Content Archives - Simplified SEO Consulting

The SEO Pitfall: Navigating Professional Jargon on Your Private Practice Website

Do you struggle with creating terminology that speaks to your ideal client in simple terms to help them understand your content? You probably tend to write your content the way you learned it and want to be sure you use the correct terminology when writing about it and placing it on your website. However, this can sometimes be difficult for users to understand. When your ideal client is on your website they’re probably looking for a service to help them and finding difficult-to-read content may make them leave.

As a therapy practice, providing online content can be useful for finding your ideal client. Having content that provides information on your services and answers questions that users may have can be helpful in generating leads for future clients. Your online content provides a valuable resource for users and having user-friendly content that is easy to read will mean they will stay on your website for longer, reducing bounce rates, engage with your content, and be more likely to share which in turn signals to search engines that your content is valuable and relevant.

The Drawbacks of Using Professional Jargon

Professional jargon refers to specialized language or terminology used within a particular industry, field, or profession that may not be easily understood by those who are not familiar with that specific domain. Terms in the mental health field such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Schema, Transference, and Grounding Techniques are all terms that may require further explanation to someone who is not familiar with them.

When using professional jargon, it can have negative impacts on your website’s SEO. Using too much professional jargon on your therapist’s website can confuse people as well as search engines. Using too many terms that are hard to understand can make it hard for both visitors and search engines to understand your content, leading to fewer people finding your website and getting the help they need. As for user readability, when a website has a lot of these technical terms, it can be like reading a puzzle. It makes it hard to understand and takes a lot of effort. This can make people give up and leave the website because they want something that’s easy to understand and feels friendly, which is what you prefer your website to be.

SEO Implications of Using Professional Jargon

Adding clear and concise language on your website and in your content will help search engines understand your content and its relevance to those searching for certain services. By providing clear and accessible content on your website, search engines will be able to accurately understand what users are searching for and direct them to your website.

Ranking with jargon-heavy content creates many significant SEO challenges. Such content on your website can confuse search engines, making it difficult for them to understand what the page is about and how relevant it is to users’ searches. This leads to lower visibility in search results because search engines will typically prioritize content that matches user intent and is easy to understand.

Additionally, jargon-heavy content tends to have higher bounce rates as users, confronted with unfamiliar terminology, might leave the page quickly, sending negative signals to search engines about the content’s quality and relevance. To overcome these challenges, it’s important to create a balance between using specialized language from your profession where appropriate and providing clear explanations to ensure both search engines and users can comprehend and engage with the content effectively.

User Experience Concerns

Remember, when a user has a good experience on your website that’s a good thing! But, using too many complicated words and phrases in their content can make it hard for people to understand what a website is saying. When people can’t understand, they’re more likely to leave the website and not find the information they need.

When a website has content that is easy to read, more people will want to stay and learn from it. If it’s hard to read because of things like jargon or confusing sentences, people might get frustrated and leave. So, using simple words and making the content easy to read can help keep visitors interested and engaged.

Writing Clear Content

To make sure people can understand your website, it’s important to find any complicated words or phrases that might confuse them. You can replace these tricky words with simpler ones that everyone knows, so your message gets across more easily and is understandable to those seeking your services.

While it’s good to make your website easy to understand, you also want to show that you know a lot about your field. So, when you’re simplifying those difficult words, try to do it in a way that still shows you’re an expert and have authority over the subject. This helps people trust what you’re saying while making sure they can follow along without any confusion.

Finding the right balance between using important words that everyone should know and using complicated words that might confuse people can be tricky. You want to make sure your message is clear and easy to understand, but at the same time, you don’t want to leave out important terms that experts in your field use. So, it’s like walking on a tightrope – you need to include the important stuff without making things too difficult for your readers.

Tools to Identify Jargon

A few tools that can be used when identifying professional jargon in your content are:

Hemingway Editor: This tool highlights complex sentences and suggests simpler alternatives, making it easier to identify and replace jargon.
Grammarly: This writing assistant tool can point out jargon and offer alternative word choices for clearer communication.
Readability Score Tools: Tools like Yoast SEO (for WordPress users) or Readable can provide readability scores for your content and flag sentences that might be too complex or use jargon.

Conclusion

Creating clear and jargon-free content is crucial for a successful therapist website, as it enhances both user engagement and SEO performance. While it’s understandable that you might want to use industry-specific terms, overloading your content with jargon can turn away readers and keep them from comprehending your content. Your goal is to provide information in a way that’s accessible and inviting to your ideal clients.

Remember, your online content serves as a great resource, attracting potential clients and generating leads for your practice. By prioritizing user-friendly content, you can encourage longer website visits, reduced bounce rates, active user engagement, and even content sharing, all of which send positive signals to search engines about your content’s relevance and value.

If you find it challenging to simplify technical language while maintaining your expertise, remember that striking this balance is achievable. Your expertise remains intact even with clear language. Consider seeking feedback from non-experts to ensure your content is easily understandable. The tools mentioned, like Hemingway Editor, Grammarly, and readability score tools, can be your allies in identifying and rectifying jargon-heavy content. Keep in mind that your goal is to connect with your audience, and clear, accessible content is your best tool for achieving that. As you continue to improve your website’s content, you’re enhancing the experience for both your visitors and search engines, ultimately driving the success of your therapy practice.

Book Your SEO Consultation With Simplified SEO Consulting

Join Simplified SEO Consulting to help with your rankings and work to improve your content! Our expert team is dedicated to teaching you the ins and outs of SEO, empowering your website to rank higher and attract your ideal clients through natural traffic. With our guidance, your practice will receive calls from the right clients interested in working with you and your services. Begin your SEO journey with us by following these three easy steps:

Book your SEO consultation
Meet with one of our skilled SEO specialists
Begin creating content on your website that’s easy to read for both users and search engines!

Other Services Offered With Simplified SEO Consulting

Apart from assisting with your website’s SEO, our team offers support in both Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses, tailored to optimize your search engine rankings and attract your ideal clients. Additionally, we present a 12-week Done With You Intensive Program for comprehensive assistance. Don’t forget to check out our blog for more invaluable tips and guides on SEO!

About The Author

At Simplified SEO Consulting, Brianna serves as a Mental Health SEO Specialist, who enjoys optimizing client websites and engaging with them to accomplish their private practice SEO goals. Her enthusiasm lies in motivating clients to delve into their own SEO and she takes pride in imparting a clear understanding of the SEO process. Brianna’s foremost concern is to ensure that clients not only enjoy their SEO journey but also gain the confidence to independently work on their websites and witness a significant boost in rankings!

If you require additional assistance, feel free to schedule a consultation with our consulting team to explore how we can assist you.

September 14, 2023/0 Comments/by Brianna Joplin

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

LinkedIn: Your SEO Secret Tool

In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of social media platforms, LinkedIn stands out as a unique and powerful tool that goes beyond mere networking. While it’s commonly known as the go-to platform for professionals seeking job opportunities or building a business network, its potential extends far beyond that. Here at Simplified SEO Consulting, we know how important being active on a social media platform can influence your SEO. In this digital age, where personal branding and search engine optimization (SEO) are essential for success, LinkedIn emerges as your secret tool for nurturing both aspects.

The Power of Personal Branding on LinkedIn

Your personal brand is the story you tell about yourself, the values you stand by, and the expertise you offer. In a professional context, personal branding is a strategic effort to establish a distinct and authentic identity that sets you apart. LinkedIn provides an ideal platform to cultivate and showcase your personal brand.

Optimized Profile:

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital business card. Ensure that it’s complete, professional, and optimized with keywords that relate to your industry. Craft a compelling headline that focuses on your expertise and invites others in your craft to reach out to you. Utilize relevant keywords throughout your profile to enhance your visibility in both LinkedIn searches and external search engines.

Engaging Content Sharing:

LinkedIn is more than a platform for connecting with others in your field, it is a place to share ideas as well. Use this to your advantage by sharing insightful articles, industry news, and original content that highlights your expertise. Regular posting demonstrates your commitment to your brand and positions you to be seen as someone well-regarded in your field.

Networking and Engagement:

Expand your network strategically. Connect with professionals in your industry and engage meaningfully by commenting on their posts and sharing valuable insights. Meaningful interactions and discussions promote connections, expand your reach, and amplify your personal brand.

Recommendations and Endorsements:

Recommendations and endorsements from colleagues, clients, and peers can enhance your credibility and character. They provide a personal touch to your brand and can significantly enhance your professional reputation.

Harnessing LinkedIn for SEO Advantages

LinkedIn is not only a branding powerhouse; it also plays a pivotal role in boosting your online presence through SEO. The platform’s influence on search engine visibility plays a huge role in what others see. LinkedIn profiles often rank high in search engine results, especially for personal name searches. By optimizing your profile with relevant keywords you can significantly shape what people find when they search for you. This also sets you up for backlink opportunities. Your LinkedIn profile serves as a valuable backlink to your personal website or blog. Include these links strategically to enhance your own website’s SEO. Every post you share on LinkedIn has the potential to rank on search engines. If you strategically place keywords that relate to the topics you discuss, it can affect your ranking. Be careful in putting too many keywords in one area though as Google frowns upon keyword stuffing.

LinkedIn’s publishing platform adds another layer to its SEO potential. You can create long-form content directly on the platform. Writing and publishing articles that showcase your knowledge and insight is important, not only for the potential to rank on search engines but to attract a broader audience. Even seemingly minor elements can hold weight on LinkedIn. Customizing your profile name and headline with relevant keywords isn’t just beneficial in getting your name on the platform. This optimization can influence search engine results in your favor and can amplify the impact of your online presence.

Best Practices for Leveraging LinkedIn for Personal Branding & SEO

When it comes to leveraging LinkedIn for your SEO and personal branding, there are some best practices that should be adhered to. Consistency stands as one of the many best practices that should be followed. Provide consistency across your LinkedIn profile and other online platforms. Use the same professional photo, consistent headlines, and accurate information to establish a cohesive online identity.

Embrace the idea of quality over quantity. Focus on creating and sharing high-quality content that reflects your expertise. Quality content generates engagement and encourages sharing, which contributes to your SEO efforts. Engaging with your audience is also essential to SEO efforts. Making an effort to interact with your core audience can create meaningful interactions and enhance your content’s reach organically. Utilizing media is another best practice to follow. Incorporating various types of media such as videos, presentations, and infographics into your profile and posts is vital. It can enhance engagement and help get you ranking in search results. A final best practice to keep in mind is updating regularly. Keep your profile up to date with your latest accomplishments, skills, and projects. Consistent updates allow others to see how you have grown in your career and expertise.

Closing Thoughts

In a digital landscape where personal branding and SEO are entangled, LinkedIn emerges as a secret tool that empowers professionals to shape their online presence. By strategically curating your personal brand and optimizing your LinkedIn presence for SEO, you unlock endless possibilities to grow. The potential for expanded professional connections, enhanced industry authority, and increased visibility on search engines are just some of the advantages of implementing SEO into your LinkedIn that can benefit your business. Embrace LinkedIn’s capabilities and it will fuel your personal and professional growth in this digital age.

Want to Learn More About How to Utilize LinkedIn for SEO?

If the idea of trying to incorporate SEO into your LinkedIn or any social media platform makes you weary, our team is happy to help. We have dedicated SEO specialists who can provide the support you need to be a successful business. You can begin your journey with Simplified SEO Consulting by following the steps below:

Schedule a consultation with us to improve your SEO
Meet with our passionate SEO team
Utilize your LinkedIn to grow your business!

Other SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

If you are interested in learning more about SEO and all it encompasses, we offer more than just SEO services tailored to social media. We provide a number of other services including a 12-week training, DIY online SEO courses, and small group intensives. If you have some SEO experience and want to get started working with our experienced team members our Done-for-You SEO Program may be right for you. Don’t wait to start your SEO journey!

About the Author

Christian Cevallos is a Mental Health SEO Specialist who has a background in journalism, psychology, and digital media which gives him a unique perspective when it comes to SEO, the mental health field, and much more. Christian has a dedication to helping others whether through his previous experience or with his knowledge of social media and ever-changing trends. Beyond his expertise in the fields mentioned before, Christian approaches any work, client, or challenge with empathy and understanding, while also recognizing the importance of creating an environment where ideas and people can thrive.

September 7, 2023/0 Comments/by Christian Cevallos

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

SEO and Storybrand: Compelling Narratives for Higher Search Rankings

In the rapidly evolving world of digital marketing, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and storytelling have emerged as two pillars of successful brand promotion. While SEO helps improve a website’s visibility on search engines, storytelling captivates audiences. It engages them emotionally and helps build relationships between your brand and its customers.

So, what happens when we combine the power of SEO with effective storytelling? The answer is simple – there is potential to create compelling narratives that will help your website gain higher search rankings. This can be particularly beneficial for therapists. Since there is a great deal of competition in the therapeutic space, having an effective SEO-storytelling strategy can help therapists stand out from the crowd and rank high on search engine results pages.

This blog will delve deep into how the principles of Storybrand can be used to enhance SEO efforts, leading to improved Google rankings for therapists.

The Foundation of Storybrand

Storybrand is a framework that was created by Donald Miller. It utilizes the power of storytelling to create compelling brand narratives. The framework contains the components of character, problem, guide, plan, call to action and success. Let’s take a closer look at these core components of Storybrand and see how they can be used to improve SEO rankings for therapists on Google.

Character: The Hero

The first component in the Storybrand framework is the character or hero, which in this case would represent your client. The character is often depicted as someone who is struggling with a problem. But by the end of their journey, they have found a solution and experienced success. So, they are the hero of the story.

When using SEO with a storybrand approach, therapists can utilize the narrative that their client is the hero of the story. This helps to captivate and engage their target audience. Which can lead to longer web visits, more page views, and higher rankings on search engines.

Problem: The Conflict

The next component of Storybrand is the problem or conflict that the character faces. You could even paint the problem as a villian the character must defeat. This helps to create a sense of urgency and helps the audience feel seen. But also they feel the need to act and overcome the problem. This can represent any struggles, challenges, or obstacles that your client may encounter on their therapeutic journey.

For example, it could be anything from struggling with anxiety and depression to relationship issues. By recognizing and acknowledging the problem, the potential client can more easily relate to the story and see how therapy could help them. This can benefit your SEO as a therapist. You can craft compelling stories that target keywords relevant to your therapeutic practice and use them to rank higher on Google.

Guide: The Mentor

This is the part where you come into the story. As the therapist, you serve as the guide who helps the character along their journey. Showing them that there is a better solution to their problem and helping them find it. You are the mentor of the story, providing support and insight into how they can make positive changes in their lives for long-term success.

This role plays into SEO as well. Through your stories, you can demonstrate that you are an expert in the field of therapy and can provide valuable guidance to potential clients. This helps to create trust and build credibility with search engines, which can lead to higher rankings on Google. It shows Google you’re an expert on the topic and that you are a reliable source of information. But also does this in an emotion-driven way that resonates with potential clients.

Plan: The Action Plan

As your role as the guide in this story, you can provide the character with a plan. This could be anything from creating a roadmap for recovery to offering advice on how to make positive changes in their life. The plan should address the problem and offer solutions that will lead to success.

With an effective SEO and storybrand strategy, you can use this concept to craft stories that target keywords relevant to your therapeutic practice. This story will not only help boost your rankings on Google but will also help to engage and captivate potential clients. It shows them that you have the knowledge, expertise, and experience to help them make positive changes in their life.

Call To Action: The Invitation

Once they have the plan, it’s time to invite them to take action. This is where the potential client, or also known as the hero of this story, has decided to trust in the mentor and take their advice. This is where you can call for them to act on your plan by inviting them to contact you through email, book a session, or follow your social media accounts.

For SEO purposes, this is where you have a call to action that links to your website and tells your hero to click and learn more. It also tells them how to progress their journey with you, which can help to draw in potential clients. You can also use this to track the results of your storybrand and SEO efforts by tracking conversions from the call to action. This metrics will show you how effective your stories are in engaging potential clients and where you need to make improvements.

Success: The Achievement

For the finale of this story, it’s important to demonstrate the success of your hero. This could be anything from overcoming their problem and achieving a better life or finding a solution to their issue. It should show that they have found success through the guidance of yourself as the mentor and that you were able to help them achieve their goals.

For SEO purposes, this is where you can highlight the success of your hero. This can look like customer reviews, or testimonials from clients who have experienced success from your help. This can help to boost your credibility with not only potential clients but also with search engines. It shows them that you are an expert in the field and that your brand can offer valuable results for those who choose to work with you.

Staying Ahead in Therapist SEO

The world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is ever-evolving. Google’s algorithms, the complex systems used to retrieve data from its search index and instantly deliver the best possible results for a query, are continually updated. This is where the importance of an adaptive SEO strategy comes in.

Adapting an SEO strategy isn’t a one-and-done task. It is a continuous process. One that you have to keep testing, tracking, and adjusting. You have to learn and understand how search engines like Google work. But more importantly, how they’re constantly changing. This involves staying up-to-date with the latest SEO news and Google updates. It also means testing out different SEO techniques, and constantly adjusting your SEO strategy based on the results. For example, trying out storybrand as a new SEO strategy to help boost your rankings and draw in potential clients.

For Therapists, This Could Involve Experimenting.

Not only with different keywords but also with on-page optimization techniques, or backlink strategies. This can help you see what works best for helping your website and pages rank on Google. Using tools like Google Analytics can provide valuable insights into how well your SEO efforts are performing and where improvements can be made.

However, while SEO is critical, it’s also important not to lose sight of the potential client and their journey. Remember, your end goal isn’t just to rank high on Google, but to attract and engage potential clients. Combining the Storybrand framework with a dynamic SEO strategy, you can ensure that you’re not just reaching your target audience but also connecting with them in a meaningful way. Which leads to higher conversion rates and client satisfaction.

Merging SEO and StoryBrand: A Powerful Combination for Therapists

The relationship that SEO and Storybrand share is a powerful one. By merging these two approaches, you can create content that not only resonates with your potential clients but show Google that you’re an expert in the field. This can be achieved by taking components of SEO like keywords and content creation and aligning them with the characters, problems, and solutions presented in your story.

Selecting Your Keywords

When thinking about and creating your Storybrand narrative, think about what your potential clients are facing and what keywords they may be using when searching for help. Consider what solutions would be best for them and how you, as the guide in this story, can help. Then align your keywords you are targeting with the story. This can help you create a narrative that is both meaningful to potential clients and search engine friendly.

Creating Your Content

The goal of Storybrand is creating a story that is engaging and value-driven. One that your potential clients can see themselves in and learn from. Your story should address their problem and how you can help. It should also be clear, concise, and easy to comprehend.

By creating content that is both search engine friendly and flows with the narrative of your story, it will make it easier for potential clients to follow. But it will also be more likely to show up in search results. Additionally, focusing on high-value keywords within your content can help to boost your SEO by enticing potential clients to click on the link.

Include On-Page Optimization

The narrative doesn’t stop at the content on the page. To maximize your SEO efforts, you need to ensure that all elements of your website are optimized for search engines. This can include meta titles and descriptions, headers, image captions, and more. Injecting storytelling elements into these components can help make them more meaningful and search engine friendly.

Each page should tell a part of your story, guiding potential clients through their journey and encouraging them to take the next step. For example, meta titles and descriptions should address the problem, solutions, and how you can help. Headers should be structured to flow with the narrative instead of merely listing topics. This ensures that your potential clients understand what they are reading about and how it relates to them.

Gain Backlinks

Backlinks are gold when it comes to therapist SEO. They are a powerful tool for driving more traffic to your website and boosting your rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs). To gain backlinks, you’ll need to create content that is shareable and resonates with people. And since storytelling can be an incredibly powerful way of engaging potential clients, it makes sense to leverage the Storybrand framework.

If a client or colleague reads your content and finds it particularly helpful or interesting, they may share it with their own networks. This would give you a backlink. Or otherwise known as a link from another website that links to yours. Storybrand can help make this process easier by creating content that resonates with potential clients or colleagues who might be willing to link to your website.

Think About User Experience

One of the main points of the Storybrand framework is creating a cohesive experience for the reader. This means that it isn’t just about crafting great content, but ensuring that each page provides value to the user’s journey. Your therapy website may do well with just implementing SEO, but Storybrand can help take your website to the next level.

Potential clients want to feel like they are being heard, which is why it’s so important for therapists to prioritize their experience when designing and optimizing their website. This could involve ensuring the website is easy to navigate, or adding visuals that tell a story. It can also include breaking up large chunks of text with images or videos. All these elements help create a cohesive narrative experience for potential clients as they click through your webpages which keeps them engaged and interested in what you have to offer.

Don’t Ignore Technical SEO

What happens when a movie buffers or the story ends on a cliffhanger? Most people don’t stick around to watch it. The same goes for your website pages. If the user experience is hindered by technical issues, potential clients are likely to leave and not come back anytime soon.

Technical SEO helps ensure that visitors have a smooth and uninterrupted experience when visiting your website pages. This could involve making sure your page loads quickly, that there are no broken links, or other technical issues can detract from the story you’re trying to tell. Because it can negatively impact your SEO ranking but also disrupt the user experience. Checkin in on your technical SEO on a regular basis to make sure your website is running as it should.

Therapist SEO Takes Time and Dedication.

As with any story collection or on going series, therapist SEO takes work and dedication. It also takes time. Making SEO a long-term strategy and journey that can help ensure that you continuously make progress towards gaining more website traffic and potential clients. Yet it might take some time before you start seeing results.

However, by utilizing SEO and Storybrand together, you can create a strategy that is both meaningful and engaging to potential clients. This could help to boost your website rankings, engagement rates, and even backlinks. And most importantly, it will help ensure that the story you tell resonates with those who need it the most.

We Can Help You Write Your Narrative With SEO and Storybrand!

At Simplified SEO Consulting, we understand the power of storytelling and SEO. So, if you’re struggling to create a narrative-driven therapy website that is SEO friendly, we can help. Our team of experts will work with you to craft an SEO strategy and content that capitalizes on the Storybrand framework. We believe storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to engage potential clients and build trust. No matter if you’re a beginner or already have a well-optimized website but require help with content creation, we have the ideal solution for you. By investing in your website, you’re investing in the future of your practice. Curious about SEO and want to learn for yourself? Sign up for our SEO Course for Therapists and learn how to use the power of content and SEO to reach more clients and grow your practice! Or want to outsource it? Check out our SEO Consulting packages and schedule your consult today! Ready to get started?

Please schedule your consult today!
Learn about our team
Create a website that resonates with your audience!

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

If you feel as if you are already an expert in SEO but want to see what other services we offer, know that we also provide other services. We offer options such as our 12-week training, small group intensives, and courses. Our strategy sessioncan be a great option if you need support getting started with SEO or doing a site move or redesign. These can also be helpful to find better keywords, evaluating your current SEO performance, and more. Or, if you’re ready to work with a passionate and skilled team, our Done for You Program may be a great following approach.

About the Author

Meet Lynsey, the passionate SEO Content Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting, dedicated to assisting therapists in excelling with local SEO. With a specialization in mental health topics, Lynsey creates compelling content that embodies her clients’ brand voices and attracts ideal clients to their private practices. Her expertise in copywriting empowers therapists to maximize their ROI through effective SEO marketing and storytelling, with a focus on leveraging the power of blogs. If you’re a therapist aiming to enhance your online presence and attract clients, Lynsey and the Simplified team are ready to help. Discover the benefits of SEO and Storybrand for your practice and schedule a consultation to see how Simplified can serve you!

September 5, 2023/0 Comments/by Lynsey Heskett

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

The Intersection of SEO for Mental Health Professionals and Social Media

It’s almost unheard of for anyone to not have social media or form of online presence in this day and age. It has even become essential for mental heal professionals to establish a strong online presence. Not only on search engines but on social media. The internet has completely changed the way people look for information and connect with services. Even mental health support. As a therapist, especially one with their own private practice, it’s crucial to recognize the significance of maintaining an active and visible online presence. This way you are able to reach those who may be in need of your expertise.

As a mental health professional, having a large online presence has a lot of benefits. It allows you to reach your ideal clients that don’t necessarily live within walking or driving distance. Now, how do you enhance your online presence during this time when individuals often turn to the internet for information and resources? Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, can help! In this blog, we are going to talk about the intersection of social media and SEO for mental heal professionals.

How SEO Can Improve Your Rankings and Social Media Visibility

Whenever you have a question about something, where do you turn? More than likely it’s to Google or another search engine of your choice. Just like you, that’s what your potential and ideal clients do, too! That’s why having a large online presence is beneficial as a mental health provider. You want your ideal client to type in keywords you rank for and your website to pop up with the answers they are looking for. Or, even enough to support them until they can see you for therapy.

This Can Be The Same Way For Social Media!

Social media is a great opportunity to connect with potential clients and build meaningful relationships. Your platforms allow you to share valuable content such as information about the types of therapy that you offer or mental health buzzwords that are popular in mainstream media. This allows you to engage in conversations, and establish yourself as a trusted authority in your field. All of the content that you post can even reach individuals who are not actively seeking therapy but could still benefit from your posts.

Using Social Media as a Mental Health Provider

You may be thinking “But there are so many options! Which platform should I choose? Or which platform is better for what?” Those are great questions to ask! Take into consideration the goal for the platform and your audience.

Facebook

Facebook is a platform that allows you access to a diverse range of users and to users far and wide. Making a profile for you as a provider or your practice isn’t too complicated and it allows you to create groups and events. This platform can make it easier for you to build up your community of clients, clinicians, and even mental health advocates in your area.

Instagram

This platform is mostly known for its graphics and now reels (the internet has really evolved, hasn’t it?). It’s ideal for sharing content that is engaging and often targets a younger audience. Not quite Tiktok young, but close. On this platform, you will see inspirational quotes, reels about what a day at a therapist’s office looks like, cute infographics, etc. It helps to show off your or your clinic’s personality while also providing content that is engaging and informational. Or just fun!

TikTok

This platform is a newer one that professionals have been joining. Whether it’s to weigh in on weird trends or to make videos giving information about various topics. For example, ADHD TikTok is a huge part of the mental health side of Tiktok where mental health providers talk about symptoms, etc. It not only targets a younger audience but allows for your practice to make informational videos and reach many potential clients.

LinkedIn is more for connecting with professionals and networking. It can be valuable for mental health professionals to connect with colleagues, share industry insights, and establish professional credibility. It’s also a great place to share blogs, published articles, or even research papers you have written to establish credibility.

Incorporating SEO techniques on social media platforms

As you would for your website, you can implement SEOtechniques with your social media. You can use your keyword research to search for relevant hashtags and keywords to use for your social media posts. To work smarter and not harder, you can even use some of the keywords that you use for your website! It will help increase your visibility so that your content will reach more people.

Another way to implement SEO practices is to optimize your posts as you would your website. Ensure your content is visually appealing but that it also showcases your expertise, services, and important information. Making sure that your profile, bio, and any other content area that can be optimized have targeted keywords in it. This also includes when you are creating posts. Use relevant keywords in your captions and even your hashtags.

User Reviews

As a therapist or practice owner, you have probably encouraged or asked a client to leave a review. Maybe not quite outright but maybe subtly. Through social media, you can encourage your followers to share their experiences at your clinic, a time when they attended therapy with you as their therapist, etc. With users sharing their positive feedback, it can boost your credibility and attract more potential clients.

Another way to gain engagement is to ask your followers to share their experiences in general of times they’ve gone to therapy and it was great or a time when their therapist made them feel validated. Then thanking those who respond whether it’s a positive review or just with an experience can foster a positive relationship within this community.

Integrating SEO and Social Media

To maximize your online presence as a mental health professional, it’s important to implement your SEO strategies on both your website and social media. By integrating these two powerful marketing tools, you can significantly enhance your visibility, engage with a wider audience, and attract more potential clients. Here are some ways you can go about that!

Integrating Your Keywords and Optimization

Making sure your SEO strategies are the same on both your websites and social media when it comes to your keywords and content optimization is important. It allows your online presence to appear cohesive and allows your SEO efforts to be effective across the board. By identifying keywords that resonate with your target audience and incorporating them in not only your website’s copy and blogs but also your social media posts. By consistently optimizing your content for search engines like Google, you increase the likelihood of being discovered by individuals seeking mental health services.

Promoting Between Your Website and Social Media

Promoting your content on both your social media accounts and your website can be beneficial. It can help them complement and reinforce each other but also your credibility. You can promote your blog posts or resources from your website on your social media and then encourage your followers to visit your website for more information. But also to explore your services or learn more about the topic of the post! By doing this, you’re not only driving traffic to your website and social media but strengthening your branding.

Use Social Media to Your Advantage

Social media allows you to see what your audience’s preferences are, their behaviors, and even their engagement patterns! For example, Meta Business Suite even analyzes your audience’s patterns and will tell you when to schedule posts based on user engagement. Using this data to your advantage will help you learn more about your ideal clients and target them. From what type of content they engage with and what platforms they prefer. By integrating this information with your SEO strategy, you can target your website’s content, keywords, and optimization to better resonate with your ideal clients.

Collaborate with Other Professionals

The best part of having an online presence is the ability to make connections with other professionals in your industry or industries that work alongside yours. By collaborating with other mental health providers and professionals, you can increase your reach online and your credibility. Seeking out opportunities for collaborations, such as guest blogging or participating in podcast interviews with other experts in the mental health field. These collaborations can introduce you and your brand to a new audience, drive traffic to your website, and enhance your reputation. Additionally, professionals in complementary fields can provide valuable backlinks to your website, which can improve your SEO rankings.

Let Us Help You With SEO For Mental Health

At Simplified SEO Consulting, we are dedicated to supporting mental health professionals like you in optimizing your online presence and reaching your ideal clients. Our team of experts specializes in SEO for mental health professionals. Ensuring that your website and content are effectively indexed and ranked to enhance your visibility throughout the year. To assist you on your SEO journey. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a well-optimized website but need assistance with content creation, we have the perfect solution for you. Investing in your website means investing in the future of your practice. Want to learn about SEO? Sign up for our SEO Course for Therapists and learn how to use the power of blogs and SEO to reach more clients and grow your practice! Or want to outsource it? Check out our SEO Consulting packages and schedule your consult today! Ready to get started?

Pleaseschedule your consult today!
Learn about our team
Begin reaching more clients on social media!

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

If you feel as if you are already an expert in SEO but want to see what other services we offer, know that we also provide other services. We offer options such as our 12-week training, small group intensives, and courses. Our strategy session can be a great option if you need support getting started with SEO or doing a site move or redesign. These can also be helpful to find better keywords, evaluating your current SEO performance, and more. Or, if you’re ready to work with a passionate and skilled team, our Done for You Program may be a great following approach.

About the Author:

Lynsey, an SEO Content Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting, is passionate about crafting exceptional content that embodies her clients’ brand voice and practice. With expertise in mental health-related subjects, she understands the impact of high-quality content on therapists’ search engine rankings and attracting ideal clients. Lynsey’s primary objective is to leverage her copywriting expertise to assist therapists in maximizing their ROI by harnessing the power of blogs as effective tools in SEO marketing strategies.

Schedule your consult if you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you!

July 6, 2023/0 Comments/by Lynsey Heskett

Business Tips, Content, SEO Basics

Enhancing Client Experience and Building Credibility

In the competitive landscape of private practices, professionals such as mental health practitioners, coaches, consultants, and attorneys face the challenge of attracting and retaining clients. In the digital age, content marketing has emerged as a powerful strategy to not only promote services but also enhance the client experience and build credibility. This blog post will explore the significance of blogs and service pages in content marketing for private practices, specifically in the context of mental health professions, coaches, consultants, and attorneys.

Enhancing the Client Experience through Blogs

Blogs serve as a valuable tool for private practice professionals to engage with their audience and provide them with valuable insights, education, and support. Here’s how blogs contribute to enhancing the client experience:

Education and Information:

Blogs allow practitioners to share their expertise, provide educational resources, and offer insights into various topics related to their field. By creating informative and well-researched blog posts, professionals can address common client questions, provide guidance, and share valuable information that empowers their audience.

Personal Connection:

Blogs provide an avenue for practitioners to showcase their personalities, values, and approach to their work. Sharing personal anecdotes, stories, and perspectives helps clients connect with the practitioner on a deeper level. This connection fosters trust and encourages clients to engage further with the practitioner’s services.

Emotional Support:

Clients often seek support and validation when facing challenges. Blogs offer a platform for practitioners to provide emotional support, reassurance, and encouragement through their writing. Sharing strategies, coping techniques, and stories of resilience can be comforting to clients and help them feel understood and supported.

Building Marketing and Credibility through Services Pages

Services pages are an essential component of a private practice website. These pages outline the specific services offered and provide important information to potential clients. Here’s how services pages contribute to marketing and building credibility:

Clear Service Offerings:

Services pages provide a comprehensive overview of the specific services offered by the practitioner. Clearly articulating the services, their benefits, and the target audience helps potential clients understand how the practitioner can meet their needs. This clarity enhances the marketing efforts by attracting clients who are seeking the specific services offered.

Demonstrating Expertise:

Services pages allow practitioners to highlight their expertise and showcase their qualifications, certifications, and relevant experience. Presenting this information in a concise and organized manner builds credibility and establishes the practitioner as a trusted authority in their field.

Establishing Trust:

Services pages also play a crucial role in building trust with potential clients. Including testimonials or client success stories on these pages demonstrates the practitioner’s track record of helping others. Additionally, providing transparent information about the practitioner’s background, approach, and values helps potential clients feel confident in their decision to engage with their services.

Call-to-Action:

Services pages should include a clear and compelling call-to-action that prompts potential clients to take the next step, such as scheduling a consultation or contacting the practitioner. A well-designed call-to-action helps convert website visitors into actual clients, supporting the practitioner’s marketing efforts.

Conclusion

In the world of private practices, content marketing has become an invaluable strategy to attract and retain clients. Blogs provide a platform for practitioners to educate, connect, and support their audience, enhancing the client experience and fostering long-term relationships. On the other hand, service pages play a critical role in marketing and building credibility by clearly communicating service offerings, demonstrating expertise, establishing trust, and prompting potential clients to take action. By incorporating engaging and informative blogs and well-crafted service pages into their content marketing strategy, mental health professionals, coaches, consultants, and attorneys can effectively reach their target audience, showcase their expertise, and build a strong online presence that cultivates trust and credibility among clients.

July 4, 2023/0 Comments/by Jasmine Jaquess

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

SEO for Therapists: Surviving the Summer Slump 2023

As a therapist, you may have noticed a slump in the summer months. Especially, when it comes to new clients showing interest or calling for appointments. However, there is a solution: implementing SEO strategies for your private practice. This can increase your visibility online and attract new clients year-round or reinterest past clients. In this blog post, we’ll explore how SEO works and provide tips on how to implement it effectively.

Understanding the Slump in Summer for Therapists

Therapists often experience a slump in the summer months due to various factors. These factors can range from clients going on vacation, school being out of session, or simply lower demand for therapy services. But, that doesn’t mean you should give up on marketing!

It’s important for you as a therapist to continue to market your private practice with strategic SEO tactics. You can consider factors such as algorithm updates, creating relevant content, and optimizing your website for better visibility. Doing this will help you stay ahead of the competition and stay visible to potential clients. By implementing effective SEO strategies, you as a therapist can ensure steady growth for your private practices throughout the year.

Summer Vacations and Decreased Client Interest

Shows a person at a conference. Represents how seo for therapists can even come from going to conferencing and networking.

Photo by Jaime Lopes on Unsplash

The summer season can impact the attendance of clients. Many of them take the time to go on vacations or take a break from counseling. To maintain contact and engagement with them during this period, consider alternative methods. This can be creating relevant content or using algorithms to convert new website visitors into leads.

Additionally, therapists can use this opportunity to focus on self-care and personal development. You can do this by attending conferences or workshops related to your field. These opportunities can be great for networking with other professionals. But also learning new methods for therapy services, and staying informed on the latest trends. Then you can even share content about these developments on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram.

Effect of School Being Out of Session

One way to adapt your marketing strategy during the summer is to focus on parents who are looking for therapy services for their children. School-age kids are often out of session during these months. This is a time parents may consider counseling or more intensive therapy services. You can use SEO tactics by optimizing your website for better visibility and creating content focused on this topic.

By targeting your SEO marketing strategy to target this audience, your practice can increase visibility and attract more clients. Consider optimizing your website’s content to target these potential clients. You can do this by incorporating relevant keywords and phrases. This will help you rank higher on search engine results pages. Additionally, creating new content, such as blogs, that speaks to the concerns of families during this period can convert visitors into leads.

What Strategies Can Therapists Use to Combat Summer Slump in SEO?

SEO strategies can be specific to the situation as pointed out above, but there are more general strategies you can take. Here are a few tips for therapists to consider when optimizing their private practice’s SEO during the summer:

Focus On Local SEO

Since many people will be at home more or students will be going on summer vacation, therapists should focus on local SEO. This means ensuring that you focus time on optimizing your website for local SEO searches and ensuring your website-and content-is indexed and ranking. These keywords you can be ranking for are “therapist in Arkansas” or “children’s anxiety therapist in New Hampshire”. Another way to do this is to make sure that your Google Business Profile is up to date and fully filled out.

Create Summer-Specific Content

Shows a sign that says "Difficult Roads Lead to Beautiful Destinations". Represents how seo for mental health professionals can help individuals find the help they need during the summer.

Photo by Nik on Unsplash

While your services may stay the same year-round, creating content that speaks to the unique challenges of summer can help attract new clients. Consider writing blog posts or creating social media content that focuses on topics that are unique to summer. These can be content ideas such as managing stress during summer vacation, maintaining healthy relationships with family members during extended time together, or online therapy in the summer months.

Webinars or Podcasts

Webinars and podcasts can be great ways to not only give out interesting, informative information but also to engage with your existing clients. By hosting webinars on relevant topics or participating in podcast interviews, therapists can showcase their knowledge, build credibility, and increase their online visibility. These webinars and podcasts can cover interesting topics that pertain to summer or even phenomena such as themes in movies coming out and how they can relate to therapy. Additionally, promoting these webinars or podcast episodes on your website and social media channels can generate interest and traffic to your website.

Engaging Videos

Videos or reels are almost more popular ways of dispersing information than posts. This can be a creative way for you as a therapist to address popular questions you receive in therapy, see on social media, or are topical in the summer. You can also engage with your audience by creating a Q&A video, or you can offer tidbits of therapy advice to help people through the summer. This is also a great way to increase engagement with your social media channels and attract more visitors to your website.

For example, you can think of a topic in a popular book, movie, or trend that you want to address, create a short video about it, and share it on your website as well as on social media. By addressing these popular topics, you can not only connect with your target audience more but also add value to their lives. It can engage your audience while they are binge-watching their favorite summer movies or reading all the books they saved up for the summer

Keep Consistently Blogging

Shows a person writing on their computer. Represents how seo for mental health recommends to consistently blog to help with ranking.

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

If you have read any of our blogs, you know that we absolutely recommend consistently blogging. This is because it not only establishes your expertise with Google but gives information to your established clients and potential ones. Another reason blogging can benefit you during this summer slump or slowdown is that it can create a strong online presence for your website. It is also another way to attract new clients and regain the interest of established ones! By regularly publishing informative content related to counseling and therapy, it can boost your visibility in search engine results and help you stand out from the competition.

Network With Other Professionals

Summer is a great time to network with other professionals who will be able to understand and support your business. Connecting with local professionals will allow you to increase your SEO ranking. One way is by boosting the number of backlinks pointing to your website. It can also be a great way to offer workshops or group sessions aimed at supporting families, children, or individuals who are going through a tough summer.

Guest Blogging

One way to collaborate with other professionals is to guest blog for a fellow therapist or for a popular mental health website. Writing guest blogs for popular mental health websites or inviting guest bloggers, or being one yourself, to contribute to your own blog are great ways to increase your reach. But also to attract new audiences! This can potentially boost your website’s visibility, backlinks, and SEO ranking. Think of who has a large following and would love to work with then reach out to see if they would be interested in partnering with you.

By working together, you can create informative and engaging events that attract a wider audience while also helping each other expand your reach online through. But also helping each other get backlinks and referrals that can boost your SEO ranking. It’s a win-win and is a great way to keep your business running successfully during the summer.

Let’s Work Together to Optimize Your SEO For Mental Health This Summer!

At Simplified SEO Consulting, we want to support you through this summer slump with our team of experts who have experience in SEO for mental health. We specialize in optimizing your website and content to ensure it is indexed and ranking so your ideal clients can find you this summer! We put together a series of SEO packages to help you with your SEO journey.

No matter what stage you are in, from starting out to already having a well-optimized website but needing help with creating content. By investing in your website you are also investing in your and your practice’s future. Want to learn about SEO? Sign up for our SEO Course for Therapists and learn how to use the power of blogs and SEO to reach more clients and grow your practice! Or want to outsource it? Check out our SEO Consulting packages and apply to work with us! Ready to get started?

Please apply to work with us
Learn about our team
Begin reaching more clients this summer!

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

If you feel as if you are already an expert in SEO but want to see what other services we offer, know that we also provide other services. We offer options such as our 12-week training, small group intensives, and courses. Our strategy session can be a great option if you need support getting started with SEO or doing a site move or redesign. These can also be helpful to find better keywords, evaluating your current SEO performance, and more. Or, if you’re ready to work with a passionate and skilled team, our Done for You Program may be a great following approach.

About the Author:

Lynsey is an SEO Content Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. She is driven by her passion for crafting exceptional content that embodies her clients’ distinctive brand voice and practice. With a specialization in mental health-related subjects, she recognizes the impact of high-quality content on therapists’ search engine rankings and attracting their ideal clients. Lynsey’s primary objective is to leverage her copywriting expertise to assist therapists in maximizing their return on investment, offering invaluable insights on harnessing the power of blogs as effective tools in summer SEO marketing strategies.

Apply to work with us if you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you!

June 1, 2023/0 Comments/by Lynsey Heskett

Content, SEO Tips

Why Do Blog Posts Matter so Much in SEO Marketing for Therapists?

As a private practice owner or a therapist working for a larger practice, you know having an online presence is important. With everything becoming more digitized, having a website that has up-to-date information and resources along with possibly having social media can help you reach more clients. However, having a super informational website, even with the best keywords, is insufficient. You also need content.

This is where blogging comes into play! Blogs have so much value when it comes to SEO marketing. They allow you to provide helpful, informative content that can be used as resources for your current clients but also potential ones. These blogs can also help to boost your website’s SEO ranking by helping search engines, like Google, to recognize that you are knowledgeable about your field. In this blog, we will talk more about why blog posts matter so much in SEO marketing for therapists.

What Exactly is SEO Marketing for Therapists?

SEO marketing is a way for therapists to optimize their websites and content, such as blogs and service pages, to make them rank higher on search engine result pages, think Google! Search engines have algorithms that they use to analyze websites and their content to determine what is the most relevant to search inquiries being made by users.

This is why it is important for therapists to invest in SEO marketing for their practice, or themselves. Having SEO training or having an SEO Specialist optimize your website with relevant keywords, and helpful, targeted content can make the difference in making sure your practice and services are more visible on the first few pages of the search engine’s result pages. Especially when it comes to potential clients being the ones searching for services that you provide.

Why Do Blog Posts Matter So Much in SEO Marketing For Therapists?

Blog posts are a multi-faceted SEO tool that can help establish your credibility and your visibility. Your blogs can establish your credibility and that you are an expert in your field. Having blogs on many topics that revolve around your services, questions people may ask Google or in therapy, as well as any other topics that revolve around mental health and what you are passionate about can make the difference. The difference between you being found versus another therapist.

Your blogs, whether written by you, an intern, a colleague, or a copywriter, can be written with keywords incorporated. This will help Google or another search engine to identify that your blog is relevant to what people are searching for. It will also boost your credibility for those keywords as you have service pages about them and now you are writing in-depth blogs about the topics as well.

Additionally, these blogs, putting purely SEO aside, can help potential clients find you. They can look on Google for resources about anxiety, burnout, or even being a highly sensitive person then find your blogs. When potential clients find your blog and read them, it can help build that connection between a client and therapist. One that is based on information, facts, and trust. They are using your blog as a resource to calm their fears at the same time as getting to know you as a therapist and your practice.

As a Therapist, This is What You Should Include in Your Blog Posts

Writing blogs can feel easy for some as writing can come naturally as talking about the weather, while for some it can be a challenge. No matter if writing is a struggle for you or not, there are some key elements that should always be included in SEO marketing for therapists.

Relevant Keywords

The keywords that you include in your blogs need to be relevant to what you are writing about but also to what your niche is. Otherwise, you can write about these keywords but they will not be helping you if you don’t regularly write about them or provide this service. Google will see that you know something about something but that you’re not an expert on this topic. It would prefer to show another therapist’s website that is an expert on that topic or service.

Call to Action

Have you ever read a blog by someone knowing they want you to do something as a result of reading it? That is a call to action! However, if you don’t include it in your writing, your potential client is not going to know what to do or how to go about setting up an appointment. So, more than likely, they will move on. Therefore, include a call to action in your blog! Tell them what their next step should be.

Make sure to tell them how to reach you and what the steps in the process of beginning the therapy are. Do you offer a 15-minute free consultation? Do you have a form to fill out? How do they reach you if they have questions? Include this information so your potential clients know exactly what to do when they feel inspired to do it!

Optimize Your Blog Posts

Optimization is a must. When you’re writing your blogs you can try to keep keywords and SEO in mind, but for some, the words just flow from your brain to the page. In moments like those, there is no sense in forcing yourself to add these elements. However, that doesn’t mean you let yourself off the hook afterward! Reviewing your writing and adding SEO keywords and location elements can help your blog bring a valuable SEO element to your website and content.

I mean, you are taking the time to write these blogs or outsource them, so you definitely want to make sure they are reaching the right people. You also want to make sure they are drawing these potential clients in! Having the SEO element makes sure it reaches your target audience in their search engine results and in the areas you are targeting.

How Often Should Therapists Post Blog Content?

There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It depends on multiple factors: what your goals are, where you are located, and your target audience. Plus, do you have the time? There are questions and factors you need to keep in mind. At Simplified SEO, we tell our clients that at a bare minimum, they need to write or post two blogs a month to keep their SEO maintained.

However, to increase it, it needs to be more than this. Especially, if you are wanting to increase your client load, and are in a more competitive area that is very concentrated with other therapists, and you want to be at the top of the list. In these cases, we recommend a blog or two a week.

This May Seem Crazy, But it is in fact, Doable!

For example, do you have interns? Have them write some of your blogs! Do you have a colleague that loves to write? Utilize them and their passion! If you have time, try writing some blogs in your spare time about your services, questions that come up in therapy, or something you feel potential clients need to know. But, if you don’t have time, look into outsourcing by looking into a copywriter.

I suggest these options because having and maintaining a consistent blog schedule helps Google recognize that you are an expert in this area. This then leads Google to make your website more visible when potential clients search for providers in your area. Leading them to find your blogs, your services, and ultimately, YOU!

Blog posts matter so much in SEO marketing for therapists because they ultimately help boost your SEO and help your potential clients find you. Plus, they are great resources to refer clients or even potential clients to when they have questions about topics you are an expert in! Blogging is powerful, and it being combined with SEO tactics is even more powerful. Use that power to reach your ideal clients and grow your business!

So Let’s Get Started Growing Your SEO Ranking with SEO Marketing for Therapists

At Simplified SEO Consulting, we want to support you with your blogs and SEO marketing for therapists. We put together a series of SEO packages to help you with your SEO journey. No matter what stage you are in, from starting out to already having a well-optimized website but needing help with creating content. By investing in your website you are also investing in your and your practice’s future. Want to learn about SEO? Sign up for our SEO Course for Therapists and learn how to use the power of blogs and SEO to reach more clients and grow your practice! Or want to outsource it? Check out our SEO Consulting packages here and apply to work with us! Ready to get started?

Please apply to work with us
Learn about our team
Begin utilizing the power of SEO marketing for therapists!

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

If you feel as if you have blogging handled or are outsourcing it, there are other services you can use as well! We offer options such as our 12-week training, small group intensives, and courses. Our strategy session can be a great option if you need support getting started with SEO or doing a site move or redesign. These can also be helpful to find better keywords, evaluating your current SEO performance, and more. Or, if you’re ready to work with a passionate and skilled team, our Done for You Program may be a great following approach.

About the Author:

As an SEO Content Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting, Lynsey has a passion for creating exceptional content that reflects her clients’ unique brand voice and practice. With a focus on mental health-related topics, she understands how high-quality content can improve therapists’ search engine rankings and attract their ideal clients. Lynsey’s ultimate goal is to utilize her copywriting expertise to help therapists maximize their return on investment. Through her work, she takes pride in helping therapists learn more about blogs and how they can be powerful tools in SEO marketing.

Apply to work with us if you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you!

April 6, 2023/0 Comments/by Lynsey Heskett

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips, Training

Resources for Inclusive Photos + Alt Text Examples

Resource Guide: Photo Alt Text and Title Examples + Inclusive Resources for Photos

I have been very passionate for a while on creating impactful and effective alt text, alt titles, and having inclusive and accurately representative photos. Truly, I really hate looking at a website that has stereotypical and offensive photos that don’t accurately depict people’s struggles, needs, and identity. I know it can be hard to find the right photos at times, but we still have a duty to create content on our websites that allow clients to see themselves and their experiences.

Photo Alt Text, Optimizing Photos, & Titles Examples

Within couples therapy websites there are so many keywords you can use. This is an example of how I would formulate photo text in general. The general format I am looking at is as follows:

Know that you can do 3-5 zip codes and keywords. Make sure not to over optimize or keyword stuff.

Photo Alt Text: Semi-longer photo description ( *not denoting mental health). Sentence with keyword about struggle. A sentence with keyword establishing hope. Sentence with keyword establishing next steps.

*When it comes to some websites, their policies include making sure not to negatively attribute the photo or the person in the photo to some “negative” mental health stigma. This is the rules of some websites, not necessarily ours, so make sure to read the fine print when you are getting paid or free photos from sites.

Couples Therapy Website

Alt Title: Couple holding on to each other noses touching | Marriage Counseling and Couples Therapy in Chicago, IL | EFT therapy | Relationship Therapist | 60602 |60603 |60604

Alt Text: A couple with noses touching embracing while in love. Marriage counseling and couples therapy in Chicago, IL is not a place where relationships go to die. Working with a relationship therapist means you care and want to work on your relationship. Connect emotionally once again in EFT therapy in Illinois today!

Child and Teen Therapist

Photo Alt Text: Child curled up into a ball with parent comforting them. You never want to see your child hurting. Maybe you’ve tried child therapy or therapy for teens in Tampa, Fl before and felt it wasn’t helpful, but with the right child therapist or teen therapist, it can be. We encourage you to reach out soon!

Addiction Treatment Center

Alt Title: Disabled father hugging daughter | Substance Abuse Therapy | Substance Abuse Counseling in Los Angeles, CA | Drug Abuse Counselor | 90040 | 90058 | 90201 | 90220

Alt Text: Father in wheelchair hugging smiling daughter in yellow. Our Drug abuse and addictions counselors understand how hard substance abuse is to overcome alone. Substance abuse counseling in Los Angles, CA doesn’t need to be a lonely journey. Let our team help you in substance abuse therapy soon!

Private Medical Practice

Photo Alt Title: Client talking to medical professional | Pain Doctor in Denver, CO| Pain Management Doctors | Chronic Illness Management | 80001 | 80002 | 80003

Photo Alt Text: Woman in black sweater and pink hair talking with doctor on laptop. A pain doctor in Denver, CO can help you with pain and chronic illness management. Our pain management doctors are some of the best in their field. Call now and get support.

Speech and Language Pathologist

Alt Title: A man with his hands up in the air | Speech Therapist in Westchester, NY | SLP Therapy | Speech Therapist for Adults |10701 |10801 | 10573

Alt Text: Man with his hands up in the air. We all communicate differently, and sometimes with need a speech therapist for adults in Westchester, NY. You are not alone! SLP therapy is meant to help you connect again and feel safe in how you communicate. Start working with a speech therapist in New York today!

Dietician

Photo Alt Title: Man in the background with plant | Medical nutrition therapy | Registered Dietician in Austin, Texas | Nutrition Therapy | 78613 | 78610 | 78613

Photo Alt Text: Plant in foreground and black man in the background. Our team of registered dieticians in Austin, Texas can help you navigate nutritional concerns, eating disordered, health concerns, and more. We offer nutrition therapy and medical nutrition therapy in Texas both in-person or online.

Eating Disorder Therapist

Alt Text: Woman with chocolates on table and hands in head distressed. Sometimes we struggle to manage food and body on our own. An eating disorder therapist in Atlanta, GA who offers eating disorder therapy, anorexia treatment, and bulimia treatment can help. Call now and book a free consultation.

One great website you can use is alt text generator. It doesn’t add in keywords, but if you struggle to come up with the initial photo description, this is a good resource.

Photo Sites and Their Algorithm

One issue that really gets under my skin is how algorithms on websites are created. For example, when I am trying to find natural curly hair or hair routines on Pinterest, usually what happens is that people who look nothing like me show up. Typing in natural on a site often alludes to POC, but algorithms are often white washed by the majority.

So imagine creating a therapy website where photos “appear” diverse enough, but actually don’t show the realistic side of some ones experience. Likewise, if you are an ED therapist and all your photos show angry plus sized people or a black woman eating a salad, or stereotypical person “overeating” photos, that often stigmatized and adds to the stereotype.

One problem with the algorithm is often in order to find representative photos, you have to type in offensive or rude texts in order to find the right content. Honestly, as a therapist that infuriates me. Plus, if you as a mental health professional have a deeper attachment to the issues you work with that can also be triggering to you.

So, how do we get inclusive and representative photos without having work with the algorithm on certain sites? I have created a list of websites that you can use for finding photos that are more inclusive and real.

Where and How to Find Representative, Inclusive, and Diverse Photos ( Free + Paid)

Open AI

This is a great resource if you want to have AI create your photos. Coming up with descriptions for this is hit or miss, but its a great up and coming option.

https://openai.com/product/dall-e-2 25 free photos per month

Creative Market

If you like a mix of cartoon animations and site aesthetics, this is a great option. The photos are affordable for a set and once you purchase a commercial license the content can be used in many areas.

https://creativemarket.com/ArtOlB/5946532-CURVY-GIRLS-FLOWERS-LINE-ART

Tonl

This is a paid service, but has a group of wonderfully diverse photos. The categories are based on topics like trust, tradition, tone, and travel, among others.

https://tonl.co/

Gender Spectrum Vice

Let’s face it, finding photos that accurately represent the LGBTQIA+ community are sparse, this is a free site that offers many different options for you to add to your site.

https://genderspectrum.vice.com/

Nappy

Finding diversity in photos for black and BIPOC individuals is complicated. Luckily nappy is working to make this more accessible.

https://nappy.co/

Iwaria

Black and African culture are not the same, therefore, if you work with African clients, this site is for you. Likewise, being nationally and internationally inclusive is necessary for any clinician.

https://iwaria.com/

Big Stock Photos

This is a site the Simplified SEO Consulting using personally and for our Done for you clients. Now, I will admit, it does take a specific strategy to find the photos you need without being stereotypical or stigmatizing. I often say, don’t search for the thing you are looking for and you will find what you need.

So if I type in native women, I am likely to get tribal representations, however if I type in business woman ethic, or indigenous, or sometime similar it will narrow the results. Its unfortunately we have to find what we need inversely, but it is possible.

https://www.bigstockphoto.com/

Flickr (Women in Tech)

Looking for fierce women in tech of all ethnicities, races, religions, and so on? You have found the right site.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wocintechchat/

CreateHERStock

This is a paid service with some options for freebies ( which is currently being updated). If you are looking for more representative photos of men, non-binary, and women. Then this is for you.

https://createherstock.com/

Wrap Up on Private Practice SEO

You are responsible for allowing clients to see themselves in your website message, photos, and design. User experience and design play a big role on our brand. Try your hands at photo descriptions. Be intentional about the descriptions, and check out these resources, especially if you are struggling to find sites that represent your ideal clients.

Learn How to Begin Optimizing Photos, Descriptions and Choose Inclusive Photos with Our Webinar!

We are hosting a webinar on April 7th for Alt Text and Diversity. We’d love to have you attend. You can also purchase the recording from our website afterwards. In the meantime, if you want support with your SEO, our team of experts will work with you every step of the way. Simplified SEO Consulting can help you begin developing content and best practices for your online and in-person presence. So don’t let confusion stop you from having an effective website – contact us today by following these simple steps:

Apply to work with our team
Once approved schedule your 45-minute consultation
Learn about our team!
Start adding intentional photos and alt text to your site.

Other Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

If you’re looking for other forms of support, we can help! We offer options such as our 12-week training, small group intensives, and courses. Our strategy session can be a great option if you need support getting started with SEO or doing a site move or redesign. Or, if you’re ready to work with a passionate and skilled team, our Done for You Program may be a great following approach.

About the Author

Jasmine is the SEO Training Coordinator and offers free consultations for Simplified’s SEO Consulting on our services. Jasmine is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and recently earned her degree from Northwestern University. She works to help people with a strategy with national rankings, eating disorder specialties, trauma, sports psychology, postpartum/pregnancy/parenting, high achievers, and much more. Schedule a consult soon!

April 3, 2023/0 Comments/by Jasmine Jaquess

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

4 Tips for Growing Your Private Practice SEO

As a private practice owner, I’m sure you have heard about SEO, otherwise known as search engine optimization. SEO can be used to help your ideal clients find you, your practice, and your services on search engines. When I say search engines, I mostly mean Google. Using private practice SEO should be an important part of any therapist’s marketing strategy in this time of digitalization.

Investing in your private practice SEO is one way of investing in your business and your future. As I mentioned that most things are digitized, and most people search for therapists via Google. By using SEO strategies, your ideal clients will be able to find you. This will be due to your rankings on Google and other search engines. In this blog, I will talk about 5 tips you should utilize to grow your private practice SEO.

Learn About or Conduct Keyword Research

If you’re new to SEO or new to doing it yourself, you may not have heard about “keyword research”. Keyword research is an SEO term where you learn what terms users are using to look for services. This will look at the terms in the area you are targeting and how hard it is to rank for them. For example, if you are a therapist that provides anxiety therapy in Little Rock, Arkansas you’re going to need to see what terms are easiest to rank for in your area. Luckily, this area may not be as saturated with competition as somewhere like Los Angeles, CA. But it is still very important to know what you are up against.

To Start Off, You Will Need to Look at the Variations of “anxiety therapy in Little Rock, AR”.

Sometimes, your first search will be the easiest to rank for and the highest searched for. Other times, you will need to look at different variations. Like “anxiety treatment in Little Rock, AR”, “treatment for anxiety in Little Rock, AR” or “therapy for anxiety in Little Rock, AR”. All of these terms you will look at then decide which one has the most searches and can be achievable for you to rank for. But also has the least competition.

Some tips for finding great keywords for private practice SEO purposes are:

Use a Keyword Research Tool such as Mangools/KWfinder or Google Keyword Planner
Make sure the keywords you use are relevant to your practice and the services you provide
See what inquiries people are making on Google about your relevant services
Research your competitors to see what keywords they may be using

Optimize Your Practice’s Website for Private Practice SEO

After you have keywords that will help increase your visibility on Google, optimizing your practice’s website to incorporate them will be important. This process is known as “on-page optimization”. This involves adding those chosen keywords into your content. This is your page titles, meta descriptions, alt-text and titles on photos, and the headings on your service pages.

Doing this allows Google to pick up that you are trying to target these keywords and rank your website appropriately. It will then keep an eye on your website and the content. This is to decide if you’re just knowledgeable about your niche or an expert. This is where content citing locations and content talking about your keywords targeting your services can be helpful.

Things to Keep in Mind

When you are optimizing your website, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Website speed, mobile-friendliness, and security are important to your SEO. But so is the ability of your potential clients being able to navigate your site. If your website is slow, this is where you will lose the most people. Because they know they can find another therapist’s website with a better user experience.

Testing out content and your website for how it runs and looks on mobile devices is crucial as well. When people are searching for a therapist or resources in the wee hours of the morning, they are more than likely doing this from their phone or a tablet. If it’s not compatible or the design isn’t user-friendly on mobile devices, the chances are they will leave your website.

Lastly, making sure your website is secure is not only for your potential client’s benefit but also for your own. Having your website using HTTPS is not only secure but Google rewards websites for it. It also ensures your website is mobile-friendly, so that is a built-in bonus!

Using Locations Near You and Building Local Citations

When it comes to private practice SEO, name-dropping locations near you such as colleges, schools, or even popular parks can come as a benefit to your SEO. It shows Google that you know the area that you are claiming to be in or are targeting. It can also help you build local citations. Local citations can become your best friend when it comes to reaching potential clients.

Local citations are pages on directories like Google My Business or even Yelp. These have your practice’s information such as the name, address, phone number, and hours that you are open. These can help your visibility when potential clients search for anything related to your niche. Or even for a therapist, or for a private practice in their area. The location citations are incredibly helpful for helping you be found if someone searches for ” a therapist near me”, “anxiety therapist near me”, or “anxiety therapist Ohio”.

Create Quality Content to Benefit Your Private Practice SEO

Having quality, SEO content can make a difference when it comes to private practice SEO. Not only will it help your rankings on Google but your content can be used as a resource for established and potential clients. When you have quality content on your website, especially about your niche, it shows Google that you are an expert on the subject. This will lead the search engine to increase your visibility to users searching for relevant content, leading to potential client engagement.

As I mentioned before, content is a great place to incorporate the keywords you researched and picked according to your area along with the relevance to your practice. You can drop these keywords in places such as headings, titles, or in the call to action. However, you want to make sure that you do not overdo this as Google will consider it keyword stuffing and penalize your website for it. Google loves to see you prove you’re an expert but when you overdo it, Google can’t tell which keywords are relevant to your content, leading it to penalize you.

Growing your private practice’s SEO can seem intimidating as the jargon is ever-changing and Google is constantly updating its algorithms as well. However, by using these private practice SEO tips, you will have a better understanding and a head start on growing your business. Remember, investing in your SEO is not only investing in your business but also your future.

Get Started Today and Start Seeing the Difference with Private Practice SEO

If you’re a private practice therapist looking to improve your online visibility and attract more clients, Simplified SEO Consulting is here to help. We specialize in private practice SEO and offer various SEO packages to support you at every stage of your journey. Investing in your website and optimizing it for SEO can have a significant impact on the growth of your practice. Our SEO Course for Therapists can teach you how to use blogs and SEO to your advantage, or you can outsource your SEO needs with our consulting packages. Apply to work with us and start seeing results today! Ready to get started?

Please apply to work with us
Learn about our team
Begin growing your private practice through private practice SEO!

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

If you feel as if you need additional SEO help, we have other options available! We offer options such as our 12-week training, small group intensives, and courses. Our strategy session can be a great option if you need support getting started with SEO or doing a site move or redesign. These can also be helpful to find better keywords, evaluating your current SEO performance, and more. Or, if you’re ready to work with a passionate and skilled team, our Done for You Program may be a great following approach.

About the Author:

Lynsey, our SEO Content Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting, takes pride in creating quality content that reflects her clients’ brand voice and practice. With a focus on mental health, she understands the impact of high-quality content on SEO rankings and attracting ideal clients. Lynsey’s goal is to utilize her copywriting expertise to help private practice owners grow their businesses through effective SEO and quality content. She is passionate about educating private practice owners on the power of blogs as a tool for SEO marketing.

Apply to work with us if you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you!

March 30, 2023/0 Comments/by Lynsey Heskett

Business Tips, Content

The Power of Focusing on a Niche for Effective SEO & Website Marketing

The Danger of Scarcity Mindset in the Mental Health Field

“Scarcity Mindset” refers to the belief that there is never enough – whether it’s time, money, resources, or clients. This type of mindset can lead to anxiety and burnout in mental health professionals, especially those in private practice.

Honestly, there’s no need for a scarcity mindset in the mental health field. There’s no shortage of people needing our services. The key is to specialize. Focusing on a niche allows us to utilize our most valuable asset – our expertise. By specializing, private practice owners can become experts in their niche and provide the absolute best care for their clients.

It also means being more selective when it comes to taking clients. Recognizing that not every single client is a good fit is an important step in growing a practice. The simple truth is, we generally have certain groups of client populations we do better with than others. And that’s ok.

By recognizing and overcoming the scarcity mindset, private practice owners can focus on providing the absolute highest level of care by niche specialization. This is a key to growing a successful private practice that provides quality mental health services for those who need it.

Breaking free from a scarcity mindset can lead to a more fulfilling career, higher-quality care for clients, and a more successful and sustainable private practice.

Why it’s important to specialize

Clients are more likely to seek out therapists who specialize in their specific needs. By specializing, therapists can position themselves as experts in their field, and they can offer targeted solutions to their clients’ unique challenges. It also allows them to tailor their approach and utilize specific techniques that are best suited for their client’s needs.

Think of it like this – a general practitioner doctor is a great start for some medical needs, but if you need specialty care for your heart or brain, you want to see a cardiologist or neurologist who understands the complexities of those systems. It’s the same concept in mental health. A specialist has a more in-depth understanding of a specific area and is more equipped to provide targeted treatment.

Specializing can also help you stand out in a crowded market. It allows you to focus on niche topics and be creative with marketing strategies. By being clear about the niche that you specialize in, clients are better able to determine if you’re a good fit for them, increasing the likelihood of them seeking you out.

Choosing your counseling niche

When considering which niche to specialize in, the most important factor is what interests you. Think about your own experiences and life, then consider what you have a passion for treating.

It’s also important to research niche trends and areas of need in your community. This will give you insight into whether or not there’s a demand for the niche and provide direction on how to best position yourself.

I also like to encourage therapists to ask themselves, who do I do my best work with? Try this right now. Think of the last couple of clients you feel like you did really amazing work with. What did they have in common? What did it feel like to work with those clients? And then importantly for marketing purposes, what made you uniquely qualified to help those clients?

There are a lot of different niches out there. Lots of options for the direction you might go with choosing a niche. But ultimately, niche selection is really an individual process. You have to take the time to research and reflect on your strengths and passions in order to find the niche that is most suitable for you.

Once you have a clear niche

Once you’ve developed a clear niche, make sure it’s reflected in your marketing efforts and communication with potential clients. Communicate in a way that resonates with your niche audience, so they know you understand their specific needs.

Additional investments in niche-specific training and niche-specific decorations for your office (or telehealth background) can help support the niche you specialize in.

Optimizing your private practice website for SEO

It’s also important to optimize your website for search engine optimization (SEO). Including niche specific keywords in your website content, blog posts and even social media bios can help you reach the right clients.

A niche comes into play when optimizing a website in so, so many ways. Our done-for-you team loves working with clients who have a specific niche. Why? Because we often get them the best results.

On our recent cruise retreat we took as a group in January, the first night I asked everyone to speak about the clients they felt like they had done their absolute best work on. Who was getting the best ROI from our services?

A number of themes emerged. But one was that some of the clients we feel have gotten the best ROI have been therapists with a niche. Having a niche that was clear, specific and well researched allowed for a narrower focus, better targeting of services and thus better results. Sometimes, it was a solo practice that later grew into a group practice. Often, it was a smaller group practice with a clear vision of who they serve. And sometimes it’s even larger group practices that may have multiple specialties but are willing to invest in really optimizing for the populations their clinicians serve.

So if you’re considering Search Engine Optimization, I think this getting to know the ideal client for your practice is an important place to start. It will influence the keyword you target, the way you design and navigate your page, the content you create, the photos you add to your website and so much more.

Why is it easier to get a niched website ranking?

So, why did private practices with a clear vision or clear population they serve more often come up in our discussion about practices who get the best ROI from our Done for You services?

Simply put, niche websites have less competition. There are fewer clinicians out there that are targeting the same niche keyword and niche services as you. If you’re a clinician who specializes in working with teens with anxiety, for example, then your website has a higher chance of ranking than if you simply list all areas of mental health services you provide, as it would have more competition.

So niche selection doesn’t just help with patient attraction and retention – it can help your website’s SEO efforts too! So if you’re planing on using your website to market to a counseling niche (or niche within a related field such as speech or psychiatry), make sure to do some research into the niche keywords that are most relevant to your niche of choice.

Creating content around your therapy niche and speaks directly to your ideal client

Content is an important part of using Search Engine Optimization or more generally using your website to market to a counseling niche. And when you have a clear population that you serve, you can create content that speaks directly to that niche.

Whether it’s blog posts, social media posts, or videos – creating niche-specific content is a great way to showcase your expertise and attract more clients that fit who you most want to serve.

Creating niche-specific content allows you to be laser-focused in speaking directly to the population you serve. It’s important to use language and examples that resonate with your niche. It’s also important to share stories, case studies and resources that are relevant to your niche.

I encourage you to be genuine in your content creation. Be authentic. Be you. And try to provide real value to your clients and potential clients. If you are a psychiatrist, share helpful information about common prescribed medications OR create content that busts common myths around psychiatric medicine. An eating disorder specialist or dietician can share all kinds of helpful information and tips and skills for clients. Or, a trauma therapist can share grounding skills. The point is this: create content based on your unique expertise that is truly helpful for your ideal clients.

Even more simply put, people come to our website looking for answers. Do I need therapy? How do I feel better? Do I have a problem? How can I talk to my family about my mental health? Can this person really help me? How do I get started?

Our job as therapists, as business owners, as bloggers is to answer those questions. To provide real information.

If you’re just adding content to your website solely for the purpose of SEO, it’s easy to fall into the keyword trap or create content that is not interesting and engaging. But if you focus on providing real value, then your niche-specific content will be a great way to attract people who best match who you want to serve.

Choosing a niche empowers you to do your best work AND reach more potential clients

In the end, niche selection is about doing your best work and has the added benefit of helping you grow your practice.

As mental health professionals, we can choose to view our field through a scarcity mindset, or we can embrace niche specialization and focus on providing quality care for those that need it, while also growing our practices.

By specializing in a counseling niche and optimizing your website for SEO, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and attract more ideal clients. Remember to choose a niche that aligns with your interests and strengths, and create content that speaks to your target audience. With the right strategies, you can build a successful private practice that helps people in need.

Help using your website to market to a counseling niche

Ok, so you know who your ideal clients are. And you’re ready to using your website to market to a counseling niche. But what’s the next step? That is where the Simplified SEO Consulting team comes in! Our team of mental health SEO professionals understands mental health, private practice and how to communicate your value to Google. We are here to help you reach your ideal clients.

Our team has a proven program that helps private practices, especially those with a clear vision of the population they serve, get to the top of Google. We take the time to get to know you, your practice and (through talking to you and lots of keyword research), your specific counseling niche. Then, we walk you step by step through the process of climbing up the ranks of Google.

Don’t let the term “Done for you” completely fool you. You’re still very involved in the process. You meet with your SEO specialist every month and give them tons of feedback as they optimize. But we do the bulk of the optimizing on your website. In fact, we spend hours on each website we’re optimizing every month. And we make sure at least two of our team members is looking at every page of your site that is optimized.

We don’t just care about getting you ranking on Google. We care about getting you in front of the RIGHT clients. And while we work with most practices for 6-9 months intensely before moving to our less intensive alumni/maintenance services, we don’t consider our job “done” until you have a steady stream of those ideal clients coming in.

Prefer not to outsource for this one? No worries. We can also train you or another member of your team to optimize your private practice website for search engines.

March 18, 2023/0 Comments/by Jessica