Don’t get fooled: The truth about ‘voice search directories’ and your local business (2025)

Originally published on March 28, 2024 – Updated April 2025

Voice Search Optimization: Essential Strategies for Small Businesses in 2025

Every small business owner wants to be found by potential customers. With the rise of voice search technology, you may have received calls claiming your business isn’t listed in a special “voice search directory.” These companies insist you need to pay to be included or risk missing out on customers.

Let’s set the record straight and explore how to position your local business for success in the rapidly growing voice search market of 2025.

Voice search for small business: No special directory needed

Have you gotten calls saying your business isn’t in a “voice search directory”? These callers claim you need to pay them or miss out on customers using Siri or Alexa.
Let’s clear this up: There is no special voice search directory. Anyone telling you to pay for one is trying to scam you.

Let me show you how voice search really works and what you can do to help customers find your business.

How Voice Assistants Find Businesses

When someone asks Siri or Alexa to find a business like yours, these tools look in three main places:

1. Search Engines: Voice tools like Google Assistant and Siri use regular search engines. If Google can find you, voice assistants can too.
2. Business Listings: Your Google Business Profile, Yelp page, and other listings help voice tools find you. These are all free to set up.
3. Reviews: Good reviews help you rank higher in both regular and voice searches.

Simple Steps to Improve Your Voice Search Results

1) Set Up Your Google Business Profile
This free tool is the most important step for voice search success.

Here’s what to do:

• Go to business.google.com and claim your business
• Fill in all details: name, address, phone, hours, and services
• Add clear photos of your business
• Keep your information up to date

A complete Google Business Profile helps voice assistants give your business as an answer when people ask questions like “find a plumber near me.”

2) Use Words People Actually Say
Voice searches sound different from typed searches. People talk to Siri or Alexa like they’re talking to a person.

For example:
• Typed search: “pest control San Jose”
• Voice search: “Who can get rid of ants in my house in San Jose?”

On your website and in your business descriptions, use everyday language that matches how people talk. Answer common questions directly.

Give us a call if you have any questions or need advice. No charge. The number is above.
To learn more about how we help small businesses increase their online presence, here’s what we do and how we do it.

3) Get Listed in Multiple Places
While Google is most important, don’t stop there. List your business on:
• Yelp
• Apple Maps
• Bing Places
• Facebook
• Industry directories for your specific business

Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are exactly the same on every listing. Even small differences can confuse voice assistants.

4) Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
Most voice searches happen on phones. Your website should:
• Load quickly (under 3 seconds)
• Be easy to read on small screens
• Have buttons large enough to tap with a finger
• Include your phone number where it’s easy to find

Test your website on your phone. If it’s hard to use, customers will leave quickly.

5) Create Content That Answers Questions
People ask voice assistants specific questions. Create content that answers these questions clearly.
For example, if you run a pest control business, write articles like:
• “How to tell if you have termites in your home”
• “What’s the best way to get rid of ants in the kitchen?”
• “How much does pest control cost in San Jose?”

When voice assistants find these answers on your site, they’re more likely to recommend your business.

Need some help? Since we are in the thick of this SEO stuff, we have methods that will help you get your small business the best chance to appear on voice search results. Give us a call at (916) 243-6660 – it’s still free to talk to us – or send us a message.

6) Ask Happy Customers for Reviews
Reviews are powerful for voice search. When someone asks for “the best plumber near me,” voice assistants often suggest businesses with the most positive reviews.

After completing work for a satisfied customer:
• Send a simple link asking for a review
• Thank customers who leave reviews
• Respond politely to all reviews, even negative ones
• Never buy fake reviews – they can get you banned from Google

Even a small business can build up impressive reviews over time by providing good service and simply asking happy customers to share their experience.

Real-Life Voice Search Examples

Let’s look at how voice search actually works in everyday situations:

Example 1: Someone says, “Hey Google, my sink is clogged, find a plumber near me.”
Google checks which plumbers have complete Google Business Profiles in that area, have good reviews, and mention “clogged sinks” on their website or in their business description.

Example 2: Someone asks, “Alexa, where can I get my car detailed today?”
Alexa looks for auto detailing businesses that list their hours as open today, have their services clearly described, and have positive reviews.

In both cases, no special “voice directory” is involved – just the free business listings and website content you already control.

What To Do When Scammers Call

If someone calls claiming you need to pay for a voice search listing:
• Ask which specific directory they represent
• Request written information about their service
• Don’t provide payment information over the phone
• Tell them you’ll research and call back (then don’t)

Legitimate marketing services will explain exactly what they do and won’t pressure you with scare tactics about “missing out” on customers.

Start Simple, See Results

The good news is that voice search optimization isn’t complicated. Start with your Google Business Profile, make sure your website works well on phones, and focus on getting honest reviews from happy customers.

These simple steps will help your business show up when people use voice search, without paying a penny to scammers claiming to have a special “voice search directory.”

Remember: If your business shows up in Google search results, it can show up in voice search results too. No special directory needed.

Please note: We will be updating this article as we find new information, change our minds, or if we hear feedback that we haven’t thought of – by people like YOU. We’ll also update this article if we think of ways to improve it. Without a doubt, keep checking back. Share this article with those who you think could use the help and please write your comments and questions below. It could help us…and others.