Most website development and content work happens on a desktop device, for obvious reasons. We’ve mentioned before on this blog how these types of workflows can sometimes lead to a sort of UX blindness, where businesses overlook the mobile experience because it’s not top of mind during development. In today’s article, we’ll talk about a similar phenomenon: the undervaluing of voice search.
NPR reports that over 60% of Americans now regularly use voice search tools like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. The devices used can range from smart speakers to in-car devices, TV remotes, and, of course, mobile phones. Voice search experienced a surge in the 2010s and continues to grow even today. It’s safe to assume that, as AI tools improve, voice search will likely only become more prevalent.
So the value in ranking well for voice search certainly exists: it’s all just a matter of identifying what strategies will help your company rank well in 2025. Let’s dive into some strategies every business should consider:
1. Write Conversationally
As voice assistants become more prevalent, the semantics of online searches are evolving. A Google search for “Thai food Tulsa late” won’t be replaced by the same terminology when the user switches to voice. Instead, they’ll likely ask something like: “What’s the best Thai restaurant near me that’s open now?” This means your content should anticipate natural phrasing. Instead of optimizing for isolated keywords, focus on:
- Question-based headlines and subheadings
- Full-sentence answers that sound natural out loud
- Specific phrases tied to intent (e.g., “best for families,” “24-hour service,” “near downtown”)
2. Answer First, Then Provide Context
Many voice responses are powered by featured snippets or short summaries pulled from a page. These answers typically show up near the top of the search results and are written in a very specific way: direct, scannable, and to the point. Here are some tips that can improve your odds of being selected as the top answer:
- Start with a clear answer to the query in the first sentence or two
- Follow with additional supporting detail or related context
- Use formatting tools like bullet points, numbered lists, and FAQ sections
3. Focus on Local Listings
Voice search and local search are closely intertwined. Common questions like “Where’s the nearest dentist?” or “What time does the pharmacy close?” are often driven by immediate intent. That makes visibility in local results extremely important. To stay competitive, it’s essential to keep your Google Business Profile updated with hours, photos, phone number, etc. You should also ensure that your site has content that reflects your physical location, if applicable.
4. Add Structured Data to Key Pages
Structured data tags enable search engines and AI tools to understand the content of a page, almost like subtitles or captions. For voice search, this structured data helps assistants identify answers, business information, and relevance, and appears to play a role in determining which pages are selected as snippet answers. The most important types of schema to implement include:
- FAQPage for Q&A sections
- LocalBusiness for NAP, hours, and geo data
- Product and Service schema if you offer sellable items or defined offerings
Many CMS platforms now have plugins like Yoast to help handle this, or you can work with a developer if your website has deeper problems to solve, like poor load speed.
5. Optimize for Speed
Yes, speed does matter for ranking in voice search. In fact, voice assistants tend to have less “patience” for crawling slow sites, since they are trying to provide users with quick, conversational responses.
It’s also worth noting that this especially applies to mobile devices, since that’s where most voice search happens! Run a mobile speed test using PageSpeed Insights, and follow the suggestions offered to help make your pages the fastest they can be across all devices.
6. Create Voice-Friendly Content
Voice search favors formats that lend themselves to concise question-and-answer structures, such as FAQ sections, how-to guides, definition-based blog posts, and location-specific blog posts. If you already have blog content, you can adapt it with minimal effort by adding summaries, breaking longer paragraphs into clear Q&A blocks, or reworking intros to lead with a direct answer.
7. Test and Iterate
Like text search, voice optimization is far from a one-off process. It requires ongoing testing, iteration, and refinement, especially since voice behavior often changes faster than traditional SEO patterns.
Because voice search doesn’t generate its own traffic segment in Google Analytics or Search Console, it’s difficult to directly evaluate how well (or poorly) your site is performing in these contexts. However, you can judge your voice search readiness by reviewing factors like:
- Are your FAQ pages performing well in organic search?
- Does your structured data appear in Google’s Rich Results Test?
- Are your top-ranking pages written in natural, conversational language?
- Do they provide quick, direct answers in the first few sentences?
- Are question-based search terms bringing impressions or clicks in Search Console?
Tech Tools for Voice Search Readiness
Here are some tools that make it easier to refine your voice search strategy:
- Yoast SEO or RankMath for help with structured data, meta descriptions, and readability.
- The Schema Markup Generator for adding custom schema to key pages.
- AnswerThePublic or AlsoAsked for surfacing real-world questions you can use as voice-friendly content prompts.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider for auditing technical SEO issues across large sites.
Voice Search Is a UX Challenge, Too
At its core, optimizing for voice search is about designing for clarity and accessibility while meeting your users where they’re at. Increased traffic is one key benefit, but so is the improved experience your users will have when they find you in the easiest and most natural way, every time. As new technologies continue to emerge and shape the way we interact with the web, companies that prioritize adaptive UX will have a clear advantage.
Want to talk about your top opportunities for improved UX on your website and beyond? Get in touch with Matcha Design today!
