{"id":73232,"date":"2026-07-09T14:54:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.strattoncraig.com\/?p=73232"},"modified":"2026-07-09T14:56:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:56:55","slug":"optimise-for-voice-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.strattoncraig.com\/us\/insight\/optimise-for-voice-search\/","title":{"rendered":"How can I optimise my writing for voice search?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you want your business to be found in voice search results, you need to write the way people speak, not the way they type. That means building your content around the questions your target audience asks, and answering them directly and concisely in conversational language.<\/p>\n

Today, more than one in five consumers globally<\/a> (22.8%) uses a voice assistant such as Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant at least weekly to find information online and make purchases. As this technology evolves, it\u2019s getting better at grasping context, intent and natural language to create a genuine conversational experience.<\/p>\n

The same shift is happening in AI search. Whether users are speaking or typing, they are increasingly phrasing their queries in full, conversational sentences. In response, AI systems prioritise content that directly mirrors this language; clear, natural and structured as an answer rather than a collection of keywords.<\/p>\n

In other words, the requirement is the same across both voice and AI search. If your content sounds like a helpful human response, it is far more likely to be surfaced.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to write content that reflects how people actually search \u2013 and responds in kind.<\/p>\n

Ask questions like you\u2019re chatting to a friend<\/h4>\n

When people speak to a voice-enabled device, they tend to ask a complete question as opposed to the two or three keywords they might type into a search bar.<\/p>\n

The tone is personal and informal (using pronouns such as \u201cme\u201d and \u201cI\u201d), and the language flows naturally, the way it might in a conversation between friends.<\/p>\n

Typed search example<\/h5>\n

Renting rules pets<\/p>\n

Voice search example<\/h5>\n

Can my landlord stop me from keeping a pet in my flat?<\/p>\n

Your content needs to match this relaxed, conversational tone without sacrificing authority or accuracy. This might mean turning your title or H2 and H3 headings into questions your audiences would naturally ask. Use question words such as \u2018What\u2019, \u2018when\u2019 and \u2018how\u2019 and don\u2019t be afraid to use contractions such as \u2018where\u2019s\u2019 and \u2018can\u2019t\u2019 just as people do in everyday speech.<\/p>\n

Platforms such as AnswerThePublic and Google\u2019s People Also Ask feature can help you identify the questions people are asking and long-tail keywords you could target.<\/p>\n

Get straight to the point, then go deeper<\/h4>\n

Voice search rewards content that answers questions as directly, quickly and concisely as possible. By getting straight to the point with a self-contained answer of 50 words or fewer, your answer is more likely to be found and quoted back to the user.<\/p>\n

Scene-setting still matters, but don\u2019t make readers or search engines wade through 300 words to get answers. Once you\u2019ve answered the question in a nutshell, you can then go deeper in anticipation of follow-up questions. Provide up-to-date context, examples and unique insights as well as links to credible sources and related information.<\/p>\n

Traditional SEO intro<\/h5>\n

Employee wellbeing programmes: A complete guide<\/p>\n

Employee wellbeing has become one of the defining challenges of modern business. In recent years, organisations of all sizes have grappled with rising levels of stress, burnout and disengagement. Leaders are under pressure to respond, and many are turning to workplace wellness programmes as part of the answer. But what actually works \u2013 and where should you start?<\/p>\n

Voice SEO intro<\/h5>\n

What actually works in a workplace wellness programme?<\/p>\n

Workplace wellness programmes are most effective when they address the real causes of stress rather than just offering quick fixes. Flexible working arrangements, mental health support and regular manager check-ins tend to work well whereas perks such as mindfulness apps often fall short. Here’s what the evidence actually says, and what’s worth prioritising first.<\/p>\n

Write clearly and concisely<\/h4>\n

Avoid jargon and complex sentence structures when optimising for voice search. Keep sentences short, focusing on one idea at a time. Group ideas into short paragraphs on a distinct theme with a descriptive heading. This is important because most voice searches are done on mobile phones where long passages of text filling the screen could put off readers.<\/p>\n

You want to make it as easy as possible for voice assistants to find, scan and lift your self-contained answers.<\/p>\n

Structures that work well include:<\/h5>\n