How to optimize for voice search

Voice assistants read one answer aloud, and they take it from the same place as the featured snippet: a page that answers the question in one plain sentence, or a business listing that carries the fact. To be the answer read aloud, write the sentence a person would say, keep it under thirty words, and make sure your hours, address, and phone are correct on Google, because "is it open now" is answered from the listing.

What voice queries look like

Spoken searches are longer and phrased as questions: "what time does the dentist on Blue Lakes close," "is there a plumber near me open now," "how much does it cost to board a dog." They are local, they are urgent, and the answer is a single fact.

Where the answer comes from

Business facts: hours, address, phone, open now. From your Google Business Profile.
Definitions and how-tos: from the page that holds the featured snippet.
Recommendations: from the assistant’s own reading of reviews and listings.

What to do

Keep the Google Business Profile exact, including holiday hours.
Write the one-sentence answer under each question heading in spoken language.
Use the words people say, not industry terms. "Teeth cleaning," not "prophylaxis."
Make the phone number a tap on a phone, since the next step after a voice answer is a call.

Questions people ask

Is voice search still a thing?

Yes. It moved from a novelty into the car and the kitchen, and the AI assistants now speak too. The same page wins both.

Do I need speakable schema?

It is used for news, not local businesses. Clear sentences and a correct listing do the work.

How do I test it?

Ask your phone your customers’ questions and listen to what it reads and from where.

Want this done for you?

This is the work we do for every client: search, answer engines, and AI assistants, on one plan with one monthly report. Tell us about your business and we will tell you what we would do first.

Let’s talk