Conversational Search in 2025: What Brands Need to Know

Google Search Live is here. 'Tell me about' searches surged 70%; 'How do I' hit an all-time high. Here's how to stay visible in voice and visual search.

Search is no longer just text in a box. Google's Year in Search 2025 reports that "Tell me about…" searches increased 70% year-over-year, and "How do I…" queries hit an all-time high with a 25% increase. Search Live makes search a real-time conversation—voice, camera, and follow-up questions in one flow. For brands investing in web development and digital marketing , staying visible means optimising for how people actually search now. What Search Live Changes Search Live enables real-time voice conversations with an AI assistant through the Google app. Users can ask questions aloud and use their phone's camera to show the AI what they're looking at—troubleshooting, identifying items, planning trips. The AI uses "query fan-out" to conduct multiple related searches alongside your specific query, providing more comprehensive responses. Rich displays include place cards, ratings, and shoppable product cards with real-time pricing. How to Adapt Content and Tech Structure content with clear, concise answers—bullet points, numbered lists, 40–50 word paragraphs—for featured snippets and voice readouts. Optimise your Google Business Profile for local voice queries ("coffee shops near me").