Are you talking to your tech? Do you find yourself asking Alexa to call your mum, telling Google to add something to a shopping list or using Siri to check the weather forecast? You’re not alone. Voice search is changing the way we interact with our devices, with 20.5% of internet users worldwide relying on voice assistants in 2024.
When the first voice-based services were introduced in the 2000s, they seemed like a novelty. The prospect of controlling lights, thermostats and vacuuming the house with voice commands felt far-fetched. However, with huge leaps in AI and natural language processing technologies that make queries more responsive, voice search has become a popular way for people to simplify their daily lives, search for local businesses, and make buying decisions. As consumers seek faster and easier access to information, voice search is changing how businesses adapt SEO strategies to remain competitive.
Talk it Up. What are the Advantages of Voice Search?
As we multitask our way through modern life and juggle an increased workload of jobs and families, effective time management is the key to improving productivity. Convenience is queen.
Voice search has become an increasingly popular tool to find what we need, especially on the go. In situations where typing isn’t practical, a handsfree assistant allows us to save precious minutes, whether we're looking for directions or making calls on the move.
Smart devices and voice-activated assistants allow us to ask our queries rather than typing them, making information easily accessible. A Stanford University study found that speech recognition can be up to three times faster than typing on mobile devices.
In 2024, 65% of 25–49 year olds used their voice-enabled devices at least once per day. Though this demographic is the most active in voice search, 18–24 year olds are driving early adoption of the technology.
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5 Simple Strategies for Voice Search Optimisation
Voice search is changing the way we look for information, which is significantly impacting SEO. For brands, optimising for voice search enhances local discoverability, ensures the delivery of real-time information and cultivates customer engagement. To stay competitive, businesses need to adapt their strategies, focusing on conversational, local keywords, optimising for featured snippets and ensuring websites are mobile-friendly and fast.
- Conversational Language: People talk differently to the way they type. Unlike traditional text-based searches which focus on specific keywords, voice search is more conversational as users are asking their device a direct question. To optimise for voice search, content and social posts must provide direct answers to these questions in a natural, conversational tone. Instead of typing “Fado music Lisbon,” a user might ask, “Where is the best place to listen to live Fado in Lisbon?”
- Long-Tail Keywords: This shift towards natural language queries requires businesses to optimise their SEO strategy for more detailed search phrases, tailoring content to address common questions that potential clients and customers might ask. For example, a user might type “Italy holiday kids” into a search engine but use voice search to ask, “What are the best cities in Italy for a holiday with kids?”
- Featured Snippets: When you ask a voice assistant a question, the response is usually a single spoken answer. These answers often come from “featured snippets” which are quick, concise answers that Google pulls directly from websites. Question-and-answer formats and bullet points can elevate your chance of appearing in featured snippets and standing out as the go-to source for voice search in your market.
- Local Intent: Voice search is an increasingly common way to look for local businesses, restaurants and services. To improve visibility for local voice searches, ensure your Google My Business profile contains accurate information, including your location, opening hours and services offered. Locally focused keywords in your content will attract nearby customers, alongside phrases like “near me” or “open now.”
- Mobile Optimisation: While voice search technology has been integrated into smart speakers, TVs, cars and household appliances, smartphones are the most commonly used device for voice search. It is essential to have a fast mobile website that offers intuitive navigation and a smooth user experience, as search engines are less likely to use content for voice search from a site that loads slowly.
Top Content Creation Tips for Voice Search
- A clear understanding how people speak when they use voice search is crucial for an effective SEO strategy. Nearly 20% of all voice search queries are triggered by a set of 25 keywords. These include question words like “how”, “what” and “where” and adjectives like “best”, “good”, “new” and “easy.” Brands must create content that answers these kinds of queries in a concise way.
- To capitalise on voice commerce, businesses must optimise content for both voice search and direct purchasing. 51% of people who shop via voice use it to research products, with 22% of those consumers making purchases directly through voice and 17% using it to reorder items.
- A simple and effective way to optimise for voice search is to include a FAQ section on your website. Incorporating question-based keywords that address commonly asked issues aligns directly with how voice assistants deliver information and increases the chances of your content being featured in snippets.
The Voice of the Future: Reimagining Customer Engagement
The voice recognition market is poised for expansive growth, expected to be worth an estimated $23 billion in 2030. As advancements in natural language tools make it easier for us to communicate with voice assistants with increased accuracy and personalisation, this AI-powered technology is projected to handle more complex tasks, assisting us in ways beyond simple commands. Ready to unlock the potential of voice technology? Contact Loqui Media if you need advice developing an advertising strategy that optimises your content for voice search.
