Why Authors Need to Optimize for Voice Search

Part 1

Did you know that by 2022 50% of all searches will be performed through voice and 30% of all searches will be done without a screen?

Yes, that’s 50%. According to a report by Score Publishing, best selling authors and publishers stand to lose millions because they are not optimizing for voice search.

What is voice search?

Voice Search is SPEECH RECOGNITION technology that allows users to perform searches by SAYING the terms aloud rather than by typing them into a search box.  More and more people are using spoken words  instead of typing out queries to search online.

If you’ve used a Google Home device, Siri,  Alexa, then you’ve used voice search technology.

How does it work?

Siri, Cortana, Alexa, and Google are all digital voice assistants. Voice search is processed through the following digital assistants.

·      Siri if you’re using Apple on iPhone or iPad

·      Cortana if you’re using Microsoft

·      Alexa if you’re using an Amazon Echo device

·      Google if you’re using a Google Device or Google Home device

Home devices that use voice assistants for voice search are called Smart Speakers.

·      Google Home

·      Amazon’s Echo

·      Microsoft Cortana

Common voice assistants like Siri, Google, Alexa are used in help and service phone lines, smartphones and other places to assist users with tasks, including:

• Listening to books (audiobooks)

• Requesting information (where voice search comes in)

• Performing mathematical calculations (like my kids love doing)

• Playing music

What happens currently with your book if someone performs a voice search for it? Nothing? Does it return your website? Recommend your book?

It’s like audiobooks were a few years ago, very few people bothered with them and now everyone has one.

In my next post I’ll go over how authors can make sure their books and websites are optimized for voice search.

Read some of my other posts:

• How to optimize your Amazon book pages

• Make sure you don’t use banned keywords, otherwise Amazon will hide your book.

• How authors can leverage SEO: Part 1 and Part 2