SEO for voice commerce

Voice commerce, or voice-activated commerce, is rapidly emerging thanks to the popularity of smart speakers and virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri. These technologies are changing the way consumers search, store and make purchases. In this article, I share practical steps to help you SEO strategy to adapt for voice commerce.

What is voice commerce?

Voice commerce refers to the use of voice-enabled technologies to make purchases. This can range from ordering groceries to searching and buying products online. Consumers use voice commands through smart speakers, smartphones and other devices to find products and complete transactions.

Why is SEO for voice commerce important?

With the increase in the use of voice search, it is essential to adapt your SEO strategy to be found in this new search environment. Voice search is different from traditional search; users tend to ask longer, more natural-sounding questions. Optimizing for voice search can help you increase the visibility of your products and services and attract more customers.

So no more short search terms, but “real” sentences (conversational you can call it). For example, think “I’m looking for a bakery in Rotterdam center” instead of “Bakery Rotterdam.” This represents an important difference, especially in writing targeted content for this.

Key SEO strategies for voice commerce

Here are some key strategies to optimize your SEO for voice commerce:

1. Optimize for natural language:
   • Long-tail keywords: Voice search users often ask questions in complete sentences. Optimize your content for long-tail keywords and natural phrases. Consider questions like “Where can I buy organic apples?” instead of just “buy organic apples.”
   • Conversational tone: Write your content in a conversational tone, as if you were talking directly to the reader. This helps better match the way people perform voice-activated searches.
2. Use structured data:
   • Schema markup: Use schema markup to help search engines understand what your content is about. This can increase the likelihood that your content will be displayed in response to a voice search.
   • FAQ schema: Add FAQ schemas to your pages to answer frequently asked questions. This not only helps with regular searches, but is also very useful for voice search.
3. Optimize for featured snippets:
   • Answer questions clearly: Featured snippets are often used as a source for voice search answers. Make sure your content provides clear, concise answers to frequently asked questions.
   • Structure: Use headings, lists and paragraphs to structure your answers. This makes it easier for search engines to understand and highlight your content as a snippet.

Technical optimizations for voice search

In addition to the basic strategies, there are some technical optimizations to consider:

1. Website speed:
   • Load time: Make sure your Web site loads quickly. Use tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your site and get recommendations for improvement. Speed is crucial because voice search users expect quick answers.
   • AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages): Consider using AMP to improve the load time of your pages. AMP pages are optimized for speed and provide a better user experience on mobile devices.
2. Mobile-friendliness:
   • Responsive design: Make sure your website has a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. A mobile-friendly site is essential for voice search optimization.
   • Navigation: Optimize your site’s navigation for mobile users. Make sure menus are easy to use and important information is easy to find.

Content optimization for voice search

Content is still king, even for voice search. Here are some tips for optimizing your content:

1. Response-oriented content:
   • Direct answers: Write content that provides direct answers to frequently asked questions. Start with a clear, brief summary of the answer and then provide more details.
   • Use of headers: Use headings and subheadings to structure your content and help search engines identify key points.
2. Locally focused content:
   • Local SEO: Optimize your content for local searches. Many voice searches are locally focused, such as “Where is the nearest grocery store?” Make sure your local information is clear and accurate.
   • Google My Business: Make sure your Google My Business profile is up to date. This helps your visibility in local searches and can help you show up in voice search results.
3. Using conversational keywords:
   • Natural phrases: Implement natural phrases and questions in your content. Users ask questions such as “How do I make an apple pie?” Be sure to include these phrases in your content.
   • Related Questions: Add related questions and answers to your content. This can help answer a wide range of voice search questions.

What does this look like in practice?

Let’s look at some examples of companies that have successfully optimized their SEO for voice commerce:

1. E-commerce retailer: A large online store optimized their product pages with schema markup and rich snippets. They also added FAQ sections to their main product pages. This resulted in higher visibility in voice search results and an increase in traffic and conversions.
2. Local service provider: A local service company optimized their Google My Business profile and made sure their website was mobile-friendly. They wrote blog posts with answers to frequently asked questions from their customers. This led to better ranking in local voice search results and more customer inquiries.

Summary

SEO for voice commerce requires a combination of technical optimizations and content strategies. By optimizing for natural language, using structured data, and targeting local searches, you can significantly improve your site’s visibility and organic traffic.

Remember to regularly evaluate and update your SEO strategies to meet the latest best practices and search engine algorithms. With a well-optimized site for voice search, you can provide your users with a superior experience while strengthening your online presence.