Voice search is not new technology. In fact, Google voice search had its initial release back in 2002. We may think of it as the latest and greatest but it is slowly increasing in mainstream use and results show that voice search technology went from near zero to making up 10% of all searches globally this year according to Timothy Tuttle of MindMeld. Recent improvements include understanding spoken syllables and producing results in an intuitive way. However, more changes are on the way.
Changes in the works as voice search evolves
- Voice search algorithms will improve. Understanding what the user is saying and translating it to achieve the optimum results will give the user a much more powerful search tool. Let’s say a user mispronounces words, uses local slang or any number of distorted queries, new and improved voice recognition will pick up on all of these irregularities.
- With mobile devices used in increasing numbers, mobile providers will undoubtedly provide a wide variety of search engine results pages using varied strategies to work with their products. With the limited screen space most mobile devices will have more options become available for ease of use. However, it doesn’t not stop there as smart home hubs and game consoles are integrated with digital assistants. Expect more personalized results, including preferences, histories and even a person’s location.
- You can expect voice searches to improve on voice inflection. Our voices can project emotion, which is often lost in translation when emailing or texting. The powerful communication that is unique to the human voice will soon become part of this technology, picking up on tone, inflection and emotion.
- Voice search programs are already in sync with personal digital assistants, and these are getting better and better at analyzing and interpreting the user’s needs. You can be sure to see more intuitive improvements for personal search preferences, search histories and even a person’s location
- According to a report by Morgan Stanley, robots and AI programs will replace nearly half of the jobs in America within the next couple of decades. Voice commands will become more integrated into our daily lives by extending search optimization into more physical and practical areas.
How can you prepare
- Use conversational language. If users are searching with casual conversational language then you should use it in your writing. Using more common and informal terminology will bring these users to your website.
- Optimize for long-tail keywords (three or four keyword phrases specific to your brand). For example, searching for a brown leather sofa will yield more relevant results than just using the word sofa.
- By proactively anticipating the emotion and intent of the consumer will take you a long way in reaching them at different stages of the buying cycle.
- Get ready for changes. At this point, it’s hard to say exactly where this is all going but be certain things will change. Stay open-minded and be zealous as you pay attention to new technologies and trends in the industry.
Final Thoughts
The better prepared you are when it comes to voice search the more quickly and easily you will be able to adapt to this changing environment. Stay one-step ahead of your competition by planning now for the inevitable changes coming in the future.