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June 1, 2019

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These days, technologies concentrate on speech recognition rather than text typing to let people search for information through search engines. This solution is popular in mobile devices where users prefer to remain hands-free. But, voice search can also be used on a desktop with the right microphone setup.

Impact of Voice Search on Businesses

The availability of voice search makes it important for brands to change their technology to make sure their marketing strategies will always appeal to new search methods. They must ensure the sources that Google many draw information from are always up-to-date. This means regular interaction with Google business listing as well as keeping details such as business hours and address information updated.

Moreover, SEO strategies must also keep up with voice search components. Content needs to be more direct and conversational to match the kinds of search queries assisted search results in. Sooner or later, Google may add the voice search element into their algorithm and starts to prioritize brands that have incorporated such element into their SEO strategy.

Optimizing Voice Search

To cater to voice search users, websites and other media outlets must be optimized. This means optimizing pages with simplistic opening paragraphs and good meta descriptions. When a voice technology uses Google to do a search, the featured snippet might be read as the answer. A featured snippet is a chosen search result that appears on top of organic search results. Optimized pages that show up in this section of the search engine results might be used to answer voice questions. Here are tips to optimize voice search:

  • Take your keywords into account. Text optimization may include shorter keywords; however, people who do voice searches use more complete sentences.  They will ask more specific questions.
  • Make your writing conversational. This means making the intro paragraph and meta descriptions in a way that a layperson can understand. The more complicated jargon can be used for the formal body of the text.
  • Use tools that create actions. These tools will make it easier for voice search technologies to communicate with your own business website or app. Ensure the actions are valuable to your readers.
  • Update your site. Websites need to load as quickly as possible to offer results to voice technology. Website speed can be monitored through Google Analytics regularly. Brands can also use SEO crawlers at least every quarter to identify what is slowing their website down.

No matter which stages your business is in, it needs capital to survive. It may need capital to launch, grow, or just to operate. Your capital can be in the form of personal savings, bank loans, retirement accounts, credit cards, or funds from your family and friends. However, not all businesses are launched with this kind of outside investment. For many businesses, getting funding sources from banks, investors, and lines of credits is not possible. Fortunately, new funding options are now available to respond to the needs of businesses and individuals. Below are of the funding options available for them:

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Lending

This new funding model is getting more and more popular among businesses owners. In this model, financing is funded by investors instead of a direct lender. Peer-to-peer lenders underwrite borrowers; however, do not fun the loans directly.

Crowdfunding

This has become a viable function option for business people who are starting a new business. Crowdfunding works by giving an idea that people would want to support with small-dollar contributions. Business owners that get plenty of people to buy in will raise lots of money. This function option requires the right type of product or exciting project for a campaign to be launched through a crowdfunding platform.

MicroFinance

Microfinance offers capital to start a business. It is a loan given to borrowers without collateral. But, interest rates for this funding option are usually very high.

Revenue-Based Financing

Some firms are now offering expansion capital through flexible business loans paid back based on a part of monthly revenue. This kind of funding suits existing firms, mainly those that have recurring monthly revenue.

Government-Funded Capital

Cities and states are increasingly providing startup or growth funding to attract new business or retain companies that wish to expand. A government agency offers zero or low-interest loans, venture capital, or business grants.

Venture Finance

A number of venture capital firms are upending conventional financing models by offering venture financing. Venture capital is offered by firms for funding small, emerging firms that have high growth potential. Usually, venture capital investments are for the long term. Venture capital firms expect returns on their investment of at least 25%, given the risk profile of the companies they invest in. Investors get capital by pooling money from insurance companies, pension funds, and wealthy investors. They decide which businesses to invest in and get management fees and a percentage of the profits.