Technology continuously evolves to make our lives easier. Looking for information on virtually any topic in existence can now be done in mere seconds by using a smartphone, tablet, or computer and performing a search on Google. However, recent innovations have taken this a step further by removing the need to tap away on your screen—all you have to do is use your device’s smart assistant, whether Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa, to do it for you.

Whether you want to verify the name of the actor you’re watching in a TV show, or you’d like to find out if your favorite restaurant is open, you can ask all this and more by using your device’s voice search technology. It’s also expected to transform search engine optimization or SEO as we know it, which works differently than standard SEO. One in four people uses voice search on their mobile devices. Over 60 million Americans own a voice-activated speaker, and 72 percent report that they use it every day.

To make sure your business keeps up, you’ll have to adjust your SEO tactics to incorporate Google voice search as well. Here are four ways to do that:

  • Work on Your Google My Business Listing

If you’re a local business, you’ll want to optimize your Google My Business listing. Around 46 percent of voice search users use the feature to look for a local company to answer their needs. They often refer to it to make reservations, discover products, or get the business’s pricing and make comparisons.

Fortunately, you can reach voice search users by filling out your Google My Business profile and include your updated hours, location, and product offerings. Many voice search assistants depend on this information to respond to voice search queries and “near me” questions. Ensure you update your details such as your name, address, and phone number across all directors in which you appear, as voice search technology cross-references many sites like Yelp and Bing.

  • Use Schema Markup

Schema markup is a code added to your website to facilitate the crawling of search engines and help them understand and pull information from your website. It makes it easier for them to make you more visible in search results, allowing your target audience to find you faster. You can add schema markup for job listings, recipes, how-to articles, events, products, and other types of content. 

  • Create Content That Answers Questions

Most people turn to the Internet to answer their most burning questions about a product they want to buy. Make sure you’re the first business they see by creating content that answers these very questions. Additionally, most voice-based searches consist of questions, as voice assistants are programmed to be conversational. Factor this into your content, and you’ll be golden.

For instance, structure your H2s and H3s in your blogs as questions. Provide the answer in a short paragraph to improve your chances of getting a high rank or for a featured snippet, which are the expanded results that appear on top of Google. They’re also what voice assistants read out loud.

  • Factor in Long-Tail keywords

Traditional SEO focuses a bit more on shorter keywords, but as voice searches are more conversational, long-tail keywords are more popular. These keywords are more specific, such as “how to make no-bake cheesecake,” whereas the broader topic of “cheesecake” is a short-tail keyword.

Long-tail keywords consist of most Internet searches, so they’re probably already a part of your SEO keyword strategy. However, you’ll want to pay even more attention to them when optimizing your tactics for voice search since they’re more conversational.

Conclusion

To stay on top of the game and ahead of your competition, you’ll have to dive into SEO best practices and pay special attention to voice search, which is rising to be the most popular way to make queries online. By leveraging these four tips, you’ll pop up in voice searches in no time.

Voice SEOPRO offers affordable SEO to businesses who want to increase their online visibility, optimize business listings, and drive more revenue. Our platform can help you optimize your website for SEO, improve your voice search SEO, and gain more website traffic. Request a live demo today!