With 13 times more power than television, and with downloads of more than 1 billion apps, the internet is the most powerful medium of all time. But what does this mean for businesses? For one, it means that you need to optimize your website for better search engine placement so as to be seen by more people for increased sales and conversions. A lot can be accomplished through old-fashioned SEO (search engine optimization), but there is another approach you can take: harnessing the power of Voice Search.
Voice search has become the new normal, and the impact it is having on the way customers search is unlike anything we have ever seen. Voice search is still in its early stages, but even then, it’s becoming clear that it holds enormous potential to transform the way customers search for products and services. Before we get into the details behind this new marketing paradigm, let’s get familiar with what exactly voice search is, how it benefits E-commerce owners, and best practices in implementing it.
What is Voice Search?
Voice search can be thought of as “hands-free” search. It’s a way to run a search query by speaking rather than typing. It’s not a new technology by any means, but it has been getting a lot of attention lately.
Here’s why:
- It’s easier to use hands-free while doing other tasks like driving or cooking.
- It’s growing in popularity and is likely to become mainstream.
- It’s easier and faster than typing.
- You can say things that you can’t type – “show me pictures of purple cats.”
- You don’t have to worry about spelling.
- It’s more discreet.
With the rise of smart speakers such as Amazon’s Echo and Google Home, voice search is becoming more and more popular as a way to find information and shop online. This is the future of search, and it’s already here.
Voice Search In E-commerce
Using voice search in your E commerce store allows customers to search for products within the store without having to use a keyboard. Your phone or other devices have apps that allow you to speak into them and they will recognize the words you are saying, just like how Siri or Alexa work, but in this instance these apps are working with your ecommerce store by recognizing the brand names or product names people are searching for.
A voice search uses AI-powered technology to identify the phrases people use in order to draw results from a database. In this way, you can find exactly what you’re looking for without getting too much information about other things. Voice search typically executes what is called Natural Language Processing (NLP). NLP technology makes it easier to identify the words and phrases people use when searching. And since the technology is usually able to understand context in a natural tone, one can also expect that voice search will be far less likely to come up with suggestions but rather only relevant outcomes instead.
The new trend is a full-service customer experience that starts with a simple voice search and ends with an effective purchase, which can do wonders for your revenue stream.
Voice Search Trends & Growth in E-commerce
The worldwide voice search market is valued at around $3.2 billion, and it is expected to reach more than $37 billion by 2024.
The importance of Voice-Enabled Services in the next few years is evident from the fact that
1: The number of mobile app downloads is increasing at an exponential rate
2: More & more people are interested in buying voice assistants like Google Home & Alexa
3: 20% of all mobile searches are voice search
Benefits of Voice Search In E-commerce
- Ease of use :Voice search is easy to use, can be done on the move, and offers an instant solution to the problem of locating the right products or services.
- Hands Free Solution: Being able to shop hands-free offers a huge benefit to the consumer, who can now shop without having to look at a screen or type in words.
- A better user experience : Voice search helps to eliminate the tedious multi-step process of finding a product and adding it to cart. It gives a natural and seamless experience to the customers. It helps in creating an engaging customer experience that goes beyond the website with voice-activated assistance.
- Increased Conversions & Sales Uplifts : Voice search results in a 50% increase in conversions and 25% increase in sales.
- Easy to navigate: Voice searches are easy to navigate and since it is voice-based, it will be easier for the customers to find what they want.
- Personalised Shopping: Voice search can help in personalised shopping to the consumer based on his shopping preferences.
Challenges to Implementing Voice Search in E-commerce
The main problem with voice search is the lack of context. Customers speaking into a device can’t be expected to complete a coherent thought. They’re speaking into thin air, unaided, with no keyboard or pointer to guide them. That makes it hard for voice search to be used to its full potential. It’s not just the problem of speech recognition. It’s also the issue of getting the right product to the right customer, in the right order, at the right time.
Here are the few challenges that owners have to overcome –
Changing Search Behavior of Their Customers
It takes time for customers to adapt and change how they search for information. But in the long run, it will be better for them because they will find relevant information faster. So businesses need to focus on getting the maximum exposure for their brand and products by improving content marketing strategies to appeal to voice search users.
Adding New Features
Voice search is different from traditional typing when it comes to adding new features. They need to focus on adding relevant information when they use their site or app, or else it may cause confusion or problems with voice search output.
Addressing Privacy Concerns
It will be a challenge for businesses to address the consumer’s concerns regarding the use of personal data. If they don’t do it right, people will be reluctant to continue using their sites. It also helps in getting maximum audience attention and awareness.
Adhering to Top Guidelines
It will take time for businesses to improve their current search engine ranking, which means they have to work on their content marketing strategies and continually improve their voice search experience.
Best Practices of Implementing Voice Search in E-commerce
If you want your online store to have the best shopping experience possible, then you need to keep up with trends and optimize your site for those who use voice search. Allow me to explain a few of the best practices for this!
SEO Optimization
When you are using a virtual assistant, keywords are what really matters. Speech recognition software works by picking up on key terms you use in conversation to make your requests or perform your search queries. This means that you need to have good SEO for your site if you want your pages to be found by potential customers using their phone. Make sure that the keywords in your content are appropriate for voice search so that people can find you.
Use Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords will be more specific and easier to rank for. So you should use long-tail keywords when it comes to adding them to your content because it will help you get maximum search engine rankings. It’s also essential to add keywords to your content to help you be more discoverable in Google and Bing searches.
Use a Conversational Tone in Your Content
It’s essential to give a great voice search experience by creating engaging and relevant content that makes the user feel like they are having a real conversation with the brand or product.
Use a Relevant & Organised Site Structure
With so many products to sell, it’s important to arrange your store in a way that showcases the best products and offers features like site maps (for easy navigation) and clear product categories (to make it easier for consumers to find what they’re looking for).
Among the most important requirements for your eCommerce website is that it be clear, concise, and customer-centric. Customers expect to find what they’re looking for fast. If your cart navigation or product pages are confusing or disorganized, you risk losing potential buyers. The more organized your online store the better because if there’s one thing customers hate, it’s feeling lost in a web of information. And if they get stuck trying to locate their desired information/product, they may move on to another retail site that offers a less complex shopping experience.
Responsive & Faster Site
Focusing on speed is essential for your online business. If your website isn’t loading in a fast manner or it also doesn’t flow well across all devices, its likely to take a hit when ranking takes place. Think of this just like shopping in stores. The quicker you can get out of the store with your items – the more likely you are to return again to that location! Along with that – having an interface that flows naturally across multiple platforms is not only important but becoming standard these days too.
How Can BitCot Help?
It’s an amazing time to be a business owner. The ability to reach a global audience is at your fingertips. But the competition is fierce and businesses must grow and adapt to stay ahead. Digital commerce has opened up new opportunities for business growth, which is why it’s important to stay ahead of the curve.
BitCot can help you in Integrating Voice search in your E-commerce store by optimizing your store for voice search, integrating necessary tools and applications. If you want to know more about how to implement voice search for your E-commerce reach out to us for free consultation here
