How to Get Voice Assistants to Recommend Your Business

“Hey Siri, find a plumber near me.” “Alexa, who fixes water heaters in Portland?” “OK Google, what should I do if my basement is flooding?”

These spoken queries happen millions of times daily. People ask their phones, smart speakers, and car systems for help finding local services. Increasingly, the AI behind these voice assistants doesn’t list search results. It recommends specific businesses.

For small businesses, voice search represents both an opportunity and a shift in how customers find you. The same strategies that improve AI search visibility also strengthen voice visibility. The foundations are the same.

This article explains how voice search works, why it matters for local business AI optimizationes, and what you can do to improve your chances of being the business voice assistants recommend.

How People Actually Use Voice Search

Voice searches differ from typed searches. Understanding these differences helps you optimize for them.

Conversational and Question-Based

Typed searches use shorthand: “plumber portland.” Voice searches use natural language: “Who’s a good plumber in Portland?” or “I need someone to fix my leaky faucet.”

Voice queries are longer, more conversational, and often phrased as questions with “who,” “what,” “where,” “how,” and “why.”

Local and Immediate

A large percentage of voice searches are local and urgent. People ask for businesses “near me,” services “in [city],” or immediate help.

These are high-intent queries from people ready to call or book. Voice search is particularly valuable for service businesses.

Single-Answer Focused

Voice assistants usually give one answer, not a list. The best match gets recommended. Second place receives nothing.

This winner-take-all dynamic makes visibility critical.

Voice Search and AI Search: The Same Foundation

Voice assistants use AI to interpret questions and construct answers. The same AI principles power ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews.

Strategies that improve AI search also improve voice search:

Structured content the AI can parse
Schema markup labeling business data and FAQs
Clear answers for extractable responses
Local optimization for geographic relevance
Topical authority showing depth of expertise

An making your website AI-ready is inherently voice-ready.

Writing Content That Matches How People Speak

Voice queries use natural language. Your content should match that tone.

Question-Based Headings

Use question-style headings such as:

“What Should I Do If My Water Heater Stops Working?”
“How Much Does Water Heater Installation Cost?”

When your heading matches the user’s spoken question, selection becomes more likely.

Natural Phrases

Use phrases that customers actually say:

“how do I”
“what should I do if”
“who can help with”
“where can I find”
“why is my”

Capture the language customers use when they call you.

Direct, Concise Answers

Voice assistants prefer answers that can be spoken aloud in a few sentences.

Lead with the answer, then provide detail. Example: “Water heater installation typically takes 2 to 4 hours.”

Local Signals That Voice Assistants Use

Most voice searches for services include a location. Strong local signals directly affect voice visibility.

Google Business Profile

Google Assistant relies heavily on Google Business Profile data:

business hours
service areas
services offered
photos
reviews

Keep the profile complete, verified, and updated.

Consistent Business Information

Your name, address, and phone number must match everywhere: website, Google, Yelp, Facebook, directories.

Inconsistent naming creates doubt for AI systems.

Reviews and Ratings

Voice assistants factor in ratings and customer feedback. Strong reviews improve recommendation likelihood.

Service Area Clarity

List the exact cities you serve. Mention them throughout your content. AI does not infer coverage automatically.

FAQ Content: Designed for Spoken Answers

FAQ formats match voice query structures. They are direct question-and-answer pairs.

Keep Answers Speakable

Voice answers should take 10–20 seconds. Lead with the direct answer and expand below.

Use FAQ Schema

FAQ schema labels questions and answers explicitly for machine reading. This increases the chance of extraction.

Cover Common Voice Queries

Examples of common voice-style questions:

“How much does [service] cost?”
“Who does [service] near me?”
“What should I do if [problem]?”
“Is [business] open now?”
“Does [business] offer [specific service]?”

What You Can and Can’t Control

You cannot directly optimize for Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant individually. Each uses its own system.

You can control the foundation:

Clear content that answers questions directly
Schema markup for business and FAQ data
Local profiles that are complete and active
Reviews demonstrating trust
Topical authority through structured educational content

Build these fundamentals and AI systems can reliably interpret and recommend your business.

A Simple Action Plan for Voice Readiness

To improve voice visibility:

Identify your top 5 voice-style questions.
Ensure your content answers them directly.
Audit your Google Business Profile.
Check business information consistency.
Review and expand FAQs, including schema.

These steps strengthen both voice and AI visibility.

Voice as Part of Your AI Strategy

Voice search isn’t separate from AI optimization. The same foundation supports both.

Structured content, conversational language, schema markup, and strong local presence all improve voice and AI performance simultaneously.

Capturing the Voice Opportunity

Voice queries are high-intent. A strong foundation helps AI understand and recommend your business.

If you want to evaluate your current voice and AI readiness, a discovery review can identify your gaps and provide a clear, prioritized improvement plan.

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