In 2020, voice searches will account for 50% of total searches
We Didn’t Know Much About SEO and Now We Talk About AEO
Can you imagine asking your mobile device for the nearest bakery and having it guide you there? Or wondering if it’s a good idea to leave your umbrella at home and asking your phone before heading out?
Wait a minute… this is already possible!
Additionally, this technology offers remarkable advantages for certain sectors of the population, as one of the latest Alexa ads has shown us:
Basically, this article is about the importance of voice searches in our daily lives and how we must prepare digitally for this new reality that has come to stay.
This new paradigm is a clear evolution of SEO. You know, that idea of appearing on Google when someone searches for your company’s services or products.
And for those a little lost with SEO, not long ago I wrote an article explaining in simple terms what organic search positioning consists of, which you can read here.
How Have We Gone From Written Searches to Voice Searches?
Surely, many of us remember laughing and being amazed by the “Hey Siri” our friend with an iPhone used to say, and how we started asking Siri the first silly questions that came to mind just to see what she would answer…
And soon after, we all found ourselves saying “Ok Google” day after day, or asking Alexa or Google Home to turn off the lights.
By the way, speaking of Alexa, the home voice assistant sector is one of the fastest-growing markets. Spain is one of the countries with the highest sales.
During the second quarter of 2019 alone, over thirty million voice assistants were sold, led by Alexa and Google Home.
These devices provide informative answers to simple questions.
Are you starting to realize how important it is to work on voice searches for your website?
The trend is growing; more and more people have a voice assistant at home to ask anything.
For example… when you feel like ordering food delivery on one of those typical nights when you don’t feel like cooking.
Therefore, it’s important to adapt your website to this type of search so that when someone asks “Vegan restaurant with home delivery” or “24-hour plumbers in Madrid,” your business is the one these devices mention, not your competitor’s.
How Do Voice Searches Affect Us Today?
Today, according to Google’s own data, more searches are done on mobile devices than on computers. Specifically, 1 in 4 people only uses a mobile phone.
This is very important because it is through mobile devices that voice searches are conducted.
It’s clear… between having to type in the search bar or asking a simple question out loud while doing something else, we seem to choose the latter.
Especially since Google makes everything so easy… “Looking for a restaurant?” Relax, Google Maps will show you options including: reviews from other users, phone numbers, websites, and of course, the best route to get there from wherever you are.
Voice searches today are closely linked to local SEO. That is, the positioning of a product or service in a specific area.
How Can I Adapt My Website for Voice Searches?
To adapt your website for voice searches, you must consider a wide range of factors, including both technical SEO actions and content strategies.
Some key considerations include:
- Create content aimed at answering a specific question
- Write as if the question will be spoken rather than typed, using more natural language.
- Keep local SEO in mind; as mentioned, voice searches and local SEO are closely linked.
- Loading speed and performance: having a fast website is no longer optional… it’s essential!
If this hasn’t convinced you yet, here are some voice search statistics from this article: “According to Comscore, in 2020 more than 50% of searches will be performed by voice. Also, currently over 25% of young people already use this search method on their mobiles.”
