We search for things in many different ways online – usually using Google as a search engine, but sometimes using social media; we usually type out a search using our keyboards, but when we’re on the go we might use a virtual assistant on our phones, like Siri.
As the way we are searching for information changes so too does the way we are delivered this information. Voice search and AI for SEO are closely connected and ever evolving. As we turn to the convenience of voice search for getting information in a quicker, smarter way, the internet is harnessing the power of AI technology to rapidly deliver intelligent search results to us.
Voice search is the new go-to search preference
If using voice search seems foreign to you, consider whether you’ve ever used Siri to find a restaurant near by while you are driving? Or to reroute you while you are on your way somewhere. This is a prime example of how we are using more and more voice technology to search in our day-to-day lives.
Phones aren’t the only way we are utilising voice search technology; the rise of smart speakers – like Amazon’s Alexa – into more and more of our homes is another reason why you need to consider voice search in all of your SEO plans.
AI and SEO
ChatGPT is at the forefront of AI technology for the masses, and their app offers a voice query option, where you can ask questions of a virtual assistant.
While ChatGPT isn’t a search engine that we consider when we’re planning SEO content, its advancement is a good indication of where the future of search engines will end up. These advancements in AI technology will change the way we search and how search results are delivered to us, so keeping ahead of these changes is essential.
Why and how to consider voice search and AI in your SEO plan
Voice searches are used mostly in three key instances:
- By younger generations who are using voice search more and more
- If you are in the middle of doing something else and can’t use your hands to type
- For local and specific searches
Given that voice search is used for local queries, one of the best ways to optimise for voice searches is to focus on local SEO. An advanced local SEO plan will get your business noticed online, via voice search.
Some other ways that you can consider to ensure you’re voice-search friendly:
- Answer FAQs as these will likely be questions that your audience is asking
- Use chatty language in your content that reflects how users might be asking questions, including using shorter sentences
Optimising for voice search seems simple but like most SEO strategies it does need considered planning and specialised skills to execute successfully. You need to create useful content in the way your audience would like to consume it, and deliver it in a way that the algorithm can recognise.
