Optimizing Voice Search for Better Rankings

Today, millions of smart assistants are used for voice search. The devices use automatic speech recognition to display or articulate results. Most businesses are looking to join this revolution by integrating this concept into their content and marketing efforts. Ideally, voice ranking drives more leads than traditional strategies.

However, it is challenging to gain traction in this quantum rise due to the fierce competition and ever-changing trends. Businesses should understand the ranking strategies to achieve better visibility.

In that sense, here are some proven strategies:

Rich Answers

By definition, rich answers are quick and accurate answers to search queries provided by Google. These are snippets of information found above the conventional results. Businesses can transform their site into rich answers by integrating the following features:

Knowledge graph to store and absorb all facts

Knowledge panel for business ranking in Google

Featured snippet from third-party sources

Content Restructuring

Since voice queries are conversational in nature, marketers need to analyze and restructure their content. The goal is to include concise questions and answers for improved layout. This integration will make the copy more search-friendly. Studies also show that Google prefers concise answers to display for viewers.

Language

As cited above, being conversational is key for ranking better. Hence, the use of robotic language can affect rankings in SERP. Businesses can benefit from using natural language when writing or publishing on the web. They should understand the intent of searchers and anticipate different query styles.

Long-tail Phrases

Voice searches are longer in size than conventional keywords because they are conversational in style. Moreover, Google also prefers long-form content included in a full-fledged post. Marketers should add long-tail terms in their content. In addition to long-form terms, adding fillers can make for better SERP performance.

Loading Time

Lastly, customers quickly abandon websites that take forever to load. The website loading speed will impact bounce rates and user experience. Most importantly, Google also released Speed Update to optimize loading times. Businesses with faster loading websites get content to answer verbal queries.