Voice Search Optimization: How To Appear In Voice Search Results

How many of you use voice assistants nowadays? Is there one you prefer – Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assist, or Cortana by Microsoft? Either way, it is quite fascinating how those soulless helpers can understand complete sentences and questions without us having to tweak our speech to fit the complex technologies that were used to create them.

Do you remember how some people would create funny videos of voice assistant responses? At times, those responses were offensive; sometimes, they provided information that was not fully accurate, and other times, they made zero sense whatsoever. Today, voice assistants provide fast and appropriate information with over 93% accuracy rate. 

With the growth of the accuracy rate, the number of people relying on voice search assistants also grew. Voice search is convenient for people on the go and offers a much more conversational way of looking things up.

So instead of typing in “marketing best practices 2024,” the user might ask, “Hey Siri, what are the best marketing practices in 2024?” 

What is Voice Search Optimization?

Voice Search Optimization (VSO) is the process of adapting your online presence so that you appear in the voice search results. The goal of VSO is to include common phrases and queries in your content so that virtual and voice assistants present your page to those who use them – that way, you are likely to reach more consumers. According to Statista, the amount of voice assistants in use is expected to exceed 8.4 billion units in 2024.

Why optimize for Voice Search Results?

Optimizing for voice search allows you to gather more organic traffic, regardless of your industry. Users, especially those on the go, rely on voice search for research, information, and making purchases and transactions. 

Regarding your overall SEO, search engines like when you adapt to their new capabilities. Doing so ranks your site higher on search pages, which, again, improves your overall chances of getting traffic, thus increasing your conversion rates.

Pro Tips For Voice Search Optimization

• Make your content more conversational: Conversational language is key when implementing voice search optimization. Most people will rely on their natural way of asking questions or making statements. Therefore, they are more likely to read the response if it meets their initial tone and “vibe.”
  
  When writing blog posts, it might be useful to forget the techniques of writing essays and instead do quite the opposite. Use personal pronouns like “I,” “we,” and “you” and humor to engage with your audience. However, while a casual tone of voice is encouraged, keeping your content relevant, authentic, and quality-oriented is still important.
  
  
• Choose long-tail and question-oriented keywords: As mentioned above, voice searches are usually worded differently than typed searches. They resonate more with actual questions than just keywords and tend to be more detailed. Targeting long-tail keywords and question keywords will help capture users’ attention with more specific inquiries.
  
  Long-tail keywords are typically longer than three words, are specific to your business, and attract traffic with more intention for action.
  
  Question keywords typically dance around the four Ws and an H – What, Where, When, Who, and How – and are targeted at those searching for a specific answer to a question that might sound like this: “What year was Vavoza founded?” and “How often does Vavoza send out newsletters?”
  
  
• Pick a topic and structure your answers: Creating content on your website that answers questions about your products, services, and the history of your brand will help you with voice search optimization.
  
  Your answers to such questions should, on average, be close to 30 words; however, Google’s answers vary in the number of words: some answers are 6 words in total, and some could be a couple of small paragraphs long, totaling 50 words.
  
  

Closing Remarks

Voice search optimization is getting more and more traction as we speak. It brings your content more views and engagement and improves SEO. In a nutshell, the content and information provided should be presented in a conversational and natural way while remaining accurate and relevant to your brand.

By the way, not to sound too cheesy, but Siri and Alexa can’t wait to review and use your content in their responses!

Stay tuned for more helpful tips and insights from Vavoza Insider continually – we have a lot of valuable information to share with you.