🔥Voice Search Is Taking Over—Don’t Fall Behind

Hello there, Shane here!

Voice search is growing faster than ever. About 20.5% of people worldwide use it regularly. In the United States and United Kingdom, around 28% of consumers say they interact with voice assistants daily. Siri alone has more than 86 million users in the U.S., while Alexa and Google Assistant continue to claim their own loyal followings.

What does this mean for you? 

It means speaking to your devices is no longer a novelty. It’s the new frontier of search. Whether you’re at home cooking dinner, driving across town, or checking facts at work, a simple phrase can trigger quick answers from the nearest smart assistant.

Below, we’ll dig into seven strategies for effective voice search SEO. Each step can help your business become more visible when people ask their devices questions.

What you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:

• 7 effective voice search SEO tips

• Featured tool of the week

• Must-reads on the blog, including TikTok alternatives for 2025

Now let’s dive into ways to improve your voice search SEO.

1. Embrace Conversational Keywords

Voice queries differ from text queries. People speak in full sentences and ask more direct questions. Instead of typing “best pizza NYC,” they’ll say, “Where can I get the best pizza in New York City?” These longer, natural phrases are conversational keywords.

• Why it matters: Traditional SEO often targets shorter, high-traffic keywords. Voice search revolves around questions like who, what, where, when, why, and how.

• How to do it: Brainstorm phrases you’d actually say out loud. Think about real-life scenarios. Use question-based keywords, and target them in your content. Tools like AnswerThePublic can reveal popular queries in your industry.

Keeping these phrases in your blog posts, FAQ pages, and headings can help your site stand out. After all, the more natural your language, the better chance you have to match a spoken query.

2. Optimize for Featured Snippets

Featured snippets, also called “position zero,” appear at the top of Google’s search results. They’re prime real estate for voice search answers. When smart assistants respond verbally, they often pull from these snippets.

• Why it matters: Snippets deliver short, direct answers. That’s exactly what voice searchers want.

• How to do it: Provide concise, 30-to-50-word answers to common questions. Organize those answers in bullet points or numbered lists. Make your content easy to read at a glance.

Aim to structure your page so Google (and users) can quickly see the solution. A short paragraph explaining the “what” or “how” of a topic is often enough to capture snippet status. That means faster voice-friendly results for your audience.

3. Prioritize Local SEO

Most voice queries happen on the go. People are driving or walking and looking for local information. They might say, “Find a tire shop near me,” or “What time does the closest coffee shop open?” If your local business content isn’t optimized, you’ll miss this traffic.

• Why it matters: More than half of voice search queries focus on nearby services.

• How to do it: Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile. Be sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are correct across all platforms. Encourage customers to leave reviews. Use location-based keywords in your on-site content, like “serving the Tampa Bay area” or “delicious Chicago-style pizza in Lincoln Park.”

Implement structured data types like LocalBusiness or Restaurant if relevant. Marking up your site with correct schema tells Google exactly where you operate and what you do.

4. Improve Page Speed & Mobile Experience

Voice searches often happen on mobile devices. Users expect quick answers, so your site must load fast. If people bounce before your page finishes loading, Google takes note, and you may lose ranking power.

• Why it matters: Page speed is now a confirmed ranking factor. Voice searchers value brevity and convenience.

• How to do it: Use free tools like PageSpeed Insights or Sitechecker to diagnose slowdowns. Compress images, reduce redirects, and consider a content delivery network (CDN) if needed. Also, optimize your code, minifying any CSS and JavaScript that weighs down your site.

Don’t forget about mobile-friendliness. Ensure your layout adjusts on smaller screens. Make sure buttons and menus are easy to tap. The more frictionless you make the experience, the better for both text and voice users.

5. Leverage Structured Data & Schema Markup

Structured data helps search engines parse your site’s content. By adding schema markup to your HTML, you give Google (and other assistants) extra info about your pages, products, or local services. That can lead to more relevant voice search results.

• Why it matters: Schemas like FAQPage, HowTo, or LocalBusiness make it simpler for search engines to provide direct answers.

• How to do it: Identify key details about your business (like hours or menu items) and implement the correct schema type. For example:

  • FAQPage: For common questions and answers about your services.

  • HowTo: For step-by-step instructions a user might ask in a “How do I…” query.

  • LocalBusiness: For contact info, location, and business hours.

Google’s own structured data testing tool or third-party plugins can help validate your markup. Proper schema also edges you closer to that coveted featured snippet.

6. Provide Clear, Concise Answers

People use voice search for quick answers. They rarely want lengthy explanations. A direct, clearly stated response often performs better in voice results.

• Why it matters: Voice assistants generally read 30-word or shorter segments.

• How to do it: Keep paragraphs short. Use straightforward words. Break content into headings or bullet points. If you write a how-to post, consider listing each step in a numbered format. This arrangement helps search engines parse your text and present it directly to the user.

It also helps to craft an FAQ section. Answer each question in a direct sentence or two. Then expand with more details if needed. That approach satisfies both scanning readers and devices that want a succinct snippet.

7. Refine Your Domain Authority & Overall SEO

Voice search doesn’t replace classic SEO practices. Instead, it builds on them. Google still prefers sites with high authority. That means strong backlinks, consistent content, and user-friendly design.

• Why it matters: Domain Authority (or similar metrics from tools like SE Ranking or Semrush) reflects the trustworthiness of your site. The higher it is, the more likely you’ll appear in voice search results.

• How to do it: Earn quality inbound links by creating valuable resources worth referencing. Share your expertise in guest posts or local media. Make sure your site is crawlable and well-structured.

• Bonus tip: Optimize your meta titles, descriptions, and headings. Even if voice searchers don’t read them directly, they help search engines contextualize your pages.

You can also experiment with posting short, helpful videos. Voice assistants often surface video content for specific “how-to” queries. By optimizing your video’s description and timestamps, you might secure a voice-friendly snippet.

Wrapping It Up

Voice search is booming because it’s easy, convenient, and helps users find instant answers. More than a quarter of consumers in the US and UK tap into voice assistants daily, and that number keeps climbing. You don’t want to miss out on that audience.

By embracing conversational keywords, featured snippets, local SEO, page speed, structured data, concise answers, and overall domain authority, you’ll position your brand to thrive in the voice-driven era.

The Featured Tool of the Week

Semrush

If you’re serious about SEO—voice or otherwise—Semrush is a powerful ally. It helps you do keyword research, competitor analysis, and site audits in one place.

Key Features:

• Keyword Magic Tool: Find long-tail, question-based keywords for voice search.

• On-Page SEO Checker: Get actionable tips to optimize your pages.

• Site Audit: Identify speed issues and technical errors that hurt voice rankings.

• Backlink Analytics: Track and grow your domain authority.

Ready to see how Semrush can elevate your voice search strategy?

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To your content marketing success,
Shane Barker