Talk to Me: Optimizing Your Content for Voice Search and Smart Speakers

“Hey Google, where’s the best marketing agency near me?”
“Alexa, what’s the top podcast about digital trends?”
“Siri, how can I improve my SEO ranking?”

Welcome to the era of voice search — where users don’t type, they talk.

With the rapid rise of smart speakers, voice assistants, and AI-driven search experiences, voice optimisation is no longer optional. It’s an essential part of any modern digital strategy.

For Australian brands, this shift presents a huge opportunity: the chance to reach audiences in more natural, conversational, and personalised ways.

This guide will show you how to optimise your content for voice search and smart speakers — helping your brand stay ahead in the world of hands-free discovery.

The Rise of Voice Search in Australia

Voice technology has become part of everyday life — from asking Google for the weather to ordering coffee through Alexa. In Australia, this shift is not only visible; it’s accelerating.

📈 Key Statistics:

• 🇦🇺 Over 8.5 million Australians now use voice assistants regularly (Voicebot.ai 2025).

• 🏠 Smart speaker ownership has grown by 40% in just three years (Telsyte Smart Speaker Report).

• 🌍 Globally, 25% of online searches are now voice-activated (Statista).

• 📱 1 in 3 smartphone users in Australia use voice commands at least once per day (PwC Voice Tech Report).

From Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri to Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby, Australians are embracing voice technology for shopping, searching, entertainment, and daily tasks.

🎙️ Voice search isn’t just a trend — it’s a behavioural transformation.

People no longer just “search.” They ask, converse, and expect answers instantly.

What Is Voice Search Optimisation (VSO)?

Voice Search Optimisation (VSO) is the process of optimising your online content so it can be discovered — and spoken aloud — by voice assistants.

While traditional SEO targets typed keywords like “digital agency Sydney,”

VSO focuses on how people actually speak:

Notice the difference?

Voice queries are longer, more specific, and context-aware. They reflect real-world conversation.

💬 To succeed, brands must write for how humans talk, not how they type.

Why Voice Search Matters for Brands

Voice search isn’t just about convenience — it’s transforming how consumers make decisions and how brands get discovered.

A. The Power of Conversational Commerce

Welcome to the era of hands-free buying.

Consumers now use voice to research, compare, and even purchase products.

“Alexa, reorder my favourite skincare serum.”
“Hey Google, find a marketing agency near me.”

This instant, conversational interaction removes friction and creates micro-moments — those intent-rich opportunities when customers are most likely to act.

📊 According to Capgemini Research Institute, 70% of consumers say they will use voice assistants more for shopping in the next three years.

🛍️ Voice Search = Faster Conversions + Higher Trust
Because voice assistants only recommend a few options, ranking in these results gives brands exclusive visibility.

B. Local SEO Boost: “Near Me” Is the New Normal

Voice search is highly location-driven.

Australians often ask for nearby services, such as:

 

“Hey Google, where’s the nearest Thai restaurant?”
“Siri, find a digital agency open now in Melbourne.”

This means local SEO and VSO go hand in hand.
If your business isn’t optimised for “near me” voice queries, you’re invisible to users searching hands-free while driving or walking.

📍 Action Step:

Optimise your Google Business Profile with:

• Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details

• Updated hours, reviews, and photos

• Schema markup for LocalBusiness

🧭 Tools to improve local visibility:

• BrightLocal

• Moz Local

• Whitespark

C. Voice in Smart Homes and Cars

Smart speakers are now fixtures in living rooms, offices, and cars.

Australians increasingly rely on voice commands while multitasking — cooking, driving, exercising.

🚗 In-car voice search is growing especially fast:

• 64% of Australian drivers use voice assistants in cars weekly (Canstar Blue).

• The top searches: directions, nearby businesses, and service hours.

🗣️ Voice search is the new front door to your brand — even when screens aren’t in sight.

How Voice Search Differs from Traditional Search

🧠 Voice search depends on context, trust, and structure.
Assistants only quote content they consider credible, clear, and concise.

How to Optimise for Voice Search

✅ 1. Target Conversational Keywords

Voice users speak in full sentences — often as questions.

Examples:

• “What’s the best way to market my small business in Sydney?”

• “How can I improve my website’s SEO?”

• “Where can I buy eco-friendly skincare near me?”

📚 Tools for research:

• AnswerThePublic

• AlsoAsked

• Google Trends

Use question-based phrases (Who, What, Where, When, How) and long-tail variations that reflect conversational speech.

✅ 2. Optimise for Featured Snippets

Voice assistants usually pull responses from Position Zero — the featured snippet.

To win snippets:

• Answer the question in the first 40–50 words.

• Use H2/H3 headers phrased as questions.

• Add bullet points or steps for clarity.

🎯 Example:

Question: What is voice search optimisation?
Answer: Voice Search Optimisation (VSO) is the process of making your content discoverable in voice-based searches by structuring it around natural, conversational questions.

📘 Learn more: Google Featured Snippets Documentation

✅ 3. Strengthen Local SEO

Most voice searches have local intent — “near me,” “open now,” “closest to me.”

Checklist:

• Add LocalBusiness schema (Schema.org)

• Use natural geographic phrases in metadata (e.g., “digital marketing agency Sydney CBD”)

• Encourage Google reviews and respond to them

• Update service area pages regularly

📍 Try Google Maps Marketing Strategies.

✅ 4. Improve Website Speed and Mobile Performance

Most voice searches occur on mobile — and speed matters.

Your site should:

• Load in under 3 seconds

• Be mobile-responsive

• Use HTTPS

📊 Test using:

• Google PageSpeed Insights

• Pingdom Tools

• Lighthouse Performance Audit

💡 Remember: voice assistants prefer fast, secure, and mobile-friendly sites.

✅ 5. Write for People, Not Bots

Voice-friendly content is clear, conversational, and easy to digest.

Tips:

• Write like you speak — use “you” and “we.”

• Keep sentences under 20 words.

• Explain complex topics simply and naturally.

🧠 Studies from HubSpot show conversational tone boosts reader engagement and recall.

📚 Learn how conversational content enhances attention in The Ultimate Guide to Neuroscience & Digital Marketing.

✅ 6. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Structured data tells search engines what your content means — not just what it says.

Use schema types like:

• FAQPage

• HowTo

• Product

• Review

• LocalBusiness

📊 Implement via Google Tag Manager or JSON-LD Generator.

Learn: Google Structured Data Guidelines

✅ 7. Optimise for “Position Zero”

“Position Zero” — the answer box — is where voice assistants pull data from.

To reach it:

• Include stats, definitions, or clear instructions.

• Use short paragraphs with logical flow.

• Avoid filler content — be direct.

💡 Example:

“The best time to post on LinkedIn in Australia is Tuesday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., when engagement is highest.”

The Future of Voice Search in Australia

By 2026, it’s estimated that over half of Australian households will own at least one voice-activated device (Telsyte Report).

Generative AI assistants like ChatGPT Voice, Gemini, and Amazon’s Alexa GPT will make conversations even more contextual — merging VSO, AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation), and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) into one hybrid discipline.

🎯 Future-ready brands will:

• Optimise content for spoken queries and generative answers

• Use schema and citations to enhance AI credibility

• Build conversational experiences across devices and platforms

Voice isn’t replacing search — it’s expanding it.
Those who adapt will own the next wave of digital discoverability.

📚 Learn how AI impacts discovery in Optimising for Generative AI: The Future of Digital Marketing in Australia.

Conclusion

Voice search and smart speakers are redefining how people find and interact with brands.

By embracing conversational SEO, local optimisation, and AI-powered discovery, you can make sure your brand is the one people hear — not just see.

The future of search isn’t silent.

It’s spoken, seamless, and smart.

🗣️ Talk to your audience — and let your content do the talking, too.

🚀 Ready to Make Your Brand Heard?

Voice search is no longer optional — it’s where modern discovery begins.

Australians are asking questions out loud.

Is your brand the one answering?

👉 Partner with Undivided Agency — Australia’s leading experts in SEO, AEO, and Voice Search Optimisation (VSO).

We’ll help you:

• Craft conversational, AI-ready content that ranks across devices.

• Optimise for local and generative voice discovery.

• Turn your brand into the trusted answer Australians hear every day.

🎙️ Let’s future-proof your brand’s voice — together.