How to Use AI to Optimize Your Content for Voice Search
Unlock the potential of AI in optimizing your content for voice search by adapting to the changes in consumer preferences and rising above the competition.
The way we conduct internet searches is rapidly evolving. And we have smart devices and artificial intelligence (AI) to thank for that.
Recent reports estimate that at least 50% of the US population uses voice search features daily, and 34% use them at least once a week. What does this mean for your marketing strategy?
This shift towards voice search is a golden opportunity for you to fine-tune your content to make it easily accessible to your audience, no matter how they choose to engage.
So, how do you rise above the rest in this voice search revolution? It begins with an expertly crafted strategy to optimize your content for voice search. And that’s where AI can help make your content more accessible and engaging for voice search users.
In this article, we’ll explore some groundbreaking strategies for using AI to optimize your content for voice search, helping you not only join the conversation but lead it.
Understanding AI and Voice Search
AI and voice search technology are no longer concepts of the future — they’re here to stay.
In fact, 71% of people would rather use a voice assistant to search for something rather than the traditional way of manually typing it into a search engine.
But what exactly are these technologies, and how do they intersect?
Artificial intelligence is a broad field that involves the development of tools and systems capable of performing tasks that usually require human intelligence. Or, 54–58 in other words, it’s the driving force behind voice search.
In fact, AI powers the voice assistants we’ve come to rely on, like Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. These voice assistants utilize AI to interpret and respond to voice commands. They can understand natural language, learn from interactions, and even adapt their responses over time.
AI algorithms are smart enough to analyze voice data, convert it into text, comprehend the request, and then provide the most relevant response or action. Pretty crazy, right?
So what does this mean for SEO? Well, a lot.
When users perform a voice search, their queries mirror the natural, conversational language we use in everyday speech. On the contrary, when typing, users often adopt a more formal, concise tone.
Screenshot by Jeremy Moser
This key distinction emphasizes the importance of adapting your content strategy to infuse conversational keywords (read: long-tail keywords) to get your content to align with this new style of querying information. More on this in a bit.
Identifying Voice Search Intent
At this point, you may be asking yourself, “Is there really a difference between voice search queries and text searches?” The answer is a resounding yes.
As we’ve briefly mentioned, voice search queries are far from mere replicas of text searches. They’re more conversational, often longer, and usually phrased as questions. For example, “Where’s the nearest Italian restaurant?” or “How’s the weather today?”
But don’t let this intimidate you. This difference provides an opportunity for you to create content that answers these questions directly, satisfying your audience’s immediate needs and capturing their attention in an increasingly competitive digital space.
So, how do you analyze user intent for voice search? Start by examining the questions your audience is asking. Look for patterns and common themes.
Are they seeking product information like prices or looking to make a purchase? The answer to this question will provide valuable insight into their intent, allowing you to tailor your content accordingly.
Tools like Surfer SEO, which uses AI and machine learning for SEO, also help you to gain a deeper understanding of user intent behind each query and effectively optimize your articles for voice search. More on that next.
Optimizing Content for Voice Search
Are you still with us? Now that you’ve identified the search intent behind common voice searches in your niche, it’s time to optimize that content to perform well.
Here’s what you need to know.
Step 1: Keyword Research
Like every other piece of content that you create online, the first step is keyword research. But in this case, the primary focus is conversational language. In other words, long-tail and natural language phrases.
AI-powered tools like AnswerThePublic or Google’s People Also Ask feature can provide a wealth of data on the types of questions users are asking related to your niche.
Screenshot by Jeremy Moser
Oh, and don’t overlook keyword research tools like Ahrefs or Semrush. They can be particularly useful to help you find focus on long-tail keywords that often resemble the more conversational tone of voice search. Look for conversational phrases that begin with question words like “who,” “what,” etc.
And finally, you can always scour for questions related to your niche within popular forums like Quora and Reddit. By simply examining the thread titles, you’ll unlock a treasure trove of information.
Step 2: Leverage Structured Data to Land Featured Snippets
In the era of voice search, where people rely on voice assistants in their daily lives, optimizing your content for this evolving landscape is more crucial than ever.
So why not leverage Google’s featured snippets? Google displays these coveted featured snippets at the top (or sometimes top right of) organic search results. They could appear as simple text definitions or bulleted or numbered lists.
Screenshot by Jeremy Moser
By structuring your content to answer commonly asked questions, you increase the chances of your content being picked up for these snippets.
While we can’t make any promises that your content will certainly snag that snippet, we do have a handful of savvy tips to increase your odds:
- Aim for brevity and precision in your answers to common questions — keep them within 54-58 words.
- Always be on the lookout to incorporate question-based queries into your content.
- Include step-by-step instructions to empower searchers in solving their issues.
- Use headers and paragraph tags to streamline your page structure.
- Embrace the definition-style approach when it’s relevant.
And if your eyes just rolled to the back of your head. Don’t worry. That’s where a tool like WordLift really shines. WordLift is an AI-powered SEO tool that analyzes your text and adds structured data to your content without requiring any extra work or technical knowledge.
In other words, WordLift can do the heavy lifting for you. And now, your content is more understandable for search engines and can rank better in SERPs.
The result? A boost in organic traffic to your website and a better chance of driving more sales. In fact, we’ve seen a US retail customer increase impressions by 85% and clicks by 18%. Not too shabby.
Step 3: Prioritize Mobile Optimization for Voice Search
Keep in mind that most voice searches are conducted via mobile devices. So don’t skimp out on mobile optimization.
Making sure that your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly can significantly enhance the user experience and improve your chances of appearing in voice search results.
Need some inspiration? Research indicates that, surprisingly, dentists are the top businesses optimized for voice search. Crazy, right?
So let’s turn to a shining example of mobile and speed optimization with DentalInsurance.com. They’ve taken proactive measures to optimize their page for mobile devices, resulting in impressive results.
As shown in the screenshot below, their dental insurance in Florida page scored 87/100 in the Pingdom speed test. This successful optimization has led to improved rankings for multiple local keywords in voice searches, resulting in high-quality traffic and valuable leads.
Step 4: Streamline the Publishing Process
You’ve put in the effort, and finally, your content is optimized and ready to shine in the voice search realm. Exciting, right? But wait, before you dive headfirst into the publishing process, have you considered how you can make this process smoother and more efficient?
Think of all the hours you’ve spent in the past painstakingly copying and pasting content, fixing formatting errors, and adjusting headers. Now imagine bypassing all that. Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? Enter Wordable.
With Wordable, you can effortlessly publish your content while preserving all the formatting and optimization in one click.
Simply put, with all your content optimized for voice search, it’s worth it to employ Wordable to speed up the publishing process. And you’ll even be maintaining your meticulous optimization. It’s about working smarter, not just harder.
Technical Considerations for Voice Search Optimization
Now, let’s dive into some of the technical aspects.
Have you heard of schema markup? If not, don’t worry. It’s a type of vocabulary that you can add to your website to enhance how search engines read and represent your page in SERPs.
It helps Google understand your content better, thus increasing the likelihood of your content being picked up for voice searches. And as we mentioned earlier, WordLift will do the semantic SEO heavy lifting for you.
Similar to text-based searches, page load speed is also crucial. Nobody likes a slow-loading page, right? The same goes for smart devices.
Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to analyze and optimize your load speed. Ideally, your page should load in three seconds or less. And thankfully, Google tells you exactly how to achieve these results.
And don’t forget about site accessibility. Make sure your site is accessible to all users, including those using screen readers or other assistive technologies.
Creating Voice-Friendly Content
It’s time to humanize your content. Write in a conversational tone, as if you’re speaking directly to your target audience. Include commonly asked questions and provide concise, straightforward answers. And don’t forget to use structured data for FAQ content, helping search engines understand your content better.
Here’s an example of a FAQs section by BriteCo, optimized for search questions around jewelry insurance and their specific policy.
Adding a dedicated FAQ page is the secret sauce for landing those coveted spots on Google’s featured snippets.
Leveraging Voice Search Platforms and Devices
Different voice assistants interpret queries in unique ways. So why not optimize for specific voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant?
Additionally, take advantage of the surge in smart speakers and voice-enabled devices. Remember, voice search isn’t just on mobile — it’s all around us.
So incorporating AI into your content strategy entails more than just optimizing text. It also entails optimizing content distribution across these smart devices.
That’s where an AI voice generator tool comes in handy. These tools can convert your text material into natural-sounding voice overs, making the experience more immersive and accessible for consumers that prefer audio content.
Not only would employing an AI voice generator tool improve your content for voice search, but it’ll also cater to a broader audience, including people who are visually challenged.
Moreover, with AI applications such as AI caption generators, voice searches have become even more accessible. This technology can generate accurate, word-by-word subtitles for videos or audio content.
This not only makes sure that voice searches are more accurate, but also returns more useful search results. The benefits of this to your audience are twofold: it enhances accessibility for users who rely on subtitles and improves the precision of voice search results.
Measuring and Tracking Voice Search Performance
So, how do you know if your voice search optimization strategies are working as you’d hope? It’s all about keeping track of the proper metrics. Start by identifying voice search traffic in your analytics.
You can also keep a close eye on your search engine results, rankings, and featured snippets. The higher you place on the SERPs, the more organic traffic you’ll generate.
And, of course, always listen to user feedback. Think of these nuggets of information as invaluable insights into your voice search performance.
Future Trends in AI and Voice Search
Artificial intelligence is no longer a buzzword. In fact, there’s no sign of investor slowdown in pouring money into AI tools. And it’s changing the world and our consumer behaviors as we know it.
The result? Added fuel for the continued advancements in natural language processing that’ll revolutionize voice search, voice commerce, and voice-activated transactions.
And did you know that nearly 43% of users already use their voice-enabled devices to shop? People of all ages are turning to their devices for online purchasing. And as we look ahead, voice is on track to become a major player in the market, hitting $40 billion in 2022.
Therefore, to tap into this lucrative growth opportunity, it’s crucial that marketers today tune in and truly understand the voices of their consumers. It’s not just about catching the wave — it’s about riding it to success.
Will AI-driven voice search leave traditional SEO in the dust? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean there’s a one-size-fits-all solution. The key is to prioritize both forms of SEO to meet your consumers using their preferred form of search.
Wrapping Up
As we pull the curtain on this journey through the realm of AI-optimized voice search content, let’s not forget the importance of this rapidly growing sector. With voice search becoming a staple in our lives, it’s crucial to align your content and SEO strategies to fit this new norm.
By understanding voice search intent and optimizing content using conversational keywords, you can ensure your content is heard loud and clear across mobile and smart devices.
And let’s not shy away from the change in consumer behaviors. Instead, embrace it, adapt, and let your content voice echo in this new era of search. So, are you ready to make the leap into the world of voice search optimization? Let AI guide you on this promising path.