Speak The Language Of Your Audience And Rank In Voice Search

Voice search has arrived. Smart speakers are in nearly every home, and voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have become almost like family. Safe to say, voice search is probably here to stay, which is why you should be catering to it as part of your SEO strategy. In marketing jargon, this is called “voice search optimization.” We’ll teach you some strategies for how to do it effectively.

What Is Voice Search and Why Is It Booming?

Voice search lets users ask their questions out loud rather than type them into a search engine. You speak into a mic on a phone, smart speaker, laptop, in-car system, or even a TV remote and, voilà! A question is answered or a task completed.

The rise of voice search is largely due to convenience. It is way easier and faster to speak into the TV remote than selecting individual letters for a title or even scrolling to find the streaming app you want. Likewise, you save precious seconds by asking Alexa to “play Spotify” as opposed to unlocking your phone, launching the app, and pressing play. That might not sound that impressive on paper, but we, as marketers, know what kind of attention spans we’re dealing with. Seconds matter. 

Voice search also has a safety element that most of us can get behind. This is especially true while driving. Instead of doing the unthinkable and texting or even calling someone while driving, you simply say, “Call Home” and talk without taking your eyes off the road. 

How Does Voice Search Differ From Traditional Text Search?

When we’re trying to rank for text search, we generally try to answer questions and include long-tail keywords that aren’t necessarily a complete sentence. For example, you might type something short and fragmented, like “best pizza SoHo” into a search engine and see results that have been optimized for those very words. 

This strategy doesn’t work as well for voice text, mainly because most of us talk differently from how we write, and also because, in order to trigger many voice assistants, you must address them by name.

This is one of the cleverer aspects of voice search, in our opinion. The fact that you must say a human name before a question organically shifts your tone to being more conversational. Many assistants go one step further by greeting you personally before answering. So, you’d say something like, “Alexa, what’s the best pizza place in SoHo?” Your assistant replies, “Good afternoon, John. Locals say the best pizza place in SoHo is La Pecorino Blanco. Would you like to hear more about this restaurant?” It’s an entirely different type of interaction than text search, which means it needs an entirely different sort of strategy. 

How to Optimize Content for Conversational Queries

How Can I Make My Content Sound More Like How People Speak?

It can be strangely difficult to write in a conversational tone, especially when you’re used to making content in a certain way. But try not to overthink it. You’re a “people” who “speaks,” right? How would you say it if you, yourself, were searching for an answer to something? Just keep the following in mind if you’re worried you’re getting too formal:

• Use natural, everyday language. Think “What’s the best way to unclog a sink?” instead of “sink clogging solutions.”
• Keep sentences short and to the point. Avoid complex or overly formal phrasing. We’re looking for a simple answer here, not prose. 
• Answer questions directly. Voice assistants prefer content that provides immediate, concise answers. FAQs pages are great for this. 
• Use contractions. They’re more reflective of how people speak. The only exception to this is maybe “they are.” Most of us do not say “there’re,” which is awkward to write and awkward to say. 

What Kinds of Phrases or Questions Should I Include in My Headers and FAQs?

Headers and FAQs are where you should start for voice search optimization. You’ll probably have to play around with it to see what works, but try the following:

• Start headers with question words like how, what, where, when, why, or can. Example: “What time does your store open on weekends?”
• Use long-tail question-based keywords that mirror real user queries. Tools like AnswerThePublic and AlsoAsked boxes in Google can help.
• Include variations of common queries. For example, include “How do I fix a leaking pipe?” and “What should I do if my pipe is leaking?”
• Incorporate “near me” and local phrases where relevant. Nearly half of the voice searches are local. “Where’s the closest tire shop?” or “urgent care near me” are a couple examples. Make sure your Google Business Profile is current, and include location-based keywords and schema markup on your website. That’s a best practice for SEO in general. 

Should I Create Specific Pages or Sections Targeting Voice Search Queries?

Sure! Targeting voice queries with dedicated content helps improve visibility and authority for this type of search. Try incorporating the following on your site:

• Build FAQ pages focused on high-volume, voice-friendly questions your audience is asking. Use your keyword research tool to see what’s trending and where you stand a chance of ranking (low keyword difficulty).
• Create blog posts around single voice queries. For example, write a post titled, “What’s the best time of year to prune my trees in Nebraska?” You can have a separate blog post dedicated to typed search and optimized for a different keyword, like “when to prune trees in Nebraska.”
• Use schema markup to help search engines identify Q&A content and deliver it in voice responses. Again, this is just best practice for SEO overall.

Technical Tips For Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is not just about changing the way you write. You need to implement some of the same SEO strategies you would do for traditional SEO. Search engines like Google still prioritize fast, clean, and structured websites when choosing which answers to deliver via voice assistants. 

Most voice searches also happen on mobile devices. So, if a user is looking for a page as opposed to an answer, you need to ensure it can easily be viewed on a smartphone. Make the following technical SEO a priority when optimizing for voice search:

• Page Speed: Voice assistants need to deliver fast answers in order to maintain a “conversational” flow, so slow-loading sites will automatically get left behind. Optimizing your site speed improves user experience and your chance of being selected for voice search results. Use compressed images, minimize JavaScript, and leverage browser caching. Run a Google PageSpeed Insights test or a Lighthouse audit and shoot for a score above 90.
• Mobile-Friendliness: Again, most voice searches happen on mobile devices, so a responsive, mobile-first design is non-negotiable. You can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check your site’s usability on smartphones and tablets. Make sure you check in every now and then on your own device to see if it’s running smoothly.
• Schema Markup: Structured data helps search engines understand your content, especially for question-based results. Use schema to highlight FAQs, how-to steps, business hours, reviews, and other info. potential customers might want.

What’s The Difference Between A FAQ Schema And A Howto Schema?

Both can be a great way to boost visibility in typed and voice search. Which one you use really depends on the content and search intent.  

We feel that aFAQ Schema is perfect for voice queries because it’s structured around natural questions and answers. It’s great for service pages, product support, and blog posts with common questions.

HowTo may still be relevant for voice search, but most of us are asking “How do,” not “how to” when we ask a voice assistant something. HowTo Schema tends to work better in typed search when you’re walking a user through a process or step-by-step guide. Still, you’ll be covered in the rarer instances a user asks a voice assistant a question in the same way they would type it. For example, some folks still ask voice assistants to “look up” something. For example, they might say, “Hey, Siri, look up how to clean air fryer.”  If you’ve got those words on your HowTo schema, you might just be first to show up.

Let Us Help You Perfect Your Voice Search Optimization Strategy

Voice search optimization should form an important piece of your 2025 digital strategy; but knowing this and executing it can sometimes be two different things. At Redstone Communications Group, we work with business owners who understand the value of SEO but, perhaps, lack the time to implement it. We’ll help you cover all your bases, voice search optimization included. Contact us to get started!