The Rising Popularity of Smart Speakers and Its Impact on Businesses

Smart speakers are changing the way consumers search for products and services on the Web. Smart speakers have, in fact, almost doubled in popularity in the last two years. Up to 87.7 million adults in the U.S. used smart speakers in 2020, compared to 66.4 million in 2019 and 47.3 million in 2018.  

This rise in the use of smart speakers, along with smartphones, spells a rise in the number of consumers turning to voice search. According to a 2019 report by SCORE, a non-profit organization for small businesses, up to 58% of consumers used voice search to find a local business from 2018 to 2019. Another 46 percent used voice search on a daily basis to find a local business, while 28 percent used it on a weekly basis for the same purpose.  

The report also showed that consumers used voice search to accomplish different tasks. Up to 54 percent used voice assistants to make a restaurant reservation, while 46 percent used the same function to check for prices of products and services. There were 32 percent that made a purchase, while another 27 percent visited a website after conducting a voice search. 

These numbers show that voice search continues to grow—and with it comes numerous benefits for small businesses. 

The Benefits of Voice Search 

Optimizing your business for voice search will help keep you visible and relevant in an increasingly competitive market. Businesses that have adapted to this technology benefit from higher Web traffic. If you do away with incorporating voice search in your business strategy, you run the risk of losing potential customers to competitors who show up on voice search results. 

Apart from standing out and staying visible, a voice search strategy can improve the caliber of customer experience you offer. Voice search offers a quicker, more efficient, and hands-free way to conduct a search online compared to text-based searches. Providing this convenient avenue for your potential customers to reach you can inspire brand loyalty and build stronger connections between you and your market. 

Top Devices Used for Voice Search 

According to a 2019 report by Microsoft and Bing, up to 72 percent of consumers in the U.S. have engaged with voice search using digital assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. 

The Amazon Echo remains the most popular smart speaker device, followed by Google Home. When it comes to voice assistants, Siri and Google Assistant take the top spot with a market share of 36 percent each. Alexa comes next at 25 percent, and Cortana at 19 percent.  

A Tool for Better Reach 

Running a business isn’t an easy feat. You have to keep up with different demands while making sure that it stays visible and relevant to your target audience. 

To help your target demographic find you through voice search, use a trusted service like Voice Listings. It’s a tool that lists your business on the most popular voice search platforms, allowing customers to find you through Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and more. 

Find out what Voice Listings can do for you today. https://voicelistings.com/