Voice Search and Weddings: Preparing Your SEO Strategy for Siri and Alexa
“Hey Siri, who’s the best wedding planner near me?”
With voice search on the rise, wedding professionals need to adapt their SEO strategies to capture these spoken queries. Voice search is conversational and often more specific than typed searches. By optimizing for this technology, you can stay ahead of the curve and connect with more clients.
Here’s how to prepare your wedding business for the world of voice search.
1. Understand How Voice Search is Different
Voice searches are typically:
- Conversational: People phrase voice queries as questions or full sentences (e.g., “What are the best wedding venues in Seattle?”).
- Specific: Voice users are often looking for immediate answers (e.g., “Which florists in New York City deliver bouquets?”).
- Mobile-Focused: Most voice searches happen on mobile devices or smart speakers.
Your SEO strategy needs to reflect these nuances to rank for voice queries.
2. Optimize for Conversational Keywords
Traditional keywords like “wedding venues Seattle” won’t cut it for voice search. Instead, focus on long-tail, conversational phrases.
Examples:
- Typed: “Wedding photographer Miami.”
- Spoken: “Who is the best wedding photographer in Miami?”
How to Adapt:
- Research questions your clients might ask and include those phrases in your content.
- Use tools like AnswerThePublic to find common questions related to your niche.
3. Create FAQ Pages
FAQ pages are perfect for voice search because they directly answer common questions in a conversational tone.
Example Questions to Include:
- “What’s the average cost of a wedding planner?”
- “How do I choose the right florist for my wedding?”
- “What’s included in a wedding photography package?”
Write concise answers and use keywords naturally to optimize these pages for both voice and text searches.
4. Use Structured Data Markup
Structured data (or schema markup) helps search engines understand your content. For voice search, it’s especially useful for providing direct answers.
How to Implement Schema Markup:
- Use a tool like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper.
- Add schema for services, FAQs, reviews, and locations.
- Highlight critical details like business hours, phone number, and services.
This increases your chances of being featured as a “snippet” in Google’s voice search results.
5. Focus on Local SEO
Voice searches often include phrases like “near me” or location-specific queries.
How to Optimize:
- Ensure your Google My Business profile is complete and accurate.
- Include location-specific keywords on your website.
- Add directions to your venue or service area on your contact page.
Example: A bride searching for “best wedding cakes near me” will likely see results for local bakers with optimized listings.
6. Provide Direct Answers
Voice assistants like Alexa and Google often pull information from concise answers. To increase your chances of being selected:
- Start blog posts with a direct summary of the answer.
- Use bullet points or numbered lists for easy readability.
- Ensure answers are around 30-40 words (ideal for voice snippets).
7. Improve Mobile Performance
Most voice searches happen on mobile, so your site needs to be mobile-friendly.
Key Actions:
- Optimize loading speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.
- Ensure your website design is responsive and adapts to smaller screens.
- Use large, easy-to-click buttons for navigation and calls-to-action.
8. Optimize for “Near Me” Searches
Voice search users often look for services close to their location.
Tips:
- Add phrases like “serving [city] and surrounding areas” on your pages.
- Use location-specific keywords in your metadata.
- List your business on Google My Business, Yelp, and wedding directories.
9. Monitor Voice Search Trends
Voice search is evolving rapidly. Stay informed about trends and updates by:
- Following SEO blogs like Moz or Search Engine Journal.
- Monitoring analytics to track how users find your site.
10. Incorporate Natural Language into Your Content
When optimizing for voice search, avoid overly technical or robotic language. Write as if you’re speaking directly to your audience.
Example:
- Instead of: “Wedding venues Seattle are listed below.”
- Try: “Looking for the perfect wedding venue in Seattle? Here are our top picks!”
Final Thoughts
Voice search isn’t just a trend—it’s the future of how people find services online. By optimizing your content for conversational keywords, local queries, and structured data, you can ensure your wedding business is ready to shine when couples ask, “Who’s the best wedding planner near me?”
Jac Bowie is a serial entrepreneur, media personality, and digital marketing expert, known for her talents in event production, instruction, and radio announcing. Currently spearheading The Wedding Academy, Jac seamlessly integrates her extensive business acumen, event management expertise, and digital marketing savvy into a myriad of projects including founding international women's network Business in Heels and Australian wedding planning business, Darling Don't Panic.