Voice Search Optimization: How to Get Found When People Ask Questions
by Sandy Waggett
11 min reading time
Voice search is no longer the future of SEO—it’s the present. If you’re not already thinking about how people search using their voice, you’re falling behind.
In 2025, over 50% of all online searches will be voice-based. (ComScore) 72% of people who own voice-activated speakers say they use them as part of their daily routine. (Google)
For small business owners, this presents both a challenge and an incredible opportunity. Optimizing your site for voice search means tapping into a whole new way customers are looking for services—and getting your business in front of them at exactly the right moment.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through:
Why voice search matters more than ever for local businesses
How voice search differs from traditional typing and how it impacts your SEO
How to optimize your website for voice queries, from natural language to local content
Why long-tail keywords and conversational content are the keys to ranking for voice search
Real examples of how MSW helps clients stay ahead of the voice search trend in their SEO strategy
Let’s get into it.
Why Voice Search Matters for Small Businesses
Voice search has exploded, thanks to the rise of devices like Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Amazon Echo. People are using their voice to search for everything—from finding nearby restaurants to asking for quick answers to common questions.
Voice search makes up 27% of all global mobile searches. (Google)
But why does this matter for you? Because voice search changes how people ask questions—and how Google delivers results.
Voice vs. Text Search: What’s the Difference?
Traditional typed search queries look something like this:
“best dentist in Osage Beach”
“affordable HVAC repair near me”
These are short, usually two- or three-word phrases—also known as short-tail keywords.
But with voice search, the queries are much more conversational and natural:
“What’s the best dentist near me?”
“Who offers affordable HVAC repair in Osage Beach?”
“Where can I get my AC fixed today in Lake Ozark?”
This means voice search relies on long-tail keywords, which are longer, more specific phrases that people naturally speak.
Voice search queries are often longer because people speak in full sentences. So instead of typing “HVAC repair near me,” they might say, “Where can I find affordable HVAC repair near me today?”
If your website isn’t optimized for these longer, more conversational queries, you’ll miss out on voice search traffic—and your competitors will take the lead.
How to Optimize Your Website for Voice Search
The good news is, optimizing for voice search isn’t as complicated as it may seem. It’s all about creating content that answers the real questions your potential customers are asking—and making it easy for Google to find those answers.
1. Use Natural, Conversational Language
Since voice searches are typically more conversational, your website content should reflect how people actually talk.
Instead of writing for keywords, write for questions.
Example: Instead of saying:
“We provide HVAC repair in Osage Beach.”
Write something more conversational like:
“Looking for affordable HVAC repair in Osage Beach? We’re here to help with fast and reliable service.”
This is how your customers are speaking, and it’s how you should write. Google’s voice search is all about delivering answers to natural-sounding questions.
2. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords and Question-Based Phrases
Since voice searches tend to be longer, you need to target long-tail keywords that mirror the way people phrase questions.
Example:
Instead of “HVAC repair Osage Beach,” target “Where can I find HVAC repair near me?” or “How much does HVAC repair cost in Osage Beach?”
Long-tail keywords often have lower competition, so they’re easier to rank for—especially if they match what users are actually asking on their devices.
3. Optimize for Local Search
Voice searches are often location-based, and Google places a heavy emphasis on local results.
Google reports that 76% of people who search for something nearby visit a business within 24 hours. Nearly 60% of voice search queries are for local content. (Google)
Make sure to:
Include your location (city, neighborhood, service area) on your homepage, service pages, and in the metadata.
Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) for better visibility in local search.
Use local language and place names in your content, and make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across the web (Blog #1).
The more relevant and location-specific your content is, the more likely it will appear in voice search results when someone nearby is looking for your service.
4. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup) to Help Google Understand Your Content
Schema markup helps search engines like Google better understand your content by adding specific tags to it. By marking up your business details, reviews, events, and more, you make it easier for Google to provide users with rich results in voice searches.
If you haven’t added schema markup to your website yet, it’s time to do it. It’s a simple code that improves how Google reads your content—and it can help you earn featured snippets, which are prime real estate for voice search results.
5. Answer Common Questions with an FAQ Section
Voice search is all about answering questions, so an FAQ page is an excellent way to optimize for voice search.
Example of an FAQ schema:
Q: What’s the best plumber near me?
A: We’re the top-rated plumber serving Osage Beach with 24/7 emergency services.
Be sure to use question-based headlines and concise answers to improve your chances of being featured in a voice search result.
6. Improve Page Speed and Mobile Usability
Since most voice searches come from mobile devices, Google pays close attention to how your site performs on mobile. If your site is slow to load or difficult to navigate on mobile, it can hurt your rankings and visibility.
📊 53% of mobile users will leave a page if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. (Google)
Test your website on mobile, speed it up (compress images, use caching), and ensure it’s mobile-friendly.
Real Client Example: From Missed Opportunity to Featured Result
One of our clients—a local landscaping business—wasn’t appearing for voice search queries despite having good content. After an audit, we realized they were missing key local phrases in their content and their FAQ page wasn’t answering common voice search questions.
We made these changes:
Updated service pages with location-based keywords like “best landscaping service near me”
Created a robust FAQ section with natural, question-based answers
Added schema markup for FAQ and local business
Within 60 days, the client started showing up in local voice search results for several key services and saw a 35% increase in calls directly from voice searches.
How MSW Integrates Voice Search Optimization in the Performance Marketing Program
When you work with us, we optimize for voice search from day one. This includes:
Crafting content that answers real customer questions
Adding long-tail keywords and natural phrases into the site copy
Implementing schema markup for FAQs and local information
Reviewing your site speed and mobile usability
Monitoring your voice search performance and making data-driven adjustments
We help you stay ahead of the trends—so your business gets found when someone asks for your services.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for Voice Search to Catch Up
Voice search isn’t something to worry about in the future—it’s happening right now. If you’re not already optimizing for voice, you’re missing a major opportunity to show up in the right searches.
Start optimizing today by creating question-based content, improving your local SEO, adding schema markup, and making sure your site is mobile-friendly.
Let’s make sure your business shows up at the top of the search results—when people are asking for help.
👉 Ready to Optimize for Voice Search?
We’ll help you implement the best voice search strategies for your site, so you can capture more leads from local search.
Sandy Wardenburg Waggettis theFounder & CEO of MSW Interactive Designs, a premier digital marketing agency specializing inSEO, AI-powered content strategies, and website optimization. Withover a quarter century of experience (eek!), Sandy has helped thousands of business ownersincrease visibility, generate leads, and dominate their local marketsthrough strategic online marketing.
As aCertified High-Performance Coach, Certified Maxwell Leadership Coach, and LXCouncil Moderator, Sandy is not just a marketing expert—she’s atrusted mentor and business strategistwho equips entrepreneurs withdata-driven insights and future-proof tactics. She leadsAI & Marketing Mastery Trainingand exclusiveCEO mastermind groups, helping business leaders stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Sandy is also theauthor of the upcoming book, The Future-Proof SEO Blueprint: AI, AEO, and SEO Tactics for Small Business Dominance—a must-read for business owners looking tooutsmart competitors and win in the new era of search marketing. The book providescutting-edge strategiesonAI-driven SEO, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and how to leverage AI tools to future-proof your digital presence.
When she’s not craftinggame-changing marketing strategies, Sandy enjoyscoaching entrepreneurs, speaking at business conferences, and empowering leaders to make bold moves in their industries.
🚀Want to take your digital marketing to the next level?Connect with Sandy atMSWInteractiveDesigns.comor call 573-552-8403.