Remember when searching online meant typing something like “best smartphones under 15K” into Google? Yeah, those days are kinda fading. Now, people just say it, literally or point their camera at something and get instant info.
In India, where people speak hundreds of languages and love their smartphones more than chai (okay, maybe not that much), voice and visual search are changing how we discover things and how brands need to advertise.
Let’s break it down, casually and clearly, so even a 13-year-old could understand what’s going on and why this is massive for marketers in 2025.
What’s Voice and Visual Search Anyway?
Imagine asking your phone, “What’s the best shampoo for dry hair?” instead of typing it. That’s voice search.
Or snapping a picture of a dress on a friend and asking Google Lens to find where to buy it. That’s visual search.
Sounds futuristic? It’s not. It’s already here and millions of Indians are using it daily. And if you’re an advertiser, you’ll want your brand to show up at that moment.
Why Indians Are Falling in Love with Voice and Visual?
India’s not just mobile-first, we’re mobile-everything. And here’s why this shift is happening so fast:
- Typing is a pain, especially on tiny screens and in regional languages
- We love shortcuts, whether it’s skipping traffic, or skipping the keyboard
- Voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant speak our languages now
- Camera search feels faster and more personal (and sometimes, just more fun)
Did you know? Over 500 million people in India are using voice assistants and more than ever are using Google Lens, Flipkart Camera, and even Pinterest Lens to find products visually.
The Big Deal for Marketers
Let’s say someone’s looking for “ayurvedic hair oil for dandruff.” If they ask this out loud, will your product show up?
What if they take a pic of a competitor’s product, can your ad appear as a better option?
This is the new advertising battleground. And it’s not about shouting louder. It’s about showing up smarter—right when the user is searching, whether by voice or visuals.
And if you want to get ahead of the curve, working with a seasoned Advertising Agency Gurgaon could help fine-tune your strategy across both traditional and emerging search formats.
How to Get Your Ads Voice-Search Ready (Without Losing Your Mind)?
Here’s what actually works:
Speak Their Language (Literally)
Use long, natural-sounding phrases. People don’t say, “best low price phone.” They say, “Which is the best phone under 15,000 rupees with a good camera?” That’s the kind of phrasing you need in your content, FAQs, and product descriptions.
Answer Real Questions
Google LOVES FAQ content for voice search. So write content that answers stuff like:
- What’s the difference between vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid?
- Is rose water good for acne?
Use schema markup (don’t worry, your developer will know) so your FAQs are picked up in voice results.
Go Desi
Want to reach the next 500 million users? Start writing in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu—even if it’s just for captions, subtitles, or voiceovers. Regional content performs way better in voice search.
How to Be a Visual Search Rockstar
Visual search isn’t just about “pretty pictures.” It’s about searchable images. Here’s how you play the game:
Use Real, High-Quality Images
Not stock photos. Not pixelated messes. Just crisp, real-life product shots.
Name and Tag Everything
File names like IMG_3821.jpg won’t cut it. Use something like handmade-brass-lamp-india.jpg. Add alt text that describes the image clearly.
And if you sell on Amazon, Flipkart, or even your own Shopify site—make sure images are tagged with specs like price, color, material, and size.
Leverage Visual-Search-Friendly Platforms
Flipkart’s Camera Search lets users find products by just pointing their phone. If your brand isn’t optimized for that, you’re invisible.
The same goes for Google Lens. Tag your website products right and use structured data.
Ad Formats & Tools to Make Life Easier
You don’t need a huge team or 10 tools. Start with:
- Google Discovery Ads (great for visual placements)
- YouTube Voice-Activated Ads (yep, those are real now)
- Google Lens Ads (for shopping campaigns)
- Amazon & Flipkart Retail Media with visual and voice support
Pro tip: Use regional voiceovers in your video ads. They connect faster with Tier 2 & Tier 3 audiences.
Brands in India Already Doing It (and Winning)
Lenskart
Used AR + visual search for people to try glasses virtually. Sales? Shot up.
Mamaearth
Created tons of FAQ content in Hindi and English. Result? Featured in Google voice search answers.
Flipkart
Launched its own visual search during sales. Conversion rates went crazy.
But What About the Challenges?
Sure, it’s not all smooth sailing.
- India has too many languages (but that’s also a superpower)
- ROI measurement in visual ads is still evolving
- Most websites are not structured properly for voice/visual indexing
But hey, every new trend has growing pains. Get in early, and you’re ahead of the pack.
Where It’s Headed Next?
As 5G becomes the norm, and smart TVs, fridges, and even washing machines start talking to us (no joke), expect more brands to create voice-first and camera-friendly content.
Also, Indian-made AI tools like Haptik and Vernacular.ai are making voice commerce accessible to local businesses—even in rural pockets.
Also Read: Top 7 Paid Advertising Trends in 2025 You Can’t Afford to Miss
Final Thoughts (From One Marketer to Another)
Voice and visual search aren’t just fancy tech—they’re the new front doors to your brand.
So instead of asking, “Should we do this?”, ask: “How can we start doing this now, even on a small scale?”
Start with:
- One FAQ page
- One visual-rich product listing
- One Hindi voiceover reel
That’s it. You don’t need to perfect it. Just get in the game.
FAQs (Because Google Loves These)
Q1. Do I need a huge budget for voice/visual search?
Not at all. Start small, test, learn, scale.
Q2. Can this work for regional or small businesses?
100%. In fact, regional brands outperform national ones in many voice campaigns.
Q3. What’s the easiest way to begin?
Update your website images and add a few voice-friendly FAQs. Done.
