In 2019, more companies are thinking about how the use of technology can positively impact their businesses. From the use of smartphone apps to social media to the simple idea of having a company website steeped in SEO optimization, all these elements are pivotal in a digital transformation strategy that can make employees in web application development companies more productive, provide better customer service, and, hopefully, increase sales. It was time to introduce Voice Search.
So, when the personal voice assistant Siri appeared as an app for the iPhone in 2010, then as part of an iOS update for the iPhone 4s in 2011, no one thought about the ramifications voice technology might have on technology and the industry as a whole, especially when smart speakers successfully stormed the marketplace a few years later. CEOs now realize, in order to stay competitive in the future, they need to make voice search a part of their overall digital transformation plan.
Why Voice Search is Important
Personal voice assistants on phones, tablets, and smart speakers are transforming the content arena. Their influence is being felt across many industries, such as retail, logistics, fulfillment, communication services, and other areas. And the statistic that 55% of households over the next five years will probably own smart speakers or similar devices. That means there is the potential for $10.6 billion in revenue for companies like Sonos, Samsung, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook.
These statistics, of course, leave out areas where personal voice assistants may appear, such as in cars and home appliances like televisions or refrigerators. As a result, 58% of executives in the digital world plan to make voice an essential piece in their digital transformation strategy.
Why Businesses Need Voice Search Now
Although personal voice assistants have been around for close to a decade, it was Amazon’s Echo smart speaker that brought voice search to the forefront. While most users of the technology query their voice-driven devices for general information or to play music, businesses, on the other hand, see voice search as a potential way to enhance their operations and to get their content in front of customers. And the statistics for why businesses should invest in voice search make the reasons clear.
· 31% of smartphone users use voice search once a week.
· 20% of queries on Google are voice.
· Google’s voice assistant is currently installed on over 400 million devices.
Statistics aside, voice technology is still evolving, but planning for and then implementing it as part of a company’s digital transformation strategy can only improve its business, primarily because voice can give every employee more time to focus on more productive tasks. Some companies are even going as far as developing their own voice-driven software. While it is important that every employee should have access to voice, and that the cost of implementing it may be high, it is something companies should budget for.
Steps Toward Voice Technology in Businesses
software development company and developers are already busy creating applications with AI and machine learning that will, hopefully, result in new business. And several companies are hiring developers to write applications for grocery stores, fashion e-commerce, online digital shops, and the games and entertainment industry.
The reason for all this activity is clear: voice has the potential to increase sales by $40 billion by 2022. These areas of business are also investing in website redesign with a voice-first approach that would go from search to purchase then payment and could also increase profits by 30%.
Digital Marketing and Voice Search
While digital marketing might not be considered as essential to a company’s digital transformation plan, it really should be. After all, it is the content users read or, more specifically in this case, listen to when they make a voice query that can drive them to a company’s website for more information about a product or service.Voice Search Strategy
Voice Search -Optimization
Voice search, if optimized correctly, reduces the click-through rate to competitors by 8%. This type of marketing is called Voice Search Optimization. It is built on the idea of normal conversation and questions versus phrases people type into search engines, and it is the primary form of speech used in 60% of searches.
And since most voice searches occur on mobile platforms, marketers and developers need to work together to have a mobile-friendly website that has a voice search add-on. A large percentage of users say they won’t make a purchase if a website isn’t mobile-friendly. 55% percent of those mobile users use voice search for local information while 77% use voice on a smart speaker. 50% of those users would like to be informed about updates, deals, sales, and promotions from brands. So, saying voice is important for a company’s digital transformation is an understatement. Its usage will only increase over time as improvements are made to the technology.
Incorporate voice-based calls to action or searches to improve the functioning of your website.
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