Could the Increase in Voice Search Affect Keyword Strategies

Voice Search Today

Currently, a few different forms of voice search exist. One of the most notable is the voice search option which Google uses on their website, offered in the form of an icon shaped like a microphone, that’s tucked away near the search bar. By using this alternative option, users can speak their search queries aloud rather than type them for a convenient search option that never requires the use of a keyboard.

Voice search also exists in the form of virtual personal assistants, such as Apple’s Siri software, which is well-used and has become significantly more sophisticated over the years. In addition to performing web searches, Siri can help users to perform other tasks on their iPhone or iPad device. Other operating systems have also introduced similar software, such as Cortana, the Windows Phone personal assistant.

Voice Search KeywordKeywords are the words and phrases that potential customers might search for to find your business. Strategies

A user who is using voice search will often have different intentions than those using traditional text search. Although the fundamental search algorithm is the same for both text and voice search, voice search tends to fall under different search query types, and will therefore require certain changes to be made when it comes to keywords. In most cases, voice search queries will tend to be more natural and less likely to omit certain words as users are encouraged to speak in a more conversational way. For example, a text search query for mobile repairs in London could simply be ‘mobile repairs London’, whereas voice search queries are more likely to go something like ‘where can I find mobile repairs in London?’ Understanding these differences can help you to accommodate for an audience who prefer to use voice search and alter your SEO and keywords strategies to suit them.

More Demand for Immediate Advice

Once, there was a time where users would have to go to a specific place to get an answer to a search query, however with technology advancements, most searches are done immediately. Mobile devices have small screens and users tend to carry them at all times, making them readily available for using vocal search on the go. People using voice search are most usually looking for something to fulfil an imminent need, for example finding a location for a nearby shop or restaurant, obtaining quick information such as dates, or finding instructions on how to start or complete a project. This means that an increase in voice search is likely to provoke a need for more content which gives immediate advice.

With voice search rising in popularity, optimising your site for it has never been more important.