When it comes to the latest digital marketing trends, tools and techniques, it’s difficult to keep up. In this fast-paced industry, tactics change frequently leaving businesses looking to grow their brands online stumped as to what to include in their strategies and when.
Voice search is a digital marketing trend that has remained pretty consistent over the past decade or so. Yet despite it being launched 15 years ago – it culminated with the launch of the iPhone’s Google Voice Search app back in 2008 - it’s only during recent years that online brands have really taken voice search optimisation seriously.
Here we share all the facts surrounding voice search, including what it is, how it works and why it is important.
In short, voice search uses speech recognition technology to enable internet browsers to search for a product, service or answer using their voice. This is made possible through the use of voice command and specific software applications embedded in smartphones, smart home gadgets and other web-enabled devices.
Voice search technology actively transforms voice commands or signals into text to ensure the simplicity smart device users need to search at their convenience.
Advancements in machine learning have seen voice search technology progress at an impressive rate in recent years. Such capabilities have facilitated a better understanding and interpretation of natural human language. Artificial intelligence (AI) has also paved the way for more accurate and intuitive voice search, with enhanced audio quality and voice control providing better results for the end user.
With more and more users calling on voice search to scour the web, making sure your website is optimised for this hands-free, efficient technology is important. According to research from HubSpot, some 40% of internet users now use their device’s voice assistant to search at least once every month and these figures are rising rapidly.
Optimising for voice search isn’t easy, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Your website should not only be mobile friendly. The content found on its web pages needs to be given an overhaul to ensure the more conversational tone that voice users search with.
Long tail keywords should also feature and so should the questions/queries customers ask conversationally. Keeping your Google My Business profile up to date is recommended too.
Need a little help optimising for voice search? Contact our team today to discuss your next steps.