For years, text-based search engine queries ruled as people typed keywords into their devices to access information online. However, as technology evolves and consumers demand a more intuitive way to access content, voice search has become an increasingly popular option. Now, you can search with just your voice on a variety of devices from smartphones to smart speakers and even home automation systems like Google Home or Amazon Echo. This shift in how users query has impacted digital marketing and SEO. Here’s how your business can adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of voice search.

Voice searches are much more conversational than their written counterparts and include question words such as who, what, when, where and why that are often omitted in text-based queries. As such, these searches are more likely to be longer than the three or four keyword phrases used in traditional search engine optimization (SEO). Currently, Google’s featured snippets—answers that appear at the top of SERP results—are included in 30 percent of voice queries. This means that it’s important for marketers to optimize their content and website to be featured in these snippets as they will drive more traffic to your site.

The use of voice searches will increase the importance of semantic search, which involves focusing on user intent and understanding how your customers want to interact with your brand. By focusing on understanding the intent of your audience, you can create content that is more likely to be featured in voice searches.

It’s also crucial to make sure your content is easy for voice search to understand. This means using long-tail keywords that sound more natural and not shorter phrases like “data driven marketing tool 2020.” For example, you should avoid using words that are similar to one another, such as C, see, and sea, because the device may not be able to distinguish them.

A key aspect of implementing voice search into your strategy is ensuring your website is mobile-friendly. As more and more users rely on voice search, they are going to expect your website to be mobile-friendly, which means it must be fast and provide clear answers to their questions.

Finally, it’s crucial to have your business listed on all the major search engines so that when someone conducts a voice search, they can hear your business’s information and are likely to click through. This is the most effective way to grow your online presence and attract new customers.

Until recently, businesses were focused on optimizing their websites to rank in the top page of SERPs for all search terms. But now, appearing anywhere on the top page isn’t enough to get your business noticed by searchers. Having your business listed in featured snippets and position zero will ensure that potential customers are aware of the services you offer, whether they’re conducting a voice or text-based search. To do this, you need to work with a trusted SEO agency that can help you stay ahead of the competition and keep up with the latest trends.