Voice searching in 2023; the role of dental websites
Ever heard someone say, ‘Hey, Siri? Find a cafe near me?’ Most people have.
Voice searching has been growing in popularity over the years, thanks to advancements in voice recognition technology and the widespread use of voice-enabled devices like the iPhone, Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
As such, this kind of searching has become very easy for people of all ages to do, and now, for your website to stay relevant, it needs to be written for this kind of searching.
Not to worry! Our team at Dental Focus can and will be able to help! We have worked with dental websites since the introduction of voice searching, and with it becoming more commonplace, we know what is required for your website to be responsive to these commands. Great!
In the context of dental websites, the impact of voice search in 2023 has already been enormous. How, you ask? Read on to find out!
Changes in search behaviour
Voice searches are typically longer and more conversational compared to typed queries. People use natural language when speaking, asking questions or making specific requests. Dental websites should optimise their content to align with these conversational queries and provide relevant answers.
Increased emphasis on local search
As mentioned earlier, voice searches often have a local intent, such as “find a dental surgeon near me.” Dental websites should focus on local search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies, including optimising for location-based keywords, claiming and optimising Google My Business listings, and ensuring accurate contact information. Our team will make sure that all of these boxes are ticked when it comes to your website, ensuring that you attract more people located near you who need dentists. Great!
Need for structured data markup
Voice search relies heavily on structured data markup, such as schema.org markup. By implementing structured data on their websites, dental clinics can provide search engines with more information about their services, location, operating hours, and other relevant details; this helps search engines understand and present the information more effectively in voice search results.
Mobile optimisation
In general, if your website isn’t mobile-optimised, you may as well not be online! Voice searches are often performed on mobile devices. Therefore, dental websites must be mobile-friendly and responsive. Fast page loading speeds, easy navigation, and user-friendly interfaces will become even more important in 2023 to ensure a positive user experience for voice search visitors.
Focus on featured snippets
Featured snippets, which are also known as “position zero” results, are concise summaries of the information displayed at the top of search engine results pages. Voice assistants often rely on these snippets to provide answers to voice queries. Dental websites can optimise their content to appear as featured snippets by providing clear and concise answers to commonly asked questions.
Voice-based appointment scheduling
In the future, dental websites might integrate voice-enabled appointment scheduling systems. Patients could use voice commands to book appointments, check availability, or receive reminders. Such features would enhance convenience and accessibility for patients.