Voice Search is Here...Is Your Business Ready?

If You're Not First, You're Last

If you asked Siri, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Cortana
where your business is located, your business hours,
or what service or product you offer, what will they say?

If your answer is "I am not sure" or "I don't know"...then your business is not ready for 2019.

It’s time you start optimizing your sites for voice search.

As technology improves and people get more comfortable with
the technology, voice search will continue to grow.

Don't wait - Jump in NOW -
If you’re not first in line,
there won’t be an opportunity for users to find you.

Before we dive into voice search strategies,
it’s important that you have a baseline understanding of how the technology works.

What Is Google Voice Search?

Google Voice Search is a function that allows users
to search the Web using Google through spoken voice
commands rather than typing.

The searcher speaks to the device, and the device fulfills
the command or answers the question.
Google Voice Search can be used on both desktop and mobile searches.

Voice Search makes it faster and easier than ever to search apps,
web search or image search for the content users want.

Users can use your voice to do actions like search,
get directions, and create reminders.
For example, to see if there's rain in the weather forecast,
say, "Ok Google, do I need an umbrella tomorrow?"
On some devices, you can also say, "Hey Google."

Here are a few examples of Google voice search:

Perform searches: Say “Ok Google, how many ounces are in a cup?”
Set a timer: Say “Ok Google, set a timer for 30 minutes”
Create a reminder for Google Now: Say “Ok Google, remind me to pick up dessert at 6 pm tonight”

Prepare For A Voice Search Revolution!

According to Location World, more than 40 percent of adults
used voice-based searches on a daily basis in 2016.
58% of consumers have used voice search to find local business information.

Why Is Google Voice Search so Popular?

The primary reason is the ease of use in comparison to typing.
The average person can type around 40 words per minute,
but can speak around 150 words per minute,
allowing for greater specificity with less effort.

Don't get lost in the crowd - Be found when customers are ready to try, buy, or commit.

Click here to learn more

How to go about making your site friendlier to voice searches?

#1 Update your Google My Business Listing

Google My Business is a great way for Google to find out more information about your business,
like the category of business you’re in, your address, phone number, business hours and more.
The more current the information in your Google My Business listing is, the more relevant your site will be to prospective customers.

#2 Get positive reviews

Try to get at least 5 reviews on Google, as it is critical for ranking in Google's local pack. If you see a happy customer, try to encourage them to leave a review. Remember that it will do you good if you reply to the negative comments and suggest some solutions.

#3 Make Sure Your Site is Mobile Friendly

People who search using voice are usually using a mobile device. They aren’t using a computer or tablet.
Mobile users want a site that is accessible and easy to navigate on a device, along with having a fast load speed.
Google says 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site they had trouble accessing and 40% visit a competitor’s site instead.