Throughout 2018, over 1 billion voice searches were made per month. 41% of adults and 55% of teens use voice search daily and 27% then go on to visit the website of a local business after conducting a voice search. The statistics speak for themselves and the ability to voice search is taking over.
Okay so maybe we aren’t at the stage where Alexa can make us a coffee, but we sure can get her to order us a take away, or play music for us, or even order that favourite product we have been eyeing up on Amazon. With the latest Sky update you can voice search on the remote control – talking to the TV usually only happened during sporting events but now it is a daily part of life.
Whether you are an ‘Okay Google’ kind of person, or perhaps Alexa or Siri are you go-to voice companions, it's hard to deny the rise of voice command over the last number of years, and all businesses should be aware of the increase in demand for this feature and the impact it will have when it comes to Search Engine Optmisation.
SEO is a marketing discipline that focuses on growing visibility organically in search engine results, and encompasses both the technical and creative components required to increase awareness in the search engines which in turn will improve rankings as well as drive traffic to your website. When a potential customer or service user searches for something, the search engine will bring up the most relevant link.
For those service users who utilise the search aspect of digital companion, such as Alexa or Siri, there is a difference in the responses provided this way compared to those provided in the original type of searches. The digital companion will usually provide a more succinct answer and does include a list of options. For this reason, having excellent SEO is even more important to service providers and brands.
As the popularity of voice searches increases, this is something that brands will need to incorporate into their SEO strategies if they want to maintain good rankings and visibility online.
The main way to do this is to make sure that the content you are displaying is conversational and natural which will in turn help to fit the pattern of voice searches.
Although voice search will not immediately replace traditional search methods that we are all used to, it is important that businesses adopt the necessary measures to ensure that they are not left behind when it comes to. Just like ensuring your webpage is properly optimized for desktop and mobile, it is important to ensure it is adapted to the structural changes required for voice search.
Voice search is on the rise, so make sure your business moves forward and has adapted correctly to stay ahead of your competitors!