Voice Search + Visual Search: The Next UX War in Digital Marketing

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  By Gujju Ticks

  19 August, 2025

Introduction

The way people search on the internet is changing very fast. Earlier, most of us typed keywords like “best shoes online” or “cheap hotels in Mumbai”. But today, more and more people are using their voice or even their camera to search.

• When we use voice search, we simply ask a question like, “Alexa, what is the best mobile under ₹15,000 in India?”
• When we use visual search, we click a photo or upload an image. For example, if you like your friend’s handbag, you can take a photo and apps like Google Lens will show you similar handbags online.

For users in India and Gujarat, this change is huge. People in villages and cities alike are using Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri, and Google Lens every day. For businesses, this means one thing: if your digital marketing is only focused on normal SEO, you are already behind.

The next big competition in online marketing is about who can win in voice + visual search optimization. This is the new UX war (User Experience war). Let’s understand why.

Why Voice Search is Growing in India

India is one of the fastest-growing markets for voice technology. There are three main reasons:

1. Affordable internet – Because of Jio and other telecom providers, internet is very cheap and easily available.
2. Regional language comfort – People prefer to search in Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Bengali, etc. For example, a Gujarati user might say, “Surat ma best dosa place” instead of typing in English.
3. Hands-free and easy – While cooking, driving, or working, speaking is easier than typing.

Most voice searches in India are local searches like “salon near me,” “pharmacy open now,” or “best pani puri in Ahmedabad.”

For businesses, this means your website and online presence should not only target high CPC keywords like “best insurance plan India” but also long questions in natural language.

Why Visual Search is Becoming Popular

Visual search is also growing fast, especially with young people and shoppers.

• Google Lens is used by millions of Indians every month to identify clothes, food, plants, and even monuments.
• E-commerce benefit: Platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra allow users to upload an image and shop similar products.
• Travel and food: Tourists in Jaipur can click a photo of a monument to learn its history. Food lovers in Gujarat can take a photo of an unknown dish and find its recipe or nearby restaurant.

For businesses, this means that your product photos, catalog images, and even packaging need to be optimized. Search engines should be able to “understand” your images through alt text, file names, and metadata.

The New UX War: Voice + Visual Together

Now imagine this situation:

A person sees a saree in a shop. She takes a photo with Google Lens and then says, “Show me this saree in red, price under ₹2,000.”

This is not just visual search. It is visual + voice combined in one search.

This is the future of user experience (UX). Businesses that prepare for this combined search will win, while others will lose visibility. That is why this is called the Next UX War.

How It Affects Digital Marketing in India

1. SEO is no longer just about text
   Old-style keyword stuffing will not help. You need to create content for how people speak and what they see.
2. Content must be multi-format
   • Text blogs → still important.
   • Voice-friendly FAQs → written in question-answer format.
   • Image optimization → clear, high-quality product photos with correct tags.
3. Local businesses get a big advantage
   A small café in Rajkot or a salon in Baroda can appear in searches if they are properly listed on Google My Business with local keywords like “best tea stall near me”.
4. Ads will change
   Pay-per-click ads (PPC) will also include voice-triggered results and visual shopping ads. Brands that start early will get cheaper traffic and more customers.

Challenges in India

• Language diversity: India has 22 official languages, so creating voice search content is complex.
• Quality content gap: Many small businesses do not have proper images or structured websites.
• Privacy issues: More data from voice and images means more concerns about security.

How Indian Businesses Can Prepare

Here are some simple but powerful strategies:

1. Voice Search Optimization
   • Use natural questions like “Which is the best health insurance in India 2025?”
   • Add FAQ pages that directly answer customer doubts.
   • Use long-tail keywords like “cheap hotels in Ahmedabad near railway station.”
2. Visual Search Optimization
   • Upload high-resolution product images.
   • Add alt-text and product descriptions for every image.
   • Keep your catalog updated and organized.
3. Local SEO
   • Register your business on Google My Business.
   • Use local keywords in English and regional languages.
   • Encourage customers to post reviews with photos.
4. Multilingual Content
   • Provide blogs, FAQs, and ads in Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, etc.
   • Example: “Ahmedabad ma best gym” should also bring your gym website in results.
5. Use New Technology
   • Fashion brands → virtual try-ons.
   • Real estate → voice-guided 3D tours.
   • Food apps → image-to-recipe suggestions.

Real-Life Indian Examples

• Flipkart & Amazon India: Using AI for visual search in shopping.
• Zomato & Swiggy: Allowing food discovery through images.
• Tata Neu & JioMart: Adding voice search options.
• Surat textile shops: Sharing product images on WhatsApp and using local SEO for more sales.

Conclusion

The future of search is not just typing on Google. It is about speaking and seeing. Voice search and visual search are growing together, and this is creating a new UX war in digital marketing.

For businesses in India, the time to act is now. If you prepare your website with voice-friendly content, strong local SEO, and high-quality images, you will win more customers.

In simple words: Don’t just optimize for search engines—optimize for people and their behavior.