Text to Speech for SEO: 2024 Guide

Leveraging Text to Speech technology is a trend we have seen in the process of Search Engine Optimization.

Ranking in search engines is becoming a difficult and time-consuming process. Content or building links don’t cut it. What is critical for ranking is user engagement signals.

User engagement as a ranking signal is becoming more crucial than ever. This includes incorporating the latest web design aesthetics, better user accessibility, and faster page loading. The accessibility part is where most websites lag compared to other UI/UX elements.

This is where text-to-speech plays a role, especially to improve website accessibility and increase user engagement on the page, thereby indirectly improving the rankings.

How does Text to Speech improve SEO?

1. Enhanced Accessibility

Website accessibility is a crucial ranking factor for search engines. Websites that cater to a broader audience, including those with disabilities, are more likely to rank higher. TTS SEO makes your content accessible to people with visual impairments or reading difficulties by allowing them to listen to your content instead of reading it.

Apart from the potential ranking benefits, text to speech functionality can help your website to become ADA-compliant for people with visual and other disabilities.

ADA compliance refers to the adherence of websites to the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring equal access and usability for individuals with disabilities. Non-compliance with the ADA can result in fines ranging from $55,000-$150,000, along with lawsuits from affected users.

2. Improved User Engagement

TTS can significantly enhance content consumption by offering users an alternative way to engage with your website. Whether users are multitasking, commuting, or simply prefer listening to reading, TTS keeps them on your site longer. The more time users spend on your site, the more likely they are to explore other pages, which can improve your site’s overall SEO performance.

3. Creating Multilingual Content

If your website caters to a global audience, TTS can help you deliver content in multiple languages without the need for extensive translation services. Multilingual text to speech engines can automatically translate and vocalize your content, making it accessible to non-native speakers. This not only broadens your reach but also improves your international SEO efforts.

4. Boosting Content Discoverability

Search engines prioritize content that offers value and utility to users. By incorporating TTS, you’re adding a layer of utility that enhances how users interact with your content. text to speech can be particularly useful for long-form content, such as blogs, where users may prefer to listen rather than read. This increased content consumption can lead to more shares, backlinks, and overall visibility.

How to Leverage Text to Speech to Improve SEO?

There are multiple ways to incorporate Text to speech to your website. The popular option is to use TTS plugins. You can also generate text to speech and upload to your website using AI text to Speech online tools.

For Custom Websites

For custom websites, there are text to speech integrations and embeds available. The popular option is embedding the audio content using HTML Iframes. Text to speech API is also gaining traction for custom websites.

2. Google Cloud Text to Speech

Google Cloud Text-to-Speech uses deep learning models to deliver high-quality speech synthesis. It’s part of Google Cloud’s suite of AI services, offering scalability and customization.

Key Features:

• Access to a wide variety of natural-sounding voices powered by WaveNet technology.
• Supports multiple languages and dialects.
• Customization options with SSML tags for fine-tuning speech output.
• Scalable API that integrates seamlessly with custom web applications.

Use Cases: Best suited for large-scale websites and applications that need robust, scalable TTS solutions with extensive customization options.

3. Speechify

Speechify is a popular text-to-speech tool known for its ease of use and natural-sounding voices. It’s widely used across various platforms, including custom websites.

Key Features:

• Simple integration with a wide range of platforms.
• High-quality voices with natural cadence.
• Cross-platform compatibility for desktop and mobile users.
• Has API support as well.

Use Cases: Ideal for educational websites, blogs, and content-heavy sites that want to offer audio versions of text content for improved accessibility.

For WordPress sites

To add text to speech functionality to your WordPress site, you have to integrate a TTS plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.

If you use CMS like Shopify, Wix, etc. there would be plugins available in their repository that you can easily integrate.

Best Text to Speech Plugins for WordPress Sites

1. Play.ht

Play.ht is a popular text-to-speech plugin that converts your website’s text content into realistic AI-powered voiceovers. It supports multiple languages and voices, making it an excellent choice for global audiences.

Key Features:

• Wide range of AI-generated voices.
• Supports multiple languages.
• Ability to embed audio players directly in blog posts.
• Customizable audio buttons
• Pronunciations library
• Option to download audio files in MP3 format.

Use Cases: Ideal for bloggers, content creators, and businesses looking to add an audio version of their articles or blog posts to improve accessibility.

2. ResponsiveVoice

ResponsiveVoice is a versatile plugin that offers text-to-speech capabilities with broad browser and device compatibility. It’s lightweight and supports over 50 languages.

Key Features:

• Compatible with both desktop and mobile browsers.
• Supports multiple languages and voices.
• Easy to integrate with shortcodes.
• Customizable speech rate and pitch.

Use Cases: Perfect for websites, offering a seamless and responsive TTS experience across different devices.

3. AWS

AWS Text-to-Speech leverages Amazon Polly to deliver high-quality speech synthesis. This plugin converts text into lifelike speech using advanced deep-learning technologies.

Key Features:

• Access to Amazon Polly’s range of natural-sounding voices.
• Supports SSML (Speech Synthesis Markup Language) for customizing speech output.
• Option to create and distribute podcasts automatically.
• Flexible configuration options through AWS.

Use Cases: Suitable for businesses and developers who need a robust and scalable TTS solution integrated with AWS services.

FAQs

Does Text to Speech help with Voice Search?

No, Text to Speech doesn’t help with Voice search optimization. Text to speech on a webpage reads out loud the textual content to the users, whereas Voice Search helps users to search the web by speaking instead of typing.

What are the benefits of incorporating text to speech for SEO?

Text to speech can help improve accessibility of the page which helps in influencing ranking. With TTS, user engagement and time spent can also improve as audio is more convenient to consume than text.

What kind of content is most suitable for leveraging text to speech?

Text to speech is most suitable for textual content such as blog posts, long-form articles, and service and product descriptions.

Can Text to Speech be integrated with the website for free?

Yes, many TTS WordPress plugins offer free plans. TTS tools like Murf AI, Speechify, and Playht offer free plans – though limited by the number of words or playtime.