SEO is constantly evolving, and a major shift in recent years has been the surge in voice search. As virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant become more popular, it seems like everyone’s favorite new hobby is talking to their devices — whether it’s to find information, shop, or just get through the day without lifting a finger (except to speak, of course). This change in how people search offers businesses and marketers a valuable chance to update their SEO strategies and stay competitive.

If you’re looking to optimize your content for voice search, here’s how to adapt your SEO strategy for the future:

Understand How People Use Voice Search

The first step in adapting your SEO strategy for voice search is understanding how people use it. Unlike typing, voice search tends to be more conversational and natural. People ask complete questions and expect direct answers. Someone typing might search for “best pizza near me,” while someone using voice search may ask, “Where can I find the best pizza near me?”

The important thing to note is that voice search queries are usually more detailed, longer in length, and commonly structured as questions. People also expect fast and accurate answers.

Optimize for Conversational Keywords

Traditional SEO has often focused on shorter, more fragmented search queries. With voice search, however, long-tail keywords and natural language become even more important.  Keyword research is essential. Consider how people converse, not just how they type.

When optimizing for voice search, include more question-based phrases, such as:

• “What are the best restaurants near me?”

• “How do I fix a leaky faucet?”

• “Where is the nearest gas station?”

Source: Semrush

Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Answer the Public to identify commonly asked questions related to your industry. Integrate these conversational phrases into your content naturally, without stuffing keywords.

Prioritize Featured Snippets

Voice search often pulls answers directly from featured snippets in search results, so it's important to optimize your content so that it appears in these “position zero” spots. Featured snippets are short, clear answers to specific queries that show up at the top of search results, providing users with quick, direct information.

To optimize for featured snippets, structure your content in a way that provides clear, succinct answers. You need to:

• Use bullet points or numbered lists

• Add tables or charts for comparison data

• Structure FAQs with direct answers

• Create brief paragraphs that directly address the question

For example, if someone asks, “What’s the capital of France?” the answer “The capital of France is Paris” should be structured clearly on your page.

Improve Local SEO for Voice Search

Voice search and local search go hand in hand. Many voice queries are location-based, with users looking for businesses, restaurants, services, or events near them. For instance, someone might ask, “What are the top-rated coffee shops nearby?” or “Where can I find a dental clinic open now?”

To capitalize on this, it's important to enhance your local SEO:

• Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing: Make sure your business name, address, phone number, and hours are up to date.

• Add local keywords: Include location-based keywords in your website’s copy, meta descriptions, and titles.

• Get local reviews: Positive reviews are critical for boosting local rankings, so encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google and other platforms.

Improve Website Speed and Mobile-Friendliness

Source: PageSpeed Insights

Voice search is often conducted on mobile devices, and fast, responsive websites are essential for ensuring a smooth user experience. Google has made mobile-friendliness and site speed critical ranking factors, and this is even more important for voice search.

Ensure that your website is:

• Mobile-friendly: Use responsive design to make sure your website works seamlessly on smartphones and tablets.

• Fast-loading: Slow websites can frustrate users and negatively affect your rankings. Tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights can pinpoint areas where your website’s performance can be improved.

Use Schema Markup for Structured Data

Schema markup is a tool that helps search engines interpret the details and context of your content, improving how it's displayed in search results. Using schema markup on your website lets you give search engines clear and detailed info about your business, products, reviews, and events, which helps them present more relevant and accurate search results.

Source: SevenAtoms

Voice search often pulls information from structured data, so implementing schema markup can increase the likelihood of your content being featured in a voice search result. Focus on:

• Local business schema: Helps search engines understand your business’s location, hours, and contact information.

• FAQ schema: Provides structured answers to frequently asked questions.

• Product schema: Displays specific product details such as price, availability, and ratings.

Prioritize Answering Questions

Since voice search queries are often phrased as questions, creating content that answers common questions within your industry is essential. The goal is to make it easy for virtual assistants to find and read your answers aloud.

Users are increasingly asking questions in a casual, conversational tone, like “What’s the fastest way to improve SEO?” or “How do I bake a delicious chocolate cake?” To optimize for voice search, it's crucial to create content that directly answers these types of questions.

A great strategy is to create in-depth FAQ pages that cover the key questions in your field, ensuring your responses are simple, direct, and valuable.

Using clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points helps search engines easily find questions and answers, which can improve your chances of appearing in voice search results. The key is to provide direct, valuable information in a format that virtual assistants can quickly read aloud to users, ensuring that your content is the one they rely on when a question is asked.

Enhance User Experience

As search engines get smarter, user experience is becoming a crucial factor in SEO. To rank well in voice searches, your website must be intuitive, easy to navigate, and offer a seamless experience for visitors.

Focus on:

• Clear navigation: Make it easy for users to find what they need quickly.

• Intuitive design: Ensure your website layout is simple and user-friendly.

• Engaging content: Voice search is about providing value, so make sure your content is engaging, relevant, and informative.

Conclusion

Voice search is not just a passing trend — it’s the future of how people will continue to interact with the internet. As virtual assistants and voice-activated devices become more ubiquitous, it’s essential for businesses to adapt their SEO strategies accordingly. By focusing on the points mentioned in this post, you can ensure that your website remains competitive in an increasingly voice-driven search environment.

Keep up with the changes in voice search and update your SEO strategy regularly. This will boost your site’s traffic, improve your online presence, and help you engage more effectively with your audience down the road.

Author Bio

Andy Beohar is the Managing Partner at SevenAtoms, a leading PPC Advertising agency. SevenAtoms is dedicated to driving growth for SaaS and B2B businesses through innovative and optimized paid search and is recognized by Google as a Google Premier Ads partner. At SevenAtoms, Andy plays a strategic role in managing paid search campaigns. Let's connect on LinkedIn and Twitter!