The Future of Search: Optimizing for Different Search Mediums

The way modern consumers search online has changed.  

Today, it’s not just about text-based search anymore. Users can now look stuff up online through voice command and by showing Google a picture of the item they wish to buy.

As a result, people’s lives are made easier, and going about daily tasks has become more convenient.  

They no longer need to manually navigate or type on their phones to get things done, which means they can multitask with ease. They’ll just command their voice assistants to perform the task at hand - whether it’s to book a flight or snap a photo of a bag they want to buy - and the job will be completed in no time.

As a business owner, more search mediums mean more opportunities to appear in front of your ideal customers. Newer mediums also offer a low-competition option for driving traffic, generating leads, and making more sales!

All you have to do is to optimize your website and its content for voice and visual search so your target audience can find you no matter what medium they’re using to look for information online.

So, how do you optimize for voice and visual search?

As your go-to SEO and marketing company in Florida, we are going to share tips to help you optimize your website and its content for different search mediums.  

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Optimizing for Different Search Mediums 2022

How to Optimize for Voice Search

More than 30% of internet users in the U.S. use a voice assistant to search for product information or purchase products online. Voice shopping is also predicted to reach $40 billion in 2022.

With voice becoming increasingly popular, your goal is to make sure that voice search devices can pick up on your search results so your pages have a chance to get read out loud.  

But, what should you do to get your pages to rank high in voice search results? Take a look at our tips below!

1. Optimize for Local Search Results. Most queries people make via mobile and voice are location-based queries. To rank high in voice search, start by claiming or updating your Google My Business listing. Then, create content that answers location-based questions and uses localized keywords.  

         Other than that, here’s what else you can do to optimize for search:

• Add schema markup to your HTML to help search engines better understand what your site is all about and improve the way they represent your page in the search engine results pages.  
• Keep your NAP (name, address, phone number) consistent across all your presence online. Don’t forget to update them if necessary.  
• Enlist your business to local, trusted directories, such as Yelp, Foursquare, and Yahoo.  

• Feature reviews on your website. The more ratings and reviews you have, the higher you’ll rank.  
• Localize your keywords and make more local content.

2. Use Long-Tail, Conversational Keywords

People conduct text-based search differently than when they do it through voice search.

Voice queries are conducted using natural, conversational language. That’s why targeting long-tail, conversational keywords is crucial if you aim to rank high for voice-generated search results pages.

For example, if someone is looking for a beauty salon to get a haircut, usually they would type in the keywords “salon near me”. But when they do it via voice, they would probably ask something like “Where can I get a haircut near me?”

Another thing to remember is that Google Search is available in 348 languages, which means it’s highly likely that people will use their spoken dialects when doing voice searches.  

That said, optimize your keywords for each specific country and region you want to target. Doing so will help boost your visibility and increase your chances of ranking high for voice search.  

3. Create Content for Featured Snippets

Voice search devices generate answers from the top of the SERPs or featured snippets.  

Featured snippets tend to answer queries right away, so when making content, format it according to the three major types of featured snippets:

• List
• Paragraph
• Table

However, it’s important to consider the type of question you’re answering. Identify what kind of content will satisfy your target audience’s queries because some questions are best answered via video, while others require in-depth discussions.  

When optimizing for featured snippets, take note of these things:

• Answer frequently asked questions concisely.
• Structure and organize your content.
• Make sure your articles cover a top in-depth.

• Use high-quality, relevant visuals.  
• Update old images.
• Track and monitor how your content is performing.

4. Optimize for Mobile

Did you know that Google crawls and indexes mobile-friendly websites first over pages that aren’t mobile optimized? This tells us that we’re shifting towards a mobile-first world.

Since voice search happens on mobile, you must optimize your content for mobile devices too. Here’s how:

• Use a mobile-responsive web design.  
• Increase your site’s loading speed.  
• Redesign your pop-up ads for mobile devices.  
• Optimize your content for readability.

• Use simple words.  
• Learn how people navigate your site and read your content on mobile devices.  
• Use high-quality, engaging visuals.  
• Use lists and bullets.  

Now that you know how to optimize for voice, it's time to learn how to optimize for visual search.  

How to Optimize for Visual Search

E-commerce websites that adapt to visual search are predicted to boost their digital commerce income by 30%. 74% of consumers say that image-based search is more useful at helping them find the right products online.  

Visual search is crucial to consumers, especially when you consider the fact that there are more objects in the world than words can ever describe in the English language. That’s why you must optimize your images to enable more people to find your products.  

So, how can you optimize your business for visual search to help leads find your products?

5. Don’t Rely on One Image Only

When it comes to optimizing your site for visual search, you can’t rely on one product image only. You need to be able to offer various images of your products.  

This will give you the assurance that users will still find your product first, no matter which angle they’re taking the photo of your product.  

6. Use Great Images

Pique your ideal customers' interest by using high-quality, engaging photos of your products.  

Besides attracting leads, using eye-catching photos also helps Google process your image to match a user's search query.  

Low-quality images are a major turn-off. They make your products unappealing and your site appear unprofessional at the same time.  

7. Incorporate Keywords into Your Product Image Description

Keywords are effective at providing a better description of your product image. So, do keyword research to find the right key terms for your photos and campaigns.  

Focus on more specific and detailed keywords so you can attract leads who are closer to making a purchase.  

For instance, you’re selling shoes and you have a lead that’s looking for black leather boots. Which keywords do you think will get better results: “Boots” or “Black leather boots for men”?

Of course, it’s the latter. Boots are too generic. There's no way of determining the color or type of material your boots are made of.  

8. Integrate Keywords into Your Image Title and Description

When you save your images, use descriptive titles and descriptions that include your keywords.  

Your image titles and descriptions are there for three reasons: To help Google identify the context and subject of your photos, to help potential customers discover your products faster, and to help visually impaired people read and understand an image.  

Don’t forget to include alt tags in your images either, as Google depends on them to learn what your images are all about. An alt tag is where you can put detailed information about your images.  

9. Optimize Image Size

It’s critical to use high-resolution images because they look great no matter which device a user is viewing your images from.  

However, high-resolution images take time to load, which means they can slow your website down. To solve this, optimize your image size and file type.  

Tinypng.com is a fantastic tool you can use to reduce the file size of your images without sacrificing their quality. It will reduce loading time and attract leads simultaneously.  

Need Help Optimizing Your Website for Voice and Visual Search?

The future of search is definitely text-based, so optimize your website as early as now for visual and voice search.  

Use the tips we just shared to get you started in optimizing your website and its content for different mediums.  

If you’re having trouble ranking for search, we can help you turn your situation around.  

Digital Resource is an SEO marketing company in Florida. We’re dedicated to helping small businesses increase their visibility online and achieve their business goals through effective digital marketing.  

Our team of SEO specialists can help you optimize your business for both voice and visual search today. Don’t hesitate to do what’s best to help your business thrive this 2022. Contact us!

‍