How Voice Search Is Changing Local SEO

Have you ever caught yourself saying something like,

 "Hey Siri, find a coffee shop near me" or

 "Alexa, what's the best hair salon nearby?"

You're not alone, and guess what? Your customers are doing the same thing.

Here's what a lot of small business owners don't realize: voice search relies heavily on Google Business Profiles. When someone uses Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant to find a local business, Google often decides who to recommend based on how well-optimized (or ignored) that business's profile is.

If your Google Business Profile isn't updated, active, and keyword-rich, there's a good chance your business simply won't show up. And in voice search, if you're not one of the top results, you're basically invisible.

Why Google Business Profiles Power Voice Search Results

Voice assistants want fast, accurate answers. That means they pull from sources that are:

• Complete

• Consistent

• Frequently updated

• Trusted by real customers
  

Your Google Business Profile checks all of those boxes if it's managed properly. An outdated or neglected profile sends the opposite signal to Google, making it less likely your business will be recommended in voice search results.

How to Get Your Business Found in Voice Searches

The good news? You don't need a massive SEO budget to improve your chances. Here are a few practical ways to optimize your Google Business Profile for voice search right now.

1. Make sure your Google Business Profile is 100% complete

This sounds basic, but it's critical. Your business name, address, phone number, hours, services, and categories all need to be accurate and consistent. Voice search depends on clean data, and even small errors can hurt your visibility.

2. Use natural, conversational keywords

People don't talk the same way they type. Voice searches sound more like:

• "Best med spa near me"

• "Drywall contractor in Tampa"

• "Hair salon open right now"

Make sure your business description, services, and Google posts reflect how people actually speak. This helps Google match your business to real voice search queries.

3. Keep your profile active

Google favors businesses that look alive and well. That means:

• Weekly photo uploads

• Regular Google Business Profile updates or posts

• Responding to reviews

Activity signals trust, relevance, and credibility. These are three things Google looks for when deciding which businesses to highlight in voice search.

4. Collect and respond to reviews consistently

Online reviews do more than build trust with potential customers. They directly influence rankings. Businesses with frequent, recent reviews are far more likely to be recommended by voice assistants than those with outdated or sparse feedback.

Voice Search Isn't the Future. It's Already Here

Voice search is already shaping how customers find local businesses. And your Google Business Profile plays a massive role in whether your business gets mentioned or skipped.

If keeping your profile optimized, active, and strategic feels overwhelming, that's exactly where professional Google Business Profile management can make a difference. When done right, it supports local SEO, Google Maps visibility, and voice search all at the same time.

If you want help making sure your business shows up where customers are already searching, your Google Business Profile is the best place to start. And if you are having a hard time managing it and staying consistent with it, that's where Your Media Squad can help you. I can take this task off your plate so you can focus on other areas of your business (like closing those sales!). Reach out today to get started.

Want more marketing tips and tricks sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to my newsletter, where I will give you one quick marketing tip every week that you can start using immediately in your business! 

Sign me up!