Voice Search and Conversational Queries in 2023

Published: June 15, 2023

The Growing Role of Voice

Although voice search did not overtake traditional search in 2023, it continued to grow steadily as smart speakers and voice assistants became more integrated into daily life. People now use their voices to ask quick questions, perform on‑the‑go tasks, and search for local businesses.

Voice queries tend to be longer and more conversational than typed ones, so they often reveal the intent behind the search more clearly. Recognising this difference is key to optimising your content.

Optimising for Spoken Queries

To capture voice traffic, think about how people naturally speak. This often means focusing on who, what, where, when, why, and how questions.

Users might ask, “What is the best Italian restaurant near me?” or “How do I fix a leaky faucet?” Including question‑based headings and short, direct answers increases the likelihood that search engines will feature your content in voice results. Structured data, such as FAQ and How‑to schema, helps search engines understand your pages and extract concise answers.

And don’t forget local optimisation: voice queries often have local intent, so ensure your contact details, opening hours and location information are up to date.

Voice Search Best Practices

Improve readability by keeping sentences short and clear. Use natural language rather than jargon, and anticipate follow‑up questions by linking related topics.

Since voice search results often rely on featured snippets, create content that’s easy to summarise. Bulleted lists and tables can help search engines present your information succinctly.

Keep your site mobile friendly, as many voice searches occur on smartphones. Finally, monitor your analytics to see how voice visitors behave differently from other users, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

SEO Takeaways and Next Steps

Voice search is not a fad—it’s a growing part of how people discover information. By crafting content that aligns with conversational queries and prioritises clarity, you can tap into this expanding audience.

For guidance on voice search optimisation tailored to your business, contact us at info@phil‑carr.co.uk or 01226 697 325.

If you need help with your SEO strategy, get in touch by emailing info@phil-carr.co.uk or calling 01226 697 325.