With the rise of voice-activated speakers and smart devices, optimizing your local business for voice search is no longer an optional task - it's essential.
With this in mind, ensuring your local business appears in voice search results by prioritizing your voice search optimization strategies is paramount for increasing website traffic.
After all, voice search accounts for almost half of all informational internet searches today.
Thus, whether you're just starting with voice search optimization for your local business or are looking for new and improved tactics, this post is your must-read guide.
Let's begin!
Create a Landing Page for Each Location To Optimize For Voice Search
The more physical locations your local business has, the more landing pages you need.
In addition, you should also create a separate landing page for each product or service you feature for that particular local search result.
Thus, if your local business sells the best lobster macaroni, you'll want that to appear on the appropriate pages for each location.
That way, if someone searches for "The Best Lobster Macaroni near me," your specific location will appear, assuming they are in proximity.
Put Your Address on Each Landing Page
Verifying that you are displaying the correct address for your local business when creating landing pages is crucial.
With this in mind, if you have only one location, you'll display the same address on all your pages.
Though it may seem redundant, it helps ensure your customers can find your local business when using voice search to explore their options.
Leverage Your Google Business Profile
Creating and optimizing your Google Business Profile can significantly increase exposure for your local business as you can include photos, updates, and so much more.
For example, your Google Business Profile features community Q&A options that you can use to answer questions related to products and services that your local business offers.
Get Listed on All Search Engines and in Local Directories
Creating a complete profile on Google is great.
However, doing the same for Apple, Yelp, Bing, and any search engine your audience might use is also helpful.
In addition, using local directories such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or any legitimate specialty directory can also help greatly.
Correspondingly, getting listed on local service provider lists like Thumbtack.com, for example, can help if your local business provides a service.
Use Schema Markup To Optimize for Voice Search
Schema markup is simple code that helps search engines better understand the structure and meaning of your content.
That is to say; proper schema markup will help your content show up in voice search results.
And it's easier than it seems.
For example, if you run a website on WordPress, you can select and use a plugin such as Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP to help achieve exceptional results.
Create Conversational Content To Optimize for Voice Search
Understanding buyer intent and the context in which buyers search makes it easier to create the correct type of content to educate and guide your audience.
Consequently, it is best to use long-tail keywords, keep it conversational (about the 7th-grade level), and ensure the content is informative and valuable.
In conclusion
As the voice search capability of devices continues to improve and the way we interact with technology evolves, it's increasingly essential for businesses to pay attention to the ways consumers discover them—especially when being searched locally.
Again, the total number of voice search queries continues to grow yearly, so if you have yet to optimize your website and local business for voice, now is the time.
Accordingly, ensure your website is mobile optimized, fast-loading, and features content tailored toward your target audience to deliver the best user experience possible.
Furthermore, your website should also answer questions regarding your products, services, and related information users seek.
By all means, optimize for voice search now to help prepare your local business for the future.
Don't delay—take action today!
Talk Soon,
Erik
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