Optimize for voice search

Ask questions, use long-tail search terms and more

Hey Siri: Some 50% of searches are voice search these days, according to comScore. So optimize for voice search.

Here’s how:

1. Ask ChatGPT, “What questions are XX asking about YY?”

People tend to pose voice searches as questions: “Siri, what time is sunset today?” Find out what your audience is asking by asking ChatGPT. Or click the Questions tab on a tool like SEMRush.

Then create pages, posts and other pieces with the question as the headline and its answer as the content.

2.Choose long-tail search terms.

Voice searchers don’t ask for simple terms like “LAX flight delays.” Instead, they’re more likely to ask a longer, more conversational, more precise question: “Will Flight 457 on XYZ Airlines be delayed out of LAX?”

Indeed, most searchers use three or more keywords in their searches, according to a study of 10 million U.S. internet users by Experian Hitwise. Consider that when choosing your terms.

3. Explain how to

The number of how-to searches has increased by 70%.

Check the search volume on terms like for “How to [your topic]” and choose the subjects your audience seeks help with. Use “How to [your topic]” for the headline, page title and page description.

4. Use conversational keywords

People write more formally when they’re typing into a search box. But they speak more conversationally when asking Siri to search.