When the competition heats up on Jeopardy, there is always one contestant that forgets the cardinal rule: you must phrase your answer in the form of a question. As a result, they lose their turn and usually their money. It’s a face-palm moment.
As it stands, voice-activated queries are on the rise – in fact, they are the fastest growing search type. A voice-activated query involves speaking into your phone and seeing the results, no typing required. And it’s more than a trend – it’s becoming a fixture of daily life.
The good news is that voice search is a huge opportunity for home improvement companies. Since these queries are on the rise, a whole new market is opening up.
“Google, How Many People Are Using Voice Search?”
Right now, 35.6 million Americans are using voice search regularly. According to eMarketer, that’s a 129% increase from last year. While only 4% of US households currently have a device like Amazon Echo or Google Home, over 20% of all Google searches use voice commands. Another 27% of searches are phrased in question form.
“Google, Who is Searching by Voice?”
Most voice searches are performed by younger people – children, for example, are the most enthusiastic about it. My own son prefers voice search to typing. He holds the tablet close to his face and says “Scooby dooby” – like magic, his favorite show appears.
Older users are finding it convenient, too. They can pull up directions while driving, play music without searching a catalog and remind themselves of any upcoming appointments.
“Google, How Does This Impact My Business?”
When a query is a question, it’s likely to be more specific. Instead of typing “New roof estimate,” they might say, “How much is it to replace a roof on a 3000 square foot home?” This allows for more accurate ad targeting.
Also, because voice search offers results based on location, there is an opportunity for local contractors to be proactive. By optimizing your website for question-based queries, you can stay ahead of the curve.
“Google, What Does it All Mean?”
With voice search, Google and other mobile providers are making it easier than ever to search. That means more homeowners will be searching and there will be more opportunities for home improvement companies to capitalize. It’s another way for prospects to tell you what they want, instead of you having to go out and find them.
You don’t need to worry about doing anything right now. But as voice search gains popularity, you can look forward to more leads.
