Your Guide to using Voice-Activated Assistants to revolutionise Client Search for Lawyers, Accountants, and Consultants.
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, voice-activated assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant have become indispensable tools for millions of users. For professional services businesses, including lawyers, accountants, and consultants, this shift in how people search for services represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Here’s why voice-activated assistants are transforming client search and how you can position your business to stay ahead.
1. The Rise of Conversational Search
Unlike traditional search queries, which often consist of a few disjointed keywords, voice searches are conversational and natural. For example:
Text search: "tax consultant near me"
Voice search: "Ok Google, Who is the best tax consultant near me?"
This change means that professional service providers need to adopt more conversational tones in their website content, FAQs, and blogs to align with how people speak.
Social Star Action Tip: Use long-tail keywords and phrases that mimic natural speech patterns. For instance, instead of optimising for "legal services," target phrases like "How do I find a trusted family lawyer in Melbourne?" Use tools like Google Lens to check if your content aligns with visual and voice-based queries.
How to Do It:
Start with keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner.
Identify phrases people use in conversations (e.g., " Hey, Siri - How can I contact a tax advisor?").
Write answers to common client questions in a conversational tone.
2. Local SEO: A Key Driver for Voice Search
Voice searches are often used for local queries, such as "accountants near me" or "consultants open now." This means having a strong local SEO strategy is crucial for professional service providers who want to appear in voice search results.
Social Star Action Tip: Ensure your Google Business Profile is up-to-date with accurate contact details, operating hours, and client reviews. Include location-based keywords in your content to improve visibility for local searches. Incorporate images that perform well with Google and Pinterest Lens.
How to Do It:
Log in to Google Business Profile and update your information.
Add keywords like "[Your Service] near me" naturally in your content.
Ask satisfied clients for reviews and respond to them to build credibility.
3. Featured Snippets Dominate Voice Search Results
Voice assistants often pull their answers from featured snippets, which are concise pieces of information displayed at the top of search engine results. If your website content is structured to provide clear, direct answers to common client questions, it’s more likely to be chosen as a featured snippet.
Social Star Action Tip: Create content that answers specific client queries succinctly. Use headers, bullet points, and Q&A formats to make your content easy to read and scan.
How to Do It:
Create a blog or FAQ page with clear questions as headers.
Write answers in 2-3 concise sentences.
Use bullet points or step-by-step lists for clarity.
Social Star Insight: Enhancing your blog content with tools like AI voice generators can help you create audio versions of your FAQs, further optimising for voice-driven platforms.
4. Enhancing Accessibility and Convenience
Voice search is not just about convenience; it’s also about accessibility. Clients with disabilities or busy schedules increasingly rely on voice assistants to find professional services. Being optimised for voice search ensures you’re accessible to a broader audience.
Social Star Action Tip: Focus on creating a seamless mobile experience, as most voice searches occur on smartphones. Ensure fast load times, mobile-friendly design, and clear navigation.
How to Do It:
Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check your website.
Use text-to-speech technologies to provide audio versions of your content
Simplify menus for easier navigation on smaller screens.
Social Star Insight: Integrating text-to-speech tools on your website can improve accessibility, making your services more inclusive to all potential clients.
5. Building Trust Through Conversational Content
Professional services thrive on trust, and voice assistants often surface businesses that appear credible and authoritative. By providing clear, conversational content tailored to your client’s needs, you can build trust and improve your visibility in voice searches.
Social Star Action Tip: Develop an FAQ page addressing common client concerns. For example:
"What should I look for in a business consultant?"
"How do I prepare for a consultation with a tax advisor?"
How to Do It:
Collect common questions from client calls or emails.
Use simple, conversational language in your answers.
Repurpose these FAQs into audio using AI voice generators for added reach.
6. The Competitive Edge of Early Adoption
As voice search continues to grow, early adopters of this technology will have a significant competitive advantage. By optimising your online presence now, you position your business to capture a larger share of the voice search market as it matures.
Social Star Action Tip: Regularly test how your website and content perform with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. Adjust your strategy based on performance and feedback.
How to Do It:
Use voice assistants to search for your business and see how you rank.
Adjust your keywords or content if your website doesn’t appear in results.
Analyse trends and queries using Google Search Console.
Social Star Insight: Pairing strategies for voice search with tools like Google Lens ensures your website stays ahead of competitors by leveraging multi-modal searches.
Conclusion
Voice-activated assistants are more than just a trend; they reshape how clients search for and connect with professional service providers. By optimising your website for conversational search, enhancing local SEO, and prioritising accessibility, you can position your business to thrive in this new era of client engagement. Don’t wait to adapt, the future of client search is already here.
Ready to make your business stay ahead of the competition? Let Social Star help you integrate these digital solutions for you!
Register for a workshop today.
References - https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/google-lens-ai-overviews-ads-marketers
