Search engine optimization (SEO) has been rapidly evolving along with the advent of technological innovations. The rise of voice assistants, particularly, may have made online searches easier for users, but it has also made it more complicated for businesses and organizations to master.
Today, businesses that are looking to dominate search engines need to conquer not only web search but also what is called “voice search.”
If you are one of those website owners frequently popping the question, “how to optimize for voice search,” we’re here to help you out!
Before anything else, making yourself aware of the latest voice search trends and statistics can give you a clearer picture of this function and help you create a strategy that will bring results. Here are some stats you must take note of.
1. According to Google, 20% of the Searches Made in the App are Now Done by Voice
This number was shared by Google CEO Sundar Pichai back in 2016, as they introduced Google Home. While the search engine giant has not released an updated number since then, we can safely assume that the volume of voice searches has risen over the past four years thanks to the emergence of numerous smart home assistant devices.
Some other studies and statistics prove the growing number of users utilizing voice commands in their everyday lives.
- A Statista study shows that 31% of smartphone users from different parts of the world use voice-enabled technology at least once a week.
- 40% of adults use voice search every day, and surprisingly, 9% of people aged 55-64 also use this.
2. More than Half of Smart Speaker Owners in the US are Millennials or Younger
CapTech research shows that 53% of smart speaker owners in the US in late 2017 were aged 18-36. Moreover, 32% were found to be from Gen X—which are those aged 37-52—while only 12% were from Boomers.
What do these numbers say about mobile search assistants and voice search users? It’s clear from these numbers that the majority of voice search users are digital natives—teenagers and young adults who are already familiar with smartphones and intelligent assistants.
They are more accustomed to using these devices as compared to older users who may be making the transition from conventional search but can be slow to adapt.
3. By 2022, 55% of Households are Expected to Own Smart Speaker Devices
This significant jump from the current household ownership numbers is primarily driven by the three industry leaders: Amazon (Amazon Echo), Alphabet (Google Home), and Microsoft (Microsoft Cortana). It’s also interesting to note that a vast majority of customers rely particularly on Amazon’s suggestions, and the majority of online orders are also made on the platform.
4. Apple’s Siri Continues to Lead the Smartphone Voice Assistant Market Share
Although Apple has been falling behind when it comes to smart speaker devices, Siri continues to be the most preferred voice assistant by 44% users in the US. Google Assistant follows at 30%, Amazon’s Alexa at 17%, and Samsung’s Bixby trailing at just 4%.
Experts believe that this is because Apple has successfully developed familiarity among its users. Google Assistant’s success, on the other hand, is because it has been able to make its way to millions of Android devices; however, to widen its usage, Google must find ways to educate its users on the voice assistant’s capabilities.
Conclusion
The continuous development of technology, along with the innovations to the smart assistants and voice search apps that we have today, will definitely further the growth of voice search. To successfully increase your business’ online presence and visibility, you must consider the trends and statistics we have mentioned above as you craft your SEO strategy.
If you’re looking for professional SEO services to take your search engine optimization efforts to a whole new level, get in touch with us at Local SEO Pro! With our multi-facet SEO platform, we can boost your digital performance while you focus on running your business. Connect with us now!
