Voice Search: The Future of Online Business

Voice Search: The Future of Online Business

Have you ever asked Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant a question instead of typing it on your phone or computer? If so, you are part of the growing trend of voice search, which is changing the way people interact with the internet and businesses online.

Voice search is the use of natural language to ask a question or make a request to a device or program that can understand and respond with voice. It is faster, easier, and more convenient than typing, especially for mobile users and smart speaker owners.

According to a report by Juniper Research, voice-based ad revenue could reach $19 billion by 2022, as more than half of global internet users will use voice search at least once a week. The report also predicts that voice commerce will grow to $80 billion by 2023, as more consumers use voice to shop online and order products and services.

However, voice search also poses some challenges and opportunities for businesses that want to succeed in this new era of online marketing. Here are some of the key aspects to consider:

• Competitive landscape: Voice search is dominated by a few major players, such as Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, which have their own devices, platforms, and algorithms. Businesses need to optimize their websites and content for these different voice search engines and follow their best practices and guidelines.

• Growth opportunity: Voice search offers a huge potential for businesses to reach new customers and increase conversions, especially in local markets. According to Google, 46% of voice search users look for local businesses daily, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase. Businesses need to claim and update their online listings, use location-based keywords, and provide relevant and accurate information to attract and retain voice search users.

• Challenges: Voice search also presents some difficulties for businesses to rank well and provide a good user experience. For example, voice search queries are usually longer and more conversational than typed queries, which means businesses need to use natural language and long-tail keywords in their content. Additionally, voice search results are usually limited to one or a few answers, which means businesses need to provide clear and concise answers that match the user intent and query.

• Use cases: Voice search can be used for various purposes and scenarios, such as finding information, entertainment, directions, products, services, reviews, recommendations, bookings, reservations, and more. Businesses need to understand the different use cases and contexts of voice search and provide relevant and personalized solutions that meet the user needs and expectations.

In summary, voice search is a fast-growing and evolving trend that will shape the future of online business. Businesses that want to stay ahead of the curve need to adapt their strategies and tactics to optimize their websites and content for voice search engines and users. By doing so, they can gain a competitive edge and increase their visibility, traffic, sales, and customer loyalty.