According to Google, in 2019, more than 20% of all searches are performed using voice. The popularity of utilizing this modern search method is continuing to rise among consumers, and if your SEO strategy and website aren’t currently suited to work efficiently with this technology, Siri is likely sending potential customers to your competitors first. How do you stop this from happening? The first step is understanding how voice search technology works in contrast to the traditional, hand-typed search.
How Voice Search Differs from Text Search
One of the main differences between voice and text searches is the way the user’s inquiry is answered. When you go to Google on a web browser and type in search keywords for something you need or desire, you’re given a plethora of options to choose from. A list of paid advertisements will be shown at the top of your results page, followed by a list of websites that offer what you’re looking for. From there, it’s up to you to choose which one looks like the best fit for what you need. So how does voice search differ?
Voice search was created to simplify and quicken the online search process. If you ask Siri or another virtual assistant to find you a local plumbing company, for example, you’re not going to receive a long, spoken list of all the plumbers near you. What you’re actually going to get is the name of the business that has an online marketing strategy that is optimized the best for the specific need, based on the terms you spoke aloud in your voice search.
Virtual assistants are designed to give just one initial answer, meaning that if your company isn’t the one the assistant recommends, you could be missing out on plenty of potential leads. Understanding the algorithm that is used for determining which local company Siri will select for the consumer is crucial to ensuring your business isn’t going unnoticed by potential customers using voice search.
How You Can Optimize for Voice Search
When optimizing for voice search, you must consider the types of questions that consumers will be asking their virtual assistants when looking for a local business to fulfill their needs. One may type “plumber in Maryland” when performing a traditional, typed Google search, but might phrase their inquiry to Siri or Google Assistant in more detail, asking “What plumber near me has the best Yelp reviews?” Once you begin to understand the core differences between the text and voice searches your consumers are performing, you can implement the following:
- Adjust keywords used in your advertisements and website content.
- Modify your SEO strategy to work with voice search.
- Optimize your Google My Business profile.
- Analyze and optimize your website for speed and security.
Feeling lost? We’re here to make sense of it all. Our experts will spearhead your online marketing strategy so that your business can be the one that Siri recommends when consumers search for your services. Call us today at 410-848-4737 to find out how we make it happen!
