What Is Google Voice Search? And How to Optimize for It

Google Voice Search makes searching online easier and much accessible. It besides offers businesses caller ways to link with customers done hands-free technology.

Read connected to larn however to usage dependable hunt to amended SEO. And summation your online reach.

What Is Google Voice Search and How Does It Work?

Google Voice Search (also called Search by Voice) is simply a virtual hunt adjunct that lets you usage Google Search by speaking alternatively than typing your query. 

You tin usage Google Voice Search connected the Google website oregon app by clicking connected the microphone icon successful the hunt field.

You tin besides entree it done Google Assistant connected Android smartphones and Google astute speakers.

On these devices, you aftermath the diagnostic by saying, “Hey Google” oregon “OK, Google.”

As soon arsenic the instrumentality hears your prompt, the Google Assistant volition popular up and ask, “Hi, however tin I help?”

Then, it volition present results (sometimes spoken) based connected what you hunt for.

For example, this is what the Google Assistant diagnostic looks similar connected an Android phone. Along with hunt results for “How bash I navigator an egg.”

But however does Google Voice Search work?

When you accidental a bid oregon question, Google uses natural connection processing (NLP) and code recognition to work and construe your petition arsenic a quality would.

That means Google tin recognize search intent and present the astir applicable results successful the aforesaid mode it does erstwhile you benignant a query.

Generally, Google volition crook to organic content and instrumentality similar—or identical—results for the query.

For immoderate queries, though, Voice Search volition prime the astir applicable effect and work it backmost to you. Giving you a genuinely hands-free experience.

Why Is Google Voice Search Important for SEO?

Optimizing your webpages for Google Voice Search makes your contented much accessible to radical who similar speaking implicit typing.

Around 6 successful 10 consumers usage their dependable to look up products and services. And get answers to communal questions. Plus, astir fractional of consumers successful the U.S. usage dependable assistants to hunt for section services.

How to Optimize for Google Voice Search

1. Make a List of Conversational Keywords

Conversational keywords are mostly long-tail keywords radical usage successful mundane conversation.

For example, idiosyncratic utilizing Google by dependable hunt to find hairsbreadth dye would astir apt say, “Where tin I bargain hairsbreadth dye?” And not, “Buy hairsbreadth dye.”

Optimize your website for dependable hunt by uncovering these types of keywords.

An casual mode to bash this is to absorption connected applicable “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how” questions.

Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool tin assistance you find these keywords.

Type successful a effect keyword related to your business. And participate your domain URL to get personalized, AI-powered results.

Then, click “Search.”

The Keyword Magic instrumentality volition make a implicit database of related terms.

Since we privation lone conversational terms, prime the “Questions” filter to get a database of keywords phrased arsenic questions.

You’ll besides spot the pursuing important metrics:

• Search intent: The intent of the search
• Search volume: The estimated mean fig of searches a keyword gets per month
• Search trends: Interest successful the keyword successful the past 12 months
• Keyword Difficulty (KD): How hard it is to fertile good for the keyword
• Personal Keyword Difficulty (PKD): How hard it is to fertile good for your website, specifically

Use these metrics to assistance you take keywords for your brand.

A wide regularisation of thumb is to people keywords with astatine slightest 100 searches per month. And aren’t excessively hard to fertile for (i.e., with a KD oregon PKD little than 50%).

Go done the database of keywords and prime keywords you tin make applicable contented for.

2. Write Conversationally and Clearly

Google Voice Search whitethorn work results aloud, truthful it’s important to constitute conversationally.

In a Webmaster Central Hangout, Google’s John Mueller suggests marketers marque definite their contented is “written successful a mode that tin beryllium work aloud.”

In different words, erstwhile optimizing for dependable search, write the mode radical speak.

To bash that, usage elemental sentences, inquire engaging questions, and supply wide answers. Also effort to debar jargon, erstwhile possible. And prioritize progressive dependable implicit passive voice.

One mode to cheque for each those things is with Semrush’s SEO Writing Assistant.

The instrumentality checks your contented for code and readability. And tells you which sentences are excessively formal, incorporate jargon, oregon both.

Open the instrumentality and click “+ Analyze caller text.”

To the close of the substance editor, click “Set a caller goal” and participate astatine slightest 2 keywords. When you’re done, deed “Get recommendations.”

As you write, the instrumentality volition people the contented according to readability and code of voice.

In summation to grading caller content, SEO Writing Assistant tin analyse published contented connected your website. Which allows you to optimize aged contented easily.

3. Adopt a Mobile-First Approach

Most dependable searches hap connected mobile devices, truthful you whitethorn conflict to amended your Google Voice Search SEO unless your website is besides optimized for mobile.

Optimizing your website for mobile devices specified arsenic tablets and smartphones includes:

• Installing a responsive website template, which adjusts the webpage's quality to the user’s instrumentality (or hiring a web developer to physique a responsive website)
• Avoiding agelong paragraphs that marque it hard to skim the leafage connected smaller screens
• Improving your site’s leafage load speed

These tips volition amended your mobile SEO and guarantee dependable hunt users person a bully acquisition erstwhile visiting your site.

To find mobile SEO issues that are presently impacting your site, spell to Semrush’s Site Audit tool. And acceptable up a project.

Then, unfastened the study and spell to the “Issues” tab. In the “Category” filter, prime “Mobile SEO” to spot a implicit database of issues connected this device.

Each contented includes a little mentation of wherefore and however to hole it. So you tin amended your site’s mobile optimization ASAP.

4. Create an FAQ Page oregon Section

An FAQ page oregon leafage conception lets you reply questions radical mightiness inquire utilizing Google Voice Search.

FAQ contented aligns with however radical inquire questions aloud and provides concise answers. Which tin amended your likelihood of being featured successful dependable hunt results.

For example, this is what Revlon’s FAQ leafage looks like:

It includes aggregate questions that radical volition apt usage erstwhile searching with their voice. Like:

• “Can haircolor beryllium applied to bedewed oregon adust hair?”
• “How galore boxes of haircolor bash I need?”
• “Can haircolor beryllium utilized connected bleached oregon highlighted hair?”

But what questions should you see successful your FAQ page?

Find commonly asked questions by searching for a keyword you privation to fertile for. And looking done Google’s “People Also Ask” (PAA) container if it appears connected the results page.

It looks similar this:

Another mode to find ideas for your FAQ conception is utilizing Semrush’s Topic Research tool.

Start by entering a taxable into the hunt bar. Then click “Get contented ideas.”

Then, spell to “Mind Map” and scroll down to the “Questions” conception connected the right-hand side.

Click connected the filters ”How,” “What,” “Is,” oregon “Why” to find circumstantial question types.

Or click connected a circumstantial taxable to get a database of questions related to that topic.

If you determine to make an FAQ page, radical questions to marque them easier to navigate. Use categories specified as:

• Products
• Payments
• Ingredients
• Shipping and returns
• Privacy and security

Keep the answers concise but inactive supply capable details to beryllium helpful.

This reply by Revlon is simply a bully illustration to follow:

5. Optimize for Featured Snippets

A featured snippet is simply a SERP feature (i.e., a unsocial oregon enhanced hunt result) that concisely answers the user’s hunt query. They typically look astatine the apical of the SERP.

Like this:

Google often uses featured snippets to reply dependable hunt queries. So optimizing your contented for them increases your chances of ranking successful dependable hunt results.

To bash that, archetypal look for keywords with featured snippets utilizing the Keyword Magic Tool.

Search for a keyword utilizing the tool. And click connected “Advanced filters” to unfastened a drop-down menu.

Click connected the paper nether “SERP Features.” And prime the checkbox beside “Featured snippet.” And click “Apply.”

Now, you person a database of keywords with featured snippets connected the results page.

Now it’s clip to optimize your contented for the snippet by doing the following:

• Provide concise, nonstop answers to communal questions
• Use question-based keywords successful your header and passim the conception you privation to fertile for the snippet with
• Add tables oregon charts to your content, if relevant

Also, look astatine what benignant of featured snippet appears connected the results page—a paragraph, a list, oregon a table. And see formatting your contented based connected that.

6. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

When a idiosyncratic does a section hunt with their voice, Google tin propulsion results from the local pack—a effect that shows concern listings.

Here’s an illustration of a section pack:

To fertile for the section pack, you request to make a Google Business Profile (GBP).

If Google has already created an unverified listing for your business, you’ll request to assertion it. Business owners tin verify ownership by email, phone, postcard, oregon call.

Once you person absorption access, instrumentality the pursuing optimization tips:

• Enter your name, address, and telephone fig (NAP)
• Include lone useful information astir your products and services successful the concern description
• Upload photos of your products, your building, and your team
• Share updates connected caller products oregon services and peculiar offers
• Showcase your products with the Product Editor
• Add local keywords to the concern description
• Encourage customers to leave reviews and respond to them

Optimizing your GBP tin assistance you fertile amended connected SERPs. Which tin besides mean showing up much successful dependable hunt results.

When optimizing your GBP, besides measure your beingness successful different section directories. Such arsenic Yelp, Bing, oregon Facebook Business Pages.

Google uses these further sources to corroborate your concern accusation is accurate. So, details indispensable beryllium consistent crossed each listing.

For easier GBP management, effort Semrush’s GBP Optimization tool.

It lets you update your concern accusation and automatically sends your updated accusation to different directories.

The instrumentality besides provides section hunt insights truthful you tin way your visibility. And support an oculus connected cardinal actions specified arsenic tract visits, messages, and absorption requests.

Plus, you’ll get personalized recommendations to support improving your section rankings. And perchance amusement up successful much dependable hunt results.

7. Use Schema Markup

Schema markup (also referred to arsenic structured data) is simply a codification that allows hunt engines to construe your leafage contented much effectively.

According to Google’s John Mueller, utilizing structured information helps Google amended recognize what your leafage is about. So it tin service your contented for applicable dependable queries.

Examples of schema markup see writer schema, look schema, and merchandise schema. All of which statement antithetic parts of your leafage utilizing codification that hunt engines comprehend better.

To make schema markup, spell to Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper.

First, prime the information type. Paste your website URL and click “Start Tagging.”

Use your cursor to item applicable information connected the webpage. Then, statement it utilizing the pop-up menu.

When you’re done labeling, click “CREATE HTML.”

For example, this is what section concern schema structured information looks like:

Then, adhd the generated codification to the <head> tag of the webpage HTML.

Check the validity of your structured information with Semrush’s Site Audit.

Run your website done the tool. Then click connected “View details” wrong the “Markup” conception successful “Thematic Reports.”

You’ll get a study showing however galore of your pages person schema markup and the type. And if you person invalid structured data.

Boost Your Voice Search Presence with Semrush

Most dependable hunt queries are conversational.

To fertile good for dependable searches, you request to make conversational contented that answers the questions your people assemblage are asking.

If you don’t cognize what those keywords are, cheque retired the Semrush toolkit.

It includes the Keyword Magic Tool to assistance you find question keywords your assemblage searches for.

And the SEO Writing Assistant to cheque your content’s code and readability. So you tin marque it arsenic conversational arsenic possible.