Optimize for Voice Search: Smart SEO Strategy for Your Business

Voice search is no longer a mystery or a flash in the pan. With the rise of voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Home, voice search is becoming an integral part of our daily lives.

But how do you make sure your business is prepared to tap into this growing trend? In this post, we’ll break down why optimizing for voice search is a smart move for SEO and provide actionable steps to get you started.

Understanding the Importance of Voice Search

Voice search isn’t just a fad—it’s rapidly becoming a significant way people interact with their devices. Here are some compelling stats:

• 55% of households in the US are expected to own a smart speaker by 2022.
• 20% of mobile queries are currently conducted through voice search.
• Nearly 40 million Americans already own a smart speaker.
• 58% of people have used voice search to find information about a local business.

These numbers make it clear: voice search is here to stay. So how do you optimize for it? Let’s delve into the essentials.

How to Optimize for Voice Search

Think in Terms of Questions

Voice searches are almost always phrased as questions. Think about how you use your own voice assistant:

• “Hey Alexa, how old is Will Smith?”
• “Hey Siri, what’s the best automotive museum in Georgia?”
• “Hey Google, is fruit good for dogs?”

To leverage this, consider the types of questions your potential customers might ask. Then, incorporate those questions and straightforward answers into your content. One simple way to do this is by creating an FAQ page with specific, succinct answers.

Aim for the Featured Snippet

A featured snippet is that handy information box that often appears before any other search results on Google. This coveted spot is usually what voice assistants pull from to answer voice searches. To increase your chances of snagging a featured snippet, focus on simple, clear, and concise content. For more detailed strategies, check out this guide by HubSpot. I’ll also link it below.

Write Naturally

The more natural your content sounds, the better. Google’s algorithms favor content that reads like real human speech, so avoid stiff or overly formal writing. Think conversationally—how would you explain the topic if you were talking to a friend?

Keep It Simple

Voice search results often cater to a 9th-grade reading level, so avoid technical jargon and overly complex terms. Simplicity ensures that your content is easily understood and accessible to a broader audience.

Boost Your Site Speed

Google prioritizes speed when delivering voice search results. If your website loads quickly, you have a better chance of being chosen as the answer to a voice search. Optimizing your site speed involves various factors, from image compression to streamlined code. Take the time to ensure your site is fast and efficient.

Making Your Website Voice Search Friendly

When creating content, always think about what information people are actually seeking:

1. What questions do your customers frequently ask?
2. How do these questions typically get phrased in a voice search?

Integrate these questions and answers naturally into your website’s content to make it more voice search-friendly.

Optimizing for voice search isn’t just a smart move; it’s becoming a necessity. By focusing on questions, aiming for the featured snippet, writing naturally, keeping it simple, and boosting your site speed, you’ll improve your chances of being the answer to someone’s voice query.

But remember, optimizing for voice search is only part of your smart marketing strategy. Let me ask you a question, do you know how your marketing stacks up?

Find out by taking the SMART Marketing quiz. Get customized results on how to get smarter with your marketing. You’ll learn exactly what YOUR business should focus on, get customized recommendations on how to get the best bang for your marketing buck, and unleash your business’s true potential. It’s like having a personal marketing coach by your side!

And remember, you don’t need crazy tech skills, buckets of cash, or a dedicated staff to market your business. You don’t even need a lot of time.

What you need is to be smart, and optimizing for voice search is smart for your business.

If you're ready to grow your business with smart marketing you can:

1. Sign up for weekly FREE Business Bytes with CEO, Torie Mathis

2. Get a SMART Funnel and begin to automate your marketing

3. Learn Digital Marketing with a Smart Marketing Course

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TORIE MATHIS

Torie Mathis helps entrepreneurs grow their business with Smart Marketing.  She is a best-selling author, Army veteran, international speaker + trainer, and the CEO + Creative Director at Lake Shark Media. She also teaches entrepreneurs how to get smart with digital marketing at toriemathis.com