Voice Search and SEO: What You Need to Know
Voice-activated search was once thought as being a joke, but the growth it has been having in the recent months has proved otherwise. There are many experts who were surprised by this increase, and this has shown that voice search is not something that can be overlooked when it comes to Houston SEO strategies and web design.
Why has it become popular?
Users loved voice assistant when they first came out, but most of the results were a hit and miss thing. There were very few responses that were making sense. AI technology has become even more sophisticated, and this has led to improved accuracy. Google report showed that the accuracy of voice recognition had grown to 95 percent by 2017.
Many players in the industry such as Microsoft’s Cortana, Amazon Alexa, and Google assistant started to release them because of the increased accuracy. Many mobile devices started coming with inbuilt voice activation, which added to the numbers.
What does it mean for SEO?
It is common for people to use it for things such as making calls, but it has started to be used by many people to search for things. What does the growth of voice search mean for Houston marketing strategy?
There was a recent survey done which showed that asking for directions was the most common voice request both in adults and teens. Some other information high on the list includes the location and store hours.
It also showed an increase in voice recognition searches for inquiries related to business, like customer support, sales and deals, and upcoming events. It is important to think about voice during your Houston SEO and web design plan.
What makes it Different?
Google has continued to do improvements on their algorithm so as to get rid of non-relevant results and filter out any spam. They have guidelines and penalties that ensure that the most accurate results are displayed. The area of voice search is still in its infancy, so it is not the same because the refined processes aren’t there yet.
People tend to use voice search in a different way than they would do text. With voice, people are more likely to use short questions and phrase inquires. You will need to use a different approach when optimizing for voice.
Why is Now the Best Time for Voice SEO?
Experts believe there will come a time when voice will overtake text. Time will tell, but the number of people using voice has been increasing fast. Many mobile phones are coming with voice assistants, and this has lead voice assistants to reach 420 million. Voice search should be part and parcel of any Houston SEO and web design.
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