Understanding SEO for therapists

If your website and relevant social media channels do not appear easily when potential clients do a Google search for your services, then this will be an advantage for your main competitors. Ideally, you want your business page to be situated on the first page of a search engine result page (SERP). Very few people look beyond that first page of information when looking for their desired information or business.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) for therapists should be one of the primary methods used to make your business more visible on the internet, and should be the backbone of your digital marketing strategy. By optimizing your website, you are statistically more likely to become more visible, and in turn, have a higher chance of attracting new clients.

How does SEO work?

SEO is one of, if not the most effective, tools a business can incorporate to increase their online visibility and subsequently, their client conversion rate. An SEO strategy works by bringing together several components of your marketing strategy to boost your businesses presence on the first page of a search engine search.

When someone searches for a private therapist, there are certain keywords and phrases we might expect them to use. If your website is utilising all of the tools available to you, such as your use of the key words, website speed, technical SEO, on page SEO, and great content, then we can expect the website to show up in a prime position during a web search, thus, generating more organic traffic and clients to your business.

SEO specialists, such as our team here at Bark Street Digital, are experts at creating content that encourages web users to notice your business online. Hardly anyone scrolls beyond the first page of an internet search, which it is why it is so imperative for your business to have a strong search engine optimisation strategy in place to be ranked higher on the first page of results.

SEO for therapists: Why is it necessary?

SEO matters for therapists due to the vast amount of competition in the field. If a person is in need of a private therapist, then they will rarely look beyond the first page of search results. This means you will not stand out against your competitors and therefore lose new potential clients.

Showing as one of the top results on a search term also helps your brand awareness, more people will become aware of your name and your services. This not only could benefit them, but they might also pass on your details via word-of-mouth referrals.

Ranking high also suggests that a business is credible and can be trusted, placing confidence in potential clients that your business is well-known in the mental health and therapy industry and that you are serious about your reputation. In a field such as mental health, reputation and trustworthiness are arguably two of the most important aspects a person will look for when instructing a firm.

Components for a successful SEO campaign

Web design – A well designed website significantly improves user experience and shows that you take your online presence seriously. Site layout, structure, wording and the use of effective title tags and meta descriptions all influence how well your web page is to be perceived by the public and how well your page is ranked by search engines. Bark Street Digital have a team of talented website designers who will ensure your website ranks and converts well.

Local SEO – Local search engine optimisation works towards targeting clients in your immediate local area, even if you are a remote therapist with the ability to offer services nationally, many people still search for businesses in their towns and cities. A great use of local SEO is to setup a ‘Google My Business’ account which you can use to upload your phone number and address. This data enables your business to show up on Google map services when people search for therapists near them.

Relevant content – Quality content goes a long way, and Google is known to prioritise websites that regularly upload new and relevant content. Updating old pages and adding new pages are a good place to start, always making sure you are keeping your information relevant and informative to what people might be looking for. Pages for FAQs, blog posts and testimonials are also good options.

Keyword research – Undertaking keyword research in order to create better quality content for your website is important. Researching what people in your practice area are searching for specifically will ensure your website and content pages have a higher chance of being visible on search engine results. The best keywords to include in your content are the less competitive yet highly searched keywords.

Mobile friendly design – With most people owning a smart phone, potential clients are perhaps more likely to do an internet search on the go via their phone. Ensuring you have a responsive web design, meaning your website can adapt to whatever device is viewing it, is an important factor that Google also takes into account. Ensuring your website also loads and performs quickly, no matter the device it is viewed on, will also be a key aspect of a good SEO campaign.

Link building – Link building is an important tool in off-page SEO. Having links on your and to your website improve your businesses visibility and can effectively place you higher on Google search rankings. Link building can be achieved through social media engagement and guest blogging to name a few.

How Bark Street Digital can assist

Hiring a professional SEO firm such as Bark Street Digital can help you advance your therapy business in many different ways. We can use our expertise to get your website and information on your services reach the right audience, allowing you the extra time to work on other business activities.

Google is always updating and changing how it works, so an SEO professional will best serve you in keeping you on top of the updates. Our team have significant experience in providing SEO for therapists and we are confident we will be able to help you in your legal marketing efforts.

Some of the main services we are able to offer include, a full SEO audit, keyword research, SEO content writing, social media management, website design and development and email marketing.

If you are interested in any of the SEO services we have to offer your therapy business, then please have a browse on our website. We are able to offer bespoke packages to suit the individual needs of each business we work with, so you can be assured we are fully committed to improving your outreach in your specialised industry.

For more information on what we have to offer your business, or for a free initial chat, then please contact us via the online forms on our website or email our Director at stacey@barkstreetdigital.co.uk.