Not too long ago, “voice assistants” sounded like something out of a sci-fi movie. Today, they’re everywhere. Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have become part of daily life for millions of people — asking for directions, ordering takeout, booking appointments, and finding local businesses.
Here’s the kicker: if your business isn’t optimized for voice, you might as well be invisible. According to recent studies, more than half of U.S. adults use voice search daily, and nearly 60% of them search for local business information.
Unfortunately, many businesses are still making big mistakes when it comes to voice assistants. Let’s look at the top five using our award-winning auto repair client as an example:
Assuming Voice Search Is the Same as Text Search
When someone types into Google, they might write: “Auto repair near me.” However,
when they ask Alexa or Siri, it sounds more like: “Where’s the best place to get my car fixed nearby?” Voice queries are conversational, often longer, and framed as questions. Businesses that optimize only for short, keyword-based searches miss out on this massive audience.
The Solution: Start thinking in terms of conversational keywords. Add FAQs to your website, use natural-sounding phrases in your content, and write the way people actually talk.
Ignoring Business Listings on Key Platforms
Voice assistants don’t search the entire internet. They pull from trusted databases like:
• Google Business Profile (Google Assistant)
• Apple Maps (Siri)
• Yelp (Siri & Alexa)
• Amazon Listings (Alexa)
If your information isn’t accurate on these platforms — or worse, missing entirely — your business won’t even be an option.
The Solution: Claim and optimize every listing. Make sure your name, address, phone number, hours, and services are consistent across platforms.
Forgetting About Reviews and Ratings
When someone asks Siri, “What’s the best auto repair shop near me?” the assistant doesn’t just return any shop. It prioritizes those with strong reviews and higher ratings.
The Solution: Encourage reviews from happy customers. Respond to them, whether positive or negative. A strong reputation management strategy directly impacts whether you’re the business Siri or Alexa recommends.
Overlooking Schema Markup
This may sound technical, but it’s crucial. Schema markup is code you can add to your website that tells search engines exactly what your content means. For example, without schema, our auto repair client’s website might just say: “We fix cars.” However,
with proper schema, we can tell the Google AI: “We’re an auto repair business, located in Columbia, MD, open from 8–6, offering brake repair, oil changes, and inspections.”
Guess which one a voice assistant will prefer when giving a quick, accurate answer?
The Solution: Work with your web developer (like Mays) to implement schema markup that highlights your services, location, and reviews.
Treating Voice Assistants Like a Trend
Voice isn’t going away. In fact, with AI powering smarter, more conversational search, voice assistants are becoming even more accurate and useful. Businesses that dismiss voice as a “nice-to-have” will be left behind.
The Solution: Make voice optimization part of your overall digital strategy. The businesses that future-proof now will dominate tomorrow’s search results.
Here is the Bottom Line: Voice assistants aren’t just changing how people search — they’re changing how businesses get found. If you’re not optimized for Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, you could be losing customers to competitors who are.
At Mays & Associates, we help businesses stay ahead of these shifts by:
• Ensuring accurate, optimized listings across all platforms
• Building websites with schema markup baked in
• Crafting conversational, customer-friendly content
• Managing reviews and reputation to boost visibility
If you’re ready to make sure your business is part of the voice assistant conversation, let’s talk. Contact us today
