As the technology of voice recognition advances, voice-command transactions are becoming increasingly prevalent. Learn, in the following, how these transactions influence SEO and how you can optimize content to efficiently respond to voice commands.
- Specific voice search keywords: Voice searches often involve formulating complex questions or commands. Therefore, you need to identify and integrate specific voice search keywords into your content to position yourself effectively in search results. Additionally, adopt a conversational tone and use natural language. Because voice searches are often more informal, ensure that your website reflects this characteristic. Furthermore, long-tail keywords are essential in voice searches, as they better reflect how users formulate queries. A good idea is to create a glossary specific to voice searches to organize and monitor identified keywords. This can serve as a useful resource for creating and updating content for your entire team.
- Content structure adapted to voice searches: Organize content in a hierarchical structure with relevant headings and subheadings. This not only facilitates understanding of information but also helps search engines evaluate and index content accurately. Place essential information at the top of the page or article, as voice-command users often extract vital details from the beginning of content. Use featured snippets to appear at the top of search results. Keep in mind that voice searches typically favor easily consumable content. Avoid large text blocks and use short paragraphs, lists, and formatting elements to make the content more digestible
- Optimization for local SEO: Ensure that your Google My Business profile is claimed, properly filled out, and regularly updated. Include accurate information about location, operating hours, and customer reviews. Ensure that your contact details, such as phone number and address, are correct and up-to-date. This information is crucial for users making voice searches to find local businesses. A creative idea that can draw attention to your offers and stimulate local interactions is to create specific promotions for local customers and announce them prominently.
- Correct use of schema markup: Implement Schema.org to provide structured information about your content to search engines. This can help search engines identify and correctly interpret the provided information. Therefore, use appropriate HTML tags to highlight important information, as proper markup can influence how search engines evaluate and display content in voice search results. Another good idea is to use Schema.org markups specific to local businesses to help search engines better understand information about your business. This can enhance the display of results in voice searches.
- User experience and page load speed: Page load speed becomes crucial, as users expect instant results. Reducing load time not only improves the user experience but also influences search algorithms to favor pages that load quickly. An initial step would be to optimize image files to reduce sizes without compromising quality. Use efficient image formats and consider using progressive loading technologies to ensure a smoother loading experience. Resort to caching services, minimize code and avoid complex interactive elements such as excessive animations or JavaScript-intensive features that can slow down page loading. Minimize these elements or optimize them to not affect the overall site performance.
- User experience on mobile devices: Most voice searches come from mobile devices. Ensure that the mobile experience is optimal, with easy-to-navigate menus and intuitive interactions. For example, extensive or complex menus can make searching and navigation difficult, so prioritize easy access to key sections of the site. Opt for a burger-type menu (the three horizontal lines) to save space and provide more intuitive navigation. Additionally, interactive elements such as buttons and links should be easy to touch and use with fingers on touch screens.
Ensure that these elements are large enough and spaced adequately to avoid accidental touches of other elements during navigation.