Keywords for voice search can be question-based keywords with goal keywords. People don’t use the same vocabulary they do in a search bar while conducting voice searches. With 65 % of all voice search inquiries being conversational, the structure for voice searches is more like how people speak.
Instead of stating “waffle recipe,” individuals are more likely to ask, “How do you create waffles?” in a voice search.
So, what does keyword research look like in 2021 if you’re optimizing for voice search SEO? Long-tail keywords that are based on questions should be targeted. These are queries that begin with:
- Who, what, when, where, why, and how are the questions that need to be answered.
- Can, could, should, and would
- Which
- Is, are, was, and will
- Do, does, and have
What’s the best place to start when it comes to conducting keyword research for voice search optimization?
You’ve done keyword research for your business website as a company. Looking at past research you’ve done for similar terms is the greatest place to start with voice search keywords.
You’ve probably already targeted some long-tail keywords in prior keyword optimization, but you can improve your content for voice search by including additional question-based keywords or other phrases like “Hey Siri,” “Hey Alexa,” and “Hey Google,” which are all possible voice searches.
Using Google’s search suggestions, you can identify additional long-tail phrases appropriate for voice searches by taking your goal keyword, say “fluffy waffles.” I get two question-based keywords that people might use in a voice search simply by typing “fluffy waffles” into the search bar:
- Making fluffy waffles with pancake mix
- How to make fluffy waffles with Bisquick
By simply adding a question word like “how” to our goal phrase, we may let Google propose even better voice-based keywords. This time, I get ten distinct inquiry keyword suggestions when I type “how fluffy waffles.”
Better yet, voice search keyword research tools like AnswerThePublic can help you map out long-tail inquiry keywords that are relevant to your voice search target term. And look at how lovely it is!
You can update your material to include those long-tails or create new content that fits those voice search keywords once you’ve located more relevant long-tails for your goal keyword.
Use conversational content
- When generating new content, use content that’s:
- Conversational
- Easy-to-read
- Around an 8th-grade reading level
This conversational writing style is a content marketing mainstay, but it’s worth emphasizing. This is the type of information that voice search returns. It’s also the type of material with which the ordinary adult is most at ease.
To put it another way, if you want to appear in a voice search, you need to write in the same tone as your target audience. When conducting voice searches, match the language people use. If you’re using a lot of jargon in your material, it could be a good idea to tone it down a notch or two. Depending on your industry, you’ll probably do better in 2020 using voice searches.
Create FAQ pages
Create a FAQ page in addition to the content. Google’s voice search returns 2.68 percent of its results from FAQ pages.
The commonly asked questions you answer on your FAQ website are exactly the type of queries customers ask in voice searches, and the succinct answers you provide on your FAQ page are exactly the type of result Google looks for in voice searches.
Having at least one FAQ page on your site will improve your user experience and customer service in 2021, as well as raise your chances of appearing in voice searches.
Start by asking your customer service staff what questions they frequently get if your site doesn’t already have a FAQ page and you don’t know what inquiries to answer.
Optimize for Featured Snippets search results
Position zero (P0) has been great real estate to rank for since Google first introduced Featured Snippets. P0 is the new #1 position, as there are typically several Featured Snippets in a search result.
SEOs lust over featured snippets, which appear at the top of a SERP. You must have user-friendly, mobile-responsive, informative, and well-targeted content to earn a featured snippet. Not to mention, it’s voice search ready.
As a result, the P0 positions are extremely competitive. However, with voice search, expect competition for P0 seats to increase dramatically.
You do something similar to what you would do for a FAQ page if you want to rank for P0 voice search places. That is, respond to frequently requested questions.
Here’s a method that ranks:
- Research FAQs that people have
- Use them as headings in your content
- Answer the question in 30 to 40 words
- Keep the rest of your content relevant to the FAQs
Optimize for voice search assistants
Optimize for voice assistants as well as voice search. Unlike typical search engines, speech search utilizing a voice assistant (such as Siri, Alexa, or Cortana) returns only one result.
Digital voice assistants are anticipated to be utilized in 3.25 billion devices around the world. By 2023, the population is expected to reach 8 billion. Add to it the fact that Featured Snippets are used in 50% of voice search results.
More and more often in the next years, one of the outcomes will be a P0. This means that optimizing for P0 is an important aspect of optimizing for voice search in 2021, and you should include P0 keywords in your keyword research.
The fact that P0 keywords and voice search keywords are so close is a good thing. They both answer queries using long-tail, conversational, question-based keywords.
Another method to optimize for voice search and P0 is to include numbered lists in your content that provide snappy answers to questions. As always, your responses must be:
- Quick
- Clear
- Informative
Optimize for local voice searches
Voice search for local companies is on the rise, with over 55% of people using it to find local businesses.
Include “near me” and other local searches in your keyword list when studying voice search terms. In 2021, improving your local search rankings will help you rank higher for voice searches.
Create a Google My Business (GMB) account if you don’t already have one. They’re simple to create and assist Google in determining your location. Your company’s exposure in local searches will improve once you have a GMB listing.
You’ll have a better chance of appearing in the local 3-pack, which is one of the first results that anyone sees when they do a voice search.
Optimize for mobile
Keep in mind that 31% of smartphone owners use voice search at least once a week, so make sure your site is mobile-friendly.
In today’s competitive business world, a mobile-friendly website is a must-have. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’ll fall behind in the rankings for voice searches, perhaps losing more than half of your online customers.
When optimizing for mobile, make sure your page load time is as quick as possible. If sites take longer than three seconds to load, more than half of all mobile site visits are abandoned.
It’s all about receiving quick answers in voice search SEO 2021, and if your site doesn’t load quickly enough, consumers are much more likely to leave their search.
Havro, your premier voice search optimization agency for 2021!
What can Havro it solutions provide you in terms of voice search optimization?
We’re a full-service digital marketing agency that knows all there is to know about featured snippets and voice search optimization.
You can track the results of your voice search optimization investments from your desktop or even on the road with the mobile app.
Are you looking for advice on how to improve your keyword research for voice search? Check out Havro’s SEO services, and get in touch with us now to learn more about what we can do for you!