A person’s mental health journey comes with many ups and downs, and having a professional to guide them can help them navigate those challenges. As a therapist, you can provide life-changing support and treatment for people. But that doesn’t mean you should assume that people will simply find you through luck or the right circumstances. It’s important to utilize search engine optimization strategies.
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of getting your site to rank high on search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords. SEO for therapists can help your site get in front of the people who can benefit from your care, leading to an increase in traffic, engagement and patient acquisition.
There’s a misconception about SEO that once you make the correct changes to your content and site that the algorithm is looking for, then you don’t need to think about it any longer. However, SEO requires continuous strategizing and tracking to get you the results you’re looking for.
We’ll guide you through all aspects of SEO with tips for therapists that BURG+CO. can help you put into action.
Identifying SEO keywords for therapists
SEO keywords refer to the exact words that people inquire about on a search engine. By figuring out which keywords work best for your demographic, and which have high search volume, you can connect your treatment to relevant concerns or questions. For example, a person might be searching keywords like “depression self-care” or “choosing the right therapist.”
Here are a couple of tips to test out for keyword research:
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Focus on long-tail keywords
Some people search for broad keywords related to mental health, such as “depression symptoms” and “anxiety tips.” However, you want to be as niche as possible so that your site can attract qualified leads who have specific concerns. That’s why you should incorporate long-tail keywords (three or more words) across your site, content and Google Business Profile. Here are some examples:
- Preventing burnout from anxiety
- Depression is impacting my relationships
- When should I seek a diagnosis?
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See what keywords your competition is using
SEO can help you gain a competitive edge, especially when you’re considering what keywords other therapists are targeting. By examining the keywords others in your industry are using, you can both align your strategy with relevant keywords and discover untapped keywords that can set your practice apart.
Local SEO keywords for therapists
People often turn to the healthcare resources in their immediate area because they want to minimize their commuting time while maximizing convenience. Local SEO strategies help you show up on the SERPs for people in the areas that you serve, increasing your credibility, reputation and visibility in Google Maps.
Local SEO tips for therapists include:
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Optimize your Google Business Profiles
Your Google Business Profile gives you greater control over how your practice is presented across SERPs and Maps to increase visibility to your surrounding communities. After you claim and verify your GBP, you can optimize your GBP to increase click-through rates by:
- Replying to all reviews
- Using the “Posts” feature to keep people updated on changes
- Adding high-quality photos and videos
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Utilize online directories
People want to see all of their options as easily as possible. Even though the Google Business Profile listings are helpful, there are still many other types of online directories that help people to make a choice as a customer or patient. Be sure that you’re listed on a variety of directories with updated information and consistent NAP (name, address, phone number). Examples include Yelp and Better Business Bureau.
On-page SEO strategies
How your site is structured and optimized can impact both the opinion of potential patients and how you’re perceived by the search engine algorithms. On-page SEO refers to the factors that impact your user experience as well as your rankings on SERPs, such as internal linking and meta descriptions.
Here are on-page SEO strategies for therapists:
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Optimize meta titles and descriptions
The meta title is how your site’s page is titled on a SERP. A meta description is the summary text in the search result that gives readers and algorithms an understanding of what the page is about and the value it can provide. You can optimize these brief pieces of content with targeted keywords and attention-grabbing phrases.
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Prioritize usability and accessibility on your site
If you don’t have a quality user experience, it reflects poorly on your SEO performance as well as your reputation and engagement from patients. Be sure that people can navigate your site easily to find the information they need with:
- Simple navigation
- Working links
- Mobile-friendly design
Want to attract new patients to your website with SEO for therapists? BURG+CO. can help
At BURG+CO., we want to be by your side as you guide people along their mental health journey. We can help you strategize and implement SEO strategies that are designed to get you the results you’re looking for, from Google Business Profile optimization to creating quality content with the right meta descriptions.
Our team has years of experience in helping healthcare brands improve their digital presence to attract new patients and retain existing ones. If you’re looking to perform better in search engine results and attract more potential patients to your site, we’re ready to talk to you to see how we can help.
Contact our team today for more information about digital marketing or to schedule a complimentary consultation.
