Voice search is a technology that lets you use your voice to search the web instead of typing. It is a convenient, fast, and accurate way to find what you need online. You can use voice search on your phone, tablet, laptop, or smart speaker with voice assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and many more.
But voice search is not just a trend — it is a revolution. It is changing the way people interact with search engines and how businesses optimize their websites and content for online visibility, traffic, and conversions. Voice search queries are different from text search queries. They are longer, more natural, and more specific. They also have different intentions and expectations. To rank well for voice search, you need to understand and match the user’s voice and intent. But how?
In this article, we will show you how to do that. We will share some tips and best practices on how to optimize your website and content for voice search in 2024. We will explain the benefits and challenges of voice search optimization (VSO) for businesses and users.
Voice search is not a fad, but it is a reality. It is a technology that is transforming the way people search for and access information online. The image above shows the increase in the number of digital voice assistants. In 2019, there were only 3.4 billion digital voice assistants, but in 2024, it has reached 8.4 billion. That’s too much, right?
As Emily Rapoza, Marketing Manager at Library Science Degrees Online, shares “Voice search matters in 2024 because it offers many benefits and opportunities for both users and businesses.”
For users, voice search is a convenient, fast, and accurate way to find what they need online. Voice search eliminates the need to type, which can be tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone. Voice search also allows users to multitask and use their hands for other activities, such as driving, cooking, or working.
Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Ingredient Brothers, said, “Voice search is more accessible and inclusive as it can cater to different languages, accents, dialects, and abilities. It can also provide more personalized and relevant results, as it can understand the user’s context, location, preferences, and history.”
For businesses, voice search is a powerful way to reach and engage potential and existing customers. Voice search can help businesses improve their online visibility, traffic, and conversions, as voice queries tend to have higher intent and lower competition than text queries.
Voice search can also help businesses enhance their customer experience and satisfaction, as voice queries can provide more natural and conversational interactions with customers. Kevin King, Founder & CEO at Anytime Baseball Supply, shares, “Voice search can help businesses gain more insights and feedback from customers, as voice queries can reveal more about the customer’s needs, wants, and emotions.”
Voice search is not a trend that can be ignored or dismissed. It is a revolution that is reshaping the online landscape and behavior. Voice search matters in 2024 because it is the future of search and the future of business.
Now, let’s have a look at what challenges you can face during voice search optimization in 2024.
Challenges of Voice Search Optimization in 2024
Voice search optimization (VSO) is not without its challenges. As voice search technology evolves and becomes more sophisticated, so do the expectations and demands of users and voice assistants.
To succeed in VSO, you need to overcome some of the common challenges and obstacles that you might face. Here are these.
Understanding the User’s Voice and Intent
One of the biggest challenges of VSO is understanding the user’s voice and intent. Anton Lau, CEO of VisitHaiti, said, “Voice search queries can vary widely depending on the user’s accent, dialect, pronunciation, tone, and context. They can also have different meanings and intents depending on the user’s situation, location, and history.”
For example, a user might ask, “What’s the weather like today?” and mean different things depending on where they are, what time it is, and what they plan to do.
Providing Relevant and Accurate Answers
Another challenge of VSO is providing relevant and accurate answers. Voice search users expect quick and precise answers from voice assistants. And they have little to no patience for irrelevant or inaccurate results. They also expect answers tailored to their needs and preferences and can provide additional information or actions if needed, said Jon Gillham, Founder of Originality.ai.
For example, a user might ask, “How do I make a chocolate cake?” and expect a recipe, a video, or a link to order one online.
Measuring and Improving Voice Search Performance and Feedback
A final challenge of VSO is measuring and improving voice search performance and feedback. Voice search is still a relatively new and emerging technology, and there are not many tools and metrics that can help you track and monitor your voice search results and outcomes, adds Casey Meraz, Founder & CEO of Juris Digital.
There are also not many ways to collect and analyze user feedback and satisfaction with your voice search answers and interactions.
For example, a user might not leave a review or a rating for your voice search result, or they might not tell you why they liked or disliked your answer.
So, what’s the solution to these problems? You need to optimize voice search. How? Let’s find out.
Best Practices for Voice Search Optimization in 2024
Voice search optimization (VSO) is the process of improving your website and content to rank well for voice search queries. Martynas Žvirblis, Manager at VPSForexTrader, shares, “VSO is different from traditional SEO, as voice search queries are longer, more natural, and more specific than text search queries. They also have different intents and expectations, as users want immediate and relevant answers from voice assistants.”
To optimize your website and content for voice search in 2024, follow these simple tips that can help you match the user’s voice and intent.
Use Conversational Keywords and Long-Tail Phrases
Olivia Rutman, Founder & CEO at Kids Care Finder, said “Voice search queries are usually more conversational and natural than text search queries. They also tend to use more words and modifiers, such as questions, prepositions, and adverbs.”
For example, a user might type “best pizza near me” but say, “Where can I find the best pizza place near me right now?”.
To optimize for voice search, you need to use keywords and phrases that match the user’s voice and language. Ken Jar, Financial Expert at Money Advisor, explains, “You can use Answer the Public, Google Trends, and Google Search Console to find and analyze voice search keywords and phrases for your niche and audience.”
Provide Clear and Concise Answers
Voice search queries are usually more intent-driven and specific than text search queries. They also tend to have higher expectations, as users want quick and accurate answers from voice assistants, adds Sumeer Kaur, Founder of Indian Dresses.
For example, a user might ask, “How long does it take to drive from New York to Boston?” and expect a precise answer in seconds.
So, you need to provide clear and concise answers that can be easily understood by voice assistants and users. William Westerlund, SEO Expert at Tradeit.gg, shares, “Use Schema.org, JSON-LD, and Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to markup your content with relevant and rich information that can help voice assistants understand and deliver your answers.”
Structure and Format Your Content with Headings, Lists, and Schema Markup
Voice search queries are usually more complex and diverse than text search queries. They can cover a wide range of topics, formats, and types, such as facts, opinions, comparisons, instructions, and reviews, adds sh Matthew, Marketing Expert of Laptop Reviewers.
For example, a user might ask, “What are the benefits of meditation?” and expect a list of bullet points or a summary.
David Martinez, VP Enterprise & OEM Accounts at Cybernet Manufacturing, shares, “To optimize for voice search, you need to structure and format your content with headings, lists, and schema markup that can improve the readability and crawlability of your content.”
You can use tools like Google’s Rich Results Test, Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test, and Google’s PageSpeed Insights to check and optimize the performance and appearance of your content on voice search devices, adds Michael Hess, Tech Expert at Code Signing Store.
Leverage Local SEO and Mobile Optimization
James Gibson, Digital Marketing Manager at CamSurf, said “Voice search queries are usually more local and mobile than text search queries. They often include geo-specific and device-specific modifiers, such as “near me”, “open now”, and “on my phone”.”
A user might ask, “What are the best restaurants near me that are open now and have vegan options?” and expect a map or a list of results on their phone. So, leverage local SEO and mobile optimization that can target and serve these queries, adds Cole Vineyard, CEO and Founder of Teach Simple.
Create and Update FAQ Pages and Blog Posts That Address Common and Relevant Questions
Jonathan Rosenfeld, Founder & Attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC, said, “Voice search queries are usually more informational and educational than text search queries. They often start with question words, such as “who”, “what”, “where”, “when”, “why”, and “how”.”
For example, a user might ask, “How do I fix a leaky faucet?” and expect a step-by-step guide or a video.
Saba Mobebpour, CEO at SPOCKET, said “To optimize for voice search, you need to create and update FAQ pages and blog posts that address common and relevant questions that your audience might have. You can use tools like Google’s People Also Ask, Google’s Featured Snippets, and Google Analytics to find and answer these questions with your content.”
Optimize for Local Search and Mobile Devices
Martin Seeley, CEO of Mattress Next Day shares, “Voice search is mostly used for local search and on mobile devices. People often use voice search to find nearby businesses, services, or locations.”
To optimize for local search, include your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation on your website. Use schema markup to add structured data to your pages and help search engines understand your content. To optimize voice search for mobile devices, make sure your website is responsive, fast, and easy to navigate, said Tia Campbell, Director of Marketing at Practice Reasoning Tests.
Optimize for Featured Snippets and Position Zero
Featured snippets are selected results that appear at the top of the search results page, above the organic results. They are also known as position zero, as they are the first and most prominent result that voice searchers hear. Gerrid Smith, CMO of Joy Organics, said, “Featured snippets can be paragraphs, lists, tables, or videos that provide a direct answer to a voice query.”
To optimize your content for featured snippets and position zero, use question-based keywords and phrases, such as “How to”, “What is”, or “Why do”. Provide clear and concise answers in your content, preferably in the first paragraph or in a separate section. Use headings, lists, and tables to structure your content and make it easy for search engines to extract the relevant information, shares Maria Mercieca Imbroll, Team Leader of Corporate Services at CSB Group.
Measure and Analyze Voice Search Performance and Feedback with Tools and Metrics
Ritika Asrani, Owner and Broker of Century21 St Maarten Real Estate, explains, “Voice search optimization is not a one-time task but an ongoing process. You need to measure and analyze your voice search performance and feedback with tools and metrics that can help you improve and refine your VSO strategy.”
You can use Google’s Search Console, Google’s Voice Search Analytics, and Google’s Voice Search Feedback to track and monitor your voice search traffic, rankings, impressions, clicks, conversions, and reviews.
Derek Thompson, Landscape Artist at LandscaperShield, says, “You can use Google’s Voice Search Surveys, Google’s Voice Search Feedback Form, and Google’s Voice Search User Testing to collect and analyze user feedback and satisfaction with your voice search results and answers.”
So, you optimize it.
To Wrap it Up
Voice search is a reality that transforms how people find and access information online. It matters in 2024 because it benefits and creates opportunities for users and businesses.
However, voice search also has challenges and obstacles to overcome. To succeed, you need to provide clear and concise answers, use conversational keywords and long-tail phrases, and leverage local SEO and mobile optimization. Use tools and metrics like Answer the Public, Google Trends, and Google Search Console to measure and improve your voice search performance and feedback.
Voice search is not a fad but a revolution that reshapes the online landscape and behavior. It is the future of search and business.