Current SEO Techniques for Voice Searches

If you want to specialize in voice searches, this article is for you! It should be noted very practically that if you want to be successful in voice calls; You should try to take part in Featured Snippets fields. However, again, you need to pay special attention to Local SEO. A mobile-friendly site is a must!

Before starting SEO techniques in voice searches, let's make a brief introduction to SEO;

The word “SEO” consists of the initials of the phrase Search Engine Optimization. Its Turkish equivalent is expressed as search engine optimization. If we examine the SEO work, as the name suggests, we can describe it as a work that makes internet projects suitable for search engines with certain rules and that ensures the sites to be at the top of the searches. Search engines give quality scores to websites within the determined rules. These quality scores are provided by the text and visual content we use throughout our site, clean and fast code structure, user-friendly interface and certain search engine tags.”

Now, let's look at more detailed SEO techniques that will bring you success in voice searches…
Although voice searches require very different SEO techniques, you need to have your SEO audit done from the beginning before you reach this goal. E.g; Have you done a keyword research? Is your content strategy ready? Is your domain address authoritative enough? Without applying these and many similar basic SEO techniques, taking action only for voice searches may not work alone!
Voice calls are a big advantage, especially for Turkey. Because very few of your competitors improve themselves in this regard. So, your competitive advantage is high!

Very soon; Assistants such as Alexa, Cortana, Google Assistant, Siri will become an important part of our lives. People will change their search habits on Google. That's why the rise of voice searches…
By 2020, it is estimated that 50% of all calls will be made over voice calls. Recently, we shared a news that Google announced that it can even index podcast content. This and similar developments herald the definitive rise of voice searches!

So, what are the current SEO techniques for voice searches?
1. Try to take part in featured areas such as Featured Snippets.
Voice searches, like many other types of searches, seek informative short answers. This is a must for user satisfaction! Many assistants, such as Siri, read Featured Snippets to users after voice calls. We are now living in a period in which the concept of “Position Zero” comes to life. Nowadays, being on the first page of Google is certainly valuable; but the "zero position" is just as valuable! If you are successful in terms of SEO in areas such as Featured Snippets, you can consider yourself as if you are on the first page of Google. Voice search SEO is perhaps the most effective technique for zero position success!

Featured Snippets for voice searches SEO techniques that you can stand out:

* Being featured in Featured Snippets doesn't always mean "position zero" success. Also, "position zero" shouldn't be your only goal. Just as being on the first page, second or third place on Google is an important success, the same is true for "position zero"! When you stand out in featured areas, you can also rank second or third. Google pulls 70% of Featured Snippets content from non-first sites! To sum it up, what you need to do is; If once you've been on the first page of Google (you can even rank 10), now you need to focus on how "consistent" and "relevant" your content is! If you can achieve this, you have a huge advantage in voice calls.

* Your content (including texts) should be able to answer specific questions. E.g; recipes, health information (reliable) can easily find a place for themselves in these special areas. Therefore, before producing your content; It would be useful to do a research on the most frequently asked questions and the most preferred content titles!

* Well-organized content with styles like paragraphs, lists, tables, etc. has a better chance! Make sure your paragraphs are under 50 words. Keep sentences short. Optimize your paragraphs for keywords. Table and list formats are also advantageous, both visually and simply because they are easy to understand! Stay away from too advanced terminology. Make your posts understandable. Likewise, jargons may not bring you success; because you actually appeal to a very broad target audience.

2.   Optimize your content separately for voice searches.

Although we have touched on this subject above, we will go into a little more detail because it is a very important topic. In fact, another important term for how content should be is “conciseness”. Keep your content concise! Smart assistants are constantly learning and improving themselves because they work with artificial intelligence algorithms. The language and tonal features of the texts are moving in the direction of "natural language". That is, the way you talk to a friend… Users talk to assistants like Siri, just as if they were asking a friend for help! At this point, the keywords we call "long tail" gain importance again. We recommend that you read our previous articles on long-tail keywords.
Should the content be long or short for voice searches?
Your content should be long like with traditional SEO, around 1,800 words. But there is one difference, that you have to keep the sentences short! E.g; people use voice searches for very practical purposes such as “…show the nearest Turkish restaurant…”. So when you say you're going to write rich text, don't use complex words. Have a trustworthy, simple and clear language.
We also recommend preliminary analysis, such as the most frequently asked questions and title research.

3.   You need to become an expert in being mobile friendly now!
In terms of both user friendliness and Google algorithms, voice searches are progressing exclusively on mobile. So no more escaping the mobile friendly website! Switch to “responsive” sites rather than adaptive site technique. “Responsive” sites are compatible with all kinds of devices; tablet, phone, computer…
Let's also remember that site speed is important!

4.   Local SEO is important for voice searches!
If you are a local business, this is your advantage for voice calls! About 22% of voice searches are related to local searches. We can say that especially restaurants take the lead in this regard.
Therefore, if you want your potential customers to reach you easily, you must follow the normal SEO protocols (for Local SEO), as we mentioned at the beginning of our article.
Use region-focused search terms like “places near me” in “meta” tags. The same goes for "landing" pages.
Finally, make sure to register your "Google My Business" and use this area actively!