Voice search has recently been on the rise in the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is mostly due to users being receptive to the use of voice search, whether they use mobile phones, laptops, or PCs. For this reason, search engines, such as Google, have considered updating their algorithms to give way to voice search. As a result, businesses looking to rank in the search engine results pages (SERP) environment need to optimize their websites for these searches to get a higher SEO ranking. 

Let’s take a closer look at the voice search trends and how they can influence today’s SEO ranking.

The rise of voice search

Also called voice-enabled, voice search allows individuals to use their voice command to search via the internet. A few examples include Google Voice Search, Cortana, Siri, and Amazon Echo, which are interactive features that often involve rounds of interaction with the system.

Voice search is relatively new in the field, yet it has become increasingly popular in the world of business. In fact, two in five adults are now using voice search at least once per day, which is why it is expected that half of all searches in 2020 will be done through this feature. With about 118 million smart speakers now operating in US homes, there are no signs of stopping or slowing down for voice search.

A study on voice search in 2019

A recent study sought to understand the factors influencing the search engine rankings in 2019. It delved into the parameters that Google Assistant uses to select answers to voice search queries and compare differences in answers obtained from three devices. 

The methodology involved more than 50,000 questions asked to three devices (Google Home, Google Home Mini, and the Xiaomi Redmi 6). The proponents used queries pulled from SEMrush’s API, recorded the SERPs from each question, and analyzed several different factors, such as readability, page speed, number of backlinks, and SERP features.

Key findings on voice search study

There were several important findings discovered in this study. Some of the major highlights include the following:

  • Almost 80 percent of the answers were from the top three organic results.
  • Seventy percent of all answers had a SERP feature.
  • Page Score and Trust Score were slightly higher for answers’ URLs regardless of the device.
  • Texts need to be simple and understandable for the average reader.
  • Pagespeed is vital for all devices.
  • Well-linked pages are favored within Google Home, and Home Mini searches.
  • Over a third of the answers do not use schema. On the other hand, different schemas are used for others, with Article and Organization being the most popular, with low percentages.
  • HTTPS and URL depth may be irrelevant to Google Assistant’s selection.

Conclusion

At this point, you now know how voice search has advanced tremendously over the years and can now have a huge impact on your SEO ranking. Consider the 2019 voice search study conducted above and include the key findings revealed. Ultimately, optimizing your website for these advancements will make a difference in your SEO ranking and overall business success in the long run.

Are you looking to boost your SEO ranking by aligning it with the latest updates in voice search? Let our marketing experts assist you! We’re one of the best SEO companies in the US, offering various professional SEO services—from Amazon Alexa integration to Google My Business management down to voice search optimization. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!