How to Optimise for Voice Search, With Examples
Did you know that 52% of UK households now use voice assistants? If your business website isn’t optimised for voice search, it’s like hiding from half of your potential customers. Voice search is no longer something that will happen soon – it’s rapidly changing how people find businesses like yours. Forget keyword stuffing or endless blog posts – today’s SEO needs to speak the language of Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
About Outsource Your Marketing
Outsource Your Marketing is an SEO Agency that specialises in creating personalised SEO for clients across a range of sectors. At Outsource Your Marketing, we’ve helped many businesses leverage the power of voice search to boost local visibility and attract new customers.
In this blog, we’ll break down the secrets of voice search SEO and show you how to adapt your content marketing strategy to capture those crucial voice queries. Let’s make sure your business doesn’t get left behind in the age of conversational search.
Voice Search and SEO
Data from Statista shows that in 2024 there will be more than 8 billion digital voice assistants in use. And as users increase, so will the ways in which digital assistants are used. Rather than simply asking Alexa the set an alarm or find a playlist, they’ll be searching research topics or finding the best Turkish restaurants nearby.
Optimising for voice search is something SEO companies are already doing; it’s a critical strategic step to maintain competitiveness. Read on to discover how voice search is transforming SEO, and what tactics you need to implement to appear for voice search queries.
Example of Copy Optimised for Voice Search
It’s always easier to understand how tactics work when you see them in action, so we’ve taken a chunk of copy, and then optimised it for voice search, so you can see the difference.
Copy Not Optimised for Voice Search:
“In the highly competitive eCommerce sector, standing out from the crowd is crucial for success. Local SEO is a powerful marketing strategy that can help you achieve this by boosting your visibility and targeting local shoppers.
Imagine your eCommerce site appearing among the top three search results when local customers search for products you sell. This longed-for spot not only enhances your online presence but also places your business directly in front of potential customers, dramatically increasing the likelihood of them clicking through and engaging with your brand.”
Here are the tactics you can apply to get it selected in a voice search:
Ask a question to engage voice searchers:
Want more customers for your online store? Try this and get found by local shoppers who are searching for your products right now!
Use natural language with long-tail keywords:
Local SEO is a secret weapon for online stores like yours. It helps you dominate searches like “best takeaway coffee near me” and “shop for fashion accessories nearby.”
Focus on user benefits and address their pain points:
Imagine skipping the crowded online marketplace and being seen by customers in your own city. Local SEO makes that happen, putting your store right at the top of local searches.
Use action verbs and clear calls to action:
Boost your local visibility today! Learn how local SEO can transform your online store and bring in more customers from your local area.
Voice Optimised Version:
“Want more customers for your online store? Try this and get found by local shoppers who are searching for your products right now! Local SEO is a secret weapon for online stores like yours. It helps you dominate searches like “best takeaway coffee near me” and “shop for fashion accessories nearby.
Imagine skipping the crowded online marketplace and being seen by customers in your own city. Local SEO makes that happen, putting your store right at the top of local searches. Boost your local visibility today! Learn how local SEO can transform your online store and bring in more customers from your local area.”
Summary
- Ask a question at the beginning. This grabs the listener’s attention and encourages them to keep listening.
- Use natural language. People use longer, more conversational phrases when speaking than when typing.
- Target relevant long-tail keywords. These are the specific phrases people use when searching for local businesses.
- Focus on benefits. Highlight how local SEO solves your audience’s problems.
- Use action verbs and clear calls to action. Motivate listeners to learn more or take action.
Technical SEO for Voice Search
This is the process of optimising your website to make it more user and search engine friendly.
Improving your technical SEO not only enhances the user experience for your site, it can also impact your search engine ranking. A good ranking makes it more likely your site is chosen by digital assistants.
- Mobile-first indexing. Google prioritises mobile versions of websites for indexing, so a responsive and user-friendly mobile website is essential.
- Fast loading speed. Voice assistants prioritise instant answers, so optimise your site for speed on mobile devices.
- Structured data. Use schema markup to clearly communicate the type of content and information on your pages, helping search engines understand your site for better voice search results.
How AI and AI Tools Are Powering the Future of Voice Search
AI isn’t just influencing voice search — it powers it. Every time someone asks Alexa to find a nearby service or checks with Siri for directions, artificial intelligence is working behind the scenes to interpret natural speech, understand intent, and deliver instant answers. As voice search becomes more widely used, it’s essential for businesses to understand how AI tools shape the way content is discovered.
Voice assistants rely on advanced technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and predictive algorithms to understand how humans naturally speak. AI tools help marketers adapt to this shift by revealing how people phrase real-world voice queries, highlighting long-tail conversational keywords, and offering insights into search intent and user behaviour. When used correctly, AI can significantly strengthen your voice search strategy.
However, just like with AI-generated content or design, there are risks if businesses rely on AI tools without understanding how to guide them. AI may provide generic, incomplete or misaligned suggestions that don’t match what voice assistants prioritise. Without SEO expertise behind it, AI output can lead businesses down the wrong optimisation path.
Here’s how AI is changing voice search — and what you need to be aware of:
How AI Supports Voice Search Optimisation:
• Helps identify long-tail, conversational keywords similar to real spoken queries.
• Analyses user intent so you can match content to the way customers actually ask questions.
• Speeds up research into trending voice search topics or local search patterns.
• Supports content drafting using natural language structures favoured by voice assistants.
• Enhances structured data strategies by identifying content types voice assistants rely on.
Pitfalls Businesses Need to Avoid:
• Overreliance on AI suggestions that don’t align with brand tone, accuracy, or target audience.
• Generic AI-generated keywords that don’t reflect local, industry-specific, or nuanced user queries.
• Missing the strategic foundation needed for technical SEO, voice schema, and mobile-first content.
• Risk of producing content that sounds conversational but lacks expertise or helpfulness — both of which Google prioritises.
Why Human Expertise Still Matters:
• AI can’t fully understand your brand tone, values, or customer expectations.
• SEO professionals evaluate which AI suggestions truly align with search intent.
• Humans bring strategic judgment needed to refine structure, messaging, and optimisation.
• Combining AI efficiency with expert oversight ensures your content is discoverable and impactful.
Voice search is becoming more accurate, predictive, and conversational — and AI sits at the heart of that evolution. The businesses that succeed won’t be the ones who rely on AI alone, but those who use AI as a powerful assistant guided by human SEO strategy, creativity, and oversight.
What Are The Advantages of Voice Search Optimisation?
‘Hey Google, how can I connect with consumers in a smarter way?’
Voice search is changing the game. It’s not just searching anymore, it’s like having a conversation with your brand. Imagine asking questions, getting instant answers, and all this on the go. And that’s just the beginning! Soon, searching will guide you every step of the way, from browsing to buying.
Brands are getting ready for this hyper-personalised future. They’re learning everything about you, so they can talk to you directly, in just the right way. Text, voice, pictures – whatever works best for you. It’s a whole new world of connection, powered by voice search.
Would you like to talk to Outsource Your Marketing about optimising your site for voice search? Call us today on 01727 649492.
