Voice Series: How To Nail Your Voice Search Strategy
by Katie Huston | Last Updated: Jan 10, 2019
My grandma uses her Amazon Echo for everything. If I’m sitting on her couch reading a book, you can bet that I will hear her asking “Alexa” to turn on the music or set a reminder. We got it for her as a Christmas present two years ago and after *eh-hem* one and a half years of it sitting unused, she finally warmed up to using it. Voice assistants have been consistently growing in popularity since the debut of Apple’s Siri in early 2011, and skyrocketed with the release of Amazon’s Echo device in 2017. Industry leaders like Apple and Google followed suit and promoted their own in-home smart assistants. In 2019, more than 39 million Americans now have at least one voice device in their home...which means you should be including voice in your digital strategy for this year. We’ll be breaking down everything you need to know about voice and voice search optimization (VSO) for your brand in the next few posts of this Voice Series. I’ll let you in on what brands are already doing, why your brand should be paying attention, and how you can begin to make some changes that’ll help to get your voice strategy off the ground. Why You Need to Know Voice Search
Voice command is what allows an AI-powered electronic device to communicate with its user. Google research shows that consumers are using voice rather than traditional search methods, for a few very specific reasons: 1) it allows for multitasking 2) it's faster than typing manually 3) there are instantaneous answers available and 4) their daily routine can become more organized. Voice has been able to provide tools for users to easily and more quickly access information as well as behave as a consistent portal for organization in users' ultra-busy lives. Voice assistants can remind you when it’s time to make a dentist appointment and remember to turn the lights off when you leave. Plus, studies show that consumers use smart speakers more often the longer they’ve had it. With these steadily growing numbers, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t take a look at your voice strategy and see where your customers might be using a voice-enabled assistant to connect with your brand. Prepping Your Brand
Taking a look at what your brand currently does for voice can set you up for success as we delve deeper into this topic with the rest of the series. Are you currently optimizing your mobile SEO for the best results? If not, here’s a great starting place: our best practices for mobile SEO. Studies show that consumers are searching for information on promotions, personalized tips and information, information about future events, and access to customer service. Making sure that your mobile site has that info located in an easy and quickly searchable way is your first priority in creating a killer voice search optimization strategy. With one in five adults using voice search at least once a month, experts are predicting that nationwide adoption is on the way in the next few years. So, keep an eye on our blog over the next two weeks for the rest of the Voice Series to find out what your brand needs to do to maximize your voice strategy.
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