Voice search is alluring enough. It’s quick, hands-free and allows for multitasking unlike text search. And now, with COVID-19, more and more people are utilizing voice search to get faster results. In a recent research conducted by Gartner, about 32% of people prefer hands-free technology limiting contact or touch.

Voice search is definitely not a fad any longer. And with improvements in technology, voice chat is also gaining more reliability. Apart from smartphones, connected devices, and speakers with voice assistant feature, more than 49% of Amazon Echo and Google Home users consider it essential.

Voice search is evolving continually. It is edging from voice recognition toward voice understanding. And with this, Google finds itself nearing toward its very aim of transforming voice search into ‘a reliable mobile assistant that’s quick and effective in helping you with your daily life, and thereby assisting you to focus on other important things.’

So, if your SEO strategy lacks Google voice search optimization, then it’s time to make some amends and fix it. Read on to learn 4 effective voice search optimization tips to take you into 2021 and beyond.

4 Voice Search Optimization Tips

Tip #1. What is your audience looking for?

The voice search algorithm works in a way where it uses location, data and various other points to breakdown and understand context of the search. Thus, bloggers and content creators must also dive deep into behaviour for voice search engine optimization.

You can make use of research and real-time data to understand how different demographics use voice search and on which type of voice-enabled device. For example, Millennials (those born between 1981 and 2000) prefer to use voice search.

Tip #2. Use conversational keywords

Short tail keywords are here to stay, but long-tail keywords are far more relevant when it comes to voice search. This is because people tend to talk naturally in full sentences when using voice search. Search queries are also becoming increasingly more specific.

Have you ever wondered how does Google give the exact result you wanted even when you entered a somewhat vague query? It feels like talking to someone who knows you. This is known as semantic search. It enables Google to answer question-based searches by pinpointing to concepts or entities.

It’s now important to optimize your blog for questions and keywords relating to semantics search. To do this, you would need to pinpoint the best keywords and trending questions being asked pertaining specifically to your blog. To learn how to do this, let’s jump into the best strategies and voice search optimization tips.

To identify the trending questions and their search volumes, you can use several tools available online. One of the tools I found to be useful is the Keyword magic tool by SEM Rush. Simply enter your focus keyword in the space provided. Choose your location and press search. You will get a detailed list of keywords relating to your focus keyword. You can then choose ‘questions’ option to find the list of most searched questions.

Let’s say you wish to write a blog around the keyword ‘English tea’. Here’s a list of questions you can possibly use to structure your blog piece around.

Tip #3. Think Local

In a recent study by BrightLocal it was found that 58% of people use Google voice search to find local content. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as most people use voice search while driving or traveling by foot. Also in most cases, they use voice search to ‘discover’ where they should go.

Those who search for ‘best hot chocolate in Mumbai’ are looking to discover the best hot chocolate near them. So, if your blog is about food and beverages or you own a café in Mumbai, then, you should consider ‘Mumbai’ when optimizing keywords. This tip also applies to neighboring cities, regions, states, and countries as relevant to your content.

An important point to remember is that, people will most likely use the phrase ‘near me’ when using voice search. For example, if I wish to indulge in a spa experience, I’m likely to say, ‘OK Google, best spas near me’ than ‘best spas in Mumbai’. In such a case, Google will use my location to understand which spas are nearest to me.

To appear in the relevant search results for such queries, you do not need to add the actual phrase ‘near me’ to your content. ‘Near me’ queries are adding location intent to a voice search. It isn’t necessary that you actually use the phrase anywhere on your blog.

Tip #4. Create Page/s Answering FAQs

Voice search users at large begin their search with who, what, where, why, when and how. Usually, with the intent of seeking to fulfil an immediate requirement. Try to create a FAQs page and begin each question with these adverbs. Remember to keep the tone of your answers conversational to appeal to voice search.

When it comes to performance, ensure that your website is technically sound and has schemas. Also ensure that navigation and informational structures are easily discoverable. The page load speed is fast for a smooth user experience. Finally, make sure that your mobile strategy is strong and you are using these voice search optimization tips!