Are you utilizing voice search optimization strategies to reach your customers?

If not, you may be missing some great opportunities. According to a recent study by UpCity, 50% of Americans use voice search daily.

This growing technology is quickly changing how people find local services, especially those offered by home services contractors.

If you’ve just started using voice search to reach customers or are only now considering it, this blog is for you. We’ll explain how to understand voice search marketing and explore 5 proven SEO tactics tailored to help home services contractors boost their visibility.

Understanding Voice Search

Voice search has changed how consumers find information online. By speaking queries instead of typing them, users often ask more specific, conversational questions, which means businesses need to adapt their search engine optimization (SEO) strategies.

How Voice Search Influences Local Search

“Hey Google, find the best HVAC repair service in Austin.”

Instead of typing short keywords like “plumber near me,” people now use longer, more conversational queries. This change means businesses must optimize their content to match natural language patterns.

Voice searches often have strong local intent. Tailoring your SEO strategy to include location-based phrases and natural-sounding language can help your business appear in relevant voice search results.

Statistics on the Increasing Use of Voice-Activated Devices for Local Queries

The rise of voice-activated devices like smart speakers and mobile assistants has made voice search a dominant force in local search queries.

Consider these statistics:

According to Edison Reach, around 98 million American households own a smart speaker in 2024.
Wifi Talents estimates that by 2025, 2.8 billion households will use voice-enabled smart home devices.
According to Synup, 27% of searches in the Google App are now done by voice.
SearchEngineJournal says 58% of consumers use voice search to find local business information.

Overview of Major Voice-Enabled Platforms and Their Local Search Capabilities

Several major platforms dominate the voice search arena.

Google Assistant is one of the most widely used voice-enabled platforms, offering seamless integration across numerous devices.

Google Assistant pulls local search data from Google Business Profiles.
Optimizing your profile is essential for local visibility.
Supports natural, conversational queries, making it crucial to optimize content for long-tail, question-based searches.
Integrates with Google Maps to provide users with real-time directions and business information, enhancing local discoverability.

Siri, Apple’s voice-activated assistant, plays a big role in local search for iPhones, iPads, and other Apple device users.

Relies heavily on Apple Maps for local search queries.
Ensuring your business is correctly listed on Apple Maps can improve discoverability.
Siri often pulls information from Yelp for business reviews and ratings, so maintaining a strong Yelp presence is essential.
Popular with mobile users, particularly in affluent markets, giving contractors an edge when targeting high-value customers.

Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, is deeply integrated into smart home environments. Optimizing for Alexa can help contractors reach homeowners when they need assistance.

Integrated into smart home devices like Echo and other Amazon products.
Pulls data from Bing for search queries, so ensuring your business is listed correctly on Bing can enhance visibility.
Alexa’s “Skills” feature allows businesses to create custom voice apps, providing an opportunity to engage customers with personalized services or information.

Cortana, Microsoft’s voice assistant, may not be as widely used for personal voice searches as the others. However, for home services contractors, optimizing for Cortana can help tap into a niche audience of Windows and Microsoft Edge users who tend to skew older.

Cortana integrates with Bing for search results, making a strong Bing listing essential for local visibility.
Cortana is often used in professional settings, which can be valuable for contractors targeting commercial clients or enterprise-level service opportunities.

Why Voice Searches Matter to Home Services Contractors

It’s easy to go about your business and not give a lot of thought to technological changes. However, not adapting to the growth in local voice searches can leave money on the table. Optimizing for voice search can lead to greater visibility and more qualified leads. You can:

Increase Your Visibility to Prospects Ready to Buy

Voice search directly impacts local search results by catering to users looking for nearby services. When a customer asks, “Who is the best roofing contractor near me?” they expect fast, accurate, and location-specific results. By optimizing your website and online listings for voice search, home services contractors can improve their chances of appearing in these results. Ensuring your Google Business Profile, website content, and keywords are tailored for local intent can significantly increase visibility and attract more customers.

Reach Consumers Who Prefer Voice Searches When Seeking Local Services

Consumer behavior is shifting as more people prefer using voice-activated devices. Customers now ask detailed, conversational questions, like “Can I get a same-day electrician near me?” Focusing on long-tail keywords and natural language patterns in their SEO strategies can give home service contractors lucrative results.

Beat Out the Competition for Nearby Customers

Voice search offers a unique opportunity for home services contractors to engage with nearby customers in real-time. The hyper-local nature of voice queries often means that consumers are ready to act quickly on the information they receive. By optimizing for voice search, contractors gain a competitive edge when potential customers need immediate assistance. Voice search is a powerful tool to increase conversions and grow your local customer base.

5 Local Voice SEO Tactics for Home Services Contractors

We’ve talked about how valuable local voice searches are to your business (and how they will most likely only increase in importance). Now, let’s look at actionable ways to optimize your chances of showing up and ranking higher in voice searches.

1) Do Some Local Keyword Research

Voice search users often phrase their queries conversationally.

Use long-tail conversational keywords with local intent. Focus on keywords that reflect the natural language people use in voice search, like “Who is the best electrician in Savannah?” or “Where can I find a 24/7 plumber near me?”
Address specific questions in content. Create content that answers questions your potential customers ask, like “How do I fix a leaky faucet?” or “What’s the cost of HVAC repair in East Miami?” Providing direct answers increases your chances of appearing in voice search results.

2) Optimize Your SEO for Local

Keyword-rich online business profiles will increase your visibility in local search results. Each platform plays a role in how voice search engines pull data.

Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile, Yelp profile, and Bing Places profile. This includes accurate business information, photos, and customer reviews. These profiles often serve as the first point of contact in voice searches.
Creating an Apple ID for your Apple Maps listing. Many voice queries on Apple devices rely on Apple Maps. Claim your business and ensure your listing is accurate to appear in Siri’s search results.
Sharing locally relevant content. Regularly update your website with local news, events, or blog posts specific to your area. The more your content reflects your geographic location, the better your chances of appearing in local voice searches.

3) Optimize Your Mobile Efforts

Most voice searches happen on mobile devices, making mobile optimization critical for local SEO.

Establish a responsive design for mobile devices. Voice search users expect immediate answers, so a mobile-friendly site is key to keeping them engaged.
Maintain site speed for fast-loading pages with local information. Slow-loading pages frustrate users and can hurt your ranking in search results. Optimize your site’s speed and make sure key information, like your location, services, and contact details, are easy to find and load quickly.

4) Structure Data Markup for Local Businesses

Structured data (schema markup) helps search engines understand the content on your website and improve your local search visibility.

Implementing schema markup for local business details. Add local business schema markup to your site, so search engines can easily pull this information for voice search queries.
Enhancing local search results with structured data. Using schema markup improves your chances of being featured in rich search results, like the knowledge panel or local packs. Voice assistants often rely on these for quick answers.

5) Maintain Consistent Information

Voice search platforms prioritize accuracy and consistency across online listings.

Ensuring consistency in name, address, and phone number (NAP) across platforms and profiles. Inconsistent information can confuse search engines and potential customers. Double-check that your NAP details are identical across Google, Yelp, Bing, Apple Maps, and other directories.
Regularly updating your business profiles and online directories to maintain consistency. When voice search platforms provide accurate information, it increases your chances of ranking well in local voice search results.

Surefire Local Can Assist You with Your Local Voice SEO Search Strategy

Consumers are going to continue using voice searches to find local service providers. This is an opportunity to stand out from your competition and increase your company’s visibility. Voice search is just another way for your home services company to connect with more customers and grow your business. Why not jump on it?

If you’re ready to take the next step, sign up for a Surefire Local demo. Surefire Local helps small businesses create strong local signals across platforms and profiles through content, photos, reviews, and ads. As the #1 marketing platform for local businesses, Surefire Local makes it easier for new customers to find and connect with you, driving long-term success for your business.