Voice Search: The Future of Online Interaction
Voice search is rapidly becoming the standard way people find information online. Millions of people use voice assistants daily for various tasks, including finding information, shopping, and controlling their smart homes. This trend underscores the importance of optimizing your WordPress site for voice search to avoid missing out on valuable traffic.
Why Voice Search Matters
The ease of using voice assistants on smartphones and home devices has fueled the popularity of voice search. Studies reveal that 62% of adult Americans and 27% of global internet users employ voice search on mobile devices. The most prominent voice search apps worldwide are Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
Voice search caters to both immediate and in-depth information needs. Users may utilize voice search for quick answers, such as directions or store closing times, while driving or when convenience takes priority. Conversely, users may engage in more extensive research, comparing prices, learning repair techniques, or exploring DIY projects.
Optimizing Your WordPress Site for Voice Search
To capture this growing traffic source, you need to optimize your WordPress blog for voice search. Search engine rankings are crucial as 68% of clicks from voice searches come from the first 5 results on the search results page.
1. Target Conversational Keywords
Unlike typed queries, voice search uses natural, conversational language. Instead of ‘best pizza in Los Angeles,’ users might ask ‘OK Google, what’s the best pizza in Los Angeles?’
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that reflect this conversational style. Focusing on long-tail keywords helps you understand user intent and address it effectively in your content. Numerous long-tail keyword generators, including WPBeginner’s Keyword Generator Tool and LowFruits KWFinder, can assist in uncovering these phrases. These tools can analyze keyword search volume and difficulty, allowing you to prioritize those with high volume and low difficulty.
2. Use Schema Markup
Schema markup is a type of HTML code that helps search engines understand your website’s content. It allows search engines to recognize various content types, including blog posts, products, recipes, and events. Schema markup assists in providing virtual assistants with the necessary information to answer user questions, such as store hours or contact details.
You can use plugins like All in One SEO to easily add schema markup for FAQ sections and other content types. This structured data will make it easier for search engines and virtual assistants to feature your content in voice search results.
3. Optimize for Local SEO
Local businesses benefit significantly from voice search optimization. A significant 76% of voice searches are for local products and services. Make sure you add schema markup for your business address, contact details, opening hours, and other essential business information. This helps virtual assistants provide directions and information to your store.
Our detailed local SEO guide covers adding local schema, creating a Google Business Profile, integrating Google Maps, getting listed in local business directories, and showcasing positive customer reviews.
4. Optimize for Featured Snippets
Featured snippets are highlighted results displayed at the top of a Google search results page. They often contain the best answers to queries, such as recipes. These snippets receive significant traffic, particularly with voice search, where virtual assistants often read the snippet to the user.
While Google determines featured snippets, using schema markup increases your chances. Our guide on how to get a Google featured snippet offers further insights.
5. Improve Your Website’s Technical SEO
Technical SEO ensures your website’s technical aspects are optimized for search engines. While you may have created excellent voice search-optimized content, technical issues can hinder its visibility. Our technical SEO checklist helps identify issues like slow WordPress speed, unindexed content, lack of HTTPS connection, and mobile-friendliness, which can negatively impact search engine rankings.
FAQs about Voice Search
**Isn’t voice search just for finding restaurants and directions?**
No, voice search is used for a wide range of inquiries, from fixing leaky faucets to shopping and smart home control. Essentially, users can use voice search for anything they want to find online.
**Do I need to optimize for voice search separately? Isn’t it the same as regular SEO?**
While related, voice search requires optimization for conversational language, longer phrases, and natural queries.
**What’s the most important thing I can do to optimize my site for voice search?**
Think like your audience. Consider the words and questions they might use. Ensure your content includes those questions and answers them clearly and concisely.
**Do keywords matter for voice search?**
Yes, but focus on long-tail keywords, which are longer, more specific phrases used in conversation.
**I’m not a tech expert. Is optimizing for voice search complicated?**
The process is simpler than you might think. Focus on writing naturally, optimizing for mobile, and using SEO tools or plugins like those from AltShift WP to guide your efforts.
**How will I know if my voice search optimization is working?**
Monitor your website traffic using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track the keywords users are using to find your site, including voice searches, and their engagement with your content.
This is a summary of the original article: ‘Voice Search SEO — Optimize Your WordPress Blog for Voice Search’ found at: ‘https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/voice-search-seo/’