Why Voice Search has grown in Popularity
Voice search has been around for a while now, but it’s only recently that it has gained widespread popularity among consumers. With the advent of Siri and Amazon Echo, technology has advanced to a level where voice recognition software can understand what we’re saying, no matter the accent or dialect, and provide us with an answer.
According to Google, 41% of adults and 55% of teens already use voice search daily, and the number is expected to rise to over 50% by 2020. This increase in voice searches is due to several factors including:
- The growth of mobile devices – With the increase in the use of smartphones and digital assistants, voice search has become more convenient for users.
- The rise of “smart” homes – With devices such as Echo and Google Home, users can control their home simply by using their voice.
- The availability of natural language processing – Voice search technology can now recognize everyday language as opposed to just keywords.
How Voice Search is Changing SEO Strategies
Voice search has a direct impact on SEO. With voice search, users tend to use more natural language queries such as “What’s the best Italian restaurant near me?” versus the traditional text-based search query “Italian restaurant near me.”
This means that keywords and phrases used in SEO strategies need to be adapted for voice search. SEO professionals need to focus on long-tail keywords, local SEO, and natural language queries to rank higher in voice search results. Additionally, featured snippets are more valuable in voice search, as the assistant usually reads out the first result on a page.
Voice Search: The Future of Search Optimization
Voice search is quickly becoming the most convenient way for users to conduct searches. In fact, it is predicted that by 2022, the number of voice assistants in use will reach 4.2 billion. This means that businesses need to start optimizing their websites and content for voice search if they want to remain competitive in the market and target voice search users.
While traditional SEO strategies still hold value, businesses cannot ignore the impact that voice search technology will have on their digital marketing campaigns. With a focus on natural language, long-tail keywords, and local SEO, businesses can ensure that they remain visible in voice search results and adapt to the future of search optimization.