Voice search technology has been around in some form or another since the 1980’s, but it wasn’t until Apple’s introduction of “Siri” in 2011 that the revolution really got underway. “Voice search” is the concept of technology that allows users to search for information by asking questions aloud rather than typing them into a search field on a device.

Voice Search Statistics

  • A 2016 report showed that more than 40% of adults utilize voice-based searches daily.
  • The error rate of microsoft voice recognition software is now equal to that of its human counterpart at 5.1
  • Sales of “smart speakers” more than tripled in 2017.
  • 60% of people using voice search technology started in the last year.
  • People can speak 150 words a minute on average and type only 40 words a minute.
  • It is easy to see that use of voice search technology is rapidly increasing. The information that systems such as Siri, Cortana, Google Home, Alexa and other provide has to come from somewhere. Many websites are already trying to determine the best ways to show up in voice recognition results. This means that they are putting out a conscious effort geared toward voice searches in their SEO campaign. SEO is an abbreviated term for “search engine optimization.”

    Voice Search and SEO

    Though the criteria vary by device, there are several things that are fairly consistent across the board. These are cues that the technology uses to quickly find relevant answers to questions asked by the user.

    The time it takes a page to load appears to be relevant with the average loading time for voice searches at 4.7 seconds. This is 52% faster than most pages. Websites that have authority tend to produce more results and most answers are only 29 words long. These responses are often written at a 9th grade reading level, making them as understandable as possible. Pages that rank high in normal search engine results tend to be used more frequently.

    Why Does Voice Search Matter?

    Some voice search technology respond by first citing the source of the information. If your website can be used as a source this creates brand recognition, which is a key factor in all marketing. If an app is connected to the voice search platform, the information and source will be sent to that app. This provides users an easy way to revisit the information. Some companies are even using voice shopping, which could prove important for ecommerce businesses.

    How to Integrate Voice Search Optimization into Your SEO

    The way in which you integrate voice searches into your business’s website will be unique for every company and design format. If you are curious what voice searches could mean for your business, contact the marketing team a Tree Ring Digital and let us help you get ready for the voice search revolution.