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Voice Search SEO: 9 Tips to Rank

August 20, 2025

7 min read

Written by:

Power Digital Growth Marketing Partner

Power Digital is a full-service growth marketing agency helping brands accelerate their revenue with data, strategy, and execution. Known for our award-winning teams and nova technology, we bring clarity to complexity and build marketing that scales.

Reviewed by:

Tara Johnson Senior Content Strategist

Tara Johnson is a marketing strategist with 10+ years of experience in digital strategy, content creation, and advertising. At Power Digital, she leads content planning, creating high-impact resources that boost visibility and drive results. Tara believes in no magic wands—just smart content and a passion for sustainable, authentic growth.

Table of contents

1. #1: Understand How Voice Search Works
2. #2: Optimize for Conversational Keywords and Questions
3. #3: Create FAQ Pages for Voice Search Queries
4. #4: Focus on Local SEO and "Near Me" Searches
5. #5: Implement Schema Markup for Voice Search Visibility
6. #6: Optimize for Mobile and Page Speed
7. #7: Improve Readability and Featured Snippet Optimization
8. #8: Use Natural Language and Conversational Tone in Content
9. #9: Monitor Performance and Adjust Strategy Regularly
10. Be Heard: Master Voice Search SEO

To Top

Across industries, one thing is certain: Consumers crave convenience. And now, voice search is satisfying them.

Rather than taking the time to craft and type a query into a search engine, consumers can use voice search to simply ask their questions out loud and receive immediate answers. This means users can conduct searches while performing hands-on tasks. They can also use “natural language” which fosters intuitive search engine experiences.

It also means businesses must adapt their SEO strategies accordingly.

Optimizing websites for voice search can increase organic traffic, improve search visibility, and enhance overall user experience. The following 9 tips reveal how to approach voice search SEO for maximum returns.

#1: Understand How Voice Search Works

Whether users are driving to work, making dinner, or otherwise separated from their devices, voice search enables quality search experiences—completely hands-free. All it takes is the press of a button or voice-activated command to prompt voice search and get the answer to any question.

Voice search differs from traditional text-based queries in some key ways. While text-based search bars encourage users to type short, keyword-packed phrases for the best results, voice search allows for longer, more organic queries that resemble natural conversation.

Here are two terms marketers should familiarize themselves with to further understand these differences:

Natural language search – Instead of matching keywords, natural language processors (NLPs) interpret the meaning of words and phrases. Search engines that employ NLP take the pressure off users to craft search queries in a way that ensures desired results. Instead, they can simply ask questions naturally and let the NLP do the rest. Put simply, voice search uses AI-powered NLPs for seamless, conversational search experiences.
Long-tail keywords – Text-based searches typically use short keywords and phrases (like “digital marketing SEO” or “SEO strategies”) to yield results. Voice search SEO, however, relies on long-tail keywords that target conversational, high-intent, and product-focused queries. A quality long-tail keyword in this case would look more like: “What are the best SEO strategies for digital marketing?”

AI-powered assistants like Siri, Google, and Alexa have caused voice search popularity to soar. Debuting in the early-to-mid 2010s, these technological innovations have steadily found their way into consumers’ pockets and homes, offering intuitive, hands-free convenience.

For this reason, businesses that want to be heard above the noise need effective voice search SEO strategies.

#2: Optimize for Conversational Keywords and Questions

The most obvious way to optimize websites for voice search? Target the questions users are most likely to ask.

Follow these steps to craft quality keywords that will capture the attention of NLPs and voice search programs:

Target natural, question-based keywords – Marketers should think about what their target consumers might naturally ask to get to their site. For instance, if conducting voice search SEO for a bakery, consider targeting local-intent queries like “Where can I find the best fresh-baked bread?”

Another plus? Many long-tail and question-based keywords also contain short-tail keywords that help boost text-based search rankings, too.
Research relevant voice search queries – Marketers don’t have to come up with long-tail keywords off the dome. Tools like AnswerThePublic and Google’s “People Also Ask” search sections eliminate keyword guesswork. They help identify relevant voice search queries marketers should target on their websites for increased traffic.

Marketers might be surprised by the kinds of questions users ask while using voice search. However, by conducting thorough research, they can ensure effective keyword and question targeting.

#3: Create FAQ Pages for Voice Search Queries

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) pages can offer natural ways to incorporate voice search SEO into a website without alienating text-based users.

Develop structured FAQ sections for high-traffic pages that answer common industry-specific questions concisely. Getting started is simple:

Use relevant long-tail keywords to create a list of questions.
Ensure each answer is optimized for featured snippets to increase the chances of being read aloud by search assistants.

#4: Focus on Local SEO and "Near Me" Searches

Consider the average voice search user: Often, they’re driving around, looking for a rest area, restaurant, or fun activity close by. Instead of pulling over to type in a search query, they simply activate Siri or Google and ask, “What coffee shops are near me?” or “Where can I grab a quick bite nearby?”

This type of search is very common. In fact, 58% of consumers discover local businesses through voice search.

To drive these users to business pages, marketers should:

Update Google Business Profile information – SEO marketers can optimize sites for location-based searches by ensuring Google Business Profile information is accurate and up to date. Add contact information, hours of operation, photos, and important attributes so users can learn the most essential info on the go. The best part? Doing this is completely free.
Use location-based phrases in website copy – Keywords, keywords, keywords. To capture local voice search traffic, incorporate long-tail, location-based keywords and questions like, “The best bookstore near me” or, “What’s the most affordable grocery store in my area?”

#5: Implement Schema Markup for Voice Search Visibility

Schema markup includes any structured data that gives search engines more information about a site’s contents. This data helps users naturally discover a business’s offerings through conversational voice searches. Apply schema markup to:

FAQ sections.
Product listings.
Service pages.
Local business details.

Marketers can add structured data to webpages using the Schema.org vocabulary, as well as Microdata, JDFa, or JSON-LD formats. This will allow major search engines like Google and Microsoft—which both utilize voice search—to better understand webpage content and provide users with rich results.

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#6: Optimize for Mobile and Page Speed

Since most voice searches occur on mobile devices, business websites should feature mobile-friendly versions with lightning-fast load times.

Use analytics tools like Pingdom Website Speed Test, GTmetrix, and Google’s PageSpeed Insights (PSI) to identify and fix performance issues that could impact voice search rankings. For example, Google’s PSI analyzes essential Core Web Vitals that impact user experience, including:

First Contentful Paint (FLP).
Interaction to Next Paint (INP).
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP).
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

Optimize mobile site versions and loading speed by working with a site builder that prioritizes accessibility. And here’s another must-know tip: Marketers should focus optimization energies on pages with the highest traffic. For voice searches, those will likely include FAQ and service pages.

#7: Improve Readability and Featured Snippet Optimization

Structure content in a way that makes it easy for search engines and AI-search assistants to extract, display, and read it out as a featured snippet. That means placing key information front and center in a clear, accessible format.

Use these formatting conventions to enhance a page’s readability, scannability, and ranking performance:

Bullet points.
Numbered lists.
Frequently asked question (FAQ) sections.

#8: Use Natural Language and Conversational Tone in Content

Overly technical and complex phrasing turns off most users, not just voice searchers. To create compelling content that connects with audiences, follow these tips:

Prioritize natural language – Write web copy and blog content in a way that mimics how people speak in conversations. This will increase the likelihood that search engines rank pages for NLP-powered voice searches.
Directly answer users’ questions – Most users value content that answers their questions immediately, clearly, and concisely—voice search engines do, too. Not only will this content strategy increase a site’s chances of ranking for voice searches, but it will also provide more value and thought leadership to users.

#9: Monitor Performance and Adjust Strategy Regularly

As with any effective SEO strategy, marketers must constantly monitor and adjust voice search SEO for maximum results. As NLPs improve and user search trends shift, voice search SEO will have to adapt accordingly.

Follow these best practices to help ensure crystal-clear voice search SEO:

Track performance with analytics tools – Use platforms like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to gauge how a site is performing for voice search queries. Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) such as how many users come from voice search, bounce rate, and how long they stay on the site to track performance over time.
Automate analysis and implementation with AI – AI-powered tools can help automate performance analysis and create a more efficient SEO workflow. Conduct long-tail keyword research, measure relevant KPIs, enrich structured data, and more, all while conserving time and energy for other important SEO tasks.
Refine, refine, refine – Continuously refine keyword targeting, content structure, and site optimization based on voice search trends and performance analysis findings.

By continuously optimizing for voice search, businesses can keep their hold on the industry’s mic and convert customers across the airwaves.

Be Heard: Master Voice Search SEO

To develop competitive SEO strategies, businesses must anticipate the latest search trends. With voice search already second nature for countless users, it’s time to adapt.

Understanding the mechanics of voice search, targeting long-tail keywords to suit NLPs, and enriching structured data will all boost voice search rankings—helping your business be heard, loud and clear.

Looking for more innovative SEO strategies like these? Connect with Power Digital to energize your current approach and accelerate growth by 2.6 times the industry average. For unconventional approaches with undeniable impact, companies choose Power Digital.

Reach out and accelerate your business today.