How to win with voice and visual search in 2025
Picture this. You’re cooking pasta, hands covered in sauce, and suddenly wonder, “What time does Tesco shut tonight?” You’re not wiping your hands to type that out. You’ll ask Siri.
Or maybe you’re on the bus. You spot a stranger’s trainers. You don’t know the brand, but you know you want them. Snap a photo. Google Lens does the rest.
That’s how people are searching now. PwC predicts that more than half of all searches will be voice or image-based by 2025. If your site isn’t ready, you’re not in the conversation.
Why voice search matters
Typing works. Talking is easier. We don’t type the way we speak.
Typing: weather in London
Speaking: What’s the weather going to be like in London this Friday?
That’s the gap. If your content doesn’t read like natural speech, you’re invisible.
And people are not just chatting on their phones. They’re talking to smart speakers in kitchens, voice systems in cars, even headphones on a morning run. Google reported in 2024 that 58 percent of users rely on voice search for local information. That means if someone asks, “Where’s the nearest café open right now?” and you’re not optimised, they’ll never find you.
Quick wins for voice search optimisation
So how do you meet customers where they’re talking?
Write conversationally.
Think about how people actually ask questions out loud. No one says, “cheap plumber London fast.” They say, “Hey Google, is there a plumber near me who can come out tonight?”
If your site answers in that natural voice, you stand a much better chance of being the result they hear back.
Build FAQs.
Imagine someone on the sofa asking Alexa, “Does this café do vegan breakfasts?”
If your FAQ page literally has that question and answer, Alexa can read it back to you.
Target local queries.
Voice search is personal and often urgent. Think: “Where’s the closest petrol station?” shouted into the phone while the fuel light flashes red. Or: “Is there a dentist open near me on Sunday?” asked with a toothache at midnight. If your content includes those neighbourhood-specific answers, you’ll be the one they find when it matters most.
If this feels overwhelming, that’s where expert help comes in. At
Espial Solutions, we specialise in making your site ready for voice-first search, from structuring FAQs to optimising for local intent.
Voice search trends 2025 you can not ignore
Three shifts are happening fast:
- Smart speakers at home. Alexa and Google Home are now as familiar as kettles.
- Voice in cars. Drivers use voice to find petrol, shops, and playlists while on the move.
- Better recognition. Search engines understand slang, accents, and casual language better than ever.
These shifts aren’t “coming soon.” They’re already here. If your top pages don’t match the way people speak, audit and rewrite them now.
Shopping with your eyes: Visual search SEO
Think about the last time you spotted something you wanted without knowing what it was. Maybe a jacket in a café. Perhaps a lamp in a friend’s living room. With visual search SEO, your phone becomes the shortcut between “I like that” and “I bought it.”
But it’s not enough to have glossy images. Search engines need to understand what’s in them. That’s where optimisation comes in.
How to optimise images for search
- Rename files. “IMG_2345.jpg” means nothing. “red leather handbag.jpg” is searchable.
- Add alt text. Keep it clear and accurate, not stuffed with keywords.
- Compress images. Faster sites rank higher. Nobody likes waiting.
- Add schema markup. This helps Google connect your products to your images.
Gartner found that businesses using visual search effectively can boost revenue by up to 30 percent. The opportunity is real. Ask yourself: if your images stood alone without text, would Google know what they are? If not, fix it.
When voice and visual team up
Here’s where it gets futuristic. You’re in a café. You point your phone at a pair of trainers and say, “Find these in size eight under fifty quid.” Seconds later, you’ve got options to buy.
That’s voice and visual together. Not next decade. Now. Businesses that prepare today will own tomorrow’s search results.
Five practical steps to start today
1. Write content like you’re answering questions, not stuffing keywords.
Nobody asks, “cheap dentist London.” They ask, “Where can I get my tooth fixed near me without spending a fortune?” Answer the way people talk.
2. Build an FAQ section that mirrors customer queries.
Think of Alexa. A customer might say, “Does this café serve vegan breakfasts?” If your FAQ page has that line, you’re discoverable.
3. Optimise every image on your site.
If your bestselling sofa is called “IMG_3487.jpg,” it’s lost to search. Call it “grey corner sofa fabric” and you’re findable. That’s how to optimise images for search.
4. Keep your Google Business Profile up to date.
We’ve all seen the wrong opening hours online. Annoying, right? Don’t do that to your customers. Keep your details accurate.
5. Test your site speed and aim for under 2.5 seconds.
Slow sites kill sales. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to fix the bottlenecks and keep things quick. Like tea, nobody wants to wait forever for it to be ready.
FAQs on voice and visual search
Q1: What is voice search optimisation?
It’s making your site match natural speech, not just typed keywords. Start with FAQs and blog posts that echo how customers really talk.
Q2: Why does visual search SEO matter?
Because people shop with their eyes, if your images aren’t labelled and optimised, search engines can’t connect them to your products. Prioritise your best sellers first.
Q3: How do I optimise images for search?
Rename files, add alt text, compress, and add schema. Start with your top revenue drivers. That’s where you’ll see the fastest impact.
Q4: Will voice search replace text search completely?
No. People still type. But voice searches are exploding for quick questions and local searches.
Q5: What are the most prominent voice search trends for 2025?
Smart speakers, voice in cars, and improved recognition of slang and natural speech.
The final word
Voice search optimisation and
visual search seo are reshaping digital discovery. The brands that adapt now will be the ones customers find first.
Espial Solutions helps businesses future-proof their SEO so they win in this new search era.
The future is already talking and snapping. The question is simple. Will customers find your brand or your competitor’s?