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How To Use SEO To Optimize Your Website For Voice Search In 2023​​

Make your website voice-search ready by using SEO in 2023.

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Voice search is not a new phenomenon, but it is becoming more popular and prevalent than ever before. According to a report by Juniper Research, voice-based ad revenue could reach $19 billion by 2022, and voice commerce sales could hit $40 billion by 2023. Moreover, voice search is expected to account for 50% of all online searches by 2023, according to ComScore.

But what is voice search exactly, and why is it important for your website? Voice search is the process of using your voice to ask a question or make a request to a device or an application, such as a smartphone, a smart speaker, or a voice assistant. Voice search allows users to access information faster, easier, and more conveniently than typing or tapping on a screen.

Voice search is not only changing the way people interact with technology, but also the way they search for information online. Voice search differs from text search in several ways, such as:

  • Voice queries are usually longer, more natural, and more conversational than text queries. For example, instead of typing “best pizza near me”, a user might say “Hey Google, where can I get the best pizza around here?”
  • Voice queries are often more specific, intent-driven, and question-based than text queries. For example, instead of typing “weather forecast”, a user might say “Alexa, what’s the weather like today?” or “Siri, do I need an umbrella?”
  • Voice queries are more likely to be local, mobile, and personal than text queries. For example, a user might say “Bixby, show me the nearest gas station” or “Cortana, remind me to buy milk when I get home”.

These differences have significant implications for SEO (search engine optimization), which is the process of improving your website’s visibility and relevance on search engines. If you want your website to rank well for voice search, you need to optimize it accordingly. Here are some of the benefits of optimizing your website for voice search:

  • You can reach more potential customers who prefer using voice search over text search
  • You can increase your traffic, conversions, and sales by providing better user experience and satisfying user intent
  • You can gain a competitive edge over your rivals who are not optimized for voice search
  • You can future-proof your website for the growing trend of voice search

So how can you optimize your website for voice search in 2023? Here are some of the best practices and tips that you should follow:

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Conduct a voice search audit and identify the gaps and opportunities

Conduct a voice search audit

The first step to optimize your website for voice search is to conduct a voice search audit. A voice search audit is an analysis of how your website performs on voice search platforms and devices. It helps you identify the gaps and opportunities that you need to address in order to improve your ranking and relevance.

To conduct a voice search audit, you need to:

  • Understand your target audience and their voice search behavior. You need to know who your ideal customers are, what devices and platforms they use, what questions and queries they ask, and what goals and intents they have.
  • Analyze your current website performance and content. You need to know how your website ranks for voice search queries, what keywords and phrases you are targeting, what content you have, and how it answers the user’s questions and intents.
  • Identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement. You need to find out where your website falls short and where you can improve. For example, you might need to optimize your site speed, mobile-friendliness, security, schema markup, structured data, rich snippets, content, keywords, local SEO, Google My Business profile, online reviews, voice search tools, and analytics.

Optimize your site speed, mobile-friendliness, and security

Optimize your site speed

One of the most important factors for voice search optimization is your site speed. Site speed is the time it takes for your website to load on a device or a browser. Site speed affects your user experience, bounce rate, conversion rate, and SEO ranking. According to Google, the average mobile landing page takes 15.3 seconds to load, but 53% of mobile users abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load.

To optimize your site speed, you need to:

  • Use a reliable web hosting service that can handle high traffic and deliver fast loading times
  • Use a content delivery network (CDN) that can cache and distribute your content across multiple servers around the world
  • Compress and optimize your images, videos, and other media files to reduce their size and bandwidth
  • Minify and concatenate your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to eliminate unnecessary code and whitespace
  • Enable browser caching and gzip compression to reduce the number of requests and data transfer
  • Use lazy loading to defer the loading of non-critical elements until they are needed
  • Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom to measure and improve your site speed

Another important factor for voice search optimization is your mobile-friendliness. Mobile-friendliness is the degree to which your website is compatible and accessible on mobile devices. Mobile-friendliness affects your user experience, engagement, retention, and SEO ranking. According to Statista, mobile devices accounted for 54.8% of global web traffic in 2021, and this number is expected to grow in the future.

To optimize your mobile-friendliness, you need to:

  • Use a responsive web design that can adapt to different screen sizes and orientations
  • Use a simple and intuitive navigation that can be easily accessed by thumb or voice
  • Use a clear and legible font size and color that can be read on small screens
  • Use a touch-friendly interface that can be tapped or swiped without errors or delays
  • Avoid using pop-ups, interstitials, or other elements that can obstruct or distract the user
  • Avoid using Flash, Java, or other technologies that are not supported by mobile browsers
  • Use tools like Google Mobile-Friendly Test, Google Search Console, or Bing Webmaster Tools to measure and improve your mobile-friendliness

A third important factor for voice search optimization is your security. Security is the level of protection that your website has against cyberattacks, data breaches, or other threats. Security affects your user trust, credibility, reputation, and SEO ranking. According to Google, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a ranking signal that indicates that a website is secure and encrypted.

To optimize your security, you need to:

  • Use HTTPS instead of HTTP for your website URL
  • Use an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate that can verify your identity and encrypt your data
  • Use a strong password and a two-factor authentication for your website login
  • Use a firewall and an antivirus software to protect your website from malware or hackers
  • Use tools like Google Safe Browsing or Sucuri SiteCheck to measure and improve your security

Use schema markup, structured data, and rich snippets to enhance your site’s visibility and relevance

Use Schema Markup, structured data, and rich snippets

Another important factor for voice search optimization is your schema markup. Schema markup is a code that you can add to your website to help search engines understand what your content is about. Schema markup helps you provide more information and context about your content to search engines and users.

Structured data is a type of schema markup that organizes your content into categories and properties. Structured data helps you create rich snippets that display additional information about your content on search engine results pages (SERPs). Rich snippets help you increase your click-through rate (CTR), traffic, and conversions by making your content more attractive and relevant.

To use schema markup, structured data, and rich snippets for voice search optimization, you need to:

  • Use the Schema.org vocabulary that is supported by major search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Yandex, etc.
  • Use the JSON-LD format that is recommended by Google for structured data
  • Use the appropriate schema types and properties for your content based on its topic, format, and purpose. For example, you can use Article, BlogPosting, FAQPage, HowTo, Product, Review, Event, LocalBusiness, etc.
  • Use the Speakable schema property to indicate the parts of your content that are suitable for voice search results. For example, you can use Speakable for your headlines, summaries, or key points.
  • Use tools like Google Structured Data Testing Tool, Google Rich Results Test, or Schema Markup Generator to create and test your schema markup, structured data, and rich snippets

Create conversational and natural content that answers the user’s questions and intents

Create unique content that answers the users questions

Another important factor for voice search optimization is your content. Content is the information and media that you provide on your website to educate, entertain, or persuade your users. Content affects your user satisfaction, retention, loyalty, and SEO ranking.

To create conversational and natural content for voice search optimization, you need to:

  • Understand your user’s questions and intents. You need to know what your user wants to know, do, or buy when they use voice search. You need to research and analyze the common voice search queries and keywords that are relevant to your niche and audience.
  • Answer your user’s questions and intents. You need to provide clear, concise, and accurate answers to your user’s questions and intents. You need to use a friendly, informal, and engaging tone that matches your brand voice and personality. You need to use personal pronouns, contractions, colloquialisms, and humor to make your content more human and relatable.
  • Use the inverted pyramid style of writing. You need to present the most important information first, followed by the less important information later. You need to use short sentences and paragraphs that are easy to read and understand. You need to use headings, subheadings, bullet points, lists, tables, images, videos, or other visual elements to break up your content and make it more scannable.
  • Use the 5 Ws and 1 H technique of writing. You need to answer the who, what, when, where, why, and how questions that your user might have about your topic. You need to cover all the essential aspects and details of your topic without leaving any gaps or doubts in your user’s mind.

Use long-tail keywords, phrases, and questions that match the user’s voice queries

Use long tail keywords, phrases, and questions that match the users voice queries

Another important factor for voice search optimization is your keywords. Keywords are the words or phrases that describe what your content is about. Keywords affect your user relevance, traffic, and SEO ranking.

To use long-tail keywords for voice search optimization, you need to:

  • Use long-tail keywords instead of short-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are keywords that consist of three or more words that are more specific and less competitive than short-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords match the user’s voice queries better than short-tail keywords because they are more natural and conversational. For example, instead of using “pizza”, you can use “best pizza near me” or “how to make pizza at home”.
  • Use phrases and questions instead of single words. Phrases and questions are more descriptive and intent-driven than single words. Phrases and questions capture the user’s voice queries better than single words because they are more complete and contextual. For example, instead of using “weather”, you can use “what’s the weather like today?” or “how to dress for cold weather”.
  • Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, AnswerThePublic, or SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool to find and analyze the best long-tail keywords, phrases, and questions for your content.

Optimize your site for local SEO and include location-based information

Optimize your site for local SEO, and include location based info

Another important factor for voice search optimization is your local SEO. Local SEO is the process of improving your website’s visibility and relevance for local searches. Local SEO affects your user proximity, convenience, and SEO ranking.

To optimize your site for local SEO for voice search optimization, you need to:

  • Include location-based information in your content. You need to provide information about your business name, address, phone number, email address, hours of operation, directions, services, prices, etc. You need to use geo-modifiers such as city names, zip codes, neighborhoods, landmarks, etc. to make your content more relevant and specific for local searches. For example, instead of using “dentist”, you can use “dentist in Austin TX” or “dentist near Zilker Park”.
  • Use tools like Google My Business, Bing Places for Business, or Yelp to claim and optimize your online business profile and online reviews. You need to create and update your online business profile with accurate and consistent information about your business name, address, phone number, email address, hours of operation, directions, services, prices, etc. You need to encourage and respond to your online reviews from your customers to improve your reputation and trustworthiness.

Claim and optimize your Google My Business profile and online reviews

Claim and optimize your Google My Business profile

Another important factor for voice search optimization is your Google My Business profile and online reviews. Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to create and manage your online presence on Google Search and Google Maps. Google My Business helps you attract and connect with your local customers who use voice search to find businesses near them.

To claim and optimize your Google My Business profile for voice search optimization, you need to:

  • Claim your Google My Business listing if you haven’t already. You need to verify your business ownership and location with Google to access and edit your profile.
  • Optimize your Google My Business profile with accurate and consistent information about your business name, address, phone number, email address, hours of operation, directions, services, prices, etc. You need to use the same information that you use on your website and other online platforms to avoid any confusion or inconsistency.
  • Add relevant photos and videos to your Google My Business profile to showcase your products, services, facilities, staff, customers, etc. You need to use high-quality and original images and videos that reflect your brand identity and personality.
  • Encourage and respond to your online reviews on Google My Business. You need to ask your customers to leave honest and positive reviews about their experience with your business. You need to respond to your reviews promptly and politely, especially the negative ones. You need to thank your customers for their feedback and address any issues or complaints they might have.

Use voice search tools and analytics to monitor and improve your performance

Use voice tools and analytics to improve your performance

The last but not the least important factor for voice search optimization is your voice search tools and analytics. Voice search tools are applications or software that help you optimize your website for voice search platforms and devices. Voice search analytics are data or metrics that help you measure and improve your website’s performance on voice search results.

To use voice search tools and analytics for voice search optimization, you need to:

  • Use voice search tools like Rank Tracker, SEMrush Position Tracking, or Moz Keyword Explorer to find and track the best keywords, phrases, and questions for voice search optimization. You need to monitor the ranking, traffic, and conversions of your voice search keywords on different platforms and devices.
  • Use voice search analytics like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, or Bing Webmaster Tools to analyze the behavior, preferences, and satisfaction of your voice search users. You need to measure the impressions, clicks, CTR, bounce rate, dwell time, conversions, etc. of your voice search results.
  • Use voice search tools and analytics to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your voice search optimization strategy. You need to find out what works well and what needs improvement. You need to test and experiment with different tactics and techniques to optimize your website for voice search.

Conclusion

User voice intent conclusion

Voice search is a growing trend that is changing the way people search for information online. Voice search optimization is a process that helps you improve your website’s visibility and relevance on voice search platforms and devices. Voice search optimization can help you reach more potential customers, increase your traffic, conversions, and sales, gain a competitive edge over your rivals, and future-proof your website for the growing trend of voice search.

To optimize your website for voice search in 2023, you need to:

  • Conduct a voice search audit and identify the gaps and opportunities
  • Optimize your site speed, mobile-friendliness, and security
  • Use schema markup, structured data, and rich snippets
  • Create conversational and natural content that answers the user’s questions and intents
  • Use long-tail keywords, phrases, and questions
  • Optimize your site for local SEO and include location-based information
  • Claim and optimize your Google My Business profile and online reviews
  • Use voice search tools and analytics

If you follow these best practices and tips, you can optimize your website for voice search in 2023 and enjoy the benefits of this emerging technology.

A: Some of the popular voice search tools and analytics are:

  • Rank Tracker: A tool that helps you find and track the best keywords, phrases, and questions for voice search optimization. It also provides insights into the ranking factors, competitor analysis, and keyword difficulty.
  • SEMrush Position Tracking: A tool that helps you monitor and improve your ranking, traffic, and conversions for voice search keywords on different platforms and devices. It also provides features like featured snippets tracking, local SEO tracking, and mobile SEO tracking.
  • Moz Keyword Explorer: A tool that helps you discover and prioritize the best keywords, phrases, and questions for voice search optimization. It also provides metrics like monthly volume, difficulty, opportunity, and potential.
  • Google Search Console: A tool that helps you measure and improve your website’s performance on Google Search. It also provides data like impressions, clicks, CTR, position, queries, pages, devices, countries, etc.
  • Google Analytics: A tool that helps you analyze and understand your website’s traffic and user behavior. It also provides data like bounce rate, dwell time, conversions, goals, audience, acquisition, behavior, etc.
  • Bing Webmaster Tools: A tool that helps you measure and improve your website’s performance on Bing Search. It also provides data like impressions, clicks, CTR, position, queries, pages, devices, countries, etc.

A: To measure the ROI (return on investment) of voice search optimization, you need to:

  • Define your goals and objectives for voice search optimization. You need to know what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. For example, you might want to increase your traffic, conversions, sales, brand awareness, customer loyalty, etc.
  • Track and monitor your voice search performance and results. You need to use voice search tools and analytics to measure your voice search metrics and KPIs (key performance indicators). For example, you might want to measure your ranking, traffic, CTR, bounce rate, dwell time, conversions, etc.
  • Calculate your voice search costs and benefits. You need to estimate how much you spend and how much you earn from voice search optimization. For example, you might want to consider your costs for web hosting, web design, web development, content creation, content marketing, SEO tools, SEO services, etc. You might also want to consider your benefits from increased traffic, conversions, sales, brand awareness, customer loyalty, etc.
  • Compare your voice search costs and benefits. You need to compare how much you spend and how much you earn from voice search optimization. You can use formulas like ROI = (benefits - costs) / costs or ROAS (return on ad spend) = revenue / ad spend to calculate your voice search ROI.

A: To optimize your site for different voice assistants and devices, you need to:

  • Understand the differences and similarities between different voice assistants and devices. You need to know how they work, what they can do, what they support, and what they prefer. For example, you might want to know the differences and similarities between Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Samsung Bixby, Microsoft Cortana, etc.
  • Test and optimize your site for different voice assistants and devices. You need to use different voice assistants and devices to test how your site performs on them. You need to check for any issues or errors that might affect your user experience or SEO ranking. You need to optimize your site for different voice assistants and devices by following their guidelines and best practices. For example, you might want to follow the Google Assistant Actions Guide or the Amazon Alexa Skills Kit Guide.

A: To optimize your site for different languages and accents, you need to:

  • Understand the language preferences and behavior of your target audience. You need to know what languages and accents they speak, what devices and platforms they use, what questions and queries they ask, and what goals and intents they have.
  • Translate and localize your site for different languages and accents. You need to provide content in the languages and accents that your target audience speaks. You need to use professional translation services or tools that can ensure the accuracy and quality of your content. You also need to localize your content by adapting it to the culture, context, and conventions of your target audience. For example, you might want to use different units of measurement, currency, date format, etc.
  • Use hreflang tags and sitemaps to indicate the language and region of your content. You need to use hreflang tags and sitemaps to tell search engines what language and region your content is intended for. This helps search engines display the right version of your content for the right audience. For example, you might want to use hreflang tags like <link rel=“alternate” href=“https://example.com/en-us/” hreflang=“en-us” /> or sitemaps like <url><loc>https://example.com/en-us/</loc><xhtml:link rel=“alternate” hreflang=“en-us” href=“https://example.com/en-us/” /></url>.

A: To keep up with the latest trends and updates in voice search, you need to:

  • Follow the official blogs and social media accounts of the major voice search platforms and devices. You need to stay updated with the latest news, announcements, features, updates, guidelines, and best practices from Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Samsung Bixby, Microsoft Cortana, etc.
  • Follow the official blogs and social media accounts of the major voice search platforms and devices. You need to stay updated with the latest news, announcements, features, updates, guidelines, and best practices from Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Samsung Bixby, Microsoft Cortana, etc.
  • Follow the industry experts and influencers in voice search and SEO. You need to learn from the insights, tips, tricks, case studies, and best practices from the leading voices in voice search and SEO. For example, you might want to follow Neil Patel, Brian Dean, Rand Fishkin, John Mueller, etc.
  • Follow the relevant blogs and podcasts in voice search and SEO. You need to read and listen to the latest trends, updates, research, analysis, and opinions in voice search and SEO. For example, you might want to follow Voicebot.ai, Voice Search Podcast, Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Land, etc.
  • Experiment and test your site for voice search optimization. You need to try new things and see what works and what doesn’t for your site. You need to measure and improve your voice search performance and results. You need to adapt and evolve with the changing voice search landscape.
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