Multilingual SEO for voice searches: Comprehensive guide

[SwatiSood]

Multilingual voice search is the future - here's how you can encomp*** a great SEO strategy that targets your audience both locally as well as internationally.

Google is now recognizing 119 different languages on voice search. Which is great for user experience. But it makes ranking a bit more challenging for website owners, especially those who host multi-linguistic traffic. Website owners must act to cater to these people who are taking a different linguistic approach to search. That’s where multilingual SEO comes in, done with voice search in mind.

But before we begin digging deeper into multilingual SEO for voice search, let us first introduce the search of the future aka multilingual voice search.

[lisajohn]

With the evolution of technology, search engines like Google, Bing, Yandex, and others work towards enhancing their user experience and making the search easier than ever.

Keeping up with these efforts, they now let people talk to them in their own language, understand it and yield the results they were searching for.

Moreover, more than 23 percent of American households use digital ***istants, and nearly 27 percent of people conduct voice searches using smartphones. This number is expected to increase by more than nine percent in 2021 alone.

This means, more and more people will converse with Google in languages other than English. Like, a German native is likely to search for something by talking in German. A native Indian could use any of the 100+ languages spoken in India, and a US national may use English, Spanish, or some other language.

This increase in the popularity of voice ***istants, multilingual voice search inadvertently leads to an increase in the demand for multilingual SEO for voice search.

[Mohit Rana]

Optimizing for voice search in multiple languages requires a nuanced approach that considers linguistic differences, cultural nuances, and search engine algorithms. Here's a comprehensive guide to multilingual SEO for voice searches:

1. Understand Your Target Audience:

• Identify the languages spoken by your target audience.
• Analyze cultural differences and regional dialects within each language.

2. Keyword Research:

• Conduct keyword research in each target language.
• Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to identify popular voice search queries.
• Consider long-tail keywords and conversational phrases that mimic natural language queries.

3. Optimize Website Content:

• Create high-quality, relevant content in each language.
• Ensure content is optimized for voice search by answering common questions concisely.
• Use structured data markup (Schema.org) to provide context to search engines.

4. Localization:

• Translate content accurately, considering linguistic nuances and cultural sensitivities.
• Adapt content to suit regional dialects and preferences.
• Use local keywords and phrases that resonate with each target audience.

5. Technical Optimization:

• Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
• Implement hreflang tags to signal to search engines which language and region your content is targeting.
• Optimize meta tags (title, description) for each language.

6. Voice Search Platforms:

• Optimize for popular voice search platforms like Google ***istant, Siri, and Amazon Alexa.
• Understand the unique requirements and algorithms of each platform.
• Claim and optimize your business listings on platforms like Google My Business and Bing Places for Business.

7. User Experience (UX):

• Design an intuitive website navigation structure.
• Use clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to guide users through the conversion process.
• Optimize for featured snippets to increase visibility in voice search results.

8. Monitor and Analyze Performance:

• Use analytics tools to track performance in each language.
• Monitor rankings, traffic, and conversions for voice search queries.
• Adjust your strategy based on insights and feedback.

9. Stay Updated:

• Keep abreast of changes in search engine algorithms and voice search trends.
• Continuously optimize and refine your multilingual SEO strategy.

10. Cultural Sensitivity:

• Respect cultural differences and local customs in your content and marketing efforts.
• Avoid literal translations that may inadvertently offend or confuse users.

11. Voice Search-Friendly Content:

• Create content in various formats such as FAQs, how-to guides, and listicles that cater to voice search queries.
• Use natural language and conversational tones in your content.

12. Voice Search Optimization Tools:

• Leverage tools specifically designed for voice search optimization, such as Answer the Public or Voice Search SEO.