A Small Business Roadmap for Voice Search Optimization and SEO

Just a few years ago, the idea of chatting with "robots" every day seemed like something out of an excellent sci-fi movie. But now, if we want to know where to find the best taco place, dog park, or a lovely spa day, we ask Siri or Alexa for suggestions. It's not just on our phones; we can chat with our smart speakers and smart TVs to search the web. And guess what? It's become super normal. It's often quicker and easier than typing out our questions.

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But here's the thing: when we talk to our devices, it's not the same as typing out our questions. We ask things in a more natural, everyday way. This means that the experts who help websites appear in search results (they're called SEO experts) and the folks who market things online have had to adjust their strategies to reach the growing number of people who talk to their devices instead of typing. It's like keeping up with the times to ensure everyone can find what they're looking for.

Research Keywords Fit for Voice Search

Start by diving into the world of keywords designed for voice search. This step can significantly boost the chances of your content showing up when people ask questions using their voice assistants.

When you're researching keywords for voice search, keep an eye on these things:

• Long-Tail Keywords: These are super specific queries, usually with lower search volumes. For example, instead of just searching "PDF," you might look for something like "ways to edit a PDF."
  
  
• Question Keywords: These are the ones that start with question words like "how," "what," "why," "when," and "where." For instance, "how to edit a PDF" is a question keyword.
  
  
• Conversational Keywords: These keywords sound like regular talking. For instance, "How do I edit a PDF?" is a conversational keyword.

Even though each type of keyword is different, they often mix and match. For example, many question keywords are also long-tail, and many long-tail keywords sound conversational. So, it's like having a variety of keywords that cover different ways people might ask for things using their voice!

Check Out Search Results

Explore what appears on search engine result pages. These are pages with helpful stuff that search engines display after someone asks a question. SERP help you figure out what kind of content is likely to appear.

Keep a close eye on SERP features. These things on a SERP go beyond the usual blue links. Why are they important? Well, a study in 2019 found that 70% of all answers from voice searches came from a SERP feature.

Here are some standard SERP features on Google:

• Local Pack: This shows top business listings and a map for location-specific searches, like "top restaurants in New York" or "best bakeries near me."
  
  
• Rich Snippets: Also called rich results, these show extra info like ratings or reviews.
  
  
• Featured Snippets: These are quick previews of a page's content to give users fast answers.
  
  
• People Also Ask: These are blocks with more questions related to what someone searched for and quick answers.

Different voice assistants use different search engines for info. So, checking SERPs from various search engines for your questions is wise. Checking out SERP features helps you make content that fits what search engines like. This boosts your chances of getting those cool SERP features.

Perform Website and Content Audit/Checkup

Before you dive into creating new content, doing a content checkup is a good idea. This means looking at what's already on your website and finding ways to make it even better for the keywords you want to shine in voice searches.

A content checkup is like going through everything on your website in an organized way. You have a blog post called "How to Edit a PDF." Instead of creating a whole new post for related keywords like "how do I edit a PDF" or "ways to edit a PDF," you can make your existing post even more remarkable by adding those keywords.

To do a content checkup, you can use tools powered by AI explicitly designed for SEO and improving SERP rankings.

These tools help website owners break down their content based on how customers journey. It figures out which pieces of your content are the most powerful and gives you tips on making them even better.

Below are some best practices for improving page content:

• Speak like a friend: Make your content sound like a friendly chat to match how people talk when using voice search. This helps your content fit in with voice search questions and makes it more likely to be recommended by voice assistants.
  
  
• Keep it natural with keywords: Blend voice search keywords smoothly into your headings and main content to sound natural.
  
  
• Keep answers short and sweet: When giving info, keep it clear and brief. This boosts your chances of snagging those unique spots in search results.
  
  
• Add a FAQs section: If it doesn't fit naturally in your content, create a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section at the bottom of your web pages. It's a great way to include voice search keywords.
  
  
• Leverage Schema Markup: Activate schema markup to your advantage. It acts as a unique language that assists search engines in comprehending the content on your website. This added understanding provides more context, increasing the likelihood of securing prominent spots in search results and getting selected in voice search outcomes.

Get Local with SEO

Local SEO is like fine-tuning your online presence to boost local traffic, visibility, and how well people know your brand. But why is this important for voice search? Well, voice assistants often check local directories such as Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Bing Places when someone asks a local question.

Here are some tips for local SEO that you can put into action:

• Optimize your Google Business Profile: This free tool lets you control how your local business shows up on Google Search, Google Shopping, and Google Maps. Google Assistant relies on it for local voice queries, so having a solid profile increases the chances of your business being mentioned by Google Assistant.
  
  
• Explore other local directories: Apart from Google Business Profile, other sites list businesses based on their location. To ensure various voice assistants suggest your local business, it's wise to use different local directories.
  
  
• Focus on local keywords: Local keywords are words or phrases people use to find nearby businesses, products, and services. By targeting these keywords, you increase your chances of your business ranking in local packs. This makes it more likely for your business to pop up when someone asks a local question using voice search.