It is quite common to see voice search being discussed as a trend for the future. However, voice search is happening right now. Voice-enabled technology is very much part of the mainstream, with devices powered by Alexa, Siri, Cortana and Google Assistant becoming a staple in many homes.
Local businesses can think of new technologies as a challenge. But the reality is they need to step up their game – if they don’t want to lose potential customers to the competition. After all, when a consumer uses voice to search for a product or service, most times they only get one result. That means if a business is not the top result, then they are not getting found.
People of all ages are tapping into voice search to find goods and services in their area. This is a great way of getting to know the local consumer. According to a study by BrightLocal, 58 percent of consumers researched a local business using voice search over the last year! From restaurants to restoration companies, people are interested in local businesses.
As you might suspect, smartphones and mobile devices are the leaders in voice searches, meaning that consumers are likely on the move and ready to make a purchase. Just as placing a focus on mobile strategy became a necessity as smartphones took off, voice-enabled technology means that voice search is truly becoming a necessity for local businesses.