Optimize for voice search

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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.

Optimize for voice search
Search me Write copy that’s optimized for humans as well as Google. Image by hocus-focus

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.

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