Speakable Schema: Marking Up Content for Voice Assistant Readout

Speakable schema is a structured data type that identifies sections of your content that are best suited for audio playback using text-to-speech. When you mark up content with Speakable schema you help voice assistants like Google Assistant find and read your content aloud in response to relevant queries.

How Speakable Schema Works

Speakable schema tells Google which sections of your page are appropriate for readout by voice assistants. When a user asks Google Assistant a question Google may find your speakable content and read it aloud. Google attributes the source and sends the full page URL to the user device. This creates a direct voice search traffic channel.

When to Use Speakable Schema

Speakable schema is best suited for content that provides clear concise answers to questions. News articles with key facts and summaries. FAQ pages with direct question-answer pairs. How-to content with step-by-step instructions. Statistical data and key findings. Any content that reads naturally when spoken aloud.

Implementing Speakable Schema

Add Speakable schema using JSON-LD format. Specify the content sections using CSS selectors or XPath. Only mark up content that reads well when spoken. Keep speakable sections concise ideally one to two sentences. Use clear simple language without complex jargon. Ensure the speakable content makes sense without surrounding context.

Best Practices

Mark up the most important and concise answers on your page. Do not mark up entire articles only the key points. Use natural conversational language in speakable sections. Test how your content sounds when read by text-to-speech. Ensure facts and data are accurate as they will be read verbatim. Keep speakable sections under 30 seconds of read time.

Content Optimization for Voice Readout

Write in active voice. Use short sentences. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms unless widely known. Spell out numbers under 10. Use simple punctuation. Avoid parenthetical statements and asides. Ensure the content flows naturally when read aloud without visual context.

Conclusion

Speakable schema provides a direct channel for voice assistants to find and read your content. Implement it on pages with clear concise answers to common questions to increase your visibility in voice search results.