Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). While optimizing the website for short answers for voice queries businesses can grow their online presence and visibility, and bring in more customers
What is Voice Search?
Voice search enables a user to verbally ask a question rather than typing. Be it asking Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa for the best coffee shop nearby or if they’re the best digital marketing agency, it’s quick, convenient, and in real time, highly conversational. In Saudi Arabia, where smartphones have one of the highest penetrations in the world, voice search is being used at breakneck speed.
This fact matters. People speak different than they type. For example:
Typed query: “SEO services Riyadh“
Voice query: “What are the best SEO services in Riyadh near me?”
This difference is why businesses will have to optimize content for natural language and long-tail keywords to be seen.
What is Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the approach of designing your content so that it provides clear, concise, and credible answers to questions that users ask. AEO is not as concerned about ranking in search engines, but rather about getting your content included in voice search responses and featured snippets (position zero) in Google search.
For instance, if the user requests: “What are the best digital marketing services in Riyadh?” An optimized website could deliver a brief, clear answer as the first spoken answer the voice assistants chose. Getting that brand in front of potential new customers drives brand awareness, credibility, and potential engagement.
Why Voice Search and AEO Matter in Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia and an emerging city for technology-based businesses and startups. As consumers change behaviors, businesses in Riyadh must find new ways to adapt to their expectations. Here are the top reasons why voice search and AEO are becoming more critical than ever:
Smartphone Penetration
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest smartphone usages rates. With voice assistants embedded into every device, voice search is a natural fit for time-constrained users in Riyadh.
Local Business Searches
Voice searches are often local-based i.e. “digital marketing services near me”, “best SEO company in Riyadh”. Any company that optimizes for voice search can become a local phenomenon.
Instant Gratuity
Usually voice users are looking for their answers now. If you have quick and relevant content, you stand a better chance of converting those leads into paying customers.
Digital Transformation
Thanks to Saudi Vision 2030, the country’s digital transformation is growing. Businesses that utilize modern SEO services in Riyadh, including AEO, can get ahead of the competition.
How SEO Services in Riyadh Can Help with AEO
SEO services in Riyadh are not defined only by keywords and backlinks, but a deeper understanding of how people search, not just typing, but also voice.
Here are areas we optimize for voice search and AEO, along with some examples of methods agencies used:
- Optimize for Natural Language
Content must be written for a conversational experience. Instead of “digital marketing services Riyadh,” the content should read “Where do I find reliable digital marketing services in Riyadh?”
- Optimize for Featured Snippets
Making FAQ sections, bulleted lists and short answers gives you a better chance to be displayed in a Google snippet, being the top choice for a voice answer.
- Optimize for local SEO
Updating Google Business Profile, combining NAP Name, address, phone and embedding local keywords in the content are ways to help a business get discovered in “near me” searches
- Mobile & Technical Optimization
Since probably 90%+ of all voice searches are performed on mobile devices, any website being optimized must load fast, be mobile-friendly & have clean technical SEO.
- Structured Data Markup – schema markup
Schema markup informs search engines about your content and increase the chances of being selected as a direct answer.
By partnering with a professional, experienced SEO provider in Riyadh, companies can try to implement all best practices easily.
The Role of Digital Marketing Services in Riyadh
SEO is the primary consideration for voice search optimization, but digital marketing services in Riyadh are comprehensive in their offerings. Marketing agencies offer integrated services which can marry SEO with paid advertising, content marketing, social media marketing, and as a result expand visibility. When creating voice search or AEO campaigns, digital marketers can:
Create engaging Arabic and English content that speaks to the local audience.
Run PPC campaigns on keywords that allow for voice-search-friendly-optimized terms.
Use online social listening tools to better understand the questions customers are asking.
Develop content strategies that are relevant to the voice questions of locals in Riyadh.
This complementary services approach reduces the chance that you’re not ranking well, but perhaps more importantly is establishing a genuine dialogue with your audience.
Future of Voice Search in Saudi Arabia
Thanks to improvements in AI and natural language processing, voice search will become increasingly more accurate and commonly used. Experts predict that in the next few years, voice will be the method for half of all online searches in Saudi Arabia. Those businesses who do not adapt will remain behind their competitors.
Investing in digital marketing services in Riyadh that include AEO and voice search optimization is no longer optional, but a requirement.