Technology is constantly evolving with different trends and advances. One big trend or change nowadays is how we use voice searches with devices like Alexa, Google Home, and Siri. Have you ever wondered how businesses get their information to show up when you ask Alexa a question? Let’s explore some strategies to get you started.
What is Voice Search?
You’re probably pretty familiar with “googling” every question you have. Well, instead of typing your question into a search engine like Google, with Voice Search you can just ask a question out loud to a device like Alexa, and it’ll find the answer for you. Today, millions of consumers rely on voice-activated assistants to perform tasks, answer questions, and make purchases. Wow- of course you don’t want your business to miss out on that!
So, how do you optimize your business for voice search? To capitalize on the growing popularity of voice search and ensure that your business remains competitive, it’s crucial to optimize your online presence accordingly. Think of it like this: you need to make sure your business information is set up in a way that technology like Alexa can easily find and understand it.
1. Make Sure Your Business Info is Correct and Focus on Local SEO
The first step is to make sure all your business information is up-to-date and accurate online on all the places that are available (Google, Apple Maps, Yelp, etc). This includes things like your business name, address, phone number, and website. Incorporate relevant keywords and phrases that reflect local search intent to enhance your chances of appearing in voice search results. You want to make it easy for people—and for Alexa—to find you!
2. Use “Conversational” Words
When people ask Alexa questions, they often use natural, conversational language. So, businesses need to use the same kind of language when they’re writing about themselves online. This means using words and phrases that people are likely to say out loud when they’re asking about your products or services. If you’re a business with a lot of technical phrases and content, try your best to relay that in layman’s terms.
3. Be Helpful
Another important thing is to be helpful. People use voice search to get quick answers to their questions, so make sure your website provides clear and useful information. If someone asks Alexa a question related to your business, you want to make sure Alexa has the right answer—and that it leads them to your website! Provide clear and concise answers to common questions related to your industry or niche to increase your chances of being featured in voice search results.
4. Make Your Website Easy to Use
Since a lot of voice searches happen on mobile devices, it’s crucial to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. This means it should look good and work well on smartphones and tablets. If your website is hard to use on a phone, people might get frustrated and leave without finding what they need.
5. Use Special Code – “Schema Markup”
There’s also something called “schema markup” that businesses can use to help search engines understand their website better. It’s like giving search engines a little extra information to work with, so they can show your website in voice search results more often. By incorporating schema markup into your site’s HTML code, you can provide search engines with valuable context about your business, products, services, and other relevant information. This can improve your chances of appearing in voice search results.
So by making sure your information is correct, using conversational words, being helpful, making your website easy to use, and using special code like schema markup, you can increase your chances of showing up when people ask Alexa, Google Home, or Siri a question.
