Inside the Search Habits of Asian Consumers: Key Insights to Elevate Your SEO Game
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) data landscape is changing rapidly. Thanks to emerging technologies and changing consumer habits, the way people connect online – and how businesses get discovered – is shifting dramatically. These changes are also changing the game for SEO. For brands seeking a competitive edge, staying on top of these trends is not optional but a necessity. An SEO agency in Singapore with substantial experience or an SEO consultant in Singapore can be an asset in helping businesses craft strategies that make an actual impact in a changing world.
- High Mobile Internet Penetration
Mobile devices are the primary medium by which Singaporeans access the internet. In December 2024, 69.47% of internet usage was via mobile devices, while desktop computers accounted for around 30.53%. This trend illuminates the importance of mobile-first digital strategies for businesses hoping to connect with those users, the majority of whom now spend their online time accessing content on a smartphone or tablet.
SEO Impact: Mobile-optimized websites outrank others on search engines like Google due to mobile-first indexing. Businesses that fail to harness the mobile web risk losing their competitive edge in a market where more than 70% of all traffic comes from mobile devices, as reported by Singapore. A slow-loading site, one that does not render correctly on smaller screens or is not optimized for mobile, will typically have a higher bounce rate and lower search visibility. Conduct an audit of the mobile site experience and make sure it’s fast, responsive, and in line with the expectations of the modern-day user (as well as search engines).
- Rise of Voice and Visual Search
Voice and visual searches are fundamentally changing the way people look for information online. Machine learning advancements have pushed the adoption of these technologies.
The global Voice Search market size is expected to reach $164 billion transaction value in 2025. Voice search, especially prevalent in the APAC region, is a technology used by 60% of internet users – a number higher than in North America and Europe. This growth is credited to the widespread use of smartphones with voice assistants and user familiarity with conversational AI interfaces.
Moreover, the growth of visual search technology is also robust, being driven by the growing number of e-commerce platforms and rapid advancement in AI and computer vision. More shoppers are relying on visual search to find things they want to buy by taking pictures with their mobile devices and searching for potential sources.
SEO Impact: With voice and visual search on the rise, it’s time to rethink your SEO strategies. As voice searches are conducted through conversational language, it is crucial to optimize your content for conversational keywords and question-based phrases. One aspect of visual search optimization is to use good-quality images that are descriptive and have appropriate alt text and metadata attached to them. Businesses can address these changes through the use of structured data or better image recognition capabilities, or auditing content. Hence, it matches the nuances of voice and visual search behaviours.
- Emphasis on Localized Content
Localised content is vital for digital marketing strategies, given that the APAC region boasts a wealth of languages and cultures. Countries such as Malaysia are a prime example of this diversity, as more than 70% of internet users are bilingual in both English and Malay. Of course, not everyone prefers the same content; in fact, users generally prefer content in their native language. This requires a thoughtful content development process that takes into account linguistic ecosystems and cultural sensitivities.
SEO Impact: When done right, translated content wins users over and helps search engines take notice due to your localized approach to fit local searchers. However, this doesn’t mean that region- or state-based keywords or phrases will not help you rank better in search queries. SEO consultants in Singapore will familiarise you with the local industry trends, thus allowing your business to create content that resonates well with its target audience while also remaining true to the local search engine algorithms.
- Integration of Social Commerce
Social media is playing an increasingly important role in influencing consumer buying behavior, which has led to the rise of social commerce. In fact, in 2024, the APAC social commerce market estimated growth was at 12.3% year on year, with an estimated revenue of USD 542.42 billion. For instance, platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram have included shopping capabilities, allowing users to buy products straight through social media platforms. It is so much so that countries such as China see it as a major player, with 95% of online shoppers engaging in social commerce.
SEO Impact: Websites should develop an integrated strategy that aligns and helps promote user-generated content, for example, through influencer collaboration and seamless shopping experiences. Search engine optimization of social media profiles and content can help improve visibility and bring traffic. Having tailored strategies that incorporate social media practices, will ensure that both avenues lead to shared SEO objectives and a strong online presence.
- Growing Trust in E-commerce Platforms
The APAC region shows rising consumer trust in and comfort with e-commerce platforms, as well as increasing online spending per buyer. The B2C e-commerce market in the Asia-Pacific region is expanding at a fast pace, with livestreaming retail e-commerce sales expected to reach over EUR 280 billion by 2027. This booming trend is a testament that consumers are finding online retail to be a viable alternative to traditional retail.
SEO Impact: As trust in e-commerce increases, the competition among online retailers also increases. In an increasingly competitive environment, there is no end to the techniques of SEO. This involves optimizing product pages, adding structured data markup for rich snippets, and providing a smooth user experience.
While we know that the digital landscape is constantly changing in the APAC region, the trends indicate that consumer behavior will continue to be influenced by voice and visual search, hyper-localized content, the rise of commerce on social media channels, and a growing trust in e-commerce.
