{"id":439,"date":"2017-07-14T12:31:32","date_gmt":"2017-07-14T11:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.4fxblog.co.uk\/?p=439"},"modified":"2018-06-01T16:31:38","modified_gmt":"2018-06-01T15:31:38","slug":"voice-assistants-and-search-engine-optimization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.4fx.co.uk\/blog\/voice-assistants-and-search-engine-optimization\/","title":{"rendered":"Voice Assistants and Search Engine Optimization"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It is clear that the way we use search engines is changing. A rise in freely available voice assistants such as Cortana, Siri and Alexa means it is inevitable that we will become more and more dependent on voice searches. Google has been working diligently to improve it\u2019s user experience, which means that voice searching is becoming more efficient, allowing it to become more popular.<\/p>\n

We use a completely different sentence structure when searching via Siri or Alexa. When using a typed language we are more likely to use shorter words and phrases. A sort of Google shorthand. When we use Siri to find something, we are more likely to use a question and use the word \u2018my\u2019. This meant that Google has had to become smarter, identifying \u2018my\u2019 as the person who is speaking, the question or request itself and the context surrounding it.<\/p>\n

One of Google\u2019s improvements allows it to have access to your location so when you search for you\u2019re nearest coffee shop, Google brings up your closest options. To avoid your website not ranking on Google in this way, include a detailed location page on your website, questions about your location on a FAQ\u2019s page and an embedded Google maps on your location page.<\/p>\n

Google now retains more personal information about users than ever before. It saves regular locations, i.e. your doctors, your work, hairdressers and home. In order to benefit from this, businesses need to make sure they become regular locations. Using social media \u2018check in\u2019s\u2019 at your locations and making sure your locations page is up to date is a good start.<\/p>\n

Google can link previous searches with current searches. If you are already showing your friend a Wikipedia page of Charlotte Church and you ask Alexa \u201cShow me pictures of \u2018Charlotte\u2019\u201d. Google can use your previous searches to determine which \u2018Charlotte\u2019 you are talking about.<\/p>\n

The language used to search for our questions is constantly changing so the words and phrases in our strategy for typed searches are now at risk of becoming out of date. If we consider a few simple points we are able to make our SEO strategy voice search ready:<\/p>\n