What is voice SEO?

Voice SEO is the optimization of content and websites for voice search queries. This form of search engine optimization takes into account that more and more users run their searches through voice assistants such as Google Assistant, Siri from Apple or Amazon’s Alexa. Voice SEO is about shaping content so that it reaches high visibility in voice-based search queries. That includes adapting keywords to natural speech, structuring content for direct answers and focusing on localized queries, because many voice searches are locally oriented.

How does voice SEO differ from classic SEO?

The main difference between voice SEO and traditional text search lies in the way users phrase their queries. In voice search, users tend to use longer, conversational sentences that are often phrased as questions. That calls for adapting keywords and content to these more natural, dialogue-driven queries. Voice SEO also has to account for the tendency of voice assistants to deliver a single, direct answer, in contrast to a list of search results. That raises the importance of the featured snippet, also called position zero, in the search results. On top of that, localization plays a bigger role, because voice queries often involve locally specific information.

Here are some differences between voice SEO and classic SEO at a glance:

• Conversational keywords: voice search usually works with longer, conversational phrases. Instead of a short keyword such as “bake a marble cake”, a voice search might sound like this: “Hey Siri, how do I bake a marble cake at home?”
• Local queries: a large share of voice searches is locally oriented, for example queries for restaurants or shops nearby.
• Immediate and precise answers: voice search results are often direct answers that correspond to the featured snippets of traditional search.
• Mobile use: voice search is mostly used on mobile devices, which shapes how it is aligned and optimized.

Is voice SEO still relevant in 2023?

In 2023, voice SEO remains an important part of digital marketing strategies. The continued spread of smartphones and smart speakers together with improvements in speech recognition technology mean that more and more people fall back on voice search. For local businesses and services in particular, voice SEO offers considerable opportunities, because many voice queries are local in nature. For brands and content creators it is therefore essential to widen their SEO strategies and to treat voice search as an integral part of them. That includes adapting to the specific requirements of voice queries and optimizing for direct, precise answers that match user needs. Given the ongoing trend toward voice assistants, the relevance of voice SEO is likely to keep growing in the years ahead.