As technology continues to advance like never before, the way people interact online is also changing. Surely you have heard names like “Siri,” “Alexa,” “Cortana,” and “Google Assistant – “ those are the main virtual assistants out there. Online searchers are able to interact with search engines simply by talking and by using virtual assistants. Voice search is undoubtedly growing and it’s here to stay. The voice search trends – what you should know …

Why do People Like Voice Search?

For starters, talking is easier than typing for some. You can talk faster than you can type, which means you will get to the information you need faster than you could if you were to type it all out. If you have a question you need an answer to, you don’t have to stop what you’re doing – you can be cooking dinner, folding laundry, or walking to your car.

Is Voice Search Behavior Different than Text Search Behavior?

As we continue to move from typing to talking, our search behavior is also changing. Through typing, the average search is around 2-3 words. However, with speaking, the average search is between 5-7 words. People speak with voice assistants in the same manner they speak to an actual human. They use natural language and fill their questions with personal information. Looking at those numbers, this may not seem like a big deal to you, but those additional words can go a long way.

Smart Speakers

Smart speakers are responsible for the rise of the voice search trend. Yes, similar devices have been around for quite a while now, recently, the sales of smart speakers have tripled thanks to the rise of Amazon Echo and Google Home. Smart speakers are well known for helping people resolve their questions.

The Rising Trends

As of right now, it’s difficult to say just how many search queries are voice-based. Mainly because this is information that Google does not publish on a regular basis. We do, however, know that the general trend is increasing, and before you know it, voice searches may be higher than text searches.

Steps to Take as a Site Owner

Brainstorm Keyword Targets – Take a look at your keyword strategy. How many of your targets are long-tail keyword phrases, and how many are voice queries?

Take a Look at Your Current Strategy – Are you putting much effort into voice queries? If not, it’s time to do so.

Choices – Perhaps you should fight harder for those top spots on key SERPS, and walk away from the battle for keywords that aren’t really all that important.

Local SEO – If you aren’t already doing local SEO, it’s time to start doing so.

In the near future, you need to prepare for even more changes. We don’t know exactly how this voice search trend will manifest, but it always pays off to remain open to the changes to come.

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