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As the popularity of smart devices continues to grow, voice search is quickly becoming the new normal for internet users. In fact, according to a report by ComScore, by 2020, 50% of all searches were conducted via voice search. In this article, we’ll dive into the latest voice search statistics to outline the impact of voice search on the consumer behavior and how businesses can leverage this trend.

The Popularity of Voice Search Continues to Grow

The rise of voice search is undeniable. Here are some of the latest voice search statistics that demonstrate its growing popularity:

1. By 2022, the number of voice assistants is expected to reach $7.8 billion globally – Business Insider
2. 111.8 million people in the United States use voice assistants monthly – Voicebot
3. 72% of people who own voice-activated speakers say their devices are often used as part of their daily routine – Think with Google
4. 62% of consumers who have used voice search through a mobile device want to access even more voice-activated capabilities – PwC
5. 48% of consumers use voice assistant technology for general information gathering – Search Engine Journal

These statistics illustrate the significant shift towards voice search and the increasing preference for voice assistance in daily life, highlighting its potential impact on consumer behavior.

How Voice Search is Changing Consumer Behavior

With the rise in voice search, there has been a notable shift in how consumers search for information. Here are some of the ways that voice search is changing consumer behavior:

1. Long-Tail Keyword Searches

With voice search, people tend to use more conversational language when searching. This means that search queries usually include long-tail keywords, which provide more detail and context than traditional search terms. Therefore, long-tail keywords are becoming increasingly important in SEO.

2. Increased Preference for Local Search

According to a report by ChatMeter, 80% of voice search results come from Google My Business listings. This means that local SEO is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses, as consumers search for businesses and services near their location.

3. More Conversational Interactions

Voice search offers an interactive and personalized experience. Consumers use conversational language when addressing their voice assistants, often treating them like a human conversation partner. Therefore, businesses must optimize their content to include conversational language to meet consumer needs.

4. Multi-Tasking and Efficiency

One of the most significant advantages of voice search is that it enables users to multitask. Smart speaker owners use their devices for tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and working, which reduces the need for physical involvement and increases productivity.

Related: Top 6 Types of Content Marketing and Why Your Business Needs Them

How Businesses Can Leverage Voice Search

With the rise of voice search, businesses must adjust their SEO and content marketing strategies to meet the changing needs of consumers. Here are a few ways to leverage voice search for business growth:

1. Target Long-Tail Keywords

Optimizing content for long-tail keywords can help businesses become more discoverable in voice search results. This is because voice search queries often use conversational language and include more context, giving preference to natural language queries.

2. Personalize Content

Personalization can enhance the voice search experience for consumers. For businesses, this means creating content that addresses the needs of the customer precisely. Use data analysis to gain insights on audience preferences and generate customer personas.

3. Optimize for Local Search

Creating or optimizing local listings and content, such as reviews or ratings, can boost the chances of businesses appearing in voice search results. Businesses can leverage local SEO practices such as using Google My Business and creating local profiles on website directories.

4. Leverage FAQs

Creating Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) pages on websites with conversational language and natural language keywords can aid in ranking for voice search. It also provides a Q & As format for any informational queries that consumers may have.

Related: Top Social Media Statistics 2023

Conclusion

As voice search continues to grow in popularity, businesses must adapt their SEO and content marketing strategies to stay ahead of the curve. Analyzing voice search statistics and understanding the impact of voice search on consumer behavior can help businesses leverage the technology in their marketing and sales growth plans. Personalizing content, targeting long-tail keywords, optimizing local SEO, and creating FAQs pages are ways that businesses can adapt to the changing consumer search behavior. By staying abreast of voice search statistics, businesses can capitalize on this trend and the associated opportunities and improve customer engagement, higher conversion rates, and drive revenue growth.

Sources

1. Business Insider’s article on the global voice assistant market: https://www.businessinsider.com/voice-assistant-smart-speaker-market-share-2019-11
2. Voicebot’s report on voice assistant usage in the US: https://voicebot.ai/2021/04/13/111-8-million-people-in-the-u-s-will-use-a-voice-assistant-at-least-monthly-this-year/
3. Think with Google’s research on the role of voice assistants in daily routines: https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/voice-assistants/
4. PwC’s report on the rise of voice technology and consumer behavior: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/library/consumer-intelligence-series/voice-assistants.html
5. Search Engine Journal’s article on voice search for local businesses: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo/optimize-for-voice-search/