helps local searchers find your business quickly and easily.

To utilise AdWords’ Location Extensions, click ‘Ads & Assets’ in the page menu on the left of your account. Then click ‘Assets’ and select the blue plus button. From there, you can choose ‘+Location assets’ to add chain locations or individual locations to your account.

Once you have added your locations, you can link them to your ads by selecting ‘Location extensions’ under the ‘Ads & extensions’ tab in Google Ads. You can also connect your Google My Business account to AdWords using location extensions to optimise PPC campaigns further.

Google Maps’ Local Search

Similarly, with Google Maps local search, businesses can target customers searching for nearby places using voice commands. This allows companies to reach potential customers in their immediate area, increasing the chances of making a sale.

Google Maps local search can be optimised with Local SEO services or through a Google Ads campaign and easily tracked within Google analytics providing businesses with detailed analytics about their ad campaigns, allowing you to track you’re ads’ success and make changes as needed. running a Google Ads campaign for local search can be a great way to target people using voice search in your area.

Google Maps local search offer an effective way for businesses to reach potential customers through voice search technology. By targeting people in their immediate area and providing detailed analytics about their ad campaigns, companies can maximise the success of their marketing efforts.

Enhancing Digital Marketing with Voice Search and Natural Language Processing

Voice search and natural language processing (NLP) are two of the most important technologies in digital marketing today. These two technologies can help businesses reach new customers, improve customer experience, and increase engagement with their products or services.

By optimising content for voice search, businesses can ensure they appear in the top results when customers ask questions about their industry or product offerings. Additionally, by leveraging NLP capabilities such as natural language understanding (NLU) and natural language generation (NLG), businesses can create personalised customer experiences based on their individual needs.

For example, NLU can be used to identify the intent behind customer queries so that businesses can provide relevant responses. NLG enables businesses to generate dynamic content tailored to customers’ preferences or interests. This helps create an engaging experience that encourages customers to interact with the brand more often.

Google is also using natural language processing (NLP) to understand queries better to provide more relevant results with greater precision. With NLP, Google can identify context-specific words, understand sentence structure, and detect different tones of speech to interpret user intent and accurately provide the most appropriate answers. Thanks to AI technology advancements, voice search has become more accurate and efficient than ever.

What the Future May Hold With Google’s Increased Learning Ability

Google’s increased learning ability will have a massive impact on the future of voice search. Google’s advanced machine learning algorithms can now understand increasingly complex questions and generate accurate responses quickly. This makes it easier for users to find what they want without typing exact phrases or words.

Combining voice search and AI will provide personalised experiences and obtain more significant insights into customer behaviour. Ultimately, Google’s increased learning ability will have far-reaching implications for user engagement with the digital world and enhance user experience.

How To Optimise Your Site for Voice Search

Voice search optimisation is integral to SEO strategies in 2023. Voice search can provide more timely and accurate results than traditional text-based searches. Optimising your website for voice search can improve its standing in organic search results.

Understanding User Intent in the Age of Voice Search

Understanding user intent involves looking at the context of a query and determining what the user is actually trying to find out. For example, if someone searches for the “best Italian restaurant near me,” they’re likely looking for a place to eat dinner that night. On the other hand, if someone searches for “Italian restaurants in my city,” they may be looking for more general information about all the Italian restaurants in their area. By understanding user intent, businesses can tailor content to meet their customer’s needs and hopefully improve their experience.

Voice search also requires businesses to think more broadly about how people search and what types of queries they use. People may use different phrases when searching by voice than text. Companies should consider these variations when creating content so that voice searchers can find it easily.

SEO for Different Search Engines

Voice search SEO differs from traditional SEO because it focuses on conversational keywords and understanding customer behaviour. With the rise of voice search, knowing how SEO can impact different search engines, including those that power voice assistants, is essential.

To ensure your website is competitive in the constantly evolving world of search engine algorithms, it’s essential to tailor your SEO strategy for each platform. Voice search relies on utilising conversational and long-tail keywords that reflect natural language. To optimise further, incorporating phrases with local references, such as “near me”, can help you improve visibility for voice queries related to location specifics.

Using Metadata Description

Ensuring your metadata descriptions are optimised for voice search is critical for a successful website ranking. Metadata helps search engines understand the context and meaning of your content, which can help you stand out among competing websites.

Metadata descriptions clearly define what your website is about and what searches it is relevant to. Using natural language when describing your website’s content is essential, and include keywords that accurately describe the topics covered on the page. Using shorter sentences and avoiding keyword stuffing will help ensure that your description reads naturally when read aloud by a voice assistant.

Finally, pay close attention to punctuation in the description, as some voice assistants may interpret periods or semi-colons differently than a typical search engine. Ensure that all punctuation used in the description follows standard grammar conventions. Following these practices will help keep your site more visible in both traditional and voice search results.

Benefits of Targeted Long Tail Keywords

Targeted long-tail keywords can also help you improve your voice search optimisation efforts. Unlike generic keywords, long-tail keywords are more specific and tailored towards specific user searches and queries. This helps ensure that search engines index your content more accurately, leading to higher search ranking for relevant queries.

Here are a few ways Long-tail keywords can help:

1. Enhanced Relevance: Long-tail keywords have greater precision than general key terms, making them more applicable to a specific topic or inquiry. In regard to voice search, people often use conversational and extended queries that come with even more precise details. Optimising for long-tail keywords can ensure your content is pertinent to these kinds of inquiries, increasing the chance of ranking high in search results.
2. Natural language processing: (NLP) technology has revolutionised voice assistants’ understanding of user queries. By applying focused long-tail keywords that align with the naturalness of a person’s speech, you can guarantee higher accuracy in recognition and consequently have your content displayed more prominently on voice search results.
3. Higher Click-Through Rates: Leveraging long-tail keywords can give you an edge, thanks to lower competition. When users research these more specific phrases, the chances of generating a higher click-through rate (CTR) rise significantly. Therefore, by targeting relevant long-tail keywords closely related to your business or industry, you will have a greater chance of improving rankings in search results and attracting better-quality traffic.
4. Improved User Experience: If you offer content that immediately answers the user’s query, you can dramatically enhance the total user experience and heighten users’ engagement with your material. Furthermore, utilising long-tail keywords to customise your content for each search inquiry will be much more relevant and tailored to what they are looking for – leading to a higher probability of conversions and better engagement rates.

Updating Your Business Profile on Google

Updating your business profile on Google can help you improve local search visibility and attract more customers through voice search results. Adding complete information about your business on Google My Business (GMB), including opening hours, contact details, photos and reviews, will help ensure customers locate you easily when searching using voice commands.

Optimise Your Site With SEO Best Practices

Optimising your site with SEO best practices is also important to ensure success with voice search queries. This includes updating content regularly, using keywords effectively throughout text pages and blog posts, providing appropriate titles and meta tags, optimising images with alt tags, etc. 

All these best practices help ensure that webpages show up accurately in voice search results and help indicate relevancy, so users get exactly what they’re searching for without needing any additional searching after finding their initial result from the query.

Optimise Your Site for Mobile Devices

Having a responsive website design or a dedicated mobile version of your site is also essential when optimising for voice search since many users prefer performing their searches via their mobile devices. 

To improve performance on mobile devices, some strategies include using larger font sizes, simplified menus and navigation structures, minimising distractions from ads or pop-ups, and prioritising loading speed over aesthetics.

For more helpful information on mobile device optimisation, visit the Digital Estate guide found here.

Be Visible on All Search Platforms

It’s essential to ensure your website is visible on all relevant search platforms. One way to do this is to submit your sitemap to Google and other search engines. You should also ensure your content is included in directories like Apple’s Siri or Amazon Alexa. Be sure to list your business in map-based searches such as Google Maps and Yelp. Moreover, it’s best to create social media accounts that are easily accessible from voice commands. This will help increase visibility for voice searches.

Build Trust With an Informative FAQ Page

Voice search often requires a particular way of phrasing questions, so having an informative FAQ page on your site can be extremely helpful. It should answer commonly asked voice search queries and be easy to navigate. 

Make sure the answers are written in language that’s natural and easy to understand. This will help build trust with users who may not be familiar with voice searches. Be sure to also optimise the FAQ page for SEO, including keywords related to voice search and other relevant terms.

Continuously Research and Refine Keywords

Voice search relies heavily on natural language, so keeping up with the latest trends and researching keywords related to voice search is important. Make sure to regularly refine your current keyword list and target long-tail keywords matching a user’s spoken query. 

Look into competitors and industry leaders to see what keywords they target for voice searches. Be sure to test different variations of your keyword phrases to find the ones which work best for you.

How Is Voice Search SEO Different From Other Types of Search?‌

Voice search SEO is different from regular SEO in several ways. For one, it relies heavily on natural language rather than exact matches. Instead of targeting specific keywords, you should focus more on long-tail phrases more likely to match a user’s spoken query. 

Voice search results tend to be more concise and to the point than other types of search results. You should also pay attention to how your content is structured and organised to ensure it is optimised for voice searches. Consider adding Schema markup or other structured data forms so your content can be better indexed by voice search engines.

Longer Keywords for Voice Search 

When optimising for voice search, it’s essential to remember that longer keywords are usually better than shorter ones. Focus on phrases matching the user’s natural language query, such as “What is the best hotel nearby?” instead of just “hotel.”

Voice Search Bias for Local Listings‌

Voice search is often biased towards local listings and results. This means that the most relevant listings for a voice search query will likely come from the user’s geographic area. Therefore, when optimising your content for voice search, it is crucial to consider factors such as location, language, and other nuances associated with the user’s query. 

Quicker Responses From Voice Search

One of the significant advantages of voice search over traditional search is the response time. Users can get an answer to their query in a fraction of the time it would take for a web or app search. 

This makes voice search an ideal solution for those looking for quick answers to their questions. To ensure your content is delivered quickly, consider optimising for things such as short page loading times and ensuring your structured data is correctly formatted so that voice search engines can easily read and interpret it.

What Kind of Keywords Are People Using for Voice Search?‌

When it comes to voice search, people tend to use conversational keywords and phrases that more closely resemble how they would ask a question in real life. For example, rather than using a generic keyword such as “laptop sale near me”, the user might ask, “where is the closest laptop on sale?”.

Voice Search Continues to Evolve

Voice search is an ever-evolving technology that continues shaping how we interact with our devices. In recent years, voice search has become increasingly popular as people have become more comfortable using their voices to ask questions and make requests. With the rise of virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, voice search has become even more accessible and user-friendly.

The future of voice search looks bright as well. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to improve, so too will the accuracy of voice searches. AI will also enable voice searches to become more personalised and tailored to each user’s needs. This likely leads to a more efficient and enjoyable voice search technology experience.

Conclusion

Optimising for voice search is becoming increasingly important as more and more users turn to voice assistants for their search queries. By following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in voice search results and reaching a wider audience.

From optimising your content with long-tail keywords to creating an FAQ page and ensuring that your site is mobile-friendly, there are many strategies you can use to improve your voice search optimisation. As voice technology continues to evolve, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments and adapt your strategy accordingly. By doing so, you can position your business for success in the age of voice search.

For more useful guides like this, check out the range of informational resources on the Digital Estate website.