Keeping up with the latest digital marketing and SEO strategies now includes understanding the ins and outs of voice search. Voice assistants like Siri and Alexa have changed the tone of the keywords you need to use for SEO. Keywords and phrases are now far more conversational, which is good news for content providers who struggle to make awkward keywords like German auto repair Chicago flow naturally.
Voice or spoken search commands are easier for people so more searches are now voice-based. That means the keywords you have depended on for many years are becoming outdated. Here we offer tips on how you can optimize your auto repair site for voice search.
Use Local Search Best Practices
Voice search is often related to location-based queries, such as “near me” searches. Someone at the side of the road with a broken-down car is more likely to ask their phone to find the closest auto shop near me to get their car towed for example. Therefore, local search best practices are a must.
This would include simple but very helpful local search optimization tactics such as claiming your Google My Business (GMB) listing and making sure all the details are filled in. Make sure your address is clear on your website on every page, and consistent across all citations for local directories, your social media channels, your GMB listing and your website. The more content on your GMB, the quicker Google can find you.
Start Using “Long-Tail” Conversational Keywords
Because voice search is more conversational, you’ll need to include long-tail keywords. People tend to ask Siri and Alexa complete questions when asking for assistance. So instead of typing in “German auto repair shop” people will come right out and ask, “Hey Siri, where is the closest German auto repair shop?” Think of common phrases people use when asking a question, include local SEO to target drivers in your area, and you’ll start mastering voice search optimization.
Here are some important stats data on Voice Search from Oberlo.
- Around 40.2% of the Unites States population use Voice Search features.
- 71% of consumers prefer to conduct queries by voice instead of typing.
- More than half of all owners of smart speakers use their device on a daily basis.
- More than one-quarter of the global online population is using the voice search feature on their mobile devices.
- 72% of US consumers are engaging with voice search through digital assistants.
Think FAQ
To leverage the conversational idea, a strong FAQ page will do a lot to boost your SEO. A well-structured FAQ that sounds like a question-and-answer session creates a voice-based structure ideal to have snippets of your FAQs captured by Google. Understanding the questions people ask starts with the 5 Ws. Who, what, when, where and why is the best way to create a good question and answer series. In your case, you want to replace the why with how, although you might get people asking something like “Why does my car shake when I speed up?” Consider the common questions your customers might ask and then list them and answer them in FAQs as well as throughout your site.
Ask Yourself Questions
You’re probably thinking, again with the questions? But this is why understanding voice search is so important. In this case, you have to ask yourself what questions do you want people to ask that will lead them to you. What expertise do you want to be known for? This helps drive even more pointed long-tail keyword ideas on your site, and in turn, helps you create the right kind of content your customers search and need.
Still Stick to KISS
Although we’ve mentioned long-tail questions and phrases a lot, you still want to keep things simple. It’s not like someone is going to ask their phone something like “Hey Siri, why is my car making a weird pinging sound, usually when I stop, but also sometimes when I start?” They might just say “weird sound when I stop” or “Why does my car ping when I stop?” People have caught on Siri and Alexa have low attention spans and will phase out if they ask something too complex. We’re talking nothing longer than five to nine words for long-tail phrases. Likewise, keep your content concise and not too technical, or you’ll lose your audience and people will bounce.
Remain Relevant and Informative
As always, relevant, informative content rules as your best SEO tool. Don’t start jamming your pages with too many voice and text-based keywords. If you stick to the Q & A premise and consider what information your ideal audience is seeking, then you’ll create an exceptional user experience. This increases the likelihood your content will appear in snippets.
Keep in mind not everyone is a talker. There are still people sticking to their keyboards for searches which means you to optimize with voice and traditional keywords to appeal to both types of queries.
The team at German Repair Shop Marketing is here to help your digital strategy make sense. Give us a call today.
