How to Optimize Your Website for Voice Search

Voice is the next logical step in the natural evolution of search. Humans type an average of 40 words per minute, while we speak an average of 150 words per minute. As technology aims to make daily actions easier, voice is no exception. It allows people to search hands-free, at a quicker pace than they could otherwise.

Voice search isn’t going away, and you should optimize your B2B website to account for it. The smart home industry is predicted to reach $25 billion by 2020, make sure your business is a part of that.

ICYMI: A Recap of Our Webinar

Just last week, AMG’s SEO Specialist Abbi Plunkett and Technology Strategist Mike Hutchinson did an informative webinar on voice search. If you missed it, you can view it here.
Abbi and Mike covered the significance of voice search to B2B businesses and how to optimize your website for voice search.
“Voice is the next natural evolution in frictionless technology usage,” said Mike.
Don’t let yourself get behind of the curve. Optimize your website for voice search while it’s still fresh. Setting your website up for voice search will give you a strategic advantage as voice search increases.
“Let’s go back 11 years from today to the mid-2000s,” said Mike. “If we had a conversation and I said that your company’s website will need to be not just viewable, but fully functional on a screen as big as a playing card, you wouldn’t say I was a visionary, you’d say I was delusional. Ten days later when the iPhone 1 was released, you may have reconsidered.”

How to Optimize for Voice Search

If you’re already adhering to best practices for your SEO, optimizing your website for voice search should be pretty straightforward. Still, it’s helpful to understand what factors contribute to effective voice search optimization.

1. Page Speed

Page speed is key to ranking well in voice search. The average voice search result page loads in 4.6 seconds, which is 52% faster than the average page. In order to optimize your website for voice search, you’ll have increase your page speed.

2. HTTPS

“It’s 2018,” said Abbi. “All websites should be secure by now.”
70.4% of Google Home result pages are secure. This means that the start of the URL will read “http” instead of “https.” It’s clear that secure websites dominate Google’s voice search results, so make sure to secure your site.

3. Authoritative Domain

Authoritative domains tend to produce voice search results significantly more than non-authoritative domains. The mean Domain Rating of Google Home result is 76.8. Moz is a great resource for determining your domain rating.

4. Target Snippets

Also referred to as Google answers, target snippets are important to a significant voice ranking. When a featured snippet is populated for a query, voice searches read the snippet and its source aloud. This is a huge boost for brand recognition and authority, as Google basically declares one company the expert.
“Position zero is the new page one,” said Abbi.

5. Language (Concise Answers & Readability)

The typical voice search result is only 29 words in length and reads at a ninth-grade level. You should narrow your content and be specific. Avoid acronyms and jargon that the average person wouldn’t understand. Use common words such as “see” instead of “observe” and “go” instead of “traverse.”
Tip: Tools like readable.io will help you improve your readability.

6. FAQ Pages

Optimize your FAQ page by answering common customer questions and making the page as clear and concise as possible. Your FAQ answers should be 29 words or less and should answer the questions very specifically.

7. Conversational Keywords

Voice searches tend to be more conversational than traditional searches. Research how your customers talk and mimic the language they use. You can do this by listening to customer support calls, speaking with your sales team, etc. Use the same terms your prospects and customers do, or they may not find you through voice search.

Free Voice Search Checklist

Abbi and Mike compiled a voice search optimization checklist to accompany last week’s webinar. The checklist is downloadable in a PDF format. It outlines specific steps to take as you optimize your website for voice.
If you need help optimizing your B2B website for voice search or want to learn more, contact us.