As technology grows and changes, the approach businesses take to online marketing must adjust as well. One of the biggest changes in online marketing in the past few years has been the increase in the prominence of voice search. Today’s consumers are highly likely to begin a search for a local service provider using voice search, and voice search has a strong impact on local search results.
What does this mean for a med spa like yours? Like all businesses, med spas and plastic surgery businesses need to adapt to be relevant to voice search users. Voice search optimization must be a key part of your local search strategy if you will reach all potential clients. So how can you do this? Here are some local voice SEO tips for med spas, plastic surgeons, and other cosmetic-focused businesses to ensure yours is the business people see when using voice search.
How Does Voice Search Work?
Before diving into local voice SEO tips for med spas, you must first understand how voice search works and the impact it has on local search results.
Voice search is a search performed through voice, rather than typing keywords into a search box. Users speak their queries rather than typing them, and thus, they tend to be done in complete sentences. Voice search platforms uses speech recognition and natural language processing to interpret what the searcher says and deliver results relevant to the query. The results may come through audio, or they may be displayed on a GPS map or through traditional search results, depending on the device and intent of the searcher.
This way of searching is becoming increasingly popular because it’s incredibly easy and fast to do. Recent data says that as many as 5% of digital purchases now start with voice searches. In addition, 41% of adults in the US are using voice search daily, and by the end of 2024, the number of voice assistants used across the globe will be as high as 8.4 billion.
While there are many voice search assistants available, the four most common are:
- Siri: Siri works with Apple devices to provide voice search.
- Alexa: Alexa is Amazon’s version of voice search and delivers results through home assistant devices, like the Echo and Echo Dot.
- Google Assistant: This is Google’s version of voice assistance and provides results through web browsers and standalone home assistant devices.
- Cortana: the personal productivity assistant from Microsoft can search the Web of your personal device to find results.
Voice Search and Local Intent
Voice search has a strong impact on local search results because many people using this technology have a strong local intent. For example, if someone searches, “Where can I get a facial?” they are looking for a med spa in their geographic area, not a state or two away. Voice search assistants use algorithms to determine if a search has a local intent and provide results accordingly.
Why Voice Search Matters
Voice search is important for local businesses because it provides yet another opportunity to connect with local customers. It’s also growing in popularity and usage, which means more people are potential contacts on this search platform. Finally, consumer behavior data shows that a large number of people using voice search have a desire for local services, which makes it valuable in reaching your target audience for your med spa. Voice search SEO should be part of your overall online marketing strategy as you seek to grow your business.
Voice SEO Strategies for Med Spas Looking to Increase Local Visibility
Now that you understand what voice search is, it’s time to look at local voice SEO tips for med spas. While many SEO strategies are similar to those used in web-based searches, there are some key differences. The way people search using voice is different, as these searches tend to be full sentences rather than just a string of keywords. People talk to their voice assistants like they would real people, and thus, the way you target these searches is just a little different.
Local Keyword Research
First, take a look at local keyword research. However, this is where voice search differs from traditional search. With voice search, you want to target long-tail, conversational keywords with a strong local intent. “Find a med spa near me,” for instance, might be effective. With voice search, the average length of a search is 29 words, so you want to target those longer search strands.
In addition, you want to look at answering questions that are common in your industry. Many voice searchers are going to ask their device a question, and your business can be one of the top responses if you answer these questions on your page.
Local SEO Tactics
Next, make sure your business is visible on all major platforms and directories. Claim and optimize your information on the following platforms:
- Google Business Profile
- Yelp
- Bing Places
In addition, create an Apple ID so you can optimize your Apple Maps listing.
Once you have created these listings, share content that resonates with your local audience. Post promotions and specials, use geotags, and ensure your page shows all the signals about your local audience.
Mobile Optimizations
Voice text often happens on mobile devices because people are not as quick to type on a mobile keyboard. Around 27% of people use voice search when searching on mobile devices. Optimizing your site so it is responsive to show up well on mobile, and ensuring it loads quickly on mobile devices, will make you more relevant to these searches. Don’t neglect local information as you optimize for mobile search.
Structured Data Markup for Local Businesses
Structured data markup for local businesses provides context for the search engines to understand what your website is about. Setting up your website with the structured data codes will show the search engines, including voice search engines, what you offer. Using Schema.org to set up your structured data will communicate to all major search engines what they need to know to share your page with the right searchers.
Structured data markup creates rich snippets that voice assistants can use to share results with searchers. Specifically, for voice search, structured data signals the snippets that work well for answering voice search questions. If you can answer your potential client’s questions concisely and mark that answer appropriately using structured data, your business will be one that people find when searching.
Maintaining Consistent Information
Above all, make sure your information is consistent. Your name, address, and phone (NAP) needs to be the same across your various online listings and social media pages. This includes using the same phone number, even if you have multiple numbers, and writing abbreviations exactly the same.
Consistency sends the right signals to people who are searching and the search engines. It creates the uniformity you want to ensure people can easily find and connect with your med spa. If you are inconsistent, you confuse people and you confuse the voice assistants, and this can lead to missed opportunities.
Make Your Site Visible to Voice Search with Surefire Local
If you want to be the med spa that people think of in your area when they need plastic surgery, medical rejuvenation, and cosmetic procedures, then these local voice SEO tips are essential. Using structured data markup, keeping your data consistent, optimizing for local, claiming and optimizing your business pages, and tackling the local SEO keyword research are all going to build a strong local presence, even when people use voice to search.
As you look for the right tools to help you achieve this optimization for voice, consider Surefire Local. Our online marketing platform puts all of the tools you need in one place, so you can log in and manage all of your SEO, including voice SEO, and local optimization at the same time. Establish your online presence with strong local signals that reach across all platforms using our intuitive tools. Publish content, upload photos, request and respond to reviews, and manage ads, all with a local focus, so people can find you more easily, regardless of how they search.
Surefire Local is the number one marketing platform for local businesses for a reason. We make it simple to optimize your online presence for voice search by putting all aspects of voice SEO in one platform. If you are ready to take control of your online marketing and ensure you are reaching all potential customers, learn how to use Surefire Local. Attend a demo to learn more.