Have you ever refilled your pantry or bought hiking gear using voice search? Simple phrases like “nearest coffee shop” can get you what you want with just a few spoken words.

It's no surprise that ​voice search is on the rise. In fact, over one billion voice searches are conducted each month. From Alexa to Siri to Google Assistant, voice search has become one of the most popular ways to find information. The convenience, speed, and accessibility of voice search make it appealing. 

If you're a local business or an eCommerce store owner, you need to jump on this trend and optimize your Shopify store for voice search.

Here are a few tips to help you do that:

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1. Optimize for Natural Language

People tend to use conversational language when phrasing their queries to voice assistants, highlighting voice search's reliance on natural language. So, instead of using concise keywords, you'll need to adapt your content on Shopify to match these natural language patterns.

For example, someone wouldn’t just say “gift shop,” but rather, “What is the best gift shop in [insert city]?” or “Who can urgently deliver roses in [insert city]?” 

You can start by incorporating natural language phrases into your website content, product or service descriptions, blog posts, and FAQ sections (more on that ahead).

Next, to reflect how people speak—like in the previous example—conduct thorough research to identify the best long-tail keywords that suit your business. Focus on using specific long-tail keywords that resemble natural language and are likely to be used in voice searches.

Now, structure your content so that it aligns with natural language queries. Include step-by-step guides or frequently asked questions to maximize the chances that voice search users will land on your Shopify store. Answer all queries with concise and straightforward responses.

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2. Focus on Getting Featured Snippets

When searching for something, you may have noticed concise summaries of content that appear at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) — these are known as featured snippets.

When a user conducts a voice search, voice assistants often read out these featured snippets as answers, making them highly valuable for Shopify voice search optimization.

To optimize your Shopify store for featured snippets:

1. Research and analyze existing featured snippets and commonly searched queries related to your products or industry. Use that research to improve your content by providing more detailed, relevant, and concise answers.

2. Structure your content properly by using headings, subheadings, bullet points, and clear formatting. This helps search engines easily scan the information.

3. Ensure your content directly answers queries and offers valuable insights, avoiding fluff or filler content unrelated to your industry.

4. Optimize metadata by writing descriptive and engaging meta titles and descriptions. This encourages voice search users to explore your Shopify store. It’s another great opportunity to use the long-tail keywords we discussed earlier.

5. Use structured data markups to help search engines understand the relevance and context of your content. This increases your chances of being featured as a snippet on SERPs (more on this ahead).

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3. Improve Website Speed

As an ecommerce store owner, you need to provide your customers with a seamless user experience, and when it comes to voice search, customers expect quick and immediate responses. Slow-loading web pages result in a negative experience and increase bounce rates. You can improve this by:

Optimizing Images

Compress images to reduce their file size without compromising quality. Use the right image formats and apply lazy loading techniques so images only appear when users scroll to them.

Minimizing HTTP Requests

Reduce the number of HTTP requests by combining and compressing CSS and JavaScript files. This helps your website load faster and run more smoothly.

Caching

Implement browser caching to store static elements like images and CSS files on the user's device. This makes your website load quicker for returning visitors.

Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN distributes your website’s content across multiple servers globally, which reduces latency and ensures faster load times for users in different locations.

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4. Optimize Your Site for Mobile Devices

With 27% of users leveraging mobile devices for voice search, it's crucial to ensure your Shopify store is optimized not only for desktops but also for mobile devices, providing a seamless and efficient shopping experience across all platforms.

Use a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes to provide a seamless user experience on any device. Additionally, incorporate touch-friendly, tappable buttons, links, and interactive features. 

Avoid closely spaced elements, as they can lead to accidental clicks, which frustrates users.

To further enhance usability, add intuitive menus that simplify navigation. Use dropdown menus, clear labels, and sticky headers so users can easily find what they’re looking for.

Most Important Tip:
Since we’re talking about voice search optimization for Shopify stores, including a voice search-friendly search bar on your mobile site is essential. 

Not only should it be optimized for voice search, but it should also accurately interpret and respond to voice queries.

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5. Use Structured Data Markup

As mentioned in our featured snippet section, using structured data markup enhances the visibility of your Shopify store. 

Structured data helps voice assistants better understand and provide context to your products, services, and website content, allowing them to present information accurately to users. Incorporate schema markup as follows:

Product Markup

Use schema markup on your product pages to provide detailed information. This includes pricing, availability, reviews, and ratings. When voice search assistants understand this data, they can better present your Shopify store’s products to users.

For example, a voice search for “What’s the best-rated smartwatch under $300?” can show your product, thanks to its structured data on ratings and price.

Local Business Markup 

If you have a physical store, using local business markup is crucial. This schema includes location-specific details like your address, phone number, customer reviews, and business hours. 

With this data, voice search assistants are more likely to provide users with relevant information when they search for local businesses. (More on this in the next section)

FAQ Markup

Adding schema markup to your Shopify store's frequently asked questions (FAQs) section helps voice assistants easily identify and deliver concise answers to common user queries via voice search.

Markup Testing

To ensure your structured data is working correctly, regularly test it using tools like Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool. This guarantees that voice assistants can accurately interpret and respond to voice search queries.

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6. Leverage Local SEO

Users often require information about local businesses, services, and events. Optimize your Shopify store for area-specific searches to increase visibility for local voice search users.

First, claim your Google My Business listing to ensure that your business information, especially your contact details, is up-to-date. Be sure to include your business name, address, phone number, website URL, business category, and, most importantly, customer reviews.

Avoid using inconsistent contact information across platforms, listings, and directories. Inconsistent details can hinder your visibility and confuse voice assistants, reducing your chances of being found.

To further improve your voice search visibility, focus on using long-tail keywords with geographical relevance. Cater to the interests and needs of local audiences.

For example, if you are an air duct cleaning company, you can incorporate information about area-specific air duct problems to establish authority and relevance in local voice search results.

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7. Add Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Structuring your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in a well-organized and comprehensive manner includes everything we’ve discussed so far. Your main goal is to improve visibility by providing valuable information. Here's how to optimize your FAQ section for voice search:

• Identify common questions and problems related to your industry, and use voice search-friendly language, conversational patterns, and long-tail keywords when phrasing both the questions and answers.
• Provide concise answers to each FAQ. This boosts your chances of appearing as a featured snippet in the SERP FAQ section. Ensure the first two sentences contain the exact answer, followed by any additional details.
• Use structured formatting to make your FAQ section easy to scan for both users and search engines. This helps search engines extract and present FAQ content as featured snippets.

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Summing It Up 

Voice commerce creates a seamless experience between users and your Shopify store. From searching for a product to placing an order, voice searches reduce the time spent deciding and completing a purchase.

A quicker sales process means fewer abandoned carts. Not only will your customers easily find their desired product or service, but they’ll also enjoy a more personalized shopping experience, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

So, are you ready to optimize your Shopify store for voice search? Partner with DIGITORM to supercharge your online presence and take your business to the next level.