Have you ever found yourself talking to inanimate objects? If you said ‘no,’ think again. You might be one of the 125.2 million people who used voice search in 2023. This makes voice search for small businesses pivotal to getting found.
In fact, more than half of people use voice search to find small business recommendations.
So, if you want to improve your business visibility and be the first suggested when a potential customer says, “Hey Google, find a dentist near me,” keep reading.
The Guide to Winning More Business Online
DownloadWhat is Voice Search, and Why is it Important?
Voice search lets people ask questions verbally to virtual assistants such as Siri, Google or Alexa. This means they don’t have to type their questions into a search bar. Making it a more convenient and hands-free way to find what they are looking for.
As a small business, you want to optimize or tailor your website to help it appear easily in voice search results. According to AlexaBusiness, “Nowadays, people rely on voice search capabilities when they need to find a business, whether it be a restaurant, dry cleaner or doctor.”
Here are 3 ways to help get your businesses listed on voice search.
Focus on Local Information
Voice searches are often locally focused. For instance, if you are a dentist, you’d want “Dentist in [Your City]” prominent on your website. Now, when someone asks their voice assistant for a nearby dentist, you will be the first one to appear.
Pro tip: Claiming your online listings like Google, Bing and Yelp helps here.
On Google, Google Business Profile is one of the main sources of information used to select a business to showcase. This is because online listings house all your relevant business information, services offered, hours of operation and more. If you want a little help optimizing your listings, check out The Ultimate Google Business Profile Guide.
Write in a Conversation Style
People speak more casually than they type, so write using everyday language.
In a text-based search, people usually type a few key words. For example, a person may head to their favorite search engine and type, “dog groomer near me.” However, when talking to a smart speaker, they might ask, “Where can I get my husky groomed?”
Your blog is a great place to include these natural search phrases. For example, you could write a blog titled, “Husky Hair Everywhere? Best Times to Schedule a Deshed.”
If you need a little help coming up with content, use ChatGPT for ideas. We even have some prompts to help you out.
Answer All Your Frequently Asked Questions
Most searches start with “who,” “what,” “where,” and “how.” An easy way to ensure this information is on your site is with an FAQ page.
For instance, if you’re a local gutter cleaner, here are some voice search queries you may want to include:
- What is your process for cleaning gutters?
- What type of payment options do you accept?
- How does scheduling work?
In addition to using common questions, include relevant keywords. These are the words that people are likely to use when searching for a business like yours.
Sticking to the dog grooming example, use words like “dog grooming,” “ear cleaning” or “shedding solutions for huskies.”
Having these common phrases will help virtual assistants find you.
Is Voice Search a Fad?
Absolutely not. Voice search is here to stay, and it’s a game-changer for small businesses.
Voice search continues to reshape the way small businesses interact with their customers, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with your audience and boost your business’s presence. Embrace the power of voice search and stay ahead in this dynamic digital landscape.
