SEO Basics Archives - Simplified SEO Consulting

SEO for Counselors: Why We Don’t Sell Short Term Solutions?

The Truth is Short Term Solutions Just Don’t Work When Doing SEO for Counselors.

We know that when it comes to your practice whether you’re just building it or you’re scaling up, that patience can be challenging. You’re ready to make a bigger impact and have added security to your business. However, we are open and honest from the start that SEO takes at least 6 months to get you a ranking so you can begin to establish credibility and maintain it. Sometimes businesses need more time if they are an online-only practice, if they are coming back from a bad reputation, or if they are in a bigger more populated area.

Additionally, SEO has gotten more competitive over the years. We know that our strategies work and have strategies and approaches that line up with this. However, we want you to be an informed consumer, so you can get the most out of your investment. Here are a few reasons why we don’t sell short-term solutions and why hanging in there with us will benefit your practice long term.

SEO for Counselors Takes Time

The simple fact is that SEO is about building up your domain trust over time. That means having a strong keyword strategy, being intentional in how we incorporate SEO factors, building high-quality backlinks, and impactful content that your ideal clients need. Six months sounds like a long time when you just want to add new clinicians or you just don’t have the funds to invest in this huge business expense, but in the long term taking time with SEO will benefit you.

Nothing Good Comes from Cutting Corners in Business

One thing we don’t want to encourage with SEO is putting up a bunch of content all at once or keyword stuffing. These are considered black hat SEO strategies. Additionally, buying backlinks is a big no. These tactics can tank your SEO and leave you struggling to build up any credibility. It is honestly better to invest in SEO within the guidelines and parameters of what Google has set forth for consumers. Really Google wants you to find your ideal clients, but just like with a client, when mistrust is established, it is harder to regain. So we recommend and recognize the need to do SEO at a slower pace ( 3-4 pages at a time), in order to have that long-term payout.

We Want to Help You Get Your Ideal Clients and Maintain Referrals

SEO cannot be done in the short term because you need to get to the first page. If you don’t have service pages or quality blogs that your ideal clients will connect with, then you are not going to have the greatest outcome with SEO. Even if you have good referrals know, they will catch up to you. So it’s best to follow a strategy where we do intensive optimization on services pages, create quality cornerstone blogs, and over time watch the data to see what is and is not resonating with your ideal clients. Through our process, we have steps we expect to follow that tell us whether SEO is or is not working.

For example, are you getting a big boost in rankings? We expect to see this month 1-3. Are you starting to get a few referrals? Not an overwhelming amount, but a few inquiries, that came from Google and are good fits? Great! That is what we want to see in months 3 and 4. If we get to that month 4 and we see that we are not getting what we hope, we restrategize early on. So we may modify some meta’s or write a blog post. Another point I expand on below is that the timeline for more competitive areas is a bit different and we expect that. In months 5 and 6, we want to know if you are getting more consistent referrals to your site. This is the time you should be blogging and getting backlinks.

Certain Locations Are More Competitive Than Others and We Want To Set You Up For Success

As mentioned before, we have some consistent trends in what we hope to see for your site, but what if you’re doing SEO in New York, Denver, Colorado, or Orange County, California? What Then? Well, the truth is that we may see in certain areas that the return on investment happens at a slower pace. I mean how many therapists are doing similar things to you in New York, Florida, or California? What matters here is that you are clear on your niche and how you help and support your, clients. Our goal is to help you stand out from the rest of the crowd. You have a unique voice that will bring in your ideal people.

One thing to note is that this is where blogging can help make that process easy. Don’t just write a blog on “Benefits of Online Therapy in New York”, write one about Why Online Therapy in New York is perfect for the person who thinks their problems are not big enough for therapy. What is this person telling themselves, how are they negating their experiences, what beliefs and internal dialogues are they giving into, and how can you help them deal with the feelings that have yet to give voice to. This will help you stand out in a competitive world of counseling and SEO.

Each Niche, Geographical Location, and Website Requires a Specialized Strategy

We don’t sell short-term solutions because each area has its own timeline for when SEO will begin to work, the more specific you are the better the SEO outcome, and different platforms are better for SEO. If you expect to get a ranking on a Wix website in New York within 6 months, to be honest, that’s not a realistic goal, that is why we recommend moving to Squarespace or WordPress. If you are on WordPress in Texas and specialize in pre and postnatal care, getting a ranking may be a faster process. We tailor our strategy to your needs, and that may mean needing a few extra months to break through the wall of the Google search engine for others, this process may be quicker.

We Always Paying Attention to The Data and Shifts in the Algorithm

As SEO specialists, we know that you trust us to be the experts. With that being said, we also know that Google’s algorithm can change at the drop of a hat. We are always monitoring these changes, so we can modify your SEO strategy accordingly. Much of the time, even when Google updates, we may see a month or two of fluctuating data, but then it settles down and we see the payoff from the work we have done.

It takes time to undo the adverse effects of Black Hat SEO and Bad Reviews

Lastly, if you are looking to scale up your practice, but you are dealing with the negative impacts of Black Hat SEO or bad reviews, we are here to support you through the process of undoing these issues. Plus, we can help you build back up your reputation. However, when these things happen, it can be a process. We have helped many individuals combat these issues, knowing that the process may take up to a year to reach the intended outcome. We don’t say this to discourage you, but to set you up for realistic results. If you do need support in this realm we have a great team of individuals who can help you navigate his process whether that means a strong Google my business strategy or helping you reestablish trust with Google.

The Take-Home Message When Doing SEO for Counselors and Therapists

Our team loves helping individuals reach their business goals and visions. Everyone’s strategy looks different, but for good reason. There is no one size fits all approach to therapy and we also believe that with SEO for counselors and therapists. We all follow some basic tenants, knowing that each client we work with has a slightly different approach. If there is some way we can support you, please reach out. Our consultation team would love to work with you and give you some insight and recommendations.

Begin SEO for Counselors and Therapists From A Team Who Truly Cares!

SEO is a process, but one worth taking. We have helped many private practice owners and groups scale up their practice. Our wonderful team of mental health SEO specialists at Simplified SEO Consulting would love to talk strategy with you and help you get connected with the best service for you. To get started with our service follow these simple steps:

Schedule a consult with our Consultation Team
Learn more about our talented team of mental health SEO Specialists
Start scaling up your practice and filling your clinicians

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO consulting offers a wide range of services that can help you begin working with your people. We offer Done for You SEO Service packages, online courses, and SEO training opportunities. Our most popular course includes our “Top of Google” online course, and we have 12 weeks of intensive SEO for those who want to learn with a guide. For those looking for a more specialized package, we also offer an SEO strategy package. To get started, schedule a consultation with our Client Success Specialist today!

About the Author:

Jasmine is a Mental Health SEO Specialist and our Client Success Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. It can be challenging to know where to start with SEO, luckily Jasmine is here to help. If you want insight, recommendations, or to talk about the next steps with SEO, contact us for a free 30- minute consultation.

Jasmine Jaquess is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. She has been doing SEO with Simplified for the last few months. Currently, she serves as the Client Success Specialist in new client consultation with Simplified SEO Consulting and is an SEO specialist. She specializes in platforms such as Squarespace and Wix but has learned to love WordPress sites as well. Jasmine really enjoys hearing the clients’ goals for their businesses and helping them achieve them. She works with coaches, eating disorder specialists, trauma therapists, and more.

June 1, 2022/0 Comments/by Jasmine Jaquess

SEO Basics

SEO for Therapists: Does your page need an SEO tune-up?

SEO tune-ups are an important part of maintaining good Search Engine Optimization. This does not mean you have to spend hours reoptimizing the page. As an SEO specialist for therapists, I am going to cover two topics in this blog in regards to SEO for therapists. First, I will explain the ideal times to do SEO tune-ups. Second, we will look at what parts of search engine optimization you should prioritize during a tune-up.

When to Do an SEO Tune-Up

SEO Tune-Ups as Maintenance

Maintenance is an important part of SEO. You did a great job putting all that work in to do the original optimization of the page. So why would you need to do maintenance on it? Think of the website page as a car. You put the work and money in to replace the transmission and it gets you to your destinations better than ever. Just because you spent all the time working on the transmission doesn’t mean you are going to stop regular maintenance on your car, right? You’ll still get oil changes, replace the air filter, and replace the windshield wipers. This is because these are all maintenance tasks that help keep your car running well and get you to where you need to be.

Maintenance for SEO on your website is similar. During your original SEO optimization, you or your SEO specialist laid great groundwork. However, to keep ranking high on Google then you have to give it some TLC on occasion. Go in and make sure that locations, keywords, and zip codes are all accurate and up to date. Then go in and reindex it. Allowing Google to take new notice of your keywords on that page.

Falling Keywords

You’ve ranked well on google for a specific keyword for a while and suddenly it’s dropped in rankings. What is the best course of action? One option is blogging which you can read more about here. Another option is to do an SEO tune-up on the website page associated with that keyword. For example, if you have noticed a drop in keywords such as anxiety treatment, anxiety symptoms, panic attack, etc then it might be time for a tune-up on your anxiety page. It’s always a good idea to do a quick round of keyword research to make sure you are still targeting the ideal keywords. From there go in and see where you can reconfigure and work in those keywords you want to boost.

You Have More Copy to Add

Another great time to do an SEO tune-up on your page is if you are going to add or change the copy. Don’t let your previous SEO work keep you from changing the copy on your page. Go ahead and update pages when you have new information or find new inspiration that you want to include on them. Try to make it a rule of thumb that when you edit the copy you go through and do a tune-up as well. Don’t forget to index your pages once finished so you can get credit from Google for the changes.

What to focus on when doing an SEO tune-up

The point of a tune-up is to help increase the ranking of an already optimized page without spending hours on it. There are three important areas to make sure to focus on when doing a tune-up. This includes the meta description, links, and subheadings.

Meta Description

There is no such thing as a perfect meta description. It can always be tweaked or improved. Which makes it a great place to start when doing a tune-up. See if you can reword it to fit in another keyword, location, or zip code. One thing to keep in mind is that you have to keep it to 155 characters or less. Next, take a look at your Meta title or site title. Make sure you have your main keyword and a location with a zip code in it. If there is enough room see if you can fit in another keyword. An example would be:

Anxiety Treatment | Kansas City, MO 64113 | Anxiety Therapist | Practice Name

Links

There are two different things you will want to look at in regards to links during a tune-up. First, make sure that your existing links have strong anchor words. Additionally, make sure they are linking to where you want them to. Second, see where you can add more links. On the page see if there are any other places you can link to the home page, about page, service pages, or blog posts. Then try and find places on other service pages and blog posts where you can link back to the page you are doing a tune-up on.

Subheadings

Headings and subheadings are important to SEO which is why you should include them as part of your tune-up. There are a couple of things to look

Check to see if there are any other places you should include a subheading. This is especially important if you are adding more copy to your page.
Make sure your subheadings are rich with the keywords you are trying to rank for on that page.
Look to see where you can include locations within the subheadings

Get Help With & Learn More About SEO Tune-Ups

Have you done previous search engine optimization but think it’s time for an SEO tune-up? Then our SEO specialists for therapists are here to help you make that happen. Simplified SEO Consulting has several options to help with your private practice website. If you want quality SEO but don’t have a lot of time to spend then our Done for You SEO package. might be your best option. Looking to build your knowledge on SEO for psychiatrists yourself? Then take an online course or SEO training. No matter which package you choose to go with we will ensure that your website is optimized in an ethical way. Get started with your free 30-minute consultation with one of our client success specialists today!

About the Author:

Winnie is part of the dedicated team at Simplified SEO Consulting. She enjoys learning and growing as a Mental Health SEO specialist. Her specialty is working with our clients who have picked our Done for You package.

She has a lot of passion for providing SEO help for psychiatrists and therapists. If you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you, schedule your next consultation. Speak with our Client Success Specialist to discuss how Winnie can support you on your SEO journey.

May 10, 2022/0 Comments/by Winnie Youger-Rash

Business Tips, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

When is the Right Time to Invest in SEO?

Are you on a good platform to invest in SEO?

When considering SEO with us, we want you to think about the branding, design, and platform of your site. One of the biggest issues we try to help clients avoid is beginning the SEO investment on a platform they do not love or one that will not give them the return on investment that they need. Often we recommend people try Squarespace or WordPress. Sometimes we will work with a Wix or Weebly site, but often if you have a consult with our specialists, you will find that we will encourage a platform switch. If you’re absolutely in love with your platform and it happens to be on Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress, we are happy to work with you for our Done for You Services, but if you plan to stay on a different platform, on rare occasions we will do Weebly if a specialist is familiar and has capacity. Otherwise, our training options are the best option if you want to stay on your platform.

Does it make financial sense to invest in SEO?

The goal of Simplified is to help you get the clients that you are best able to support. We never want finances to be a barrier to you scaling your practice. While we will usually recommend our DFY options, if you are able and willing to do the work, our training options can give you a lot of value for your needs. We have self-paced courses, group intensives, and individual training options. Additionally, if you’re unsure where to begin, you can get a beginner course with our strategy package and then meet with a specialist who can give you the support you need to figure out the next steps. With the done for you options, often people will want to do the cheapest option, but if you’re hoping to be closer to the first page within six months in a busy area on a 1 or 2 point package, you’re not going to reach this goal with the timeframe you anticipate. SEO is getting competitive and especially in areas like New York, Florida, California, and some parts of Colorado, the best way to get to the top quickly is to optimize your service pages and blogs.

Essentially, what we have found is that for Google to really begin recognizing you, you need 12-18 pages live and optimized on your site.

With SEO getting more competitive that number may begin to increase. So we need to hit the ground running. If this doesn’t sound doable for you, then you can still invest with our other options, but it may mean we need to wait till you’re more comfortable with the investment mentally. We as mental health professionals are not oblivious to the costs and investment of SEO. We know that for a practice SEO is often the biggest expense you may have, and we know that with the strategy we employ that is unique, intentional, and flexible, we can help you reach your goals if you are able to trust in our process.

Do You Know Your Niche?

Knowing your niche matters to your success. Do you have to be one hundred percent sure of it? No. You can adapt as you understand what your community needs. If you’re in love with one niche during one season and then the next it switches, and you want to focus on couples over individuals or high functioning anxiety over trauma, you can do this. However, if you’re entering private or group practice without a semblance of who you’re trying to help. Do some soul searching before doing SEO. Why? We have found as mental health specialists that content matters for keywords. If you don’t know your clients with anxiety, you may get anxiety clients, but they may not be the ideal client you were hoping for. Additionally, you could get a lot of hits on your site indicated by Google Analytics and Google Search Console. However, if you’re getting clicks but not converts into clients, something is not connecting on your site. In order to convert, you need to know your people. Consider creating an avatar of who your ideal client is before beginning SEO with us.

Are You Expanding Your Practice?

Are you planning to expand your practice soon? Perhaps you’re worried about filling up your new clinicians which may tempt you to invest in Google ads over SEO. Pause and breathe. You have time. If you have a clinician onboarding in a few months, SEO is a great place to start. Here is why, if you have a desire to bring in consistent referrals for your practice, and you don’t want to have to constantly reinvest the money to get the clients into the door, SEO helps you to maintain a steady stream of people, especially when you consistently blog ( 2-3 times a month). If you’re worried about filling up your people you’re ready for SEO. We can help you strategy-wise to connect with your ideal people.

Would You Rather Invest in SEO by Outsourcing?

This is a big one we encounter with consults. People know that they need to do SEO for the consistency of their practice and growth. They have been told it is really important and easy to learn. Here is the problem you’re an owner of a practice, a parent, have another job, are pregnant…And to be honest, you just don’t have the passion to learn, the clinical side and the business side are more your jam. That is where our done for you program will work best for you. Whether that means we are doing the work, or you are having an intern learn how to optimize through one of our training programs. You’re ready to outsource and begin SEO.

Do You have Content and Copy You Love?

Maybe you have considered SEO before, but you just didn’t love your website and copy yet. And now, you have hired a fantastic copywriter and the website represents your values and who you hope to attract. Great! You’re ready for SEO. Well-written content equals connection.

What if I want to invest in SEO, but I do know how or love writing?

That’s ok. We offer copywriting services and we have great referrals who would be happy to hear your voice and create content that connects and aligns with your voice. If writing isn’t your thing, our team is happy to help and collaborate with you.

Are you Ready to Blog?

Blogging is such a huge component of SEO. If you hate blog writing and refuse to write blogs, then maybe now isn’t the time for SEO. Here is the thing. Google loves content. Google has about 200+ factors you can rank your site for. If blogging isn’t for you. There are other SEO companies that can help you with off-page SEO. However, what we have found with counseling clients, having well build out service pages and blogs that talk about the heart of your practice, often gets you better results with clients and conversions. We will encourage you to blog and if that doesn’t sound like a good plan then now is not the time to invest.

Are you planning to rebrand soon?

If you’re planning to rebrand or move to a new platform soon, now is not the time to do SEO. Here is why. Google has associated backlinks and other information with the domain you currently have. It has been live and active on Google for some time now. If you decide to take down the domain to move it to another platform, Google will look at this and not know what to do with your site. And, if you do rebrand or move your domain, change your domain, or move to another platform, Google has to reestablish trust. If you try to do SEO immediately afterward Google will not know what to do with your site. So it’s best to make the changes, publish it on the search engine, and then let it sit for 2 weeks to a month. Then begin SEO. You’ll have much better success integrating SEO.

Do clients need to decide what their NAP information is in order to invest in SEO?

Lastly, do you know what a NAP score is? Check out this blog about local SEO and NAP. This is essentially your Name, Address, and Phone. This is necessary for consistency on the search engines and for Google my business/Local SEO. If you don’t know what you want your main name, address, and phone to be, then pause, figure it out, and then make sure you have that on your website, directories, Google My Business, and Yelp.

Begin Working with Our Team!

If you’re ready to invest in SEO, we are here to help. We can get you set up with our services and begin optimizing your website in a way that showcases your skills to potential clients soon. Our wonderful team of SEO specialists at Simplified SEO Consulting would be excited to help you on your SEO journey. To get started with our service follow these simple steps:

Schedule a consult with our Client Success Specialist
Learn more about our talented team of SEO Specialists
Start investing in what matters to help your clients reach you!

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

About the Author:

Jasmine is an SEO Specialist, and Client Success Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. You may be wondering where to start with your SEO journey. You’ve come to the right place. Learn how cornerstone content can help.

Jasmine Jaquess is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. She has been doing SEO with Simplified for the last few months. Currently, she serves as the Client Success Specialist in new client consultation with Simplified SEO Consulting and is an SEO specialist. She specializes in platforms such as Squarespace and Wix but has learned to love WordPress sites as well. She really enjoys hearing the clients’ goals for their businesses and helping them achieve them.

May 3, 2022/0 Comments/by Jasmine Jaquess

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

Online Therapy & SEO

During the pandemic throughout these past few years, online therapy has become extremely popular within the mental health field. This makes perfect sense given how accessible online therapy can be, especially during a time when meeting in person became very rare. I believe that after the pandemic, therapists have realized how important it is to offer this service and have often shifted more towards a hybrid style, offering both in-person and online services. More importantly, what does this mean for SEO? What are some advantages and disadvantages of offering this service? And what are some ways we can capitalize on this growing part of the mental health field?

The SEO part of Online Therapy

Like many services, online therapy is a fantastic way of not only adding a new service to provide but also boosting SEO. With online therapy, depending on what state(s) you are licensed in, we are able to make an effort to rank in the entire state(s). This helps to cast a wide net keeping in mind your specialties but also having the advantage of being able to schedule online appointments from any area of the state. Although sometimes more competitive than ranking for a specific city, it is another one of the many ways we are able to get your name and practice out there and continue to improve your rankings.

What does this mean for SEO?

Having more services pages in general for various specialties you offer is always a good thing. Not only does this communicate with the viewer on the specifics of what services you provide, but it also adds more content we are then able to nail down keywords for and optimize. This is especially present for online therapy when we are able to pull specific zip codes from major cities in the state and try and rank all of them in different ways.

The SEO Advantages

There are a few things to consider when making an attempt to rank for online therapy services. As always, we want to include those keyword-rich headings/subheadings in the copy as well as backend SEO, but we believe it is equally important to do so in a way that accurately represents you as a therapist and accurately depicts what you can offer. It is very important to rank well, but also important to accurately represent your process and lens through your voice. Furthermore, anytime we are able to add another service page or specialty, this allows us to track more keywords and implement them in an attempt to rank higher. Here are some advantages to online therapy and SEO:

Advantages:

Able to rank for the entire state
Including another service page for each state you’re licensed in
The convenience of online therapy
Opportunity for more internal links
Expanding the services you provide
Viable options for those in remote locations
Casting a wider net, obtaining clients from the entire state

You could be asking yourself, this is a good start but what about building or improving an online therapy service page? We have a blog that includes 4 Tips for Improving SEO for Online Therapy Services that has really good information about the specific of improving those pages to get an optimal ROI and the best possible “SEO juice” for rankings. One thing that was an important takeaway for me, was having separate online therapy pages for each state you are licensed in, helping to cast an even broader net with all the more opportunities to rank for more keywords and optimization.

Online Therapy and SEO Overview

Although sometimes hard to rank for considering the entire state, online therapy can be such a great way to help boost SEO and improve rankings. At Simplified, we want you to get great ROI while also representing your voice and practice in the way you see fit. Having the ability to not only offer online services in a time when they are so popular but also being able o rank for the entire state(s) you are licensed in is such a great advantage to SEO. We are always really excited to see new service pages added, as it can only help get you the clients you want in the door and improve SEO.

In need of SEO help with ranking for Online Therapy?

Here at Simplified, we are always happy to help you improve your rankings and get the clients you want. Our team is ready to help you see the improvement you need,

See if Simplified is right for you by reading more about our packages, and follow these quick steps:

Book a free 30-minute consultation call
Get connected with an SEO specialist
Start that journey towards better rankings and an improved clientele

SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

At Simplified we have a few different package options available for you and your practice. This includes the Done For You (DFY) packages, Done with You (DWY) packages, or the DIY online courses. Read more and see which package is right for you. Book a consultation today and start your journey with Simplified.

About the Author

Justin Bohannan is an SEO specialist at Simplified. He works with clients across the nation to reach their goals and boost their SEO. Justin works with the team writing content, on-page optimization, and more! Justin graduated from the University of Missouri with his BA in Psychology.

April 26, 2022/0 Comments/by Justin Bohannan

Content, SEO Basics

SEO for Psychiatrists: Ideal Clients, Service Pages & Keywords

Identifying the ideal clients for your private practice website is an important first step when starting SEO for psychiatrists. This step can look a little different for psychiatrists compared to therapists. When we ask therapists about their ideal clients the answers often include things like college-age students, couples, or young business professionals. Additionally, this list can include things like clients looking for EMDR Therapy, CBT, or Sex Therapy. So you might be asking yourself what does an ideal client list look like when working on SEO for psychiatrists. Let us take a deeper look into finding your perfect clients so you can have a thriving psychiatric private practice.

Ideal Clients Affects SEO for Psychiatrists

Often times a list of ideal clients for psychiatrists will be focused on which disorders they want to work with the most. Maybe you enjoy working with clients who have anxiety, depression, and Insomnia. On the other hand, you might enjoy diagnosing and treating clients who have mood disorders, schizophrenia, or who suffer from substance abuse. Your list of ideal clients might also include things like individuals in rural areas, elderly adults, kids, or young to middle-aged adults. The options seem to be endless.

If you are a psychiatrist in private practice you get to decide who you want to work with. Ultimately, if you are treating mental health disorders that you are passionate about then your business will thrive even more. So you have narrowed down your list of ideal clients now what? What do you do from here? Now we use this list to develop or enhance your service pages and guide your keyword research.

The Importance of Service Pages for SEO for Psychiatrists

To some, it may seem redundant to make a service page for each disorder that you want to focus on. However, this is a vital part of SEO and making sure that your services are seen by your ideal clients. The quality and quantity of copywriting on your website can drastically affect how Google views and ranks your website. Beyond that, individual service pages let you focus on a larger amount of keywords. This is where your list of ideal clients comes in.

Whatever disorders you listed out on your ideal client list is what you will want to focus on for service pages for several reasons. First, it will allow you to focus on multiple keywords that your ideal clients are using on Google when they need psychiatric services. Secondly, it shows Google that you are an expert in those areas. Which builds Google’s trust in your website and increases your rankings. Finally, when your ideal clients make it to your website they get the chance to see that you are the right psychiatrist for them.

How Keywords Play A Roll In SEO for Psychiatrists

When it comes to keywords used in SEO for therapists we often start by comparing counseling to therapy and see which will get the best results. But what about when finding keywords best used in SEO for psychiatrists? When doing keyword research you will have to think outside the box a bit. Most likely Psychiatrist is one of the first keywords to come to your mind which is a great starting point. From there you have to pick additional words you want to try and rank for.

This is where your ideal clients and service pages come in. You will need to find keywords that your ideal clients will be searching for. Since your service pages are going to be targeted toward your ideal clients then your keywords should match up with them as well.

Specific Keywords for Private Practice SEO

The following is a list of potential keywords that a psychiatrist interested in treating depression and ADHD might use. The list was created, and accurate as of May 30, 2022, with KWFinder which is one of our keyword research tools. Next to each keyword is the number of times each month the word was searched in the United States:

Psychiatrist | 451,000
Psychiatric nurse practitioners | 12700
Psychiatric evaluation | 5600
Depression Medication | 41,200
Antidepressants | 110,000
Wellbutrin | 409,000
ADHD treatment | 21,600
ADHD medication | 133,000
Ritalin | 124,000
Adderall | 601,000

This list is not all-inclusive to all of the possibilities for keywords for depression and ADHD. We also suggest searching for keywords in your specific area, not throughout the United States. Keyword trends in your city and state might be slightly different. This is why at Simplified SEO Consulting we put such an emphasis on detailed keyword research specific to your private practice and your location.

Final Thoughts From A SEO Services Consultant

Ideal clients, service pages, and keywords are important to all mental health private practice search engine optimization. The key is to make sure you adjust each area to fit your needs as a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Another thing we focus on at Simplified SEO Consulting is making sure our SEO is ethical. We understand that being ethical is a vital part of mental health private practices. Thus whenever a Simplified SEO services consultant works on a website or trains someone in SEO we do so with a focus on being ethical.

Start Working on SEO for Your Business

Ready to start working on SEO for your private practice as a psychiatrist? Then our Mental Health SEO Services Consultants are ready to help you get started. Simplified SEO Consulting has several options to help your website start ranking on Google. If you want help building a SEO foundation for your website without spending multiple hours a week then our Done for You SEO package. might be your best option. Looking to build your knowledge on SEO for psychiatrists yourself? Then taking an online course, SEO training, or joining our SEO Mastermind Group guide you through all the aspects of SEO for your website. No matter which package you choose to go with we will ensure that your website is optimized in an ethical way. Getting started is easy. Make your free 30-minute consultation with one of our client success specialists today!

About the Author:

April 12, 2022/0 Comments/by Winnie Youger-Rash

Business Tips, SEO Basics

How We Cater Our SEO Services to Private Practice Owners

So, why should you choose Simplified as your website’s SEO gurus? Well, I might be a little biased, but if you’re a private practice therapist, we’re the best option for you. There are a few reasons for this, and I’m so excited to tell you all about them.

Therapists Need Help with their Websites

When you went to graduate school for your counseling degree, they likely didn’t teach you about how to open a private practice. Your professors didn’t include content about how to open and run a business. And they surely didn’t teach you how to create a website that works for both humans AND Google. There are so many aspects to being a private practice owner that you just didn’t get the scoop on in school.

Many of the therapists we work with have flowery, beautiful websites. They use phrases like “get started on your healing journey” and “I provide a welcoming space for counseling.” This is wonderful, but it’s really just a starting point. When trying to gain therapy clients through a website, there needs to be intentional care given to all aspects of it. This includes the pretty stuff on the front end and the techy stuff on the backend.

I don’t say this to put down any of our lovely clients or the work they’ve done on their websites before coming to us. Instead, I point this out to show the need for techy experts’ help on therapist websites. And not just any techy experts, but ones who also have an understanding of human psychology, too. That’s where our SEO specialists come in.

How Simplified Helps Therapists Get Ranking

One of the first things our SEO specialists want to discuss with you is your ideal client. If you could work with any population, disorder, or specialty area, what would it be? And why? From there, we can zero in on a strategy to get those ideal clients in your door.

Also, it’s important that you know that all of the SEO specialists at Simplified have a background in a mental health-related field. This could be a Bachelor of Psychology degree, to even a Master of Social Work degree. Additionally, we all have a passion for destigmatizing mental healthcare and bettering the services offered to those in need.

This background in mental health practice and advocacy gives our SEO specialists a unique set of skills. Based on your ideal client, we will think about the struggles they are likely facing and what they would be Googling if they were looking for therapy services. Then, we use research tools to solidify our hypotheses about clients’ search behavior. We then use this information to optimize service pages, meta descriptions, and many other elements of your site.

You Need Service Pages

Unless you’ve got a keen understanding of Google, it’s likely you don’t know about the importance of service pages. You might even be asking yourself “what’s a service page?” And that’s okay.

At Simplified, we want our clients to have service pages, or singular website pages, about one specific service they provide. For example, you may specialize in working with clients struggling with anxiety and eating disorders, and you also enjoy seeing couples. So, we would likely begin with creating service pages for anxiety treatment, eating disorder treatment, and couples therapy.

Having individual pages about each of the services you offer is great both for Google and the humans reading your website. People without a background in the mental health field don’t usually understand what therapists mean when they use abstract words to describe the benefits of therapy. Website users (and Google) want to know exactly what you are offering, where, and how they can get started. Potential clients want to know the ins and outs of your therapy style and why they should choose you. Service pages are your place to exhibit empathy and understanding for what potential clients are going through, then demonstrate that you have the ability to help.

Site Structure and Processes

Another skill an SEO specialist is particularly trained in is assessing site structure and processes. We know that therapists can make really beautiful websites. Whether it’s bright and bold colors or calming aesthetics, you’ve got the artsy part down. But when it comes to functionality? Y’all could use some help! And that’s not to look down on anyone. As I said earlier, nobody taught you this stuff in grad school!

Site Structure

The backend of websites can be a messy place. Often when clients begin working with us, they have broken links, redirect errors, default pages, or spammy backlinks. Again, this is nobody’s fault. However, our SEO specialists have the tools and skills to clean it up for you. It’s important to us that the backside of your website is functional. Google sees these errors on your site, and they can affect your Google rankings, further hindering you from showing up in potential clients’ search results.

Processes

Additionally, our SEO specialists can help you develop processes on your site. This refers to things like drop-down menus, contact forms, and Call to Action sections. At Simplified, we use a Call to Action section as an assistant to website viewers when they’re ready to contact you. Folks looking for counseling services are often overwhelmed and perhaps even distressed when they finally decide to reach out to a therapist. So, we lay it out for them. We add a bit of text, links, and detailed steps for how to begin counseling at your practice. Here’s an example.

Anxiety can steal your joy and totally exhaust you. But you don’t need to battle anxiety on your own. You can get support from an anxiety therapist in Charleston, SC right here. If you’re ready to get connected with anxiety treatment, follow the steps below.

Fill out our contact form.
One of our therapists will reach out to you to schedule your first appointment.
Gain new skills to manage anxiety and finally find the present again.

The Call to Action section is just one of many tools an SEO specialist has to make website users’ experiences easier. And when their experience is simpler, they are more likely to take the time to get connected with you. Who wants to rummage around on a website to get in contact with a therapist when they’re already struggling? In fact, Google actually rewards websites with positive user experiences. So, there is a two-fold benefit to cleaning up the content and action steps on your site.

Our SEO Specialists Are Ready to Meet You

The team members at Simplified blend our backgrounds in mental health work with our techy SEO skills, creating a synergistic effect for private practice therapists’ websites. This then takes a domino effect. Our SEO work leads to more clients finding your website on Google, then getting set up for services. Then, you’ll start having a fuller caseload with the clients you really want to see. And if it’s a part of your business goals, you can even start adding clinicians to your team and grow into a group practice!

At the end of the day, our SEO specialists are advocates for improving folks’ access to mental health services. So, we are ready and excited to help you meet your business goals and spread the benefits of counseling. Ready to start optimizing your website and meeting your business goals? Follow the steps below.

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation call.
Meet with one of our skilled SEO specialists.
Start taking care of other aspects of your private practice and let us help with your website!

Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

You may be wondering about what services we offer. For the do-it-yourself types, we have DIY Online Courses as well as SEO Training options! Our training services include a Done-With-You 12 Week program as well as a Mastermind course. And if you’re ready to have an SEO specialist take the lead, we offer Done For You optimization services.

About the Author

Olivia Bahr is an SEO specialist and content writer at Simplified SEO Consulting. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at the University of Denver. Olivia is an advocate for social justice and increased access to mental health services. In her free time, Olivia hangs out with her dog, goes to concerts, and skis with friends.

March 29, 2022/0 Comments/by Olivia Bahr

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

Ideal Clients: How does this affect SEO?

“Who is your ideal client?” an SEO specialist asks you. “What does that mean for me and my SEO?” you might ask yourself. Ideal clients are a sure way to get very good and credible SEO for your practice. This also has a heavy influence on your rankings shown in the dashboard. There are many ways ideal clients influence SEO, and more so good reasoning behind always making sure we ask that question during initial meetings.

What do you mean by “ideal client”?

By ideal, we are generally referring to the client that you want to see the most. The ones that excite you and that you know you do your best work with. Although some therapists want to remain open to almost any clients and issues that might come up, knowing exactly who you want to bring through the door can make developing an effective SEO strategy easier. And let’s be honest, most mental health professionals have some populations or issues that they just do a better job working with either because they’re more passionate about those concerns, have got specialized training in those areas or have more experience working with those types of clients.

So, when you’re starting to work on your SEO, ask yourself, “Who do you want to come in the door? If I could choose the type of clients that I was to take on, what type of clients would I want to be the next 10 phone calls?” For example some therapists will be able to relate much more to college students having recently graduated. Or young business professional counselors can relate to other young business professionals, and would prefer catering their practice towards that demographic. Some therapists have specialized training related to maternal mental health. For others, couples work and relationship therapy is their jam.

Our founder, Jessica, often says that therapists do their best work when they have a steady stream of the type of clients that give them the most energy. So, this concept of optimizing your website for a specific niche or population is a common conversation at Simplified SEO Consulting. In fact, we’ve written before about the power of having a niche when working on SEO.

How exactly does this influence SEO & search engine rankings?

Throughout our keyword research process, knowing the specifics is all the better for SEO. Being able to see the immediate data for who is searching for what in their mental health journey is not only important for SEO, but also your practice. If couples counseling is something your practice can offer, but aren’t necessarily pushing for, keywords related to couples work might not be the first thing we focus on getting you ranking for. We’d rather optimizing for keywords that your ideal clients would be looking for.

For example, let’s say you work with a wide range of clients, but you really get excited to work with couples on the brink of divorce. In this case, someone searching for “counseling near me” may or may not be that ideal clients. But someone searching for “marriage counseling near me” or “affair recovery help” or “Is it possible to heal after an affair?” Anybody searching for those sorts of terms is simply more likely to be one of those couples you really, really get excited to work with. So, those are the terms we’ll build your SEO strategy around.

How do I know who MY ideal clients are?

I think it is important to not only assess personal strengths and weaknesses of your practice, but also to capitalize on your specialties. For example, there are some practices that have services such as equestrian therapy, or massage therapy. Although the market in your given area for these treatments might not be what makes or breaks your SEO, it is important to recognize that these are services you can rank for. Having every bit of “SEO juice” is exactly what we need in order to get you your optimal return.

Here are some examples of potential ideal clients:

College Students
Younger Generation
Older Generation
Business Professionals
Women
Teens
Children
Those struggling with Anxiety
Christians
Life Transitions
Those struggling with Depression

How important are location indicators?

One way we narrow this down, is by asking “Where do your ideal clients work, play, and live?” This is mostly because if we have your ideal clients nailed down, we now need to hone in on a specific location. If we are ranking for your demographic in an area that might not be realistic for your practice, we won’t expect to rank very well. Of course there are exceptions such as online therapy. With online therapy we can rank for the entire state that you have your license in, but in terms of in person therapy the location indicators are very important for accurate SEO. This is also generally very helpful for communication with Google. This let’s the algorithm know that your location is important to you and your practice, which ultimately helps to improve rankings.

Ideal Clients Overview

Although it may be difficult to narrow down who you want to see, it is really important for SEO, as well as your practice. This can be the difference between ranking in your area successfully, or ranking in a more vague sense with less return. Here at Simplified we not only want to see you get great results, but we also want you to be bringing in people you want and have the tools to work with. It is such an honor to be able to help in this way, and it is all the more satisfying when your demographic meets great rankings. Ideal clients are a sure way to get good and credible SEO for your practice, and to bring in the people you want to see and have the tools to provide for.

Private Practices: Are you in need of SEO help?

Here at Simplified we are always happy to help you improve your rankings and site. Our SEO specialists are ready to help you get that breakthrough you need, while also bringing in the clients you want to work with. Learn more about our packages, and see if Simplified is right for you:

Book a free 30-minute consultation call
Get connected with an SEO specialist
Start that journey towards better rankings and an improved clientele

SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

At Simplified we have a few different package options available for you and your practice. This includes the Done For You (DFY) packages, Done with You (DWY) packages, or the DIY online courses. Book a consult today and see which of our options best fits your needs.

About the Author

Justin Bohannan is an SEO specialist at Simplified. He works with clients across the nation to reach the goals and boost their SEO. Justin works with the team writing content, on page optimization, and more! Justin graduated from the University of Missouri with his BA in Psychology

March 22, 2022/0 Comments/by Justin Bohannan

SEO Basics

Boost SEO: 7 Quick Things You Can Do Between Counseling Clients!

As a busy clinician, you may only have a few moments to think about marketing and SEO. So, you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do in between counseling appointments to boost your SEO and reach your ideal clients on search engines. Good news! There are several things you can do in between sessions! In this blog, I will detail 5 things you can do to boost your SEO in ten minutes or less!

7 Things You Can Do To Boost Your SEO Between Counseling Clients:

1. Add your address or identifying location information to your footer.

Adding your address to the footer of your website tells Google where you’re located and helps your rankings in those places. If you have a physical address, use that. But if you’re seeing clients online or have an online-only practice then include a statement such as “serving the entire state of (name of state) including city, city, city, and city via online therapy. For example “Our therapy practice is physically located in Caldwell, ID but we see clients throughout the state of Idaho including Boise City, Miridian & Nampa for online therapy.” This helps give your SEO a small “boost” for each of those areas mentioned. This is part of a larger SEO strategy called Local SEO but is one thing you can usually do pretty quickly.

2. Respond to source inquiries on HARO.

First of all, if you haven’t signed up for HARO (Help a Reporter Out) I highly suggest you do this. It’s a great way to get a backlink. In fact, several of our clients including our founder, Jessica have been featured in major publications like The New York Times, Bustle, Huff Post, etc.

A few things to know…

Sign up as a “source”
Choose to receive notifications for topics that pertain to counseling or your specific niche
when responding to an inquiry:
- Directly answer their questions in a succinct way. Follow directions exactly-sometimes they ask for something very specific. Or if they ask for 2 tips, give them exactly 2 tips.
- Offer to answer any follow-up questions they may have.
- Always include the URL of your private practice and request that they give you a backlink if they choose to feature you as a source.
- Don’t overthink your response! Too many practice owners waste 30-60 minutes writing a response, so they stop responding to HARO inquiries pretty quickly. But really, they’re usually looking for a quick response. If they want something more in-depth (i.e. if you need to spend that 30-60 minutes) they’ll generally respond to your email with more questions.

When the media use your quote, they often give you a backlink to your website. Building backlinks is a really powerful way to improve your SEO. However, sometimes the media source may not link back to your website. Know that just them mentioning your name & practice still have some benefit.

3. Do Some Light Keyword Research.

You don’t have to spend hours doing keyword research. Just taking a few minutes here and there to check and see what terms are ranking well in your area will make optimization easier down the road.

If you’re not sure where to begin check out these blogs about keyword research:

4. Make a List of Blog Post Topic Ideas

There are lots of places to look for blogging inspiration. Keeping a list of topics you want to write about makes it easier to actually blog the next time you sit down to start writing.

Reflect on your past sessions, is there a topic that comes up often? If the answer is yes, then add it to your list. Or, if you’ve recently read a good book that pertains to your counseling work, then add that to the list as well. If you’re searching for ideas one place you can look is www.answerthepublic.com. Here you can type in certain keywords you’re targeting and get a list of queries people are typing into Google. Please note, you can do up to two free searches per day. Want to read more about blog writing? Check out these articles:

5. Update Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing

Update your Google My Business listing. Look and double-check that all the information on there is correct? Have you added new information about your practice’s COVID safety policies? Have you posted a blog recently that you could share there? Could you add another picture of your office? Do you have a new therapist you can announce has joined the practice? Taking ten minutes to update your GMB profile in one of these ways can boost your SEO and give valuable information to your clients looking at your listing on Google. Want to learn more about Google My Business? check out these blogs:

6. Add Your Website to a Directory

Directory websites help boost SEO in several ways. First, they help get your name, address & phone number (NAP information) out there across the web in a consistent way. Second, you generally get a backlink that is pretty high quality.

Some therapists wonder if it’s worth getting your site on a directory if you don’t actually have clients calling who found you on that directory. If it’s a free directory, our answer is an absolute yes. If you have to pay for the directory, it may or may not be “worth it.”

7. Add & Optimize a New Photo on Your Website to Boost SEO

Adding photos can be an easy distraction between clients. You might find a new photo from a stock photo website or even just take one with your phone around the office to upload. When adding it to your website make sure you optimize it by:

Compress the photo before uploading it. We like to use tinypng.com for this. Unfortunately, too many large photos can slow down your site which is bad for SEO.
Add relevant alt text describing the photo for anyone using a screen reader.
Add a relevant photo file name that includes at least one relevant keyword or phrase you’re targeting on that page.

How do I get my therapy website to the top of Google?

The truth is that search engine optimization (SEO) is somewhat complex and ever-evolving. So, if you live in a competitive area, it may take time & a comprehensive SEO strategy to get your website ranking. But Google can be an amazing source of referrals for therapists, so it’s worth the investment. We recommend laying a good foundation with on-page SEO, a regular blogging strategy and organically building backlinks to your website.

In other words, the tips we’ve shared here will help, but may not get you to the top on their own unless you live in an area that really isn’t very competitive.

Every Little Bit of Optimizing Helps Boost SEO

Doing your own SEO is a large time commitment. But doing a little bit of work every day (or as often as possible) will have great long-term effects on your SEO. Google responds well to websites that are consistently making changes and improvements to better their user experience. So, doing these tips will increase your chances of ranking better in your area.

These are small steps, but they are meaningful. And over time these little steps add up. If you find you enjoy these little things and want to dive more deeply into optimizing your own site, check out our DIY courses or schedule a consultation so we can talk about our other SEO training options!

On the other hand, if you start doing these little things and discover that you really just don’t have any desire to work on your SEO even in these short bursts, we can help. Simplified SEO Consulting offers comprehensive done-for-you SEO services and is skilled at helping our clients create an SEO strategy that will meet the needs of their private practice so they can get in front of their ideal client and grow their business.

The Value of Getting Your Counseling/Therapy Website to the Top of Google

Our team at Simplified SEO Consulting cares deeply about helping you get in front of the right therapy clients. As a therapist myself, I know that most of us have a specific type of client with whom we do our absolute best work. For me, that’s working with people who have extreme anxiety (think panic disorder) or who have developed PTSD after a sexual assault and are motivated to get their life back. I’m at my best when I’m sitting with those clients.

As I gave thought to this early in my practice, that’s who I started targeting for SEO. Over time as my SEO improved, I was able to get enough new clients calling that I could be picky and only work with those clients who I’m excited to show up and work with each week. I believe you and (if you’re a group practice owner) your clinicians deserve that too. I believe you’ll do your best work when it’s those ideal clients who call you.

So, I started Simplified SEO Consulting. And I brought on people who are a lot smarter than me about the technical stuff, but who also all have some sort of background in mental health (typically a degree in psychology or social work with some related experience) so they “get” the importance of us getting your site ranking for the right things.

How Simplified SEO Consulting Can Help

From the start, I’ve wanted Simplified SEO Consulting to make getting to the top of Google an easier journey for other clinicians than it was for me. So, we offer you a range of options. For some busy practice owners, it’s easier just to outsource their SEO. So, we have a solid “Done for You” option where a team of SEO specialists with complementary strengths works together to optimize your website for you while maintaining regular communication with you to ensure their work really represents the work you do.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have simple DIY SEO courses for therapists who are really bootstrapping things and have a lot more time than money at the moment. And in between, we have small group SEO group training or a 12 week 1:1 SEO Intensive where you’re still learning to optimize your own site but have more support from our team implementing these techniques on your own website.

Whatever level of support you want/need right now, we’re here to help. Even if you don’t have a single penny to spend on SEO, use these tips I wrote above, our free 7-day email series, and other blogs on our website to get started. Because while there are a lot of wonderful marketing options out there for therapists these days, this is a great one if you have the right resources to help you along the way.

About the Author

Jessica Tappana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an active caseload of her own, a group practice owner, and an SEO guru for mental health professionals. She taught herself SEO the hard way while growing her group practice. That practice now has 10 clinicians who get to each see their ideal clients because they usually have 10-25 more calls per week than they have openings in the practice. She founded Simplified SEO Consulting to help other practice owners get to that same place.

Jessica has a team of amazing SEO professionals at Simplified SEO Consulting who now do much of the day-to-day work. This allows Jessica to spend time almost daily reading about the latest SEO trends, practice using new techniques or tools, teaching her team more about the integration between SEO & running a practice, and helping problem solve websites that just aren’t responding to our work the way we’d like.

March 10, 2022/0 Comments/by Jessica

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

The Hidden SEO Power of Photos

In a previous post, it has been described how to use Alt text as an SEO strategy. I want to dive deeper into the secret power of using photos for SEO. The secret power of the alt text and photo titles is that it is mostly hidden. Headings, links, CTA/OS sections, and meta descriptions are all SEO strategies that are going to be seen by most, if not all, people that google and look at your website. While the alt text will be used for a screen reader it is not something that every person is going to read through. However, it will have some weight when trying to get a boost from SEO.

What information is beneficial when optimizing photos?

So how can you use the hidden tool to further your SEO? With therapy keywords and locations! If you have read any of our blogs then you have most likely read about the importance of keywords and locations in all areas of SEO optimization. Using them in photo optimization is a little different though.

Therapy Keywords

First, let’s look at the starting point for SEO: keywords. You will most likely come across some keywords that you are not a fan of or do not fit the voice on your site. However, they might be keywords that your ideal clients utilize. Furthermore, these unfavorable keywords might help your SEO due to easy ranking power or high search volume. Take the keyword “counselor” for example. Maybe you have a strong preference for the term “therapist”. However, “counselor” might be easier to rank for or has a higher search volume in your area.

There is a way to help stay true to your voice without losing out on the SEO benefit of using “counselor”. It would still be important to utilize ‘counselor’ within the text of the page and in other SEO strategies whenever possible. However, the alt text and photo title will allow you to utilize it a lot more and thus leading to a higher ranking in google.

Locations For Potential Clients

Secondly, let’s look at locations that you want to target. It is common practice as an SEO specialist for therapists that I try to pinpoint specific locations by utilizing zip codes. At Simplified SEO Consulting during our Done-For-You program, our clients are asked to choose 6 to 9 zip codes they want to target. On a single page or blog post, you are not going to be able to include all of these zip codes in the text. Additionally, there will most likely be locations that you might want to include but do not want to focus on. In general, these types of locations include:

Specific communities within your city
Specific neighborhoods that have a local well known name such as talking about Ballard in Seattle
Metro area (such as Houston area or Portland area)
A general location within your state ( such as Mid Missouri or Northeast Kansas)

For the most part, using the above locations in headings and meta descriptions doesn’t work as well as using your specific city. That does not mean you have to lose out on targeting those key locations.

What areas should you utilize when optimizing photos?

When optimizing photos for SEO there are three areas that you should focus on. Compressing photos is the first step for photo optimization. Once a photo is uploaded the alt text and the photo title (alt title) are the focus areas for google. Thus, making them the hidden tools for SEO.

Choosing and Compressing Photos for Private Practice SEO

When it comes to photos optimization starts before you even upload them. The photos you put on your website need to be in sync with the style throughout your pages. Beyond that, the images need to send the right message to your clients. As well as complementing the topic of that page or post. In a previous blog post, it is thoroughly detailed why selecting the right photos is important.

There is a step between selecting photos and uploading them to a page that is beneficial for SEO. Compressing photos is an important step for SEO which is commonly missed. Uncompressed photos affect the loading speed of your website. Having just one uncompressed photo on your site might not show a noticeable change in speed. However, as you add more photos throughout your pages potential clients and google will notice the effects. Wondering why page speed is important for SEO? Read more about how page speed affects private practice SEO.

Step by Step Guide to Compressing

Compressing a photo isn’t as difficult as it can sound if you are unfamiliar with the process. One tool that we use and suggest is TinyPNG. It is a simple to use and effective image compressor website. Altogether compressing photos is a fairly simple two-step process.

If given the option while downloading an image choose a medium size (px | 1600 x 1066).
Download that image into a photo compressor online. Then redownload it.

After that the first part of optimizing your photos is complete! The additional areas for photo optimization begin after the image as been uploaded to a page.

Alt Text for Photos

At Simplified SEO Consulting we format alt text and photo titles differently. When optimizing the alt text it is important to start with a sentence describing the image. A fellow SEO specialist has previously detailed the importance of describing images in the alt text more in-depth. Following the description, the rest of the alt text can be sentences packed with keywords. Try to use two to three keywords in the alt text. Having at least one of those keywords as a long-tail keyword with a location. Using a combination of the top keywords you are trying to target on that page and the ones that fit the topic but are not utilized a lot throughout the text. Even if it will not fit with a keyword, include at least one location name. Whenever possible try to insert a zip code in as well along with the location name.

Examples of Alt Text Optimized for a Website for a Counselor, Psychologist or Psychiatrist

Photo of a person taking a pill representing someone who has come to our Midtown Manhattan psychiatry office for depression and anxiety. Our psychiatrists provide medication management for mental health concerns including PTSD, bipolar disorder, lasting depression, panic attacks, and more for people living in New York City.
Photo of a happy young black woman representing someone who has attended counseling for depression and is feeling excited about life after reducing her symptoms of depression. Our counselors provide help for depression at our office in Austin or to anyone throughout Texas through online counseling.
A person talking in an office representing talking to a therapist or other mental health professional Maddison, WI.
The word “ADHD” in colorful letters represents how the testing psychologists at our Jamestown, Rhode Island practice provide various types of psychological testing including testing for learning disabilities.

Photo Title

The photo title differs in that it doesn’t need to be in complete sentences. When working on search engine optimization for counselors I try to include the following items in the photo title:

2 to 3 words summarizing the image
1 long-tail keyword
2 to 3 short tail keywords
2 to 3 zip codes

I separate each of these components with a vertical bar ( | ) to help distinguish each keyword and zip code.

Examples of Photo File Names for Psychiatry & Counseling Websites

Here are a few examples:

Happy Couple | Marriage Counseling After Affair | Denali, AK 99755
Smiling Teen | Teen Counseling | Adolescent Therapy | Kapalua, HI 96761
Diverse Group | Group Therapy for Addiction | Addiction Counseling | 85054 | 85357
Prescription Bottles | Psychiatric Medication Management | Psychiatrist | 94809 | 95013

Final thoughts in regards to SEO for counselors

Using specific keywords and locations for photo optimization doesn’t mean you should not use them throughout the pages altogether. Photos do not replace the benefit of using keywords and locations in headings, links, meta descriptions, etc. However, they do give an added benefit especially when you don’t want those specific keywords and locations heavily used on your pages. Put the photos on your website to good use by adding alt text and photo titles.

Want help making the most out of your photos?

Are you a therapist who loves the idea of letting the photos on your website work for you? If you are unsure of where to start or do not feel like you have the time you have options! We provide SEO help for therapists. Our team of dedicated and skilled SEO specialists who are ready to help you reach your SEO goals. At Simplified SEO Consulting it is our passion to help get your website ranking in Google through SEO. Start follow these steps :

Make an appointment with our Consult Team
Take a look at our motivated team of SEO Specialists.
Start learning how to build SEO for therapists.

Simplified SEO Consulting’s Other Services

There are several options for search engine optimization guidance at Simplified SEO Consulting. For those who want the most assistance and guidance, we offer Done for You SEO Service packages. If you are wanting to be more involved and learn how to do SEO for counselors yourself then one of our online courses or SEO training opportunities might be right for you. With limited time and positions look into our SEO Mastermind group which is a great training opportunity at a discount. Maybe you are looking for a more specialized package? We also offer a SEO strategy package for that. To get started, make an appointment with our Client Success Specialist today!

About the Author:

Winnie is part of the dedicated team at Simplified SEO Consulting. She works hard as one of our Mental Health SEO Specialists. Specializing in working with our clients who have picked our Done for You package.

She has a lot of passion for providing SEO help for therapists. If you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you, schedule your next consultation. Speak with our Client Success Specialist to discuss how Winnie can support you on your SEO journey.

March 8, 2022/0 Comments/by Winnie Youger-Rash

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

Using Inclusive SEO Keywords

Happy people wearing gay pride flags celebrating the improvement of SEO keywords You are a diversity focused psychiatrist or therapist and want to rank for SEO keywords. Your practice is going, but could use a boost. You’ve done some keyword research yourself, or hired someone to do it for you and well, the keywords they recommend are. . . not the terminology you would use.

“Mason, why do we use keywords that are out of date? I want to use the most up to date language to ensure I am in alignment with my ideal client. To be frank, I don’t want to offend people who might benefit from my services!”

I understand and empathize entirely. Writing copy for SEO with language that feels out of alignment is difficult. You don’t want to attract clients who aren’t ideal, but also know that you’d love to reach people who simply don’t know any better. Luckily, there is a way to navigate this to maintain your authenticity and rank for SEO without turning away clients who understand the latest terminology.

Why do we use SEO keywords that are out of date?

I know it can be confusing to try to rank for keywords that don’t seem to be in alignment with current language usage. However, many times the keywords that are up to date are much harder to rank for and/or don’t have the search volume that makes it worth optimizing for that keyword. For example, the SEO keyword “Asperger syndrome” has nearly 5 times the amount of searches as “neurodiverse” and is just as easy to rank for.

We want to get your website in front of as many of the right eyes as possible. Imagine you are a stressed out and worried parent of a kiddo who is dealing with being neurodiverse. Are you more likely to search for terms that are more commonly used, but not as inclusive as the latest language? Probably.

This doesn’t mean you use offensive language or use words inappropriately. Instead, use words which are slightly dated, but not blatantly offensive. For example, trying to rank for “neurodiverse support group in Georgia” leads to so few search results that the data simply isn’t there. However, searching for “Asperger’s support group in Georgia” leads to over 200 searches a month, and is actually easier to rank for than “neurodiverse support group in Georgia.”

Informing your clients you ARE inclusive, even if your SEO Keywords aren’t

young woman sits in her living room typing on her computer as she blogs for SEO. Learn SEO and more about copywriting from an SEO expert at Simplified SEO Consulting Now that you understand why we sometimes want to rank for language which is dated, let’s talk about how to do that without turning away your ideal clients who might be hurt or offended by language usage. There are many ways you can use dated language while also using language which is up to date. See the three tips below to get started!

Use External Links to Explain the Out of Date Language

The easiest way to show that you are inclusive while using dated SEO keywords is to include a link to an explanation of why that word is offensive. Including a disclaimer at the top of the blog post also helps with this. It let’s your ideal clients know you are being intentional in using dated language. Let them know you would ALWAYS respect the language they use to identify with. The APA style guide has a great inclusive language dictionary which can give you good definitions to use, and is a great resource to link for to help educate both clients who are up to date on language and those who are not.

Include a disclaimer

In addition to, or in place of a link to a definition, a disclaimer at the bottom of the blog post is a great option. The only negative to this is that someone might not scroll that far, therefore I would encourage you to use both a definition link and a disclaimer at the top of the page to ensure everyone finishes the blog post (and of course clicks that call to action link and schedules their first appointment)!

Including the disclaimer on your home page or about page is a great practice to keep your site from getting too cluttered.

woman in a sweater types on a laptop representing blogging for SEO. Learn more from an seo expert and copywriter at Simplified SEO Consulting

Writing a diversity statement

Something I would encourage all of you to do is to write a diversity statement. Writing a diversity statement and including it on your about or home page goes a long way. This can be a simple paragraph which encompasses where your therapy practice stands on inclusion. It can also explain that some people simply don’t know the best language yet.

Sample diversity statement:

“At _______ we strive to be as inclusive as possible. However, we acknowledge that language is ever changing and fluid. We are all on different stages in our journey to inclusion, which means at times we might use language which isn’t as up to date. This is intentional so that those who are just beginning their journey can come along for the ride and get the support they need. Using the language our clients use is a commitment we have made as a practice. We welcome caring critique of the language we are using and desire to learn how to know better, so we can do better.”

Begin Copywriting with Inclusive SEO Keywords at Simplified SEO Consulting

Writing can be difficult, and finding time as a busy practice owner isn’t easy. As a mental health SEO Copywriter, I recommend hiring out your SEO and writing. We see tremendous results for clients across the country. I love taking the stress out of getting words onto the computer screen. Follow these three simple steps to begin copywriting with Simplified SEO Consulting today!

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Other Services Offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

We offer many services in addition to copywriting at Simplified SEO Consulting. We offer Done for You SEO Service packages and SEO training courses. Our “Top of Google” course is incredibly popular with those who are just exploring the world of search engine optimization for therapists. To get started, schedule a call with our Client Success Specialist today!

About the Author

Photo of Mason, SEO Content Writer for Simplified SEO Consulting, holding a butterfly on his arm. Mason Aid (They/He) is a Mental Health SEO Copywriter at Simplified SEO Consulting. They love solving the puzzle of fitting the right keywords into your copy so you attract your dream clients. They have their Bachelors Degree in Sociology and a continued interest in advocating for marginalized people and mental health.

March 3, 2022/0 Comments/by Mason Aid