Voice Search Revolution: Preparing Your Marketing for Voice Assistants

admin

3 min read

Updated: October 25th, 2023

The digital landscape is continually evolving, and one of the most transformative changes in recent years has been the rise of voice search.

Thanks to the proliferation of voice-activated smart devices and virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, and Microsoft’s Cortana, people are speaking to search engines instead of typing.

This shift is not just a minor trend–it’s a seismic change that has profound implications for digital marketing. 

The Rise of Voice Search

We first need to grasp its meteoric rise to understand the significance of voice search. Voice-activated smart speakers have become ubiquitous in households worldwide. A report by Statista reveals that the number of voice assistants globally exceeded 4.2 billion in 2021.

This figure is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. With voice assistants embedded in smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and even cars, consumers have unprecedented access to voice-activated search capabilities.

Impact on Marketing

The surge in voice search has fundamentally changed how people access information online. Instead of typing a query into a search engine, they can ask a question aloud. This shift has led to a more conversational and natural search experience.

As a result, marketers must adapt their strategies to meet the changing expectations of consumers who use voice search.

Optimizing Content for Voice Search

So, how can businesses optimize their content for voice search? One key aspect is understanding the conversational nature of voice queries. When people speak to voice assistants, they often use longer, more natural language.

For example, while a text-based search might be “best pizza NYC,” a voice search could be “Where can I find the best pizza in New York City?” Businesses should create content that mirrors this conversational tone to cater to these queries.

Incorporating natural language questions and answers into your content can be highly effective. Providing concise, informative responses to common questions related to your industry or products can help your content rank well in voice search results.

For instance, imagine you run a gardening supply store. A traditional SEO strategy might focus on keywords like “buy garden tools.”

However, for voice search optimization, consider including content that answers questions like “What are the essential tools for starting a garden?” or “How do I care for my roses in winter?”

These longer, question-based queries align more closely with how people use voice search.

Voice Search SEO Strategies

Voice search optimization goes hand in hand with traditional SEO strategies, but nuances exist. Here are some voice search SEO strategies to implement:

1. Focus on Featured Snippets: Voice assistants often pull answers from featured snippets in search results. Structuring your content to provide clear and concise answers to common questions can increase your chances of being featured.
   
2. Local SEO: Voice searches are frequently used for local queries like “Find a coffee shop near me.” Optimizing your Google My Business listing and ensuring your location information is accurate is crucial for ranking in these searches.
   
3. Page Speed and Mobile Optimization: Voice searches are often conducted on mobile devices. Ensuring your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly is essential for voice search SEO.
   
4. Schema Markup: Implement schema markup on your website to provide search engines with structured data about your content. This can help search engines understand and display your content in voice search results.
   

Leveraging Voice Assistants for Marketing

Voice assistants themselves offer unique marketing opportunities. For instance, businesses can create voice apps or “skills” for platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

These voice apps can provide value to users, such as answering frequently asked questions, offering product recommendations, or delivering daily tips related to your industry.

Additionally, voice shopping is rising, with consumers purchasing through voice assistants. Businesses can integrate their e-commerce platforms with voice assistants to streamline the shopping experience.

CRM’s Role in Capturing and Analyzing Voice Search Data

As voice search becomes more prevalent, businesses must gather and analyze data related to voice queries. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems play a crucial role in this. CRM systems can capture data on customer interactions with voice-activated devices and search queries.

By analyzing this data, businesses can gain valuable insights into how customers use voice search to find products or services. They can identify common voice queries, the language customers use, and the specific information they seek.

With these insights, entrepreneurs can tailor their content, marketing messages, and product offerings to align with customer preferences.

For example, a business may discover that customers frequently use voice search to inquire about the availability of specific products.

With this knowledge, they can ensure their inventory is well-optimized for voice-related queries and create content that addresses these particular customer needs.

Conclusion

The voice search revolution is reshaping the digital marketing landscape. Entrepreneurs and businesses that adapt to this shift by optimizing their content, embracing voice assistant platforms, and leveraging CRM data will be well-positioned to connect with customers in this new era of search.

As the number of voice-activated devices continues to rise, businesses prioritizing voice search optimization will not only stay relevant but also provide a more engaging and convenient experience for their customers.

Embrace the voice search revolution, and your marketing efforts will resonate with a broader audience in the age of voice assistants. Learn more about upgrading your sales and marketing efforts from our experts. Book a FREE demo below.