Voice Search & Multimodal SEO: Preparing Your Business for 2025

The way people search for information online is evolving rapidly. The rise of voice search, visual search, and multimodal interactions means businesses must rethink their SEO strategies to remain competitive. By 2025, businesses that fail to adapt to these changes risk losing visibility, traffic, and revenue.

In this article, we’ll explore how voice and multimodal search are transforming SEO and provide actionable steps to help businesses optimise their digital presence for the future.

Understanding Voice Search & Multimodal SEO

What is Voice Search?

Voice search allows users to perform online searches using spoken commands rather than typing. With the widespread adoption of voice assistants like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Microsoft Cortana, voice search has become an integral part of how people access information.

Key Characteristics of Voice Search:

• Conversational and natural language queries
• Preference for question-based searches (e.g., “Where is the nearest solar panel installer?”)
• Local search intent (e.g., “Best coffee shop near me”)
• Shorter, precise answers instead of long-form content

What is Multimodal Search?

Multimodal search refers to a combination of different input methods—including text, voice, and images—allowing users to search in a more intuitive and dynamic way. For example, Google Lens enables users to search using images, while voice-enabled smart devices can integrate voice and text commands for a seamless search experience.

Examples of Multimodal Search:

• A user takes a picture of a product and asks, “Where can I buy this online?”
• A person asks Google Assistant, “What’s this landmark?” while pointing their phone camera at a historic site.
• Voice queries combined with on-screen results for better interaction.

As search engines like Google and Bing continue enhancing multimodal search capabilities, businesses must optimise their content to cater to these new search behaviours.

Why Businesses Need to Prepare for Voice & Multimodal Search in 2025

1. Growing Adoption of Voice-Activated Devices
2. The Rise of Conversational AI
3. Visual and Multimodal Search is Expanding
4. Changing User Expectations

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How to Optimise for Voice Search in 2025

1. Focus on Conversational Keywords

Unlike traditional text searches, voice searches tend to be more conversational. Businesses should optimise content with long-tail keywords and natural language phrases.

Example:

Instead of targeting “best SEO services,” consider optimising for:

• “Which agency offers the best SEO services near me?”
• “What are the top SEO strategies for 2025?”

2. Implement FAQ-Style Content

Structuring content in a Q&A format improves the chances of being featured in voice search results. Google’s featured snippets are often the primary source for voice search answers.

Example:

Question: “How do I optimise my website for voice search?” Answer: “To optimise your website for voice search, focus on conversational keywords, add structured data, improve local SEO, and ensure your site loads quickly.”

3. Use Schema Markup for Voice Search

Schema markup helps search engines understand content better, increasing the chances of ranking in voice search results.

Key Schema Types to Use:

• FAQPage Schema
• Speakable Schema
• LocalBusiness Schema
• Product Schema

4. Improve Website Speed & Mobile-Friendliness

Voice search users expect quick answers. Ensure your website is optimised for speed and mobile usability.

• Compress images and use lazy loading
• Minimise HTTP requests
• Enable AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)

5. Strengthen Local SEO for Voice Search

Voice searches often have strong local intent. Optimising for local SEO ensures your business appears in location-based voice searches.

Key Local SEO Tactics:

• Optimise Google My Business profile
• Get customer reviews
• Use local keywords (e.g., “solar panel installation in Manchester”)
• Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency across listings

How to Optimise for Multimodal Search

1. Optimise Images & Visual Content

With Google Lens and other visual search tools gaining popularity, optimising images is crucial for discoverability.

Best Practices:

• Use high-quality images with descriptive alt text
• Compress images for fast loading
• Implement structured data for images (ImageObject Schema)
• Ensure images are relevant and accurately labelled

2. Integrate Voice and Visual Content

Businesses should create content that blends voice and visual elements seamlessly. For instance:

• Product pages with voice search-optimised descriptions
• How-to guides that include both video and written content
• Interactive content like voice-controlled navigation

3. Leverage AI-Powered Search Capabilities

AI-driven search experiences are changing how search engines rank content. Businesses should leverage AI tools for:

• Predictive search insights
• Personalised content recommendations
• Chatbot integrations for conversational search

4. Enhance E-Commerce for Visual Search

Retail businesses can benefit from optimising for visual search by:

• Using high-resolution images and 360-degree product views
• Adding unique product identifiers in metadata
• Enabling direct purchases from image search results

5. Create Content for Multimodal Assistants

Devices like Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show provide voice and screen-based responses. Ensure your content is structured to appear on both audio and visual platforms.

The Future of Search: What to Expect Beyond 2025

• More Advanced AI Search Models: AI-powered search engines will refine search intent, making voice and multimodal SEO even more critical.
• Greater Integration of AR & VR: Augmented and virtual reality will play a larger role in search experiences.
• Enhanced Personalisation: AI-driven search will deliver even more personalised results based on user behaviour and preferences.
• Expansion of Zero-Click Searches: More searches will be answered directly in search results without users clicking on a website.

The rise of voice and multimodal search represents a fundamental shift in SEO. Businesses that embrace these technologies and optimise their content accordingly will stay ahead of the competition in 2025 and beyond.

By focusing on conversational search, structured data, local SEO, and multimodal content, businesses can ensure they are well-positioned for the future of search. Start optimising now to enhance your digital visibility and capture a growing audience of voice and visual search users.