Search Everywhere: Simple Ways to Boost Your Brand in Voice, Visual, and Social

Sharon Cumberbatch
Jul 16
4 min read

If you’re anything like me, you’ve noticed that search isn’t just about Google anymore. My clients—and maybe you, too—are searching everywhere: by voice, AI, through images, and across social platforms. As someone who’s passionate about helping brands break through the noise, I’ve made it my mission to master these new search frontiers so your business can be discovered wherever your audience is looking.

Why “Search Everywhere” Is Changing the Game

I see it every day: more people are using voice assistants, snapping photos to search, or turning to TikTok and Instagram for answers. Did you know over 65% of Americans now use voice search regularly, and Gen Z often starts their search journey on social? If you want your brand to stay relevant, it’s time to meet your audience where they are.

Voice Search: Speaking Their Language

Voice search is more popular than ever—think smart speakers, Siri, and Google Assistant. People are asking questions out loud and expecting direct answers fast. To help your brand get found through voice queries, your content needs to reflect how people actually speak. Here are a few ways to start optimizing:

Try using natural, conversational language in your website copy—think about how people actually talk to voice assistants.
Adding an FAQ section that answers common questions can really help you show up in voice search results.
Don’t forget to include your location and local keywords—most voice searches are for something nearby.
Make sure your website loads quickly and looks great on mobile devices.
If you’re comfortable, look into adding structured data (like schema markup) so search engines can better understand your content.

Search with AI: Stay Ahead of the Curve

AI is changing the way search engines understand and deliver content. Platforms like Google's Search Generative Experience and Bing Copilot now use AI to provide highly relevant, conversational answers. If your content isn’t optimized for these smarter engines, you risk getting left behind. Here’s how to stay ahead of the AI curve:

Experiment with AI-powered search tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience or Bing Copilot—these platforms use AI to deliver more personalized, conversational results.
Make your content easy for AI to understand by writing clearly and answering specific questions your audience might ask.
Keep your website updated with fresh, relevant information—AI search favors sites that regularly provide value.
Use structured data and clear headings to help AI summarize your content accurately.
Monitor how people are finding you through AI-driven platforms and adjust your content to match the new types of questions and searches you’re seeing

Visual Search: Making Sure You’re Seen

Visual search lets users snap a photo and find products or inspiration in seconds. If your images aren’t optimized, you’re missing major opportunities—especially in industries like fashion, food, decor, and local services. Here’s how to show up when your audience is searching with their camera:

Use clear, high-quality images that show off your products or services—people are searching with photos more than ever.
Give your image files descriptive names and use alt text with keywords to help them get found.
Show your work from different angles or in real-life settings; it makes a big difference for visual search.
Optimize your images for mobile so they load fast and look sharp.
Share your best visuals on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram to reach a wider audience.

Social Search: Where Discovery Happens

Today’s search engines aren’t just on Google—they’re on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube too. Younger audiences often turn to social platforms to find answers, reviews, and recommendations. To stay visible, your brand needs to be searchable across social media. Here's how to show up where it counts:

Use keywords in your social media bios and display names to make your profiles easier to find.
Start your captions with important keywords and don’t be afraid to use a mix of popular and niche hashtags.
Add alt text and detailed descriptions to your posts—this helps with both accessibility and searchability.
Stay active by responding to comments and posting regularly; engagement helps boost your content in social search.
Repurpose your content for different platforms, but keep your brand message consistent everywhere.

My Pro Tips for Staying Ahead

As digital trends evolve, staying visible requires more than just checking boxes—it’s about working smart, staying consistent, and being ready to pivot. These are the strategies I personally use (and recommend to my clients) to stay competitive across all types of search—from Google to TikTok. If you’re serious about growing your brand, these tips will help you stay one step ahead of the curve.

Keep your visual assets organized and optimized for every channel.
Track what’s working—so we can double down on the images, keywords, and content that drive results.
Stay on top of the latest trends and features, so your brand is always one step ahead.

In our research-driven, design-forward approach at McFarlane Marketing, we believe the future of search belongs to brands that are visible everywhere their audience looks, listens, and discovers. By optimizing for voice, visual, and social search, you’re not just keeping up—you’re setting the pace for your industry. Ready to make your brand stand out? Let’s connect and create something extraordinary together.