The digital world is transforming faster than ever lately and startups are suggested to adapt quickly to survive as well as to thrive. The most impactful developments amid such a scenario in search engine optimization (SEO) are voice and visual search SEO strategies. The two technologies are redefining the way users discover content, interact with brands and make purchasing decisions. Startups ignoring the trends may risk losing valuable traffic and even may fall behind competitors.
What is Voice and Visual Search SEO
Voice and visual search SEO basically encompass such techniques which optimize content for voice-based queries and image-based searches. Use of smart devices has increased several folds in recent years. More users are gradually engaging with digital platforms in a different approach that is beyond traditional text searches. Hence, voice assistants and image recognition tools are becoming important.
Voice Search
Voice search is a core part of user behavior today. Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant and more such Smart assistants are making possible for users to ask questions verbally. The conversational queries are often longer and more natural compared to typed searches. Optimizing content for such queries is a key aspect of voice and visual search SEO for startups.
Visual Search
Visual search on the other hand allows users to search by using images and not text. Google Lens, Pinterest Lens, Snap Visual Search and more such tools enable users to upload photos and thereafter find similar products or information instantly. Hence, it opens opportunities for startups to reach such audiences who mainly prefer visual discovery and not to type keywords. Hence, it can be said that visual search is therefore another crucial component of voice and visual search SEO.
Startups & Voice and Visual Search SEO
Enhanced User Experience
Implementing voice and visual search SEO strategies of course creates a seamless experience for users. Users can interact more intuitively when a website supports natural voice queries and thereafter delivers accurate visual results. The convenience increases engagement, session duration as well as brand loyalty.
Improved Visibility, Improved Rankings
Search engines have started favoring more to such content which are optimized for both voice and visual queries. Startups adopting voice and visual search SEO techniques are said to be more likely to appear in featured snippets, image results and voice search responses.
Competitors
Early adoption of voice and visual search SEO can differentiate a startup from competitors. Startups position themselves as forward-thinking and tech-savvy by investing in such advanced technologies now.
Voice and Visual Search SEO Strategies
Use Conversational Keywords
Traditional SEO basically relies on short typed keywords. Voice searches on the other hand are conversational. Incorporating long-tail, natural language phrases is essential. It is hence better to optimize for “Where can I find the best coffee shop in New York City?” instead of For example, instead of “best coffee shop NYC.”
Local SEO
Most of the voice searches are location-based and startups are suggested to include local identifiers in their content. They should optimize their Google My Business profiles too. Local SEO integration is of course important for effective voice and visual search SEO.
Implement Structured Data
Structured data or schema markup helps search engines in understanding the context of content properly. Proper implementation therefore of course improves the chances of appearing in rich results as well as featured snippets. These are basically the key outcomes for voice and visual search SEO.
Optimize for Mobile and Speed
It is very true that voice and visual searches are predominantly performed on mobile devices. It is important to ensure that the website loads quickly and it is mobile-friendly too.
High-Quality Images and Metadata
Good image quality is highly important for visual search. It is therefore suggested to use high-resolution images, descriptive file names and accurate alt text. Optimizing images is an important step in voice and visual search SEO. Do note that it increases the likelihood of visuals appearing in search results.
Implement Image Sitemaps
Next important thing to note is adding images to the XML sitemap of the website as this helps search engines to discover as well as index them effectively. Image sitemaps are an important tool for such startups which are seeking to implement voice and visual search SEO.
Mobile Optimization for Visual Search
It is true that visual searches are often conducted on mobile devices. Hence, it is suggested to ensure that the images are responsive, loads quickly as well as display well on small screens. All these supports the goals of voice and visual search SEO.
Integrating Voice and Visual Search SEO
The future of search is of course multimodal. The search is to combine voice, visual as well as traditional text inputs. Hence, startups are suggested to develop such cohesive strategies which integrates all the aspects of voice and visual search SEO. Let us take an example that a user might ask, “Find me a red dress like this” while showing a reference image. Startups optimizing their content for both voice and visual queries ensures maximum discoverability.