Once upon a time, voice search felt like a futuristic idea reserved for science fiction movies, but these days it's a bonafide reality for many small businesses across the UK. People use voice search on a daily basis, and mobile assistants are engrained in the fabric of day-to-day life. This means it is crucial for businesses to look at the ways in which they can adapt their SEO strategies, and being able to embrace voice search is one of the biggest factors involved in this.
If your Kent-based business is not yet optimised for voice search, there's a chance you could be missing out on high-intent customers who are ready to act and primed to buy. Overlooking the need to adapt could see you be left behind by your rivals, so it is important to position your business to get found on Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, and this is going to help you stand out, achieve success, and attract more business.
Understand Why Voice Search Matters
Voice search is conversational and almost always question based. Instead of simply searching "Maidstone accountant" users will ask things like, "Who is the best accountant near me?" or "Is there an accountant open in Maidstone?" This shows a shift in priorities, with voice search optimising natural language queries, question-based searches, instant local intent, and clear, concise answers.
Optimising for voice indicates a shift toward thinking more along the lines of human conversation, instead of just treating the process like a keyword spreadsheet. This is something that can make a big difference to the way potential customers interact with your business, and is a great way of making you more visible in searches.
Focus on Local
Local SEO is the name of the game when it comes to voice search optimisation, because most voice searches have local intent. If someone is asking their device for a service, it typically indicates they are ready to act and that they want something nearby. This means you have to make sure you fully optimise your Google Business Profile, and ensure that all the key details are up to date.
It is common for search assistants to pull information and results directly from local listings, and this means that incomplete profiles can reduce your chances of being visible and being selected. This is why it is crucial to maintain your Google Business Profile as regularly as you can, and ensure that everything is up to date and looking as great as possible.
Question-Based Keywords
Question-based keywords are essential when it comes to improving your voice search optimisation, and this is why you need to try to create website content that can answer pertinent customer questions directly. For instance, things like, "How much does boiler repair in Maidstone cost?" are pertinent questions you need to optimise for. This is why things like blog posts and service pages need to include answers to these types of questions.
Structured headings, such as H2s and H3s need to be formatted as questions, because this helps them improve your chances of appearing in featured snippets, which voice assistants will often read aloud. Being able to adapt your business website to accommodate this is important for helping you make your business more successful.
Adapting to voice search optimisation is not about trying to chase emerging trends, but instead it's about adapting to the way in which users actually search these days. By focusing on local SEO, conversational keywords, and a strong Google Business Profile, you can ensure your Kent business is able to stay visible, and successful, in a voice-first world.
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