Voice Search: A New Era for SEO

Voice search is rapidly reshaping how users interact with search engines and how businesses approach SEO. Historically, SEO depended on the specific keywords people typed into search bars. Now, with more than a billion voice searches each month and over half of Americans having tried voice search, the influence of this technology is clear. As virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa become more common, it is vital to understand the unique impact voice search has on SEO strategies.

What Sets Voice Search Apart?

Voice search fundamentally differs from traditional text-based queries. Users speak in natural, conversational language, such as asking, “What’s the weather like in Pennsylvania today?” rather than typing “weather Pennsylvania.” To meet this shift, websites must focus on natural language phrasing, frequently asked questions, and conversational content, moving away from keyword-heavy headlines. Voice searches tend to be longer, more detailed, and often include intent, time, location, and urgency. For instance, someone might say, “Alexa, where can I buy fresh flowers near me that’s still open now?”

Modern search engines, including Google, utilize natural language processing (NLP) to interpret these complex, conversational queries. Because users speak in sentences, voice search reflects this pattern. To optimize for voice search, strategies should incorporate long-tail keywords and full-sentence questions that users are likely to ask. While short-tail keywords remain relevant, balancing both types is crucial, as voice and text searches often differ in phrasing.

Voice search is also hands-free and frequently used while multitasking—during activities such as driving, cooking, or walking. Users expect quick, clear answers rather than a list of links.

AI-Powered Search and Content Visibility

AI-driven search platforms like Google SGE, ChatGPT, and Perplexity are revolutionizing online content discovery. Rather than presenting ten blue links, these advanced engines use artificial intelligence to summarize the most relevant responses to user queries. As a result, content must be structured for easy extraction by AI—using clear headings, bullet points, and schema markup to help systems organize information efficiently. Establishing content as authoritative and trustworthy further increases its chances of being selected as the top source in search results.

Featured Snippets and Local Optimization

Featured snippets—also known as “position zero”—are more important than ever in the age of voice search. Voice assistants typically return only the top result, making SEO a winner-takes-most endeavor. If your content doesn’t secure the featured snippet, it may not appear in voice search results.

Local optimization is especially critical for businesses. Thoroughly optimizing your Google Business Profile, collecting reviews, and using structured data on your website ensures voice assistants can accurately answer “near me” queries, providing users with the most relevant local information.

Creating Content That Answers Specific Questions

Voice search users want direct, concise answers. To reach this audience, design content around the questions they are likely to ask, using FAQ-style rich snippets that reflect actual user queries. This approach increases your chances of earning the featured snippet and boosts search visibility.

Building extensive FAQs and knowledge bases, as demonstrated by Jonathan Feniak at LLC Attorney, can be invaluable for voice search optimization. By anticipating and answering detailed questions about LLCs, compliance, and legal matters, their site has delivered concise, accessible answers and seen notable growth in web traffic and thought leadership.

Optimizing for Local Search Queries

Local SEO is crucial for businesses seeking organic search traffic, especially via voice search. Users often search for nearby products or services while on the move. To rank well for “near me” searches, complete and update your Google Business Profile, implement on-page local keyword SEO, and provide detailed location information on your website. Publishing area-specific blog content can further strengthen your local relevance.

#EmbraceAmbition: 6 Sessions You Don't Want to Miss

2022 has been one of the biggest years for my business thus far. I started this little agency in 2019, having no clue what I was doing but armed with 15 years of corporate marketing experience, a strong instinct, resources, and determination, I kept things going here. Despite the twists and turns that all business owners went through during COVID, SW Creative is still thriving today.

A few months ago, I applied to Tory Burch Foundation’s 2022 Embrace Ambition Summit: Confronting Stereotypes and Creating New Norms, and couldn’t believe I was accepted to attend among the thousands of others who applied.

There are so many reasons I’m excited about this event—too many to list, but with the Summit taking place in a week I thought I’d highlight a few of the sessions I’m probably most excited about as they hit home in some shape or form for me.

This year, the Summit returns as a live and virtual experience—a full day of conversations and performances from leaders in business, entertainment, science, social justice and sports. You can still get your virtual ticket here.

ADVOCATING FOR GUN CONTROL, SESSION 3, 11:50-1PM

Julianne Moore, Actor, Activist, Mother and Founding Chair of the Everytown for Gun Safety Creative Council and Monisha Henley, Director of State Affairs, Everytown for Gun Safety. I don’t think there’s much more I need to say about this session and my passion for gun advocacy. You can read more about my thoughts on Uvalde here.

WOMEN AND SCIENCE: SESSION 6, 5-6PM

Aside from Tory, I don’t know that there’s anyone else I’m more excited to hear speak than Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian-American engineer who earned a bachelor’s degree electronics and computer engineering from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, (also my alma mater) in 1988 and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., while working full-time at MCI Communications.

She is the CEO of XPRIZE, an Astronaut, a High-tech serial entrepreneur and a Global Change Maker. Entrepreneur Magazine says of her, “Ansari's journey to space in 2006 has led her to being immortalized in history, with the Iranian American entrepreneur also forever going to be remembered as the first Muslim woman in the world to travel to space.”

As someone who was raised by a Persian single mother and my entire life, pushed to succeed, go to college, and be a change maker, I am not only humbled by Anoush’s accomplishments but feel as though her story resonates so much with my upbringing. I can’t wait to hear her in person.

WE MUST TALK ABOUT MISCARRIAGE: A CONVERSATION WITH MARY KEEGAN, SESSION 3, 11:50-1PM

Mary Keegan is a Talent Brand Communications Manager and an advocate for parents and women in the workforce. She will be speaking about the bereavement leave policy after miscarriage that she created at her place of employment.

RECLAIMING OUR ICONS IN HISTORY: AN INTERVIEW WITH DOLORES HUERTES, SESSION 2, 10:25-11:30

Dolores Huerta has been a labor organizer and activist for over 50 years. She co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) union in 1962, an organization that played a key role in securing rights for agricultural laborers–but her co-founder and then-partner Cesar Chavez became the face of the movement, insisting only one of them could be its leader. At age 92, Ms. Huerta still has plenty to teach us all about what we can accomplish when we stand up for the most marginalized in our communities.

THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS WITH DR. SAMANTHA BOARDMAN, SESSION 3, 11:50-1PM

Dr. Samantha Boardman is a positive psychiatrist, founder of Positive Prescription, and author of Everyday Vitality. After beginning her practice, she had a client come to her that said, “Dr. Boardman, I hate coming to our weekly sessions,” she confessed. “All we do is talk about the bad stuff in my life. Even if I am having a good day, coming here makes me think about all the negative things. I’m done.”

That’s when Dr. Boardman decided to go back to school and focus on treating patients through a positive mindset, teaching resilience, optimism, and post-traumatic growth. She says, “I explored the role of lifestyle and psychosocial factors that impact mental health and learned about evidence-based interventions that promote well-being. I have been practicing Positive Psychiatry ever since.”

NO ROADBLOCKS, SESSION IV, 2:15-3:20PM

Aisha Khan is a brain tumor survivor and also a disability awareness advocate. Her story is especially intriguing - after undergoing a surgical procedure to remove a benign brain tumor on May 13th, 2014, Khan initially developed complete paralysis of her right/ dominant side hence, "The Right Side of Perfect".

As she began her recovery, she started documenting her journey with the hopes that perhaps she’s learned some things that can help others. Topics include living with a disability (right-sided hemiparesis) and adapting to a “new normal”, especially at work.