As we discussed in previous articles, there are trends in search engine optimization (SEO) that come and go. Something that has been very relevant in recent months is voice search, so let’s talk about it!
Today, more and more customers are asking us for voice search. You are curious to know more about what it is, how to optimize it and if it will really continue to evolve. Or is it just a short-term trend?
Voice searches in themselves are nothing new and something that is already very big, especially in the United States. Exactly how many voice searches are made varies depending on who you ask. However, under a speech by Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, in 2016, it was revealed that 20% of all mobile searches were made by voice search . There are also survey surveys recently made, which show that today’s figure can be closer to 40%.
These may be figures from the US market, but things are starting to gain momentum here in Sweden. Early in 2018, it was revealed that Google Assistant will receive support for 30 new languages, of which Swedish is one of them.
What is Google Assistant?
For those who have not heard of Google Assistant earlier, it’s one of the search giants’ efforts on AI. It’s also the one who drives their smart speakers Google Home, as well as other features like the Allo chat software and their Pixel mobiles.
When do you use voice search?
Looking at statistics from the US market, one can see a trend when it comes to voice searches – they happen while people are on the go. The most common searches are in line with “where is the nearest restaurant”, “where is the nearest gym” or “what is the address of this restaurant”.
Because most searches are done while people are on the go and many are looking for local businesses, it becomes very important to work with local SEO. If you have not already optimized your site for local search, it’s time to do it now!
How do you optimize for voice search?
In addition to optimizing for local searches, it has been found that structured data is one of the key factors for successful voice search.
Structured data is a standard format for providing information about a page and classifying page content. For example, on a prescription page, what are the ingredients, cooking time and temperature, calories and so on:
In order to tie the bag together, we can find that voice searches are already well established in the US market, and the same development is likely to take place even in Sweden. Also, keep in mind that most searches are on the go, while looking for local businesses. Working with local SEO and structured data increases your chances of success with voice search!
Do you have additional questions about voice search or need help optimizing your site for this? Do not hesitate to help us with SEO Expert Melbourne! Contact us
