Imagine you're in your car, trying to find a plumber to fix a leak in your kitchen. Instead of typing, you simply ask your phone, "Who's the best plumber near me?" That's voice search in action, and it's changing the way people find local businesses. If your website isn't ready for voice search, you might be missing out on new customers.
By 2024, it's expected that more than 50% of all searches will be voice-based. For small business owners—whether you're running a hair salon, a real estate agency, or a local restaurant—this trend is not something to ignore. It’s an opportunity to be found by more customers and stand out in a crowded market.
In this guide, we’ll explain why voice search matters and give you three simple strategies to optimize your website. Whether you’re just starting to think about voice search or need a refresher, these tips will help you improve your online visibility and make sure customers can find your business.
Why Voice Search Matters for Your Small Business
Voice search isn’t just a passing trend. It's rapidly becoming the way people search for local businesses. Here's why voice search is so important:
1. Voice Search is Convenient
Voice search makes it easier for people to find what they need, especially when they’re on the go. Whether they're driving, cooking, or multitasking, people love being able to speak instead of typing. Voice search allows customers to search quickly and hands-free, which is why it’s becoming more popular.
Smartphone assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have made voice search incredibly easy. Users don’t have to worry about typing long queries; they can simply ask questions out loud and get answers instantly.
2. Local Searches Are Dominating Voice Search
Did you know that 58% of people use voice search to find local business information? Plus, voice searches are three times more likely to be local. This means that when someone searches for a business or service using voice, they’re usually looking for something nearby.
If your small business is easy to find through voice search, you’re more likely to attract new customers from your local area. Whether it’s someone looking for "the best coffee shop nearby" or "affordable plumbers in [your city]," voice search helps connect customers with your business when they need it the most.
3. People Use Conversational Phrases
Voice searches tend to be longer and more conversational than typed searches. For example, instead of typing "plumber in Chicago," someone might say, "Who is the best plumber in Chicago that can fix a leaky pipe today?" Voice searches often include full questions, and people expect quick, helpful answers.
For small businesses, this means you need to think about how people phrase their questions and make sure your website answers them clearly. If you can meet the needs of voice search users, you'll increase your chances of being found online.
3 Simple Strategies to Optimize Your Website for Voice Search
Now that you understand why voice search is important, let's dive into three strategies you can use to optimize your website and get more customers. These tips will help your business appear when customers search for services or products you offer using voice search.
1. Use Natural, Conversational Language
Voice search is all about talking, not typing. When someone uses their voice assistant to search, they’re speaking the way they would talk to a person. So, your website needs to reflect this casual, conversational style.
Here’s how to adjust your content:
Use Question-Based Keywords: Voice searches often begin with questions like "What is," "How can," or "Where can." To optimize for this, make sure your content answers common questions in your industry.
Write in a Natural, Spoken Tone: Avoid stiff or formal language. Write like you’re having a conversation with a potential customer. This will make it easier for voice assistants to pick up your content and serve it as an answer to someone’s search.
Anticipate Customer Questions: Think about the questions customers might ask when looking for your services. For example, instead of using a generic title like "Dental Services," you could use something more specific like, "Where can I get a teeth cleaning near me?" This makes your content more likely to match voice search queries.
Pro Tip: To get even more specific, consider adding FAQs to your website. These sections are great for answering common questions people may ask when using voice search.
2. Focus on Local SEO
For small businesses, local SEO is key to getting noticed in voice search. Since most voice searches are local, optimizing for your city or region can give you a competitive edge.
Here’s how you can improve your local SEO:
Claim Your Google My Business Listing: Google My Business is one of the most important tools for local SEO. Make sure your business profile is up-to-date with accurate information, including your address, phone number, business hours, and website link. This helps search engines connect your business with local search queries.
Keep Your NAP Consistent: NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. Make sure this information is consistent across all online platforms. Whether it’s on your website, social media profiles, or local directories, having the same NAP everywhere helps build trust with search engines and customers.
Use Location-Specific Keywords: Include keywords related to your city or neighborhood in your content. For example, if you own a pet grooming business in Miami, you could use phrases like "dog grooming in Miami" or "best Miami pet groomer."
Add Schema Markup: Schema markup is a type of code that helps search engines understand the details of your business. This can include your business hours, location, services, and even customer reviews. Adding schema markup to your website helps search engines better understand what your business offers and boosts your chances of appearing in voice search results.
3. Create FAQ Content for Voice Search Queries
Since voice searches are often full questions, a great way to optimize for voice search is by creating a detailed FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section on your website.
Here’s how to build an FAQ section that will help with voice search:
Identify Common Questions: Think about the questions people in your industry are asking. What do they want to know? For example, if you’re a plumber, common questions could include "How much does it cost to fix a leaky pipe?" or "How do I prevent my pipes from freezing?"
Use the Exact Phrases People Ask: Voice search is very specific, so using the exact phrasing that customers use will help your business show up in their search results. Include the most common questions your customers ask and make sure your answers are clear and direct.
Keep Answers Simple and Concise: Voice search users want quick answers. Keep your answers short, to the point, and easy to understand. This will help your website rank higher in search results.
Structure FAQs for Easy Reading: Search engines prefer content that’s easy to scan and understand. Use headers, bullet points, and short paragraphs to make your FAQ section readable. This will help both users and search engines find the answers they need.
