Voice Search & AEO: Optimizing for Spoken Queries in 2026
Conversational keywords, Speakable schema and concise answers — how to optimize for voice assistants and spoken AI queries.
How are voice queries different?
People speak full questions. Optimize for natural language — "how do I…", "what's the best…" — and match those phrasings in your headings.
Use Speakable schema
Add SpeakableSpecification pointing at the sentences you want read aloud — typically your direct answers — so assistants know exactly what to say.
Keep answers short
Voice answers run ~30 words. Make sure your direct answer stands on its own within that span, without needing surrounding context.
Frequently asked questions
What schema helps voice search?⌄
SpeakableSpecification marks the specific sentences best suited to be read aloud by voice assistants. Pair it with FAQPage for question matching.
How long should a voice answer be?⌄
About 30 words — a single, self-contained sentence or two that answers the spoken question directly.
Do conversational keywords matter?⌄
Yes. Phrase headings the way people speak (full questions) so voice engines match the query to your answer.
