Social Media is filled with videos of kids and adults asking Alex or Siri to do their tasks, from homework to shopping. You can leverage this growing trend to increase your website’s traffic by optimizing it for voice search.

Voice search allows users to obtain information by speaking to devices like smartphones, smart speakers, and virtual assistants (e.g., Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri). Instead of typing, users ask questions aloud, seeking immediate and relevant answers. This conversational approach makes the interaction more natural and efficient.

Voice searches are rapidly increasing, with statistics showing significant growth in usage across various demographics. Businesses must adapt by optimizing for voice search to capture this expanding audience and improve local SEO. Accurate business details and an updated Google business profile are crucial for visibility in voice search results.

Voice Search Statistics

• Usage Growth: From 3.25 billion to 8 billion users from 2019 to 2023.
• Demographics: High usage among Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen X.
• Devices: 98 million smart speaker owners in the U.S., with 45% of Americans using voice search on mobile phones.
• Languages: Google supports voice search in over 70 languages.

So how can you Optimize Voice Search for eCommerce Stores?

Voice search optimization involves tailoring your content to fit the conversational style of spoken queries. This means focusing on longer, more natural-sounding phrases and local keywords.

Steps to Optimize for Google Voice Search

1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Listing – Ensure your business details are accurate and up-to-date to enhance local search visibility. Listing your business is free and easy. List your business on Google so it shows up when users search your products. Click here to register your business today.
2. Ensure Quick Loading Times – Fast-loading pages improve user experience and are favored by Google’s algorithms.
3. Think About Voice Snippets – Create content that sounds natural when spoken aloud and provides clear, concise information.
4. Utilize Structured Data – Implement schema markup to help Google categorize and understand your content better.
5. Restructure Your Content – Focus on providing informative answers that align with common voice search queries.
6. Incorporate Conversational Keywords – Use natural, long-tail keywords that reflect how people speak in everyday conversations.
7. Use Question-Based Keywords – Frame your content around common questions your audience might ask.
8. Provide Concise Answers – Deliver clear and to-the-point responses to voice queries.
9. Improve Your Domain Rating – Enhance your website’s authority through quality backlinks and good SEO practices.
10. Create FAQ Pages – Answer frequently asked questions in a clear, structured manner.
11. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly – Use responsive design to improve user experience on mobile devices.

Optimizing for Alexa

Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, leverages information from various sources, including Bing, Yelp, and Amazon itself. Ensuring your business has a robust presence on these platforms can enhance visibility. For instance, managing your Amazon business profile effectively and gathering positive reviews on Amazon can improve Alexa’s ability to recommend your products or services.

Is Siri Different?

Siri relies on Yelp ratings and gives priority to businesses with high star ratings and relevant reviews. Optimizing your Yelp listing by including detailed business descriptions, photos, and responding to reviews can improve your chances of being recommended by Siri.

Understanding and implementing voice search optimization can significantly boost your online visibility and traffic. If the process seems overwhelming, consider partnering with a digital agency that specializes in this area to achieve the best results. Voice search is the future of online queries, and optimizing for it now can give you a competitive edge.