Why You Should Optimize Your Online Shop for Voice Search

Today, we’re going to talk about something that’s changing the way people shop online—voice search.

Why should you care about it? Well, here’s why:

As of 2023, a staggering 58% of consumers have already used voice search to find local businesses. Think about that for a moment—more than half of potential customers are asking their devices to help them shop.

And it doesn’t stop there. About 1 in 3 US households now have a smart speaker like Amazon Echo or Google Home, which means even more people are relying on voice commands every day. 

Plus, over 27% of the global online population is using voice search on their mobile devices. Nearly half of those voice search users are looking for local businesses every single day. Imagine how many potential customers you could be missing out on if your business isn’t optimized for voice search.

 In 2022 alone, 40% of US adults used voice search to shop, and that number is only going to grow. Almost 20% of all Google mobile queries are voice-based, with many of them being full questions—so if your product listings don’t answer those questions, you might not even show up in the results.

And here’s the kicker: By 2025, a whopping 75% of US households are expected to have at least one smart speaker. This shift is going to play a major role in SEO, marketing, and how customers find you.

The trend is clear. Voice search is becoming a key part of how people discover and buy products. If you’re not adapting to this change, you could be leaving a lot of opportunities on the table.

Now’s the time to set the pace before this “more efficient way” of searching becomes the norm.

How does voice search work exactly?

Voice search is all about convenience. People aren’t typing out short keywords like they used to. Instead, they’re asking full questions like, "Where can I buy the best running shoes?" It’s more conversational, more natural.

That’s why it’s important to make sure your product listings and descriptions are written in a way that matches how people speak, not just how they type. It’s not as complicated as it sounds—just think about how you’d describe your product to a friend.

Another big thing with voice search is intent. When someone uses it, they’re usually ready to take action. They might be asking to find the best deals, the closest store, or the fastest delivery options. 

That means, if you’re showing up in their results, you’re already one step closer to making a sale. Pretty awesome, right?

And here’s something else to keep in mind: a lot of voice searches are local. People are asking, "Where can I get this product near me?"

So if you have a physical location or offer local delivery, it’s a great opportunity to drive traffic your way. Make sure your business info is up-to-date on Google and other platforms so you’re easy to find when someone’s looking.

Now, if you’re thinking, "Isn’t this just for mobile?" Well, yes, voice search is super popular on mobile, but it’s also on smart speakers, laptops, and even in cars. It’s becoming a part of everyday life, and the sooner you optimize for it, the better.

So, how do you get your products ready for this shift?

It’s simpler than you might think. First off, you’ll want to start writing product descriptions the way people speak.

Think of it as a conversation. Instead of writing technical or keyword-heavy titles and descriptions, go for something more natural.

For example, if you’re selling phone cases, instead of just listing it as “Leather iPhone Case,” try something like “Sleek, durable leather case for iPhone that looks great and protects your phone.” That’s the kind of thing someone might say when they’re talking to their voice assistant.

Another thing to keep in mind is that people using voice search tend to ask full questions, not just short phrases. So instead of someone typing “best running shoes,” they might ask, “What are the best running shoes for flat feet?”

By including those longer, more specific phrases in your listings, you’re more likely to show up in voice search results.

And here's a little trick: think about the questions people might ask about your product and make sure you’re answering them. If you’ve got an FAQ section on your site, that’s even better.

Voice searches often pull from these types of answers because they’re quick and direct. Plus, it’s good for regular searches too.

If your business serves local customers, optimizing for voice search also means making sure you’re ready for all those “near me” queries.

People might ask, “Where can I buy affordable skincare near me?” If you’ve got your local info up-to-date on Google My Business, you’re already ahead of the game.

Now, let’s talk speed. Since a lot of voice searches happen on mobile devices, your site’s speed matters. People won’t wait for a slow site to load, and neither will voice assistants. Keep your website fast and mobile-friendly to avoid missing out on these potential customers.

And lastly, remember that voice assistants often pull info from those featured snippets or “position zero” results you see at the top of Google. If you can structure your content to answer questions clearly and concisely, you’ve got a better chance of getting featured and read aloud by a voice assistant.

At the end of the day, optimizing for voice search is all about keeping things conversational, simple, and fast. It’s a new way of thinking, but with a few tweaks to your product listings, you can make sure you’re not missing out on this growing trend.

Hope this helps you take your business to the next level. Let’s make sure your products are the ones people find when they ask their voice assistant where to shop.

Take care and happy selling!