As search technology evolves, people are no longer only typing in search bars—they’re talking to devices and using cameras to find what they need. Voice search and visual search are two powerful trends that are transforming how users interact with search engines. These new methods are changing the rules of SEO, moving us beyond traditional keyword strategies and into a world of context, conversation, and images.
- 1. What Is Voice and Visual Search?
- 2. Why It Matters in 2025
- 3. How Voice Search Changes SEO
- 4. How to Optimise for Voice Search
- 5. How Visual Search Changes SEO
- 6. How to Optimise for Visual Search
- 7. Tools to Help with Voice and Visual SEO
- 8. Challenges to Consider
- 9. Future Trends in Voice and Visual Search
- 10. Summary: Best Practices Checklist
- References
This article explains what voice and visual search are, why they matter in 2025, and how businesses can adapt their SEO strategies to thrive in this new environment.
1. What Is Voice and Visual Search?
Voice Search
Voice search allows users to ask questions using natural speech through devices like Google Assistant, Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, and Microsoft Cortana. It uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning to understand and respond to conversational queries.
Example:
Typed: “weather Phnom Penh today”
Voice: “What’s the weather like in Phnom Penh today?”
Visual Search
Visual search uses images instead of text to find information. Tools like Google Lens, Pinterest Lens, and Bing Visual Search let users snap or upload photos to search the web.
Example:
A user sees a plant they like → takes a photo → Google Lens shows plant type, care tips, and where to buy it.
2. Why It Matters in 2025
Voice Search Usage Is Soaring
Voice-enabled devices are now part of everyday life. As of 2024, over 50% of U.S. adults use voice assistants monthly (Statista, 2024). Globally, smart speaker adoption has reached over 400 million devices, making voice search critical for mobile and home-based SEO.
Visual Search Is Driving E-Commerce
Visual search tools like Google Lens are used more than 12 billion times per month (Google, 2023). In fashion and retail, 62% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers prefer visual discovery over text-based search (ViSenze, 2023).
3. How Voice Search Changes SEO
Voice queries are longer, more natural, and focused on intent. Instead of “best pizza NYC,” users ask, “Where can I find the best pizza near me right now?”
SEO Differences
| Typed Search | Voice Search |
| Short & keyword-focused | Long & question-based |
| Written language | Conversational tone |
| Desktop or mobile | Mobile, smart speakers, cars |
| Based on keywords | Based on user intent |
Implications
Voice searches often trigger featured snippets, local packs, or direct answers, making structured, concise content critical.
4. How to Optimise for Voice Search
1. Target Long-Tail and Question Keywords
Use tools like:
These help find natural language questions people ask.
2. Write in a Conversational Tone
Answer questions in a way that sounds human. Keep answers around 40–50 words, which is ideal for voice devices (Moz, 2023).
3. Use Structured Data (Schema)
Add schema markup, especially:
- FAQ Schema
- How-To Schema
- Speakable Schema (for news articles)
4. Optimise for Local SEO
Voice queries often include “near me.” To rank for them:
- Claim your Google Business Profile
- Keep NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistent
- Encourage positive reviews
- Include hours, directions, and services
5. How Visual Search Changes SEO
Visual search focuses on understanding images, not words. Users take a photo and search visually instead of typing anything.
Search Examples:
- Snap a picture of sneakers to find where to buy them
- Upload a flower photo to identify the species
- Scan a barcode or QR code to compare prices
Search engines use AI and image recognition to interpret image content, so content creators must ensure their visuals are clear, relevant, and properly described.
6. How to Optimise for Visual Search
1. Use High-Quality Original Images
Avoid stock photos. Use clear, focused, real images that represent the product or service. Make sure your images load quickly and are responsive across devices.
2. Add Descriptive Alt Text
Use specific, keyword-rich alt text to describe what’s in the image. This helps Google understand and index it.
Bad alt text: image01.jpg
Good alt text: “Black Nike running shoes with white soles on concrete”
3. Use Image Sitemaps
Help Google crawl your images by including them in your sitemap or creating a dedicated image sitemap.
4. Apply Product and Image Schema
Use structured data like Product schema to show price, rating, availability, and more. This helps images appear in rich results and Google Shopping.
7. Tools to Help with Voice and Visual SEO
| Tool | What It Does |
| Google Search Console | Monitor image indexing and mobile performance |
| Semrush | Keyword research, local SEO, voice analysis |
| Frase | Optimise content for featured snippets and PAA |
| Cloudinary | Image optimisation and delivery |
| Google Lens | Test visual search behavior from user perspective |
8. Challenges to Consider
- Voice search lacks direct analytics—hard to track performance
- Visual SEO requires technical image handling (speed, tags, schema)
- No guaranteed clicks—zero-click results are common
- Changing user expectations—you must meet voice and image standards, not just text
9. Future Trends in Voice and Visual Search
Multimodal Search
Google’s Multitask Unified Model (MUM) allows users to input text, image, and context at once. SEO will soon need to account for hybrid queries (Google, 2021).
Augmented Reality (AR) Integration
Visual search will merge with AR to offer immersive search experiences—e.g., seeing how furniture looks in your room.
Voice Commerce Growth
Over 71% of users now prefer to use voice for simple tasks like finding store hours or placing reorders (NPR & Edison Research, 2023).
10. Summary: Best Practices Checklist
✔ Use natural, human language for voice SEO
✔ Target long-tail, question-based keywords
✔ Optimise for snippets and “near me” results
✔ Use structured data for voice and visual content
✔ Upload high-quality, original images
✔ Include descriptive alt text
✔ Keep mobile UX fast and responsive
Note
Voice and visual search are no longer futuristic—they’re here now. As consumers rely more on speaking and snapping instead of typing, businesses must rethink how their content is structured, displayed, and delivered. This means investing in conversational content, high-quality images, and structured data to ensure your site remains visible, accessible, and competitive.
SEO is no longer just about ranking for keywords. It’s about showing up where your audience is—whether they type, talk, or take a photo.
More Read
References
Google. (2021). Introducing MUM: A new AI milestone for understanding information. https://blog.google/products/search/introducing-mum/
Google. (2023). Google Lens helps you search what you see. https://blog.google/products/search/search-what-you-see-lens/
Moz. (2023). How to optimize for voice search. https://moz.com/blog/voice-search-optimization
NPR & Edison Research. (2023). The Smart Audio Report 2023. https://www.nationalpublicmedia.com/insights/reports/smart-audio-report/
Statista. (2024). Digital voice assistant usage in the United States. https://www.statista.com/statistics/973815/worldwide-digital-voice-assistant-in-use/
ViSenze. (2023). Visual Shopping Trends. https://www.visenze.com/resources/reports/state-of-visual-search-2023/
