With so many people working from home in 2020 and 2021 the availability of voice activated devices such as Alexa devices and smart phones led to an increased use of voice search across search engines. With home working looking likely to continue into 2022 if you haven’t done so already now might be the time to think about ways to optimise your local small business for voice search.
Here are a few tricks you could try yourself…
Use long-tailed keywords
Long-tail keywords can help websites be the answer that users hear when making a voice search. Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific and more targeted.
When using voice search people are less likely to voice search for ‘marketing’ than they are to search for ‘marketing agency near me’ so use long tailed keywords and search terms to capture these searches.
If you are not sure which search terms to use a site such as Answer The Public can provide some very useful ideas.
Turn searches into queries
Have you ever noticed how when you are searching on Google it prompts you to include ‘near me’ in your search? Instead of putting just shoes on your website copy try incorporating those search terms as queries ‘best shoe shops near me’
Be prudent not to overstuff your keywords though. Don’t make shoes into best shoes, fancy shoes etc.
Design your site for mobile
There are not going to be any designs for voice search so mobile is your next best route. If people are voice searching via their mobiles for example your mobile optimised website is the next thing they will see.
Optimise your Google My Business Profile
Yes, I am banging that old drum again. For local businesses, having an updated Google My Business profile with name, hours, street address and other relevant information will increase the brand’s search ranking and traffic.
Optimise your website for local search
When planning your website content consider the following.
Include your region in content and metadata. (aka tell them where you are, and where you cover)
Create location-specific pages with more than just a footer address.
For example https://jclcleaningandmaintenance.co.uk/carpet-upholstery-cleaning-reading/
Use visuals specific to your local area.
Tag images and videos with the name of the geographic area.
Conclusion
There are many ways that visitors will find your website. If you are a small local business optimising your website for voice search and mobile views will increase your search traffic and add value to the visitor experience. Make the content relevant to their search queries and here I go again…Optimise your Google My Business Listing!
For local search packages see my marketing packages page