Easy methods to Optimize for Voice Queries

  • September 11, 2023
  • elkenz
  • 13 min read

Google Voice Search is making search simpler and extra accessible. And it presents huge alternatives for companies to achieve extra folks.  

On this article, you’ll discover ways to use Google Voice Search to enhance search engine optimization and improve your visibility.

What Is Google Voice Search and How Does It Work?

Google Voice Search (additionally referred to as Search by Voice) is a digital search assistant that permits you to use Google Search by talking somewhat than typing. 

You need to use Google Voice Search on the Google web site or app by clicking on the microphone icon within the search discipline.

"Search by voice" button highlighted on Google

You may also entry it through Google Assistant on Android smartphones, Google sensible audio system, and Apple units if you happen to’ve downloaded the Google Assistant app.

On these units, you wake the characteristic by saying “OK Google” or “Hey Google.”

For instance, right here is the outcomes web page for the question, “Hey Google, how do I cook dinner an egg?” on a smartphone.

Google Assistant results page for “Hey Google, how do I cook an egg?” query

While you say your command or query, Google makes use of pure language processing (NLP) and speech recognition to learn and interpret your request as a human would.

Meaning Google can perceive search intent and ship essentially the most related leads to the identical manner it does while you kind a question.

Usually, Google will flip to natural content material and return related—or similar—outcomes for the question.

For some queries, although, Voice Search will decide essentially the most related consequence and skim it again to you. Providing you with a really hands-free expertise

Voice search isn’t a fad.

And the voice assistant of selection for most individuals? 

Google units.

Nearly one-quarter of the US inhabitants used Google Assistant in 2022. And Google additionally powers Siri.  

Along with that, greater than 80% of outcomes returned by Google Assistant are from the highest three natural search outcomes on a search engine outcomes web page (SERP).

an infographic highlighting organic results on a search engine results page (SERP)

As a result of Google perceives these outcomes as those that greatest meet search intent.

Meaning no matter content material is on the high of conventional search outcomes is seen as essentially the most related and authoritative reply to a person’s question.

The objective of SEO (search engine optimization) for Google Voice Search is identical as conventional search engine optimization: to look on the high of search outcomes so extra folks discover you. 

And a great conventional search engine optimization technique will provide you with strong foundations for voice search success. 

So you may’t be one in all essentially the most related outcomes for a search question and anticipate to drive site visitors to your web site. You need to be the most related consequence.

Listed here are 5 methods to raise your web site above the competitors in voice search outcomes.

1. Use Conversational Key phrases

Conversational keywords are long-tail keywords and natural-sounding phrases that people use in dialog.

Since voice search replicates human interplay, concentrating on the phrases folks use in dialog offers you a greater likelihood of matching search intent. 

For instance, if you happen to’re performing a textual content seek for a pizza place you would possibly write one thing like “pizza locations close to me.” 

However that’s not the way you’d say it if you happen to have been asking somebody on the road.

You’d most definitely ask: “What are some good pizza locations close to me?” Which can be the way you’d carry out a voice search.

To optimize your web site for voice search, take into consideration how your keywords match with real-life dialogue.

A simple manner to do that is to give attention to related “who,” “what,” “when,” “the place,” “why,” and “how” questions and embody them in your content material. 

That may make it easier to handle what folks need straight. And assist Google’s search algorithm serve them one of the best consequence. 

Semrush’s Keyword Magic Software can assist you discover the phrases and questions persons are looking for. 

To get began, enter a key phrase associated to your services or products. Then click on “Search.”

search for "pizza place" in Keyword Magic Tool

The Keyword Magic software will generate a whole record of associated phrases. Click on the “Questions” tab to search out the preferred questions customers are asking. 

“Questions” tab for "pizza place" query shows the most popular questions users are asking

The software types outcomes by quantity. The upper the quantity, the extra persons are looking for it. 

It additionally shows: 

  • Keyword intent: The aim of the search
  • Search developments: Curiosity within the key phrase within the final 12 months
  • Keyword problem (KD): How onerous it’s to rank for the key phrase 

Search for keywords with excessive quantity and curiosity and a low key phrase problem. 

One other fast solution to discover conversational phrases is to make use of Google’s “Folks additionally ask” characteristic.

Right here’s the way you do it.

Let’s say you run a pizza place. Sort “pizza place [your location]” into the search bar.

After which scroll all the way down to “Folks additionally ask” to search out generally requested questions and queries.

“People also ask” section for “pizza place [your location]” query

Click on on one of many inquiries to see how different manufacturers are answering these queries. And get a listing of much more questions.

"People also ask" section with "Why is pizza called pizza" question opened

Make a listing of all of the related keywords you discover.

2. Optimize Your Content

Optimize your content material by together with every conversational key phrase out of your record and answering questions straight. 

Say you wish to reply: “How can I feed my canine a capsule?”

First, make the search question or one thing related the title of your weblog submit. For instance, “X Methods to Get Your Canine to Take Capsules.”

Or, “Giving Capsules to Canine,” because the VCA Animal Hospital does within the outcomes under.

first results on Google for “How can I feed my dog a pill?” query shows a page from VCA Animal Hospital on “Giving Pills to Dogs”

Then, optimize your web page headers.

Google makes use of web page titles and headers (H1, H2, H3, and so forth.) to study your content material. The extra descriptive they’re, the better it’s for the search engine to know and rank content material.

In case your title or header matches the question, Google acknowledges your web page is related to the searcher.

Associated to the instance above, VCA Canada makes use of the header: “How do I give a capsule straight into my canine’s mouth?”

“How do I give a pill directly into my dog’s mouth?” header

And Google readers out the second bullet level for folks doing a voice search.

Take word, although, that Google Assistant customers will hear search outcomes, not learn them  And the typical voice search reply is 29 phrases. So use that as a benchmark. 

Your reply will be longer or shorter, however don’t make it unnecessarily wordy. Keep in mind Google is studying the response to the searcher. It goals to do that as effectively as doable.

One other nice instance is the outcomes for the query, “Easy methods to get my canine to drink water?”

Google Voice Search reads the under reply by the Veterinary Emergency Group: 

“How to help a dog who won’t drink water?” by by the Veterinary Emergency Group

The header relates on to the query. And the reply is a single paragraph.

The directness of the content material helps the Veterinary Emergency Group rank because the featured snippet on the standard SERP. 

Google Voice additionally reads it on desktop and cellular:

first results on Google for “How to get my dog to drink water?” query shows a page from Veterinary Emergency Group on “Reasons Why Your Dog Won’t Drink Water”

Whereas related headers and concise solutions do not assure you a spot on the high of search outcomes, utilizing them is a good begin and will increase your possibilities for rating.

Professional Tip: Use conventional search engine optimization greatest practices and study Google’s E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) metric to find extra methods you may assist your pages rank.

3. Create an FAQ Part

Together with a Steadily Requested Questions (FAQ) part in your web site is one other solution to straight reply what your viewers desires to know. 

FAQs permit you to fulfill audiences by catering to go looking queries with assorted intent. Creating FAQs about your services and products may make it easier to remove confusion.

As a result of when folks search for your product, your FAQ reply would possibly simply be the one which Google reads. In spite of everything, you are essentially the most dependable authority by yourself product.

For instance, a solution from Headspace’s FAQ web page exhibits up within the high three search outcomes for the query: “How lengthy will it take to expertise the advantages of meditation?”

an answer from Headspace’s FAQ page to “How long will it take to experience the benefits of meditation?” query

Your conversational key phrase analysis will give an preliminary record of inquiries to reply. To increase that record, look by way of your customer support inbox and social media messages for frequent buyer queries. 

Make your record as complete as doable. There aren’t any dumb questions. If somebody requested it, likelihood is others will wish to know the reply too.

If you need extra concepts, you need to use Semrush’s Matter Analysis software to uncover questions that customers ask about sure topics.

Enter a key phrase associated to what you are promoting and click on “Get content material concepts.”

search for "influencer marketing" in Topic Research tool

Click on on any card to search out the highest associated questions. In the event that they match along with your model, embody them in your record.

"Cards" section in Topic Research tool with "Influencer Marketing Strategies" card highlighted

Group your questions beneath frequent themes so customers (and Google) can navigate content material simply. Frequent classes embody: 

  • Transport and returns
  • Services or products
  • Funds
  • Bookings and cancellations
  • Your account
  • Privateness and safety
  • Promotions and reductions

Write steadily requested questions out of your buyer’s perspective. And solutions from what you are promoting’ perspective.

Make solutions detailed, however preserve them concise.

Pet model Chewy, for instance, solutions questions in a single or two sentences. 

an example of FAQs section from pet brand Chewy

Keep in mind Google Voice Search solutions are typically on the shorter aspect. In case your reply to a basic query is extra succinct than a competitor’s, Google is extra doubtless to decide on it.

4. Make Your Web site Cell-Pleasant

When Google crawls your web site, it makes use of the cellular model for indexing and rating. 

Most individuals utilizing voice search are most likely utilizing it on cellular. So your website should be mobile-friendly to carry out properly in Google Voice Search outcomes. 

What’s extra, when Google crawls your web site, it makes use of the cellular model for indexing and rating.

Because of this, mobile-friendliness is one thing you need to monitor often. 

Google has free instruments that will help you do this. 

When you’ve got Google Search Console (GSC) arrange in your web site, log in to your account and click on “Cell Usability.” 

The report flags any cellular points. Together with for voice search queries. 

“Mobile Usability” report in Google Search Console

Use these insights to repair issues and enhance efficiency. 

an example of mobile usability problems highlighted in GCS

Our information to cellular search engine optimization has tricks to optimize your cellular web site. One sensible strategy is to focus on voice search-friendly keywords. As we’ve mentioned, question-based long-tail keywords are your greatest wager.

5. Declare Your Google Enterprise Profile

A free Google Enterprise Profile (GBP) is crucial rating issue for native search engine optimization. Google makes use of it to ship native outcomes to potential prospects in Search and Maps. 

Right here’s what a profile seems to be like:

Google Business Profile (GBP) for "Uncle Paul’s Pizza NY"

Say you run a pizza place and a voice search person asks the Google Assistant: “What are one of the best pizza locations close to me?” or “What pizza eating places are open now?” 

Google pulls essentially the most related reply from the native pack, which is populated based mostly on GBP information.

Right here’s what the native pack seems to be like:

an example of Google local pack showing pizza places

So a GBP is one thing to prioritize if you wish to be featured in voice search outcomes.

You’ll be able to declare yours totally free by following the steps on the Google Enterprise Profile web site. 

Our information to Google My Enterprise exhibits you the way to arrange and optimize your profile for native search engine optimization: 

  • Embrace your full enterprise title, handle, and telephone quantity (NAP)
  • Write an outline that particulars your product companies, historical past, and mission
  • Add photographs of what you are promoting premises, services or products, and crew
  • Share updates on new services or products and particular affords
  • Request and reply to on-line opinions
  • Add and reply steadily requested questions
  • Embrace distinctive options like service choices or person accessibility

When optimizing your GBP, it’s additionally value evaluating your presence in native directories like Yelp, Bing, or Fb Enterprise Pages. 

Google makes use of these further sources to substantiate what you are promoting data is correct. So particulars should be constant throughout each itemizing. 

A simple manner to do that is to enter what you are promoting title into Semrush’s Itemizing Administration software. 

After you carry out an preliminary scan, the software exhibits your present on-line presence, complete listings, listings to repair, and common star ranking. 

Listing Management tool shows your current online presence, total listings, listings to fix, and average star rating

Then, you’ll see what you might want to repair to enhance current listings. The software additionally exhibits you new directories to focus on:

"Fix these to improve and expand your coverage" page in Listing Management tool

Create new profiles for these platforms to increase your protection and increase native visibility. 

BONUS: Optimize Content for Completely different Languages

Multilingual search engine optimization is the follow of changing your web site content material into a number of languages so voice (and conventional) customers can discover you in search outcomes. 

Google Voice Search helps 119 languages. So it’s a strong software to develop your viewers if you happen to function in (or wish to increase to) non-English talking markets. 

The very best markets to focus on for multilingual search engine optimization are those with excessive search demand in your services or products. 

Semrush’s Market Explorer software can assist you determine alternatives. 

To get began, click on “Analyze Class.” Then choose your area of interest from the drop-down menu and click on “Analysis a market.”

Analyzing "Travel & Tourism" Category in Market Explorer

Within the “Overview” scroll all the way down to “Market Geo Distribution.” 

“Market Geo Distribution” section in Market Explorer 

That will provide you with an concept of which international locations have excessive site visitors potential. 

You’ll be able to then translate your content material into the dominant language of that nation. For instance, if you wish to increase to Germany, translate your content material to German. 

To rank for voice search in one other language, the standard of your translation must be correct. When Google reads your content material, it ought to have the nuance and authority of a local speaker. 

So it’s greatest to make use of a copywriter and editor who converse the language fluently to translate and proofread your content material. 

A human understands the way to translate emotion and tone higher than instruments like ChatGPT and Google Translate, which are likely to translate actually.

search engine optimization With Google Voice Search in Thoughts

Google Voice Search is the popular technique of utilizing Google Seek for tens of millions of individuals. And its reputation will proceed to develop.

So it’s one thing you may’t ignore if you wish to keep aggressive and improve site visitors to your web site. 

Comply with the ideas within the submit and also you’ll be properly in your solution to positioning your content material as Google’s selection for voice search queries.

To maintain bettering, join a free Semrush account. Our instruments will make it easier to discover keywords that voice searchers use and optimize your website to take care of excessive rankings.