Welcome aboard, mates, to the final chapter of our DIY SEO Guide. Just like “eating a whale,” optimizing your website for search engines may seem daunting at first. However, with the right approach and strategy, we can break it down into manageable “bite-sized” tasks and ride the waves to achieve significant results.
In the previous parts of our guide, we swam through the basics of SEO, dived deep into optimizing website content, and surfed our way through some of the technical aspects of SEO. In the last leg of our journey, we will don our scuba gear and explore one last “bite:” optimizing for voice search. In addition to the 7 bites of SEO we’ve covered, we also provide some FAQs so you can continue your SEO voyage.
So, hoist the mainsail, grab the helm, and let’s set course to finish eating the whale of SEO!
*Be sure to Read Part !, Part II, and Part III before jumping aboard.
Bite #7: Optimizing for Voice Search
As more and more people rely on their mobile devices to search for products and services, the popularity of voice searches is rapidly growing. In fact, it is estimated that 27 percent of the online community is now using voice searches when looking for businesses or products. With so many potential customers using voice searches, it is critical that your website is optimized to capture as much of that traffic as possible. In this article, we will provide an easy DIY guide to SEO for optimizing your site for voice searches.
Why Optimize for Voice Searches?
First, it’s important to understand why optimizing your website for voice searches is essential for your business. The primary reason is that the phrasing used in voice searches often differs from traditional keyboard searches. Voice searches tend to be more conversational and are often used to inquire about specific products, services, directions, and hours of operation. Failure to optimize for voice searches could result in a missed opportunity to capture a significant amount of potential traffic to your website.
How to Optimize for Voice Searches
Below are some strategies for optimizing your website for voice search. You may observe some overlapping concepts that we have already covered in earlier sections of this blog series.
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Use natural language and long-tail keywords
When optimizing for voice searches, it is essential to use natural language and long-tail keywords. Natural language is the language we use in everyday conversation. Long-tail keywords are specific phrases that contain several words that a user might say when making a voice search. For instance, instead of optimizing for “best restaurants,” optimize for “what are the best restaurants in San Francisco?” Using natural language and long-tail keywords can help your website rank higher in voice search results.
Read more in Part III of our DIY SEO Guide
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Focus on FAQ pages
People tend to use voice searches to ask questions, which is why FAQ pages are crucial for optimizing for voice searches. Make sure your FAQ pages are structured in a way that provides clear and concise answers to potential customer questions. You can also optimize your FAQ pages by using natural language and long-tail keywords in your answers.
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Optimize for local searches
Voice searches are often used for local searches, such as “near me” or “closest to me.” Optimizing your website for local searches can help your business rank higher in voice search results. Make sure your website includes your location and contact information on every page. You can also optimize your website for local searches by using local keywords such as “best restaurants in San Francisco” or “pizza places near me.”
Read more in our blog post: 3 Local Search Ranking Metrics You Need to Know
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Improve page speed and mobile responsiveness
Page speed and mobile responsiveness are essential for optimizing for voice searches. Mobile devices are often used for voice searches, which means your website needs to be optimized for mobile devices. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly. Slow page speed and poor mobile responsiveness can result in a lower ranking in voice search results.
Read more in Part II of our DIY SEO Guide
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Use structured data
Structured data is a type of code that provides additional information to search engines. Using structured data can help your website rank higher in voice search results. Make sure your website includes structured data such as business name, address, phone number, and business hours
*Read more in Part II of our DIY SEO Guide
Optimizing your website for voice searches is critical for capturing potential traffic to your website. You can optimize your website for voice searches by using natural language and long-tail keywords, focusing on FAQ pages, and optimizing for local searches. Additionally, improving page speed and mobile responsiveness, and using structured data can increase your chances of ranking higher in voice search results. With the easy DIY steps to SEO provided in this article, you can start optimizing your website for voice searches and capture more potential customers to your business.
DIY SEO Guide: FAQs
The following section includes some FAQs encompassing all of the topics we have covered during our entire DIY SEO Guide.
What are the different types of SEO?
There are three types of SEO: On-page SEO, Off-page SEO, and Technical SEO. On-page SEO focuses on optimizing the content and structure of your website pages. Off-page SEO is all about building backlinks and promoting your website on other sites. Technical SEO involves optimizing the technical aspects of your website, such as its speed and mobile-friendliness.
How long does it take to see results from SEO?
SEO is a long-term strategy, and it can take several months to see significant results. However, the time it takes to see results depends on various factors, including the competitiveness of your industry, the quality of your content, and the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.
How can I track the performance of my Google My Business listing?
You can track the performance of your Google My Business listing by accessing the Insights section of your account. This provides information about how customers find your business, including the number of views, searches, and clicks on your listing.
Learn more about Google Profile Insights
What should I include in my response to a Google Business Profile review?
When responding to a Google Business Profile review, thank the customer for their feedback. Address any specific concerns or issues raised in the review and offer a resolution if possible. Keep your response professional and avoid getting defensive.
Can I remove negative Google Business Profile reviews?
Google does not allow businesses to remove negative reviews unless they violate Google’s review policies. However, businesses can flag reviews that violate the policies and request their removal.
What is the difference between a mobile-friendly website and a mobile app?
A mobile-friendly website displays properly on mobile devices. A mobile app is a downloadable application for mobile devices with different requirements. Both can be effective for reaching mobile users, but they serve different purposes and have different design and development requirements.
What is a rich snippet, and how does it relate to schema markups?
A rich snippet is a visual enhancement to a search result that displays additional information about the content on a webpage, such as ratings, reviews, and pricing. Schema markups provide the structured data that search engines use to generate rich snippets in search results.
Can schema markups be used for social media sharing?
Yes, schema markups can be used to provide additional information about shared content on social media, such as the title, description, and image.
How can I track my website’s performance and SEO efforts?
You can track your website’s performance and SEO efforts using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. These tools can provide you with valuable insights.
How do I stay up to date with the latest SEO trends and best practices?
To stay up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and best practices, you can read industry blogs, attend webinars and conferences, and follow industry experts on social media. It’s also important to keep testing and experimenting with different SEO strategies to see what works best for your business.
How can I use social media to improve my SEO?
While social media itself is not a direct ranking factor, it can indirectly impact your SEO by driving traffic to your website, increasing brand awareness, and generating backlinks. You can use social media to promote your content, engage with your audience, and build relationships with influencers in your industry.
How do I create an effective SEO strategy?
To create an effective SEO strategy, you should start by setting clear goals and objectives for your website. You should then conduct keyword research, analyze your competition, and create a content plan that aligns with your goals and target keywords. You should also regularly measure and track your results to make adjustments as needed.
Final Synopsis: Down the Hatch
In conclusion, implementing a successful SEO strategy is no easy feat. It requires a combination of technical expertise, creativity, and dedication. However, by following the tips and techniques covered in this four-part blog post series, you can eat the Whale of SEO and improve your website’s search rankings, visibility, and overall performance.
Setting up a Google Business Profile, getting reviews and engaging with customers, optimizing your website for mobile viewing, adding schema markups, using user-generated content and keywords, and optimizing for voice search are all important elements to consider when developing an effective SEO strategy.
By taking a DIY approach and leveraging these techniques, you can improve your website’s search engine rankings and attract more targeted traffic to your site. Remember to monitor your progress regularly and adjust as needed to continue improving your SEO results over time. With persistence, patience, and a willingness to learn, you can successfully tackle the challenges of SEO and drive meaningful results for your business.