Among the recent trends, there is an enduring rise of users relying on vocal commands to handle their search queries on their handsets. A study by Google has publicized that both, teenagers and adults are increasingly using voice search on their smartphones. Voice search revolution has been influencing consumers to interact with various brands, existing SEO practices, and much much more.
The continuous rise on vocal command, can in future develop into a full-scale search tactic. So what does this change mean for a company and how can they best adapt to the changes?
The Growing Trends
Here are just a few interesting stats from the report of
- Google voice searches have increased more than 35-fold between 2008 and 2016 Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends report in 2016
- In 2016, more than 40 percent of adults used voice-based search on a daily basis. According to ComScore, in 2020 more than 50 percent of searches will be voiced based
- Voice search optimization will be preferred by people who are physically challenged or with vision deficiency.
Apart from the above stats, motivating factors such as an increased sophistication of voice-recognition system (Microsoft’s voice recognition software) has an error rate of 5.1 percent, which corresponds with its human counterparts. Digital assistants make the process of voice searching easier, thereby inviting more people to use voice search.
Smart Speakers
The voice search revolution is triggered by smart speakers! Thanks to the upsurge of Google Home and Amazon Echo, the sales of smart speakers increased by three folds in 2017. These ‘brainy’ speakers are completely reliant on voice commands to activate, helping people to resolve their demand with voice-based requests.
The Biggest Outcomes
If the voice-recognition technology and smart speakers were to be a cutting-edge revolution, then what would be the biggest repercussions of this change?
- Multifaceted queries: Search queries could become more complex! If the users use keywords that are remotely decipherable for a query they may be presented with a selection of answers and options, thanks to Google RankBrain, Hummingbird and various sections of Google’s search algorithm. These algorithms easily decipher complex queries and convert them into something simpler that can provide the users with the right solution they seek.
- Audio-only interfaces: Smart speakers can help people to discover information, interact and make purchases on websites with their voice. This may result in a drastic decline of traditional websites and search engine.
- Precise exchanges: Voice-based searches promote quick interactions! As the interactions grow shorter, the chances of making an impression on users become faint.
- Higher pressure for top positions. With multiple options available for short queries, digital assistants will relay information that is on the top-entry-position. This may create a great impact on other information to get on the top position in the search engine results page (SERP).
- Local results: With users relying on voice search (for contextually relevant information) whenever needed, this increase the number of locally-focused queries creating a pressure on Google and other search engines.
Steps To Be Taken
- Evaluate the current strategy: A look at the current strategy will show the amount of effort pooled into voice queries and long keywords. A thorough study may help to reorganize funds and release stress.
- Brainstorm new keyword targets: Adopt a fool-proof keyword strategy. Arrange targeted head keywords, long-tail keywords along with those that are often topic targets.
- Plan a battle: Consider eyeing for the top spots on a handful of SERPs, while forgoing for keywords that are unimportant.
- Consider local: Start investing in a local SEO as soon as possible!
- Reconsider the advertising game: With PPC ads the consumers may start interacting, forcing an immediate elevation or upgrading of the advertising on a changed format.
- Promising changes in the near future: It is still unclear as to how exactly a voice search revolution will manifest. So be prepared and open to many changes as it evolves.
Few SEO changes can surely transform the landscape overnight! Make tweaks and changes in approach to prepare a flexible foundation for optimized voice search and look forward to enhanced resources of customer engagement.
