Tag Archives: voice search

What does voice search optimization mean and how to write for it

What is voice search optimization?

Optimization for search engines still includes using the right language and the right keywords. Keyword optimization isn’t going anywhere.

Voice search means writing your content the way people talk, the way people use their voice to interact with their devices.

You must know that the way we talk and the way we write are different.

Normally, the words and phrases that you use when you’re writing, are quite different from the words and phrases that you use when speaking.

Write like people converse

When you speak, you use more day-to-day words. You speak smaller sentences. You don’t use lots of conjunctions.

When you use voice search, you don’t use very stiff language. You use conversational queries. You talk as if someone is sitting in front of you.

Another very important thing is that you don’t use monosyllables or mere keywords to search. You use complete sentences or complete questions.

Remember longtail?

Suppose you have a mobile app development business and you are looking for a content writer for your website. When using voice search, you may say, “who is the best content writer for my web design business?” Or “find me the best content writing service for my web design website”.

Since it is easier and convenient to say instead of write, people tend to use very precise queries.

Hence, when you are optimizing your content for voice search, you keep two things in mind:

You optimize for longer expressions, sometimes complete sentences.
You use very simple language, and to the point, shorter sentences.

Include the most important information in the beginning itself because when people use voice search, their devices talk back to them based on the information they find on your web page or blog post.

Another big reason why the language that you use must be very simple and straightforward is because when people speak into their devices, they hear back from their devices.

So, for example, if someone uses the Google Assistant to search for information, and if Google finds your link, it is going to read the first paragraph to the searcher.

It will be easier for the searcher to understand what is being said if the sentences are shorter and straightforward and the words are easier to pronounce.

Why optimize for voice search?

People use voice search because it is faster. Of course it helps that it is also becoming easier and more accurate. Even back in 2017 the Google Assistant was almost as efficient as humans when it comes to understanding and processing language.

Sometimes you don’t even have to pick up your phone. You can just trigger the voice enabled interface (“Hey Google”, for example) and search for information. Then through the speaker you will hear the result. You can go on doing whatever you are doing without having to physically interact with your device.

Devices are becoming more efficient in listening to what is being said and then finding the information accordingly. Which means, many people use voice search and voice commands just by default, without even realizing how the technology has advanced over the years.

Why optimize for voice search?

Because optimizing for voice search helps you whether people are using voice to search for you or typing using the keyboard. Voice optimization also helps you optimize your content organically.

Search engines like Google are preferring voice-optimized content over traditional content.

How to optimize for voice search when writing content

Many people fear that if they right very simple content it doesn’t sound professional.

This is not the case. You can see it on my website or blog. I don’t use very complicated or highfalutin words.

Nonetheless, you won’t say that my writing is unprofessional.

Simple writing doesn’t mean writing unprofessionally. If you have lots of grammar and spelling mistakes, then your writing is unprofessional.

If you have a very pedantic style of writing, even then you seem unprofessional because unnecessarily complicated writing means you lack confidence.

Here are some things you can do to optimize your content for voice search:

Write in the form of question and answer

Write if you are providing an answer to a question.

For example, do I provide content writing services to help you improve your search rankings for voice?

Yes.

And then I explain how I achieve that for you.

Optimizing for search, or for that matter, even in the conventional sense, isn’t a matter of hurry.

Develop an understanding of how people talk, what words they use, when they talk about your business or the product or service you sell.

Then use that language to write your content.

Provide the answer in the beginning itself

It is understandable that you want to provide as much information as possible on your web page or blog post.

It is often advised that you should create very long blog posts – 3000+ words – for better search engine rankings. So, you must wonder, if you spill the beans in the beginning itself, what do you cover in the remaining copy?

In the beginning, provide the answer in a gist so that when the person hears it, he or she gets the needed answer for the question that has just been asked.

Then, in the remaining copy you can explain various steps.

Since longform content is better than “thin” content, I have observed that many writers needlessly inflate their writing with lots of information and stats. Especially in the beginning.

For example, if you want to learn how to optimize your content for voice search, is it really important for you to know how many people right now are using voice enabled devices?

You already know how important it is to optimize for voice search and this is why you’re looking for information.

Sure, stats are important. Graphs are important. Data analysis is important.

But you don’t have to cram everything in the beginning just to build a case for yourself.

Having said that, if you really want to pack lots of information, you can do that later, as an add-on.

Write simpler sentences

Again, simple language does not mean unprofessional writing. It simply means not beating around the bush.

When you are writing content, every sentence must solve a purpose. It must have a reason to exist. When you are writing a sentence, think whether it is adding value to your overall writing or not. If it is not adding any value and you are using it just to show off your writing skills, remove it.

The same goes for difficult words. When you’re writing professional content – content for a business website or blog – it is not an opportunity for you to showcase your writing skills.

You are writing so that more people convert. For that, without having to make lots of effort, they should be able to understand your copy and then decide whether they want to buy from the website or not.

Hence, be specific. Don’t try to capture multiple ideas in a single sentence. Use one sentence for one idea.

Make your content as relevant as possible

Remember that compared to conventional way of searching, voice search is very precise and at the same time, random.

In the conventional way of searching (using your fingers to type the query) you get to see multiple results in front of you. If you don’t find the first result satisfying, you can click the second or the third result or even the 10th result.

This is not the case with voice search. Google (or another voice assistant) simply starts reading what it thinks is the best result. There are no alternatives. There is only one top result. So, give your best.

Use conversational keywords when writing content for voice search

Spend some time observing people. Don’t depend a lot on “keyword tools” because they create noise and stop you from thinking from the perspective of your users or visitors.

Talk to people if you can. Ask them what they would search for if they need to buy your product or service.

Maybe initially you won’t get the answers you’re looking for. Keep trying.

Make a list of keywords people actually use and then weave your content around these keywords.

Know what is the intention and then write accordingly

Billions of searches are done on Google alone with different intentions.

When optimizing your content for better rankings – whether for voice or for the usual text/typing – knowing the intention of the searcher is very important. Even small things can make a big difference.

Why do people look for the information they’re looking for?

Do they want to compared two gadgets to decide which one is the better to buy?

Do they want to educate themselves to make another, related decision?

Are they simply searching for the name of the company to find the URL and then go to the website?

Broadly, there are three types of search intents:

Informational intent
Navigational intent
Transactional intent

In informational intent, you are simply seeking information, for example, “why were the pyramids of Giza built?”

or “which is the best historical tourist destination in South India?”

or “how to optimize my writing for voice search?”

These are instances of searching for information. You don’t intend to buy something, at least not right now.

Optimizing for informational intent brings you exposure even if does not bring you customers and clients with a desire to buy something immediately. It is good for branding and visibility.

In navigational intent, people simply want to go to the website but either don’t want to type the URL or don’t know what’s the URL.

You may search for “credible content” to go to credible-content.com.

You may search for “Twitter advanced search” to find the section on Twitter that allows you to do advanced search.

“Knitters club website in Wisconsin” to find a website of some knitters club.

Transactional intent is for buying. It may not be immediate buying, but the person carrying out a transactional search is about to buy. He or she is just looking for the right thing or the right information. For example “MacBook Pro rates in Washington”.

Hence, for voice search optimization, you may first decide which searcher’s intent you want to target and then write content accordingly.

You can target any intent because they all have their uses.

Conclusion

Finally, all boils down to relevance and ease of use. This is something that cannot be stressed enough.

Be highly useful so that your content comes up in search results for voice. And explain your point as clearly as possible so that people can understand it when the device is narrating your information.

How to write content for voice-activated devices

Should content writing for voice-activated devices be different from regular content writing?

It depends on what you call regular content writing.

Even when you are writing without taking voice-activated and voice-controlled devices into account, you should stick with simple writing, shorter sentences, and paragraphs that express just a single thought.

This has two benefits:

Your text is easier for people to read.
Search engine ranking algorithms find it easier to process your text and hence, you enjoy better search engine rankings.

By nature, and by passion I am a writer. I prefer to let myself lose without bothering about how my text is going to sound, as long as it sounds fine to me. I don’t mind using complicated sentences and complicated words. Ideally, I couldn’t care less how search engines interpret my text as long as it is loved by my readers.

But we don’t live in an ideal world. When I’m writing for my content writing clients, I pay close attention to writing in simple language.

Simple language doesn’t mean dumbifying the content. It means avoiding using 10 words when 5 would suffice.

Remember when people were having two simultaneous versions of their websites, one for mobile phones and one for desktops and laptops?

These days most of the websites have liquid layouts: the same website readjusts information according to the screen size. This saves us from having multiple websites for multiple screen sizes.

The same should be applicable in content writing. When you are writing content for your website or your blog, you shouldn’t have to write different copies for human readers and for voice-activated devices.

Take for example this blog post. You can read it easily. Even the voice-activated devices shouldn’t have any problem reading and voicing the text on this blog post.

Whether you are writing for voice-activated devices or for human readers, write as simply as possible.

Listed below are a few things you can keep in mind while writing content so that it is easier to read by voice-activated and voice-controlled devices.

People use conversational queries when using voice search on voice-activated devices

People use “find me someone who can fix my sink” instead of “plumbing services”. Or “plumbing services near me”.

It has been observed that when people type their queries, they use smaller search terms but when they are talking into their devices, they use longer sentences.

Now that I’m writing this, I’m thinking that above I have written that when optimizing content for voice-activated devices you should focus on smaller sentences.

That still holds. Smaller sentences and simpler words are not just easy to listen to, they’re also good for your search engine rankings.

Optimize for featured snippets

Some time back I wrote a blog post on how to optimize your content for featured snippets, though, there is no exact way of doing it.

Here is the blog post: Google’s Featured Snippets: How to rank at #1 with strategic content writing.

Google often uses search results with the featured snippet box for a quick answer to your query.

As more and more people use voice search featured snippets will get more prominent.

This is because the featured snippet text is already available to Google and it can straightaway read to you the information from it instead of first having to visit the website, fetch the information and then read it to you.

Provide answers to questions

Most of the search queries for voice search use trigger words such as how, where, what, when, why, who, the and can. Given below is a small visual taken from seoClarity that lists the percentage of trigger words used for voice search.

Percentage of search engine queries for voice searches

For example, people would search for “how do I reach Sabarimala from Cochin?” or “how do I find a professional content writer for my business website?” or “best content writing service for my website”, or “where can I find a restaurant that is open at 11 PM?” or “who is the best travel agent in Timbuktu?”

Also, prepare a comprehensive FAQs section because this is a section where you can optimize your writing in the question-answer format.

Concluding remarks on writing content for voice-activated devices

The advice that I give for search engine optimization, I also give for voice search optimization or for writing content for voice-activated devices: don’t overly worry about optimization, just focus on providing good content in easy-to-read language.

Easy-to-read language keep people focused. Search engine algorithms find it easy to interpret and then rank.

Develop a habit of writing in the form of questions and answers. This is because, what does a query mean? It means asking a question. Provide the answer, the best possible answer.

How to optimize content writing for voice search

Use conversational, longer search expressions when optimizing your content writing

People use longer, precise expressions when searching with their voice.

When you are searching by typing, you may search for “best content writer”, but when you speak into your phone, you may search for “find me the best content writer who can improve my SEO” or, “find me a content writer who regularly writes for web design companies”.

This is one thing.

Use conversational language. Avoid creating very complicated sentences. No matter how smart artificial intelligence gets, if you create very complex sentences containing multiple phrases and clauses, it may not be able to interpret what you’re trying to say, properly.

Even in normal language (ignore Woody Allen) people speak in shorter sentences. Mostly in phrases unless they’re speaking about something very specific.

Provide an answer in minimum number of words

Backlino in its voice search SEO study found that on an average, an answer dug out by voice search is 29 words long.

This is interesting.

What it means is, when you are providing a very specific answer to a very clearly-defined question, try to contain it within 29 words.

Just as we don’t speak very long sentences, it becomes difficult for us to comprehend longer sentences. Create your sentences in such a manner that one sentence expresses one thought and one answer is for one question.

When you write something, say it loud and see if it is easily understandable. If not, rewrite.

Make use of “what”, “how”, “who” or “when” whenever possible

Question-based content is better suited for voice search. Most of the people, when using voice search use expressions like “what”, “how” and “who”. For example, “How to optimize your content writing for voice search?”

Although, you may go on explaining your chosen concept in a couple of thousand words, but somewhere, preferably in the beginning, provide the answer to the question in the headline that can be easily picked by the search engines.

Focus on providing the answer rather than obsessing over optimization

Optimization should be a byproduct of good quality content that delivers value.

Your content writing is affected if you are continuously thinking about optimization rather than addressing the problem at hand.

Remember that when people are using voice search they want to find an answer to the question and if you don’t provide that answer, they are going to move on, and depending on their interaction with your content (whether they move on or stick around) is going to have an impact on your current rankings.

Focus on the core issue at hand and do your best to deal with it.

Write for the mobile phones by default

When you write keep in mind the mobile layout, you automatically write shorter sentences that are to the point.

Remember that on mobile phones people don’t prefer to read long sentences and bigger paragraphs. They want to quickly scroll up or down.

Similarly, when mobile devices read your content, it is easier to speak up shorter sentences.

People are usually distracted when they are using their mobile phones. They don’t specifically sit on desks to browse their mobile phones. They’re moving, they are chatting, there are even watching programs on TV when checking your updates. Write accordingly.

Concluding remarks on optimizing your content writing for voice search

Of course, the keywords you want to optimize your content for need to be taken into consideration when writing content for your website or blog, they should be integrated naturally rather than being forced.

Focus on value. Focus on quality. Focus on what you are delivering to your readers. Make sure you provide them what they are looking for. This is most important.