Week 1
Spoken-question research
We collect the full questions people ask aloud about your services, from search data and from the calls your team takes. They are grouped by service.
You receive
A spoken-question list grouped by service.
Voice search optimisation
Be the answer people hear
A voice assistant reads out one answer, not a page of results. We prepare your content and listings so that when someone asks Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant, the answer comes from you.
- Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant
- Spoken-question content
- Local listings covered
01What it is
What is voice search optimisation?
Voice search optimisation is the work of making your business the answer a voice assistant reads out. When someone asks Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant a question, one answer is spoken. There is no list.
A voice assistant gives one answer, not ten. On a phone, in a car or through a smart speaker there is no list to scan, so the business that is read out gets the call. Most spoken searches that matter commercially are local and immediate: who is open, who is nearest, who can help now.
Voice search optimisation at a glance
Voice search optimisation prepares a business to be the single spoken answer a voice assistant gives. Spoken questions are longer and more conversational than typed ones, and many are local. Assistants answer them from business listings, featured snippets and structured data, so the work is on accurate listings and content written as short, direct answers.
ExampleSomeone asks their phone
Is there a pharmacy open near me right now?
BeforeTraditional SEOTyped search
- A pharmacy chain
- A pharmacy directory
- Pharmacy B
- Your pharmacyYou are here
Competes for a place on a page of results.
With usVoice search optimisationSpoken answer
Your pharmacy on High Street is open until 10pm and is four minutes away.
Business listingMapsOpening hours
Competes for the single answer read aloud, taken mostly from listings and featured snippets.
- In practice
- Spoken questions are longer and more conversational than typed ones, and many are local: opening hours, directions, who is nearby. Assistants answer them from business listings, featured snippets and structured data, so that is where the work is done.
- Who it is for
- Local businesses, retailers, restaurants, clinics and any business that customers call or visit.
- What it is not
- It is not a separate ranking you can track in a report. Results are checked by asking the assistants directly.
02How it works
How a voice assistant answers
A spoken question is handled differently from a typed one, and only one answer comes back. It takes four steps.
- 1
Speech becomes text
The assistant transcribes what was said.
- 2
It works out the intent
It decides whether this is a local request, a factual question or an instruction.
- 3
It looks up the answer
Local requests are answered from business listings. Factual ones come from featured snippets and reference sources.
- 4
It reads one answer aloud
There is no list to choose from, so the first source is the only one heard.
03Why it matters
One answer is read out. The rest are never heard.
There is no second result in a spoken answer.
- 1
Spoken questions are full sentences
People ask who, what, where and how in natural language. Pages written around short keywords do not match.
- 2
Many voice searches are local
Opening hours, directions and nearby services are common requests, and they are answered straight from business listings.
- 3
Each assistant uses different listings
Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant draw on different business data, so being correct on one platform is not enough.
04Is it for you
Signs you need Voice Search Optimisation
If two or more of these sound familiar, this service is likely to pay back. If none do, tell us and we will say so.
Tick the ones that sound familiar
Not sure where you stand? We will check for you.
Ask for the free audit05Who uses it
Who Voice Search Optimisation is for
Spoken questions come from people who are driving, cooking or in a hurry. One reply is read out, and these businesses depend on it.
SDMReady for the spoken answerRestaurants and takeaways
“Who delivers near me?” is settled by a single listing.
Pharmacies
Late-night hours need to be right the first time.
Emergency trades
A locked-out caller rings the first number spoken.
High-street shops
Stock, parking and closing time are asked on the way there.
Breakdown and recovery
Hands-free requests from the roadside leave no room to scroll.
Hotels and guest houses
Tonight’s stay is often arranged from the passenger seat.
Dentists and vets
Out-of-hours cover is the usual query.
Attractions and days out
Ticket prices and last entry are checked en route.
06What is included
What our voice search service includes
Content, listings and markup.
Request a free auditSpoken-question research
We find the full questions people ask aloud about your services.
Direct-answer content
Short answers of one or two sentences placed where assistants and snippets can lift them.
Listings for every assistant
Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect and Bing Places completed and kept consistent.
FAQ and speakable structure
Question-and-answer sections with matching structured data.
Page speed and mobile
Voice results favour pages that load quickly on phones, so key pages are tuned.
Voice testing
We ask the assistants your priority questions and record the answers.
07Comparison
Voice search vs typed search
The differences that matter when you decide where to put time and budget.
| Aspect | The usual wayTyped search | What we doVoice search |
|---|---|---|
| Query style | Short keywords | Full spoken questions |
| Results | A page of options | One spoken answer |
| Typical intent | Research and comparison | Immediate and often local |
| Main sources | Ranked web pages | Business listings, featured snippets and structured data |
| What wins | Relevance and authority | Accurate listings and concise direct answers |
08Our process
How voice search optimisation works
Five stages. Listings, content and speed are handled in the first month. Testing then repeats each quarter.
Weeks 1 to 2
Listings for every assistant
Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect and Bing Places are completed and made identical, because Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant each read from different ones.
You receive
Completed listings on each platform.
Weeks 2 to 4
Direct-answer content
Answers of one or two sentences are written into your key pages, with question-and-answer sections and matching structured data. You approve the wording.
You receive
Direct-answer sections and validated FAQ structured data.
Weeks 2 to 4
Speed and mobile
Your key pages are tuned to load quickly on phones.
You receive
Before-and-after speed results.
Every quarter
Voice testing
We ask Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant your priority questions and record what each one says.
You receive
A voice test report each quarter.
Timings are typical for a single website; your proposal sets out the exact schedule.
09Working with us
How we work with you
Sachkhand Digital Marketing has worked with businesses in 30 countries since 2017. The team is remote-first and keeps to your time zone, and the specialists who audit your site are the ones who do the work. This is how the work is shared on a voice search optimisation engagement.
You
What we need from you
Your input, mostly at the start- Owner access to your listings
- Current opening hours, including holidays
- The questions customers ask on the phone
- Developer access for speed fixes
SDM
What our team handles
Everything else, start to finish- Spoken-question research
- Listing setup and upkeep
- Writing the answers and the markup
- Testing on the assistants themselves
- Free audit before any quoteWe look at your site first. After a 30-minute call you get a written proposal within 48 hours, with the scope, the timeline and the cost.
- One account managerA single point of contact who knows your account, on WhatsApp and email, with a reply within one business day.
- Plain-English reportingReports match your own analytics and are followed by a review call. A weak month comes with the reason and the plan.
- No lock-in contractOngoing work is billed monthly and can be stopped with 30 days' notice.
10Deliverables
What you receive
- XLS
A spoken-question list grouped by service.
- WEB
Completed listings on the platforms each assistant uses.
- WEB
Direct-answer sections on your key pages.
- { }
FAQ structured data, validated.
- PDF
A voice test report each quarter.
We tell you this before you start, not after.
Request a free auditWhat we will not promise
- Voice assistants do not provide reporting, so results are checked by asking the questions directly.
- The assistant chooses its own answer and source. Good preparation improves the odds and does not guarantee the result.
- Voice assistants are being rebuilt on newer AI models, so behaviour is changing. We adjust as it does.
What you can count on
- A dated baseline before work starts, so progress is measured and not guessed.
- The agreed scope of work, delivered every month.
- A plain answer at each review if something is not working, with what we will change.
11Business impact
How voice search optimisation helps your business grow
Voice assistants give no reports, so we are careful about what we claim. These are the results that can be checked.
Targets we plan against, for engagements of six months or more
- +180%Featured snippetsTarget by month 6
- +142%Question-query trafficNon-branded questions
- +95%Voice answer shareSampled priority set
- 3.4×AI citation rateAgainst the starting baseline
Outcome 1
More calls and visits from nearby customers
Local voice questions often lead straight to a call or a request for directions.
How we measure itCalls and direction requests from your listings.
Outcome 2
Correct hours and details everywhere
The wrong opening hours read aloud cost a visit and some of the customer's trust.
How we measure itListing accuracy across the three platforms.
Outcome 3
Featured snippets in normal search
The short answers written for voice are the format Google uses for featured snippets.
How we measure itSnippets held for the tracked questions.
Outcome 4
Faster pages for every visitor
The speed work helps everyone who opens your site on a phone, however they found it.
How we measure itCore Web Vitals on your key pages.
Published client results
- 1.8KAI mentionsHome services franchise client
- 218Pages cited in AI answersPlumbing and HVAC client
- ~70×Organic visitsFranchise client, about 1K to 69.8K
- 98%Client retention600+ clients in 30 countries
What we guarantee
We do not guarantee a ranking or a mention in an AI answer. The search engines and assistants decide that, and no agency controls them. We guarantee the work, the measurement and the honesty.
- A dated baseline before work starts.Every result is measured against a starting point you have seen.
- The agreed scope, delivered every month.You know what will be done before the month begins.
- Honest reporting.Reports match your own analytics. A quarterly review tells you plainly if something is not working.
- White-hat methods only.No bought links, no fake reviews and nothing that risks a penalty.
- Your approval before anything is published.No page, pitch or listing change goes live without your sign-off.
- No lock-in.Billed monthly. Stop with 30 days' notice.
12Common mistakes
Mistakes we see most often
These come up in almost every first audit. Each one is avoidable.
- Mistake 1
Only managing Google
Siri uses Apple’s data and Alexa and Copilot draw on Bing and others. Each needs correct listings.
- Mistake 2
Wrong or missing opening hours
“Open now” answers depend on them, including holiday hours.
- Mistake 3
Long-winded answers
Assistants read out short passages. A clear answer in a sentence or two is what gets used.
- Mistake 4
Slow mobile pages
Most voice searches happen on phones. A slow page loses the visit that follows.
13Do it yourself
Five checks you can do this week
You do not need us for the first steps. These take under an hour and show you where you stand.
Want the full picture?
Request the free audit- 1Ask Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa for your service near you.
- 2Claim your Apple Business Connect and Bing Places listings.
- 3Check your opening hours on every platform.
- 4Add short, direct answers to your most common questions.
- 5Test your mobile page speed with PageSpeed Insights.
14Free tools
Check the basics yourself, free
Three of our free tools cover the first checks we make. No signup is needed.
- Free
- No signup
- Results in seconds
15Key terms
Voice Search Optimisation: key terms explained
- Voice assistant term 01
- Software such as Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa that answers spoken questions.
- Featured snippet term 02
- A highlighted answer in Google results, often read aloud by Google Assistant.
- Speakable term 03
- Schema markup that identifies sections of a page suited to being read out.
- Conversational query term 04
- A search phrased as a full spoken question.
People also search for
- voice search optimization services
- voice search SEO
- voice SEO
- voice search optimization for local business
- Google voice search optimization
- Alexa and Siri SEO
- optimize for voice assistants
- speakable schema
- Google Business Profile voice search optimization
- near me voice search
16FAQ
Voice Search Optimisation: common questions
Straight answers to the 9 questions we are asked most.
Is yours not here?
Send it to us and you get a reply within one business day.
Ask your own questionWhat is voice search optimisation?
SDM
It is the work of preparing a business to be the answer a voice assistant reads out, through accurate listings, content written as direct answers to spoken questions, and structured data.
Which assistants do you cover?
SDM
Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, along with the voice modes of newer AI assistants. Each uses different sources, so we work across the listings and content all of them rely on.
How is voice search different from typed search?
SDM
Spoken questions are longer, phrased as full sentences and more often local. The assistant gives a single answer, so being second is the same as being absent.
Is voice search mainly for local businesses?
SDM
Local businesses benefit most, because so many spoken questions are about nearby services and opening hours. Publishers and brands also benefit for how-to and definition questions.
Can you measure voice search traffic?
SDM
Not directly. Assistants do not report it. We measure by asking the priority questions and recording the answers, and by tracking the related featured snippets and listing actions.
Is voice search still growing with AI assistants?
SDM
Voice is becoming the way many people talk to AI assistants on phones, in cars and at home. The same foundations, accurate listings and direct answers, serve both.
Do I need a separate website or app for voice?
SDM
No. Voice assistants draw on your existing listings, website and structured data. The work is making those accurate and easy to read out.
Where do Siri and Alexa get their business information?
SDM
Siri relies mainly on Apple’s own business data and partners such as Yelp. Alexa draws on Bing and other data providers. That is why listings beyond Google matter.
Can we advertise in voice search results?
SDM
Voice assistants generally give organic answers and paid placement is very limited. Accurate listings and clear content are the reliable route.
Free, with no obligation
Hear what the assistants say about you
Send us your business and five questions customers ask. We will ask the assistants and tell you what they answered.
- No cost for the audit
- Written proposal in 48 hours
- No lock-in contract