One answer, no list of links
Assistants read a single response. That means the competition is not for a position but for the whole surface, and near-misses receive nothing at all.
Write to be spoken
Aim for 25-40 words, one clause per idea, no parentheses, no symbols, and no phrases that only make sense visually such as 'see the table below'.
Target conversational phrasing
Spoken queries are longer and question-shaped. Use natural phrasings as headings - 'how much does X cost' rather than 'X pricing' - and answer in the same register.
Use speakable and standard markup
Speakable specification, FAQPage, and clean semantic HTML help assistants locate the exact span intended for reading aloud.
Local intent is disproportionate
A large share of assistant queries are local. Accurate business hours, address, phone, and service-area data across your site and profiles decide those answers more than any content change.
Test out loud
Read your answer block aloud. If you stumble, run out of breath, or need to look at the screen to make sense of it, it will not be selected.