How to Optimize Your Content For Mobile Readability and Voice Search

Figuring out how to optimize your website correctly is easier said than done. With Google’s algorithms constantly changing, keeping up with SEO (search engine optimization) best practices can feel overwhelming. 

So what can you do to make sure your content is optimized correctly? 

There are a few different areas you can optimize to give your website the best chance of success. In this article, we’re going to take a look at mobile readability and voice search.

So keep reading to find out how you can optimize your website content for all your mobile users and make sure your website is found by consumers using voice search.

3 ways to optimize your content for mobile readability 

Not only are there 6.378 billion smartphone users worldwide, but research shows that 60% of online searches are made through a mobile device. 

So when it comes to SEO, optimizing your content for mobile readability is pretty important. Failing to do so could mean that you’ll miss out on potential consumers visiting your site. Not to mention, Google will penalize your ranking position, too.

Let’s take a look at some of the actionable steps you can take to optimize your website for mobile. 

1. Use a responsive website design 

Having a responsive website ensures that your site is mobile-friendly. It takes all the content from your desktop site and changes the layout based on the visitor’s device. 

Put simply, it includes all the same content, but it displays it differently based on the device. 

There are many responsive website makers out there to choose from (platforms such as WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace all offer this feature). 

But what about if you already have a website and it’s not responsive? 

Don’t worry. If you want to move across to a responsive website, you’ll need website migration. This will transfer all your existing website content to a new domain, so you won’t lose any information throughout the process. 

If you’re not sure where to start, you can always hire a website developer to work on this for you.

2. Avoid large blocks of text 

When a mobile user opens your website, they don’t want to see endless amounts of text. 

Why?

Because on such a small screen, too much text can make it hard to navigate. If visitors don’t like a text-heavy site, chances are they’ll leave pretty quickly. This can lead to a high bounce rate, which Google will consider when determining your ranking.

So how should you structure your web content for a mobile device? 

Here’s what we’d suggest: 

• Condense your text: If you have text-heavy pages, condense them down for mobile users. Take out any information that’s not necessary. This will keep it shorter and easier to navigate. 
• Break up the text: If you don’t want to take any content away, at least think about how you can break it up. For example, you can break up text with images, videos, or a call to action. 

If you’ve got too much going on, it’ll make it hard for the website user to navigate. So keep it simple, don’t use large blocks of text, and keep your design as light as possible. It’ll make it easier for everyone to move around your site, no matter what device they’re using. 

3. Use widgets 

Widgets are applications embedded into your website. They’re a great way to structure the content on your mobile site, allowing you to make it more interesting and practical for visitors. When used well, they improve the user experience. 

Here’s an example of a widget that helps users compare PEO companies. Much more efficient than having an entire list of 957 companies for people to sift through, don’t you think?

So, what widgets should you use on your mobile site? 

Let’s take a look at a couple of options: 

• Live chat: Adding a chatbot to your mobile site gives users a quick and easy way to get in touch with you, which is a great way to improve the user experience. Apps such as Botsify and Smartsupp can help you embed a chatbot to your site. 
  

• Search bar: Navigating a mobile site isn’t always a walk in the park. It can be harder to get around compared to using a desktop, so what can you do to make it easier? A search bar is a good place to start. Take a look at Swiftype to get a search bar embedded in your mobile site. 

3 ways to optimize your content for voice search 

With the increase in smartphone usage, consumers have also gained access to virtual assistants, such as Siri or Google Assistant. This has resulted in more people using voice search than ever before.  

In fact, the beginning of 2019 saw 42% of the online population conducting a voice search. That’s almost half of all online users opting for voice search. 

So what can you do to optimize your website content for users that are searching with voice? 

Let’s take a look. 

1. Understand what people are searching for

Knowing what people are searching for helps you tailor your website content accordingly. And when you have relevant content, visitors are more likely to stick around. 

Take a look at SwagBucks, for example. Its website offers consumers discounts and coupon codes for various retailers. 

So let’s say a consumer searches for ‘hobby lobby coupons’ and they see a SwagBucks page that provides them with the coupons they’re looking for.

In this situation, SwagBucks has created a page that matches the search intent of its consumers. 

But how can you find out what people are looking for when they use voice search? 

It’s a little more complex when it comes to voice search. 

Why?

Because the way we type queries into Google is different from the way we search with voice. More often than not, people searching with their voices will ask questions. 

Here’s an example: 

• Typed search: ‘florists near me’
• Voice search: ‘Where can I find a florist near me?’ 
  

Spend some time researching commonly searched questions that relate to your business.  You can use websites like Google Analytics, MarketMuse, and SEMRush to do this. 

2. Write in a conversational tone

To optimize your content for voice search, you need to match the conversational language that people use to ask questions. 

As we’ve just outlined in the florist search example, consumers tend to use keyword-based phrases when they type. But when people use voice search, the phrases are more conversational. 

So, to optimize your site efficiently, you need to write in a natural tone. By doing this, you’re not just matching the language used in the voice search, but you’re also building your brand’s voice.

How then can you make sure your content is conversational and concise? 

We’ve got a few suggestions: 

• Use short sentences with simple language: Don’t overcomplicate the language and keep your sentences short and sweet. 
• Use contractions: Contractions often have a colloquial feel to them, so make sure to include them wherever possible. If you don’t, it can disrupt the flow of your content. 
• Keep it professional to a certain extent: By using conversational language, we’re not saying that you should throw all professionalism out the window. Your content should still be clear and concise to give visitors quick access to the information they need. 

3. Optimize for local search

56% of consumers used voice search on their mobile devices to find a local business. 

What does this tell us? You need to focus on local SEO when optimizing your site for voice search. 

Optimizing for local SEO involves focusing on how to improve your search visibility within certain locations. 

For example, if you’re a baker in New York City, you’d optimize your site to appear for voice searches such as, “what’s the best bakery in New York?” or, “is there a bakery near me?” 

Let’s take a look at what you can do to optimize your content for local search. 

• Claim your Google My Business page: When someone searches for something nearby, Google will show them the local search results. To make sure your business appears in these searches, you need to claim your Google My Business page and keep it up to date. Here’s how you can claim ownership. 

• Identify local search terms: Find the search terms that you want to target and incorporate these into your content. That’ll help you rank higher for these phrases and attract customers in your local area. 

Get your website ready for mobile and voice

You’ve now got a pretty good understanding of how to optimize your website content for mobile readability and voice search. Hopefully, you’ll put these tips into action and get more traffic, provide consumers with a better experience, and get more conversions.

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