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Voice Search SEO (VSO): The Content Strategy No One Is Talking About (Yet!)

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Master the art of content structure and schema markup to rank higher in traditional and voice search—strategies no one else talks about.

Voice Search SEO: The Content Strategy No One Is Talking About (Yet!)

The Top Question Digital Marketers Are Asking: How Do You Optimize Content for Both Traditional and Voice Search?

Let’s face it—when was the last time you typed out a search query? Nowadays, more of us are asking our voice assistants, “Hey Siri, what’s the best way to optimize content for SEO and voice search?” Digital marketers everywhere are scrambling to crack the voice search code while trying to stay on top of traditional SEO strategies. And that’s the million-dollar question: How do you optimize your content to rank in traditional and voice search?

You see, I’ve been in digital marketing trenches for years. As the founder of a digital marketing agency that I scaled to a multi-million-dollar business, and now as a consultant working with forward-thinking brands, I’ve seen trends come and go. But voice search? It’s here to stay. Most people aren’t talking about how to structure content to answer both Siri and Google’s needs—and that’s exactly what we’ll dive into today.

Buckle up. You’re about to learn the strategy that will leave your competitors scratching their heads.

Content Structure for Traditional and Voice Search: It’s All About Dual-Purpose Optimization

First, let’s get one thing straight: voice search and traditional search aren’t mutually exclusive. You need a strategy that hits both targets. Here's how.

Concise, Direct Answers for Voice Search

Voice search users don’t want to scroll through paragraphs of content. They want answers—and they want them fast. Think of it like this: if you’re having a conversation, you don’t give someone a 500-word response, right? So why should your content?

Pro Tip:

  • Position a concise answer to your most pressing questions at the top of your content. Start with an FAQ format or bolded summary that grabs voice search snippets. This is your ticket to being featured as the go-to answer.

Conversational Tone Wins the Voice Search Game

Imagine how someone talks when they’re asking their voice assistant something. “How do I optimize my website for voice search?” not “Optimize voice search website content.” Your content should reflect this.

My Approach:

  • When I ran my digital agency, we shifted our content tone to be more conversational. This helped with voice search and increased user engagement on traditional search channels.

Long-Tail Keywords: The Secret Sauce

You’ve probably heard of long-tail keywords, but they're even more crucial in voice search. Most voice search queries are phrased as full sentences or questions—often longer than someone might type. By weaving natural-sounding long-tail keywords into your content, you align perfectly with what people ask their voice assistants.

For example, instead of just “digital marketing tips,” target “What are the best digital marketing tips for 2024?”

Aim for Featured Snippets and Position Zero

You're missing out if your content isn’t designed to win featured snippets. In traditional and voice search, position zero (the featured snippet) is prime real estate. Structuring your content with clear headers, bullet points, and concise answers will dramatically increase your chances of claiming that spot. 

In my experience, landing in position zero doesn’t just increase clicks—it puts your content at the forefront of voice search responses. Talk about a win-win.

Schema Markup for Traditional and Voice Search: Your Secret Weapon

Schema markup is the unsung hero of SEO, especially regarding voice search. While traditional search engines already rely heavily on structured data, voice search needs even more precise markup to understand and serve the right answers.

FAQ Schema: Your Fast Track to Voice Search Visibility

Adding FAQ schema to your pages allows search engines to pull direct answers to common questions—perfect for voice search. When you mark up your FAQ sections, you make it easy for Google to surface your content in traditional searches and voice responses. It’s a no-brainer for both.

How-To Schema: For Step-by-Step Excellence

People love step-by-step guides, and so do search engines. Using How-To schema, you can mark up instructional content so it’s easily digestible for traditional and voice search queries. When I implemented this for clients, we saw a measurable uptick in search visibility and engagement.

Speakable Schema: The Game-Changer No One’s Using

Okay, here’s something most marketers don’t discuss: Speakable schema. This specific schema is designed for voice search, allowing you to designate which parts of your content are optimized for voice playback. Think about news articles or critical info that would sound great spoken aloud. This is exactly how you get Alexa or Google Assistant to prioritize your content.

Local Business & Product Schema: For When Location and Products Matter

If you’re running an eCommerce site or a local business, Product schema, and Local Business schema are your friends. They help search engines display relevant product details and business information (like hours and address) to users—whether they’re typing or speaking their search query. This tactic proved highly effective in my work with marine clients who needed to optimize their dealer networks for both local and voice searches.

The Tools You Need to Optimize Schema for Voice and Traditional Search

To implement the perfect schema, you’ll want to arm yourself with the right tools:

  • Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper: This is the easiest way to start with structured data.
  • Schema.org: The holy grail of schema types. It’s your go-to for every type of structured data you might need.
  • Rich Results Test: Once your schema is live, run it through this tool to ensure Google’s reading it properly.

Best Practices for SEO-Friendly Schema

  • Stay on Top of Updates: Search engines and your schema evolve. Stay updated on the latest developments to ensure your structured data works in your favor.
  • Follow Google’s Guidelines Religiously: A mistake in your schema could prevent your content from appearing in search results. Don’t leave it to chance.

Final Thoughts: Voice Search Isn’t the Future—It’s the Present

There’s no more “wait and see” in voice search optimization. The time is now. As more users shift to voice-first queries, the brands that adapt will be the ones reaping the rewards. Structuring your content and implementing schema for both traditional and voice search isn’t just smart—it’s essential for staying competitive.

FREE CONSULTATION

Want to get ahead of the competition and make your content work for traditional and voice search? Contact me today to start optimizing your website and schema for the future of search.

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