As smart speakers and digital assistants continue to show up in homes, cars, and smartphones, more patients are using voice search to find healthcare providers. If your audiology practice isn’t properly set up for voice search, you may be invisible to users, even if you’re right around the corner.
Getting voice-ready is about making sure your practice’s contact information is listed in the right places, formatted correctly, and consistently updated. Improving your website’s visibility increases the possibility of Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant recommending your practice when someone needs help with hearing.
How Voice Assistants Find Businesses
Before making updates, it helps to understand how voice assistants pull information. Users interact with voice apps differently, but most digital assistants rely on major directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, Apple Maps, and Bing Places. If your information is missing, incomplete, or inconsistent across these sources, your practice is less likely to be mentioned in a voice response.
Voice assistants favor businesses with clear categories, up-to-date contact info, accurate hours, and strong online reviews. This means your digital presence needs to be clear, complete, and well-structured.
Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Since Google Assistant pulls information directly from Google Business Profile, claim your listing. Your practice name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be listed exactly as they appear on your website. List your primary category as “Audiologist” or “Hearing Aid Dispenser,” depending on your service focus. Add a short description that includes what you do and who you help.
Then, keep your listing active. Post updates regularly, upload photos of your clinic, and respond to negative and positive reviews. These actions signal to Google that your business is trustworthy and relevant, which helps improve visibility through voice search.
Check Your Listings Across Apple, Bing, and Yelp
While Google Assistant uses Google My Business, Siri uses Apple Business Connect and Yelp data, and Alexa leans on Yelp and Bing. For comprehensive coverage, ensure your business is properly listed and verified in each directory.
Use the same spelling, punctuation, and format for your name, address, and phone number across all platforms. Even small differences like “St.” vs. “Street” can throw off voice recognition systems. Double-check your office hours, photos, and contact details to avoid any confusion for patients.
Use Simple, Conversational Keywords
Voice searches often sound different from typed ones. Instead of “audiologist near me,” people might ask, “Where can I get my hearing tested?” or “Who fits hearing aids around here?” To prepare for this shift, include conversational phrases and questions on your website so that voice assistants can recognize your practice as a good match for these searches.
Think about the way patients talk when they call your office. Use those same words in your website headings, service pages, and FAQs. When digital assistants can match what users are asking with what you’ve written, your chances of being mentioned go way up.
Keep Your Website Mobile-Friendly and Fast
Voice search results often come from mobile-optimized websites. If your site loads slowly or doesn’t work well on a phone, it’s less likely to be recommended. Search engines and voice assistants both prioritize websites that are easy to navigate, quick to load, and provide clear answers.
Make sure your contact page is easy to find and includes your full address, clickable phone number, and embedded map. Having structured data like schema markup on your site can also help search engines better understand your business. It may sound technical, but many website platforms or SEO services can implement this feature for you without much hassle.
Encourage Reviews and Respond Promptly
When voice assistants choose which business to recommend, they look at reviews. A clinic with dozens of recent, positive reviews is more likely to show up in a voice search than one with none. Ask happy patients to leave feedback on Google and Yelp, and respond to reviews to show you’re engaged and care about patient feedback.
Note that making your audiology practice voice-ready is about meeting your patients where they are. More people are using voice commands to find and contact local providers, and if your practice isn’t set up for this shift, you could be missing out. Want to make sure your practice is easy to find on Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant? Contact AUDseo today!
