One of my favorite things about Simplified is that we challenge the “one size fits all” approach. Through years of working with therapists throughout the country (and internationally!), we know that every practice is starting at a different place. And, that each practice has different goals.

With that in mind, we’re also very aware of the practice’s capacity.

What does that mean? Well, each practice has different resources. This can be having a team with many clinicians that can delegate tasks. Other times, this looks like have more administrative time to knock the behind-the-scenes tasks. Again, this is different for everyone. But, you’re probably wondering how this relates to SEO. Well, let me tell ya!

A brain is pondering a question. This is related to doing your own website optimization. Simplified offers training courses to teach therapists how to build their own SEO.

Your practice’s capacity determines which SEO service makes the most sense. We offer services for practices at every stage. For some, our Done For You services are a great fit. Other times, our al a carte or online courses make sense. Furthermore, our Done With You services can be a great fit for some practices.

. . . Done With You Services?

Yep, Done With You Services! This service is our 12-week intensive training option. With this package, you’ll work one-on-one with our SEO specialists to learn how to do your own optimization. We meet every other week to teach you SEO concepts that you’ll be applying in real-time. During this time, we’ll work together on your site. We start with some basic keyword research and competitor research. From there, we work on writing stellar meta descriptions and creating SEO-worthy titles. Then, we do on-page optimization. This is when we work on incorporating headings, infusing keywords, and adding location indicators. The next step is internal links, external links, call to action, and other services sections. Don’t forget about adding photos with alt text!

A few of you reading this are PUMPED

A cartoon brain holds dumbbells. This demonstrates concepts of doing your own website optimization. Training options with Simplified can help you to boost SEO.

This sounds exciting, right? Learning how to do all of the SEO things on your own! If learning how to do your own website optimization sounds appealing to you, this blog is for you! Moving forward, I’ll cover some personal qualities that can determine your success in doing your own website optimization. From our experience, we have seen a theme of what determines success. Today, I’ll be covering a few signs that can help determine if doing your own website optimization could be a good fit for you!

So, who should do their own website optimization?

1. Website Optimization Consideration #1: Service providers that are the “hands-on” type

These are the folks that like to have their hands in every pot. Typically, these are the people that learn the best by doing- or our kinesthetic learners. And, have curiosity about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans. This often comes in handy for service providers doing their own optimization because it’s up to them to get it done! On top of that, there’s a healthy dose of curiosity that comes along with it, too. We find that providers are the most successful when they want to build their skills and understanding of SEO. At first, it will probably feel like learning a different language. But, after time, the pieces of the puzzle will start to fit.

In addition, therapists that are willing to dedicate some time to learning SEO are often more successful. While learning SEO won’t require as much time as obtaining licensure, there is still a component of time that comes along with doing their own website optimization.

2. Website Optimization Consideration #2: Clinicians that are willing to learn

A cartoon brain uses a laptop. This reflects concepts of doing your own website optimization. Learn more about how Simplified can help you to build SEO.

Correction: clinicians that are willing to learn things for their practice that grad school never taught them. Something that I, along with the other SEO Specialists, have heard time and time again is that grad school “didn’t teach (them) how to run a practice.” And that’s definitely true! What’s more, grad school didn’t teach you how to SEO either.

Learning SEO requires *some* unlearning of grad school.

What does this mean? Good SEO requires you not to write like you’re creating an essay for grad school. One of the determining factors of good SEO is readability. Typically, Google responds best to pages that have the readability of 5th grade. Essentially, Google likes when we write in a way that a 5th grader could read it and understand it. To achieve this, we recommend:

  • limiting run-on sentences (but really, aim to have NO run-on sentences)
  • adding transition words
  • having lots of headings and subheadings
  • not having sections longer than 150 words without a heading
  • straying away from academic language 
    • if it’s a sentence you would include in an essay, it likely needs to be edited

And, will to learn some techy things

In doing your own SEO, there are some techy aspects that come along with it. To be clear, we’re not expecting anyone to learn how to do their own coding. But, some of the processes require to you know a little more than the average bear. Better yet, they require you to be willing to learn more than the average bear. Doing your own SEO requires you to learn how to set up Google Search Console and Google My Business. On top of that, submitting sitemaps and requesting indexing are tasks that come along with website optimization as well.

Just to be clear: we’ll teach you how to do all of these things!

We know that doing your own SEO is the farthest thing from common knowledge. We’re aware that there’s a lot that goes into it. And, at first, it might feel pretty overwhelming. But you want to know a secret? None of our specialists were familiar with SEO when they started! But, after some training, practice, and personal research, we become experts! Just like you, we felt intimidated with learning what seems like an underground black market trade. But, after practice and guidance, we got the hang of it.

And the super cool thing? So can you!

3. Website Optimization Consideration #3: Therapists that have future projects in mind

A brain holds a lightbulb. This is related to doing your own website optimization. Simplified offers training option so therapists can learn how to do their own website optimization and boost SEO.

Especially if you have a few projects in mind that will require you to use the internet to some capacity. This looks different for everyone. But, some common themes that I’ve heard in the past include changing your URL or practice name. Sometimes, practice owners decide to expand their practice. However, the name or website URL they previously had doesn’t quite fit anymore. Other times, practice owners see a website redesign in their future. In both of these scenarios, SEO will take a drastic hit. Big changes like this will result in an initial decrease in your SEO.

A metaphor that I like to compare it to is a breakup.

Let’s pretend your website and Google are in a relationship. Things have been going steady and it seems like you’re both happy. But, out of the blue, your website breaks up with Google. From Google’s point of view, this was completely unexpected. Things were going great, then you suddenly end things with no warning? Google is very confused. And, incredibly hurt. Now, Google has trust issues with your site. Then, it sees that you’re coming back (submitting sitemaps, requesting indexing, updating your Google My Business). And Google wants to trust you. But, it’s not quite ready for it. Now, Google needs you to prove that you’re committed this time. And, the only way to show that is through time and rebuilding your SEO.

But, you’ll get back to where you were! Maybe not overnight. But, you’ll recover your SEO. And, hopefully exceed the SEO you built up previously.

Of course, there are other “projects” or “changes” that would make you a great fit for doing their own website optimization

Everyone sees a different future for their practice. If yours is full of new projects, expansions, or dabbling in podcasts, website optimization could be a great fit. Why? Because this will be one less thing you need to pay to outsource! Instead, you can take some time to learn how to do it yourself then apply it as you need to in the future.

A few details about our Done With You program

Two brains are shown. This demonstrates concepts of doing your own website optimization to boost therapist SEO.

At Simplified, we truly believe that any therapist can learn to do their own SEO and website optimization. And, we’re happy to teach those tools! Our 12-week intensive program is a great option for practitioners that are curious and excited to learn how to do their own SEO. In our training program, our approach is holistic. Our goal is to teach you everything you need to know to do your own website optimization. We start from the beginning and cover the basics. From there, we gradually incorporate skills that increasingly become more advanced. With this in mind, we walk along with you the entire time.

Our training program is a unique one-on-one opportunity that teaches you everything you need to know about website optimization. On top of that, we offer technical support and guidance throughout the entire time. You’ll meet with your SEO Specialist every other week for 12-weeks. During this time, we’ll cover the content that was included in your “homework.” On top of that, we’ll do some on-page optimization to see what it looks like in real-time. In addition, you will be offered resources that explain concepts in greater detail. Our intention is for you to incorporate these concepts each week on your site with our guidance. Along the way, we’re happy to answer any questions that come up.

So, are you ready to get the training party started?

I hope you found this interesting! As aforementioned, the training program can be a great fit for some clinicians. We’d love to have you in our training program! If you decide that you’re ready to do your own website optimization, follow these steps:

  1. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with us. 
  2. Get to know our team of highly skilled and experienced SEO specialists.
  3. Brag to your other therapist friends that you can optimize your website optimization 🙂

For those that aren’t interested in Done With You services, we also offer Done For You services where we do the optimization. Either way, we’re happy to help!

About the Author

Alyssa has been a member of the Simplified family for the past few months. And, is now stepping into a role providing training and additional support for folks learning SEO. As a current graduate student in the Advanced Placement MSW Program at Mizzou, Alyssa loves the world of mental health and technology. In addition, Alyssa has a growing interest in using social media to grow a practicethe importance of live feed, and building backlinks. She wrote a two-part blog post series about the importance of blogging for SEO. This series addressed the importance of blogging and original content. In addition, she is co-hosting a blogging masterclass that will soon be available for purchase. Stick around for some more hands-on opportunities!

In the ever-evolving legal landscape, marketing has become a fundamental component of success for personal injury law firms, regardless of their size. For small law firms, in particular, strategic marketing can make a substantial difference in their ability to thrive and grow. In this comprehensive blog, we will explore the essential aspects of marketing for small law firms, addressing their purpose, the best advertising approaches, how to effectively promote your practice, and determining the right marketing budget. Enhance your law practice with our SEO for personal injury lawyers!

What is the Purpose of Marketing a Law Firm?

The purpose of marketing a law firm goes beyond just attracting clients. It’s about creating a strong brand presence, building credibility, and fostering long-term growth. Here’s a breakdown of what marketing can do in a law firm:

Attracting Clients: The primary objective of legal marketing is to attract potential clients. By showcasing your expertise, highlighting your practice areas, and addressing common legal questions, your marketing efforts draw in individuals seeking legal assistance.

Building Credibility: Marketing can help establish your personal injury law firm as a credible and trustworthy source in the legal field. It conveys expertise, experience, and professionalism. These are crucial factors in gaining client trust.

Creating Brand Awareness: Effective marketing cultivates brand recognition. When individuals think of legal services, your firm should be top of mind. Brand awareness ensures that your firm is easily recalled when potential clients require legal assistance.

Differentiation: In a crowded marketplace, marketing allows your small law firm to differentiate itself from your competitors. Highlighting your unique strengths and the specific legal services you offer sets you apart in the minds of potential clients.

Client Retention and Referrals: Marketing efforts aren’t limited to attracting new clients. By maintaining strong client relationships and providing valuable content, you can encourage repeat business and referrals, which are critical for long-term success.

What is the Best Form of Advertising for a Lawyer?

Selecting the right form of advertising or best marketing strategy for lawyers involves a thorough understanding of your target audience and the competitive landscape. While different strategies work for different practices, some approaches have proven effective for many personal injury lawyers:

Content Marketing: Creating informative and valuable content is a powerful way to demonstrate expertise and engage potential clients. Blog posts, articles, and whitepapers can showcase your legal knowledge and build trust.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Organic search visibility is vital. SEO helps your website rank higher in search results, increasing the likelihood that potential clients will find you. It’s an investment that yields long-term benefits.

Social Media Engagement: Engaging with your audience on social media platforms can increase brand recognition and foster relationships with potential clients. Sharing valuable content and showcasing your expertise can be highly effective.

How Do I Promote My Small Law Firm?

Promoting a small personal injury law firm requires a well-thought-out strategy. Promoting a small law firm with SEO services is a strategic approach to enhance online visibility, attract potential clients, and establish credibility in the digital realm. Here’s a more in-depth look at how to effectively leverage SEO for your small law firm:

Define Your Niche: Identify your specific legal niche and target audience. Understanding your unique strengths and specialization is the first step in effective promotion.

Create a Strong Online Presence: Invest in a professional website that is user-friendly and responsive. Ensure that it showcases your expertise and practice areas effectively.

Content Creation: Develop high-quality content that addresses common legal questions, provides insights into legal changes, and showcases your expertise. This content should be informative and valuable to your target audience.

Engage on Social Media: Establish an active presence on social media platforms where your potential clients are active. Regularly share content, engage with your audience, and participate in discussions related to your field.

Optimize for Local SEO: If you serve a specific geographic area, optimize your online presence for local SEO. This includes creating a Google My Business listing, managing online reviews, and ensuring your business information is consistent across online directories.

Local Citations: Ensure your business information, including NAP, is consistent across online local directories and citation sites. Inconsistent information can harm your local SEO efforts.

How Much Should a Small Law Firm Spend on Marketing?

Determining how much law firms should spend on marketing law firm involves a thoughtful assessment of your practice areas, goals, and your competitors. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, a general guideline is to allocate between 2% to 5% of your gross revenue to marketing. However, for newly established firms or those in highly competitive markets or areas, this percentage may need to be higher. It’s essential to regularly review and adjust your marketing budget based on results and changing market conditions to ensure the best return on investment (ROI). 

Navigating the Legal Marketing Maze for Small Law Firms with SEO

As you can see, marketing is an indispensable tool for small law firms seeking to succeed in today’s competitive legal landscape. By understanding its purpose, selecting the best advertising strategies, promoting your practice effectively, and determining the right marketing budget, you can create a strong brand presence, attract clients, and foster long-term growth for your small law firm.

Begin SEO Services with Simplified Consulting Today!

Ready to elevate your personal injury law firm’s online presence and attract more clients? Our expert SEO services are tailored to empower your practice. Let’s connect to discuss how we can boost your visibility and drive results. Follow the simple steps below:

  1. Schedule a consultation here!
  2. Meet with one of our dedicated SEO Specialists. 
  3. Watch your personal injury law firm flourish!

Other Services Simplified SEO Consulting Offers:

Simplified SEO Consulting offers a range of services to help you improve your website’s online presence. We offer Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses, which are customized to enhance your search engine rankings and attract your ideal clients. We also have a 12-week Done With You Intensive Program for comprehensive training. Our Content Networking service can help you boost your online presence and attract more of your ideal clients. Check out our blog for more tips and guides on SEO.

Here is what you can look forward to with this blog:Woman typing on computer typing her cornerstone blog post. We get you're busy, but part of being a business owner is providing value to clients. Learn about how blogging for SEO with cornerstone content can help you make a good first impression.

Table of Contents:
What cornerstone content is not?
What is a Cornerstone Blog?
Why should I write cornerstone content?
What goes into writing cornerstone content?
What topics should I write about?
Will the client read a 2000 word blog post?
What If I Can’t Write 2000 Word Blog Posts?
Brief tips for long term maintenance

 

SOOO…You’ve probably had a planning call or are about to where your specialist has said, “Well since we are done with service pages, it’s time to move on to blogs”. Which may be exciting or evoke a feeling of dread. We know you’re busy people taking care of your business and your clients. The thought of writing three two thousand word cornerstone blogs can be stressful. Ok, pause, take a deep breath. I know this seems like a lot, and many of you may be wondering, how do I write it, what should I write it on, how can I write two thousand words, will clients read this, what is the point? And so on.  All the questions surface. I am here to help you make sense of this and to guide you in what cornerstone content can look like. So, let’s dive in.  

First things first, at Simplified we have specific plans for you. We know that writing blogs are very helpful in supporting SEO. We wouldn’t ask you to spend your time writing if it wasn’t going to help. This isn’t grad school, it’s your business. We value your time and efforts. So, know that we expect the freak out when we tell you to write this much, and we are happy to provide guidance.  

What Cornerstone Content is Not?

First things first. You have written beautiful service pages that speak to your brand, business, and your services. These are meant to be around 500 words minimum. A cornerstone is not space for you to rewrite a longer version of your service page. Now you can do this, but a blog is more of a passion piece to write why you love therapy, how you’re specializing, common issues people encounter, helpful coping strategies, and so much more. It’s a taste of what people can get in therapy and a resource for potential and current clients.  

What is a Cornerstone Blog?

A cornerstone blog is a glimpse into who you are in your practice. It will serve as a foundational piece of content, addressing key topics and establishing your authority in the field. You will write pieces that are meant to resonate with the core of your client’s struggles. It is not meant to be reiterating service pages. Neither are you trying to write a very technical piece about your services. No, you are speaking as who you are as a clinician, or about what your practice represents.

Remember those bits of wisdom that your clients give you. We can all learn from them. Perhaps, you can write an open letter to people dealing with anxiety. Empathize with their experience and give them hope. May even write a less technical explanation of how EMDR can help. There is a world of possibilities.  Find your passion, a common thread, or write something new. Just listen and go deep.

Why Should I Write Cornerstone Content?

First, writing a cornerstone blog helps you build traffic and awareness of who you are as a clinician. You can only write so much on a service page, but you can expand when it comes to a blog. If there is a certain clientele you work with such as individuals dealing with trauma that shows up as anxiety, write a blog. There is no way you can truly encapsulate that you work with this population on a service page.  

You become the expert

Another reason is that it establishes you as an expert. Google knows that you’re an authority when you write a service page with 500 words of content. However, when you write a blog post and link it to the page, Google begins to set you up as an expert because you have even more content.  

Drives in traffic

It’s a great way to drive in traffic. What a well-written blog will do is help clients see a bit more into your therapeutic approach, your experience, and common issues people are dealing with that you can help with. By having 3 cornerstones front and center on the site, you’ll bring in more leads, which is the goal. Plus, by linking blogs to each other and service pages, you’re making your content more accessible. This reduces the bounce rate and ensures that potentials are getting all the information that they need upfront before deciding to continue further or bounce off. Service pages are great, but they only provide a small picture of what you can do.  

Helps generate more blog ideas

Lastly, when struggling to write your posts, once you get started you may realize you have a lot more to say than you think. You could get to 2000 words and think I still have so much more to say, so this further allows you to generate ideas for shorter blogs, or it could be the beginning of a blog series 

Person writing down keywords for an SEO search. A good foundation matters when writing quality cornerstone content. Take some time to gather information and the begin writing you cornerstones blogs.

What Goes into Writing Cornerstone Content?

First, you will want to identify keywords you want to boost. Now you can do this on your own by looking at your data dashboard with Simplified or from any free tool like Google Trends. Perhaps, you can even do a basic Google search on keywords you want to rank for and see where you land on the Google search engine. Then look at what people are searching for. Talk to friends, and family, listen to what new clients are saying, and create a list. Per blog, you’ll have the main keyword like EMDR therapy. Then you may have to tap EMDR, anxiety, EMDR, and dealing with trauma.

These can be subheadings, placed into alt text, or put throughout the copy. You or our specialists can either do this. The goal is to understand what your topic is and to make sure that the keywords make sense. Based on this choose the topic and begin writing. Break it down into subheadings, answer common questions, and so on. Here is an example of what cornerstone content can look like. After you’ve written the content it’s important to make sure it is well-optimized and kept up to date, which I will get into.  

What Topics Should I Write About When Blogging for SEO?

Here is the thing, I can’t answer that definitively unless I’ve personally worked on your site. However, I can tell you some great examples. It’s always a good idea to write one on online therapy because you can boost harder-to-rank keywords such as therapy, therapist, online counseling, and so on. Plus, it helps with local SEO. You can write how-to guides, open letters, comprehensive guides to therapy, tips on how to cope with various issues, and a client-friendly understanding of therapy approaches. You can write about timely pieces, or even make it more personal if it’s in line with your code of ethics. There is a world of possibilities, so don’t box yourself in.  

Honestly, Will Clients Read a 2000 Word Blog Post?

Yes and no. Honestly, most clients will not spend 10 minutes reading a 2000-word blog post, but that is where SEO comes in. Some of you may not like subheadings, but they are so useful. Clients will scan your page and look for a section that speaks to them before deciding what to do next or bouncing off. Subheadings help from an accessibility standpoint to organize your message and help clients find what they need faster. Now there may be special clients who will take the time to read your blogs, but most will scan.  

If not, why write long cornerstone content?

That is where the SEO continues to be useful. Google reads everything because it tries to understand your writing and look for key phrases. When Google understands your message, it can help to align you with the correct traffic that may be looking for your page. So, Google will look for keywords, readability, internal and external links, alt text, and so on. That is what Google is for, to pair the reader with the right experience. So having these long in-depth blogs that have been well-optimized helps Google bring you the right traffic, more accurately, and more consistently Words "you've got this" written on a side walk. Your time is valuable, we get this. However, blogging for SEO is such a powerful component to SEO. Learn about why cornerstone content is so crucial today!

What If I Can’t Write 2000 Word Blog Posts?

The two thousand words are ideal and a suggestion. Ultimately, you have the autonomy to do what you choose, but it will help. We recommend it, but for those really struggling consider writing a shorter 2- or 3-part blog series on the same topic. To be honest, sometimes when you just give it a chance, you’ll find you have more to say than you think. Plus, once you’ve written them, that’s one big task out of the way. Take a breath and see what you’ve accomplished. Additionally, while it’s easier said than done if you have a group practice, have your clinicians write blogs, especially if they specialize in a particular service. Or look at old blog posts you can revamp.  

How does blogging support SEO for my website?

Well-written content that has been well-optimized, helps Google draw in the right people. Cornerstones are often another first impression that helps the client understand who you are. Remember that part of the client experience is first impressions. According to a study done by the Missouri University of Science and Technology, when viewing a website, it takes users less than two-tenths of a second for someone to formulate a first impression. So, we must be mindful of how quickly some can be interested versus disinterested in how we can help. So, being clear in our message, taking time to show you understand what the client is dealing with and can help, having additional resources, and a clear way to get started matters. Check out our blog on how holistic SEO is a great way to engage clients.  

Tips for Maintaining SEO With Cornerstone Content.

Lastly, I want to mention that it’s not enough to just write cornerstone content, you need to make sure it stays relevant. So, if you write content and something changes in the therapy world, make sure you’re going back to this content and updating it occasionally. We want to ensure not only Google but clients that we are staying on top of new advances and we intend to assist clients in the best way possible.  

Ready to Begin Your SEO Journey to Writing Quality Cornerstone Content?

What other questions come up for you when you consider cornerstone content? Reach out to the Simplified Team if you have further questions on how we can help you. If you’re working on cornerstone content, you’re probably our ideal client, because we love optimizing these blog posts for SEO! Cornerstones are the next step in our process to make sure your SEO maintains, and you continue to draw in your people. How you put yourself out on the internet professionally impacts your direct traffic. Write meaningful and useful blogs that provoke action, and thought, and give resources to your current and potential clients. If you’re looking for someone to guide you in that process, get in touch with Simplified SEO Consulting. You will work with skilled mental health SEO specialists who are passionate about the field. To get started follow these simple steps: 

  1. Schedule a consultation with our Client Success Specialist 
  2. Learn about the Simplified Team! 
  3. Start working with the clients that you serve best. 

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, an SEO Specialist and Client Success Specialists 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. 

I realize there’s a lot to learn when it comes to SEO. Even if you’re working with a professional to optimize your site, you may have questions. Today, I want to give you some resources to help you answer some common questions we’re frequently asked.

This blog will answer the following questions:

What is SEO?

If you’re new around here, you may be wondering what is SEO? SEO stands for search engine optimization. The goal of SEO is to help you get to the top of the search results on Google or other search engines. Therefore, SEO refers to any changes you make on your website with the goal of getting it to show up higher organically (without paying for ads) in search engine results.That sounds pretty great, right? 

Want to learn more?

Check out my Common Questions About SEO

How do I get Google to notice my website?

SEO infographic that says strategy link building, content, traffic, keyword research, feedback, social network. Learn about seo from therapists from an seo specialist at simplified seo consulting

Getting to the top of Google requires optimizing your website. Every company has a different strategy on how to do this. But it essentially boils down to three components: technical SEO, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO. 

  • Technical SEO: This incorporates the aspects of your website’s infrastructure that impact user experience. Some examples include: how quickly your site loads, the structure of your site, having duplicate or plagiarized content, and submitting your sitemaps on Google Search Console.
  • On-page SEO: On-page SEO is the fun part. This is when we work to make your page speak directly to your ideal client. This includes things like simplifying the readability, adding subheadings, a call to action, the other services section, and adding and optimizing photos.
  • Off-page SEO: This includes things from external sources that boost your site’s credibility. This includes: adding external links, getting backlinks that point to your site, marketing efforts, and getting on therapist directories.

Want to Learn More? Check Out These Blogs:

Understanding the Three Main Components of SEO

The Importance of a Holistic SEO Approach

SEO Worksop: Website Speed and SEO

Setting Up Google Search Console

Why should therapists invest in SEO?

Close up of a black business man updating the SEO on his website.Simply put, getting to the top of Google helps you reach more clients and provide them with high-quality mental health services. 

Perhaps you’re building or scaling your private practice and need to increase your caseloads. But, you’re finding that’s tough when no one knows about the services you offer. Enter SEO. It is a powerful marketing tool that can help you build your know, like, and trust factor with clients before they even walk in your door. If Google ranks you well and you answer the queries of your ideal client then you are likely to build their trust and compel them to call you. 

Investing Time and/or Money

The truth is that if you were smart enough to finish grad school, get a professional license and open your own business you’re probably smart enough to learn at least the basics on SEO on your own.  But should you? Or is it time to outsource?  It’s really a time versus money situation.  You can invest a lot of time in learning to optimize your own website through online courses or training/coaching programs.  Or you can pay someone else to optimize your website, although even then there will be somewhat of a time investment as you provide them instruction, feedback, etc.  It’s really a matter of where you fall at this point in time on the time versus money to invest and what your personal preferences are.

Curious? Check out these SEO blogs:

Jessica’s SEO Journey

3 Reasons Helping Professionals Should Invest in Hiring an SEO Expert

SEO Services: Who We Help

Is SEO Important for Mental Health Professionals?

How can SEO help you attract the right clients?

Our goal when we optimize websites is to not only get you clicks on Google but help you attract your ideal client. We do this by thinking like your ideal client. We do our best to determine what words, phrases, and questions they may be typing into a Google search query. Then, we optimize your website for these words. This helps you not only fill your private practice with paying clients but fill it with the right clients. For example, I’m sure it’s preferable to get calls from clients who live in the states you’re licensed in, SEO can help you do just that and eliminate calls from individuals living in places where you’re not licensed. 

Check out this blog about content:

Adding Content for SEO and Your Clients

Is there anything I should do before optimizing my website?

Yes. There are definitely some things you should consider before investing the time or money in optimizing your website. 

  1. Does your website look the way you want it to? Before you invest in SEO, you should do the bulk of the design work and make sure you love the way your website looks. 
  2. Create three to five service pages.
  3. Make sure each page has 500+ words
  4. Add your location or physical address to every page of your website

Blogs about things you should do before investing in SEO:

Is Your Website Ready for SEO?

The First Three Things You Should Do For SEO

 3 Non-Techy things You can Do to Get Your Website Ranking

Not Sure Where to Start With Your New Therapy Website? 

The 4 Things Your Counseling Website Must Do

What is a keyword & how do I use keywords?

Woman on computer near notebook and coffee doing keyword research. This person has figured out what the best keywords for online counseling pages. To learn more about Simplified specialists role and keywords, continue reading our blog.As SEO specialists it’s our job to figure out what people are searching for on Google. We first start by asking you what pain points your clients are writing down on their intake paperwork. What language are they using? What service are they asking you to provide? 

Next, we use this information and our knowledge of mental health to do keyword research. There are a variety of keyword research tools we use (see the blog listed below) and we determine what words or phrases we need to optimize for. 

Then, we use this information to do on-page work like adding subheadings, working on the readability, optimizing photos, and writing meta descriptions. 

Check out these blogs about keyword research:

Why Keyword Research is the Foundation of SEO

What to Say on Your Website? Counseling or Therapy or Psychotherapy?

Keyword Placement on Your Website

4 Common Keyword Research Mistakes

Keyword Research Tools for Therapists 

What is a meta description and how does it help?

Picture of a page title and meta description for a counseling website.A meta description is what shows up after the page title on a google search. A well-optimized meta description contains the keyword(s) you’re trying to rank for and a call to action that compels the user to click on your link. It’s basically your potential client’s sneak peek into who you are and the service you provide. 

Want to learn more check out these blogs:

How Can Meta Descriptions Help My SEO?

How to Write a Meta Description

What is readability and why should I worry about it?

photo of a person writing the SEO and content representing the importance of having good readability when optimizing your website. Learn more about SEO for therapistsBefore I answer this question, I should probably warn you that my specialty is readability so I am very passionate about this topic. 

First of all, readability is the practice of making your page approachable and easy to understand. We usually explain it like this. Imagine, you’re at a backyard BBQ and your nephew with no mental health knowledge asks what it is you do? Would you summarize the latest research article you were published in? Share your dissertation or a master’s level thesis paper? Probably not. You would tell him simply, that you are a therapist and you specialize in helping people work on the issues that matter most to them.

Your clients do not want to read a bunch of technical jargon, especially when they’re in crisis. So it’s very important that you are direct and clear with your message. Save the technical words and clinical language for your professional colleagues and speak simply. 

Another aspect of readability is breaking down your text into manageable parts, just like I have done in this blog. Separate your thoughts into smaller sections and add subheadings. Some of your clients may hate reading or not have the time to read, so they just want to scan the text. Give them the opportunity to do this by adding clear well-optimized subheadings that convey the overall message of your page. 

Blogs about readability:

Let’s Talk About Readability

Readability 2.0: The Importance of Using Approachable Language

How Headings and Subheadings Can Help Your SEO

What about photos? Are they really necessary and do I actually need to optimize them? 

In terms of SEO, yes photos are necessary, and yes you need to optimize them. First of all, optimizing your photos is a great place to add keywords that will help get you ranking on Google. Their algorithm scans alt text and photo titles for keywords, so it’s important to add them. 

Secondly, adding a meta description to the photos on your website is important from an accessibility standpoint. Take a moment and think about your potential clients who are visually impaired and using screen readers or assistive technology. I would imagine they feel very frustrated when they know there’s a photo but they don’t know what the photo is of. If you add alt text that describes the photo, then their screen reader can read it to them and they will feel included. This helps build their confidence in your ability to be sensitive to their needs. 

Blogs about optimizing photos:

Alt Text as an Ethical SEO Strategy

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

I know internal links are important, but where do I put them?

Internal links are an important part of on-page SEO work. We put them in several different places. On almost every page we optimize we add them to in a call to action section and the other services section. 

A call to action section is broken down into three easy-to-follow steps to show your ideal client how easy it is to begin services at your counseling clinic. Here’s an example: 

  1. Contact our Los Angeles based counseling center (link to contact)
  2. Meet with a trained trauma therapist for a free 15-minute consultation (link to therapy team page)
  3. Begin trauma treatment and find relief from the symptoms of PTSD

The other services section is a place where we list the other counseling services you provide and link back to those pages. Not only does this help you get those coveted internal links, but it also gives your reader the opportunity to visit other pages on your website which has an added benefit and boosts your site’s credibility in the eyes of google. 

Curious about internal links? Read these blogs:

How to Use Links and Anchor Text to Boost Your SEO

Where to Fit Internal Links

Do I HAVE to blog?

person typing on computer next to a notebook that says new blog post written in block letters. This represents the benefit of blogging and SEO for therapists. Learn about optimizing your private practice website. First of all, you don’t HAVE to do anything. But, if you want to rank really well on Google, then I highly suggest you blog at least two times a month. Getting fresh content on your website shows Google that you’re still relevant. If you haven’t added content in quite a while, Google may question rather you’re still in business and operational. Without new content, they may give preference to other sites with fresh content. 

Furthermore, blogging is a great way to target specific keywords that maybe aren’t performing well from a service page alone. For example, say you’re trying to rank for online therapy in texas. Well, everyone is trying to rank for that right now, so it’s challenging to get much upward movement on that particular keyword. But, you could blog about it and talk about the benefits, how online therapy works, and ways to make the most of online therapy and mention your location. Then, Google will see that you’re serious about offering online therapy and will be likely to rank you higher. 

Lastly, blogging has so many benefits for your ideal client and your private practice. Blogging is a great way to answer commonly asked questions or address commonly discussed issues that are brought up during a counseling session. Perhaps, these are the issues that people are too embarrassed to bring up with a therapist they barely know. For example, how to address a lack of sex in a marriage or I am having scary thoughts, what do I do? These are questions people may google because it’s private and doesn’t require them to be vulnerable with another person. And while you can’t answer these questions in as much depth as you would when you meet with them for therapy, you can offer them temporary relief until they are able to visit your counseling clinic. 

Want to learn more about blogging? Check out our blogs on the subject:

Part 1 of the Blogging Webinar Series: Do I have to Blog for SEO?

Part 2 Of The Blogging Webinar Series: Why Does Content Have to be Original?

Are Blog Posts Just for SEO?

How to Write a Long Enough Blog Post

Photo of a computer with the word "backlinks" on the screen sitting on a table representing how therapist directories can help psychotherapists build backlinks and therefore build SEO.You get a backlink when an external website links to your website. Typically this occurs when two websites share some common ground. A backlink is almost like citing your resources. It shows that the information you’re providing your client is coming from a reliable source. Backlinks also tell Google that you’re information is legitimate and trustworthy. Google’s terms of service state that they give priority to ranking sites that are trustworthy and relevant. 

There are lots of different ways to obtain backlinks. My colleague Alyssa wrote a comprehensive guide to earning backlinks. You should check it out to learn more information about places you can get backlinks. We also offer a backlinks course for people who want to learn more about getting and keeping up with backlinks. 

Learn more about backlinks in these blogs:

A Comprehensive Guide to Earning Backlinks

4 of My Most Surprising Backlinks

Getting High-Quality Backlinks: SEO Tips and Tricks

Not All Backlinks Are Created Equal

Should I consider investing in hiring an SEO specialist?

I think this question really boils down to one simple question. Do you want to do it yourself or have someone do it for you? Either option is okay. There’s certainly a wealth of information online on optimizing your website. However, the benefit of working with an SEO specialist is having another set of eyes on your site. We know how to get websites ranking well on Google and draw from our mental health knowledge to help you speak to the needs of your ideal clients. We also have access to tools to do in-depth keyword research and monitor your data.

Want to learn more about SEO and what SEO specialists do? Read this blog:

What Does an SEO Specialist Do?

Does Google My Business Help SEO?

Yes. Having a well-optimized Google My Business Account boosts your SEO because it tells Google where you’re located. Furthermore, it offers your ideal clients another way to find your websites. Lastly, a Google My Business account offers you the opportunity to embed a Google map on your website which tells Google where you’re located. 

Please note that if you don’t have a physical address, you can’t have a Google My Business Listing. So, online practices are out of luck. But there are other ways you can tell Google where you’re located. Check out my blog on the subject listed below. 

Check out these blogs to learn about Google My Business and SEO:

Google My Business: Optimizing Your Profile

Google My Business for Online-Only Counseling Practices

The Importance of Letting Google Know Where You’re Located

Can social media boost SEO?

photo of a finger. smartphone, and social media icons representing the impact social media has on SEO for therapists. Learn more from an SEO specialist

Active social media can positively impact your SEO if you are interacting with your followers and sharing relevant content with direct links to your website. But here’s the catch: Google wants to see that they not only visit your site but interact with it and visit multiple pages. Basically, while social media alone cannot boost your SEO, it can help.

Learn more about SEO and Social Media here: 

How Important is Social Media for SEO?

Social Media Series: Live Feeds

How do I know if SEO is working?

If you’re investing in SEO, rather it’s time or money, you likely want to ensure you’re getting a good return on your investment. To do this, you need to track your data. Not only does tracking your data tell you if your efforts are working, but it also helps you track where your clients are coming from. For example, data can tell you if your clients are coming from an organic search (SEO), direct searches (when they type in your URL), or social media. Lastly, data can also tell you what the visitors are doing on your website. It can answer questions of how long they are staying on your site and how many pages they’re visiting while they’re on there.  

Learn more about interpreting SEO data and getting a good return on your investment:

How Do I Know If My SEO Efforts Are Working?

Quality Content and SEO Return

3 Reasons Why You Should Track Your SEO Data

Google Analytics: How to Use the Data

I am ready to begin prioritizing SEO, what should I do?

tile letters SEO under a magnifying glass representing the power of SEO for therapists. Work with an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO ConsultingIf you’re ready to begin making SEO a priority, Simplified SEO Consulting would love to help.  We offer a variety of options to support you at different points in your private practice journey.  However, we always start with a free consultation to look at your website, ask what your needs are right now, answer your questions and see which of our services would be the best fit. To get started, follow these steps:

  1. Make an appointment for a free 30-minute consultation with a member of the Simplified SEO Consulting team
  2. Learn more about our packages and training opportunities
  3. Start optimizing your webpage and watch your site rank better on Google!

About the Author:

Cory Moss is a Simplified SEO specialist based in Kansas City. She specializes in working on readability for therapist websites. She really enjoys helping her clients get to the top of Google and attract their ideal clients.

In today’s digital age, the legal landscape is evolving rapidly, and law firms must adapt to thrive. One of the key drivers of this transformation is marketing. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the crucial aspects of marketing for law firms, addressing questions like the necessity of marketers, the best marketing strategies for lawyers, determining the marketing budget, and understanding the investment in SEO. Follow Simplified Consulting as we discuss SEO for personal injury attorneys!

Do Law Firms Need Marketers?

The role of marketing in law firms has become increasingly important. In a highly competitive legal landscape, standing out is crucial. Marketers play a large role in differentiating a law firm’s services. Marketers can help attract and retain clients and foster strong client relationships that encourage repeat business. They also play a vital role in establishing a robust online presence, helping potential clients discover and engage with your firm’s services. In a nutshell, marketers are essential for law firms to not only survive but thrive in today’s online legal environment. Here are some more compelling reasons why law firms need marketers:

Competition is Fierce: The legal industry is highly competitive. To stand out in a crowded marketplace, law firms require professional marketers who can differentiate their services, highlight unique strengths, and create a compelling brand presence.

Client Acquisition and Retention: Marketing is instrumental in attracting new clients and retaining existing ones. A well-crafted marketing strategy not only helps in acquiring new cases but also fosters strong client relationships, encouraging repeat business and referrals.

Online Presence is Crucial: With the majority of potential clients seeking legal services online, a robust online presence is non-negotiable. Marketers ensure that your website is easily discoverable by potential clients, offering relevant and persuasive content that converts visitors into clients.

SEO is a powerful marketing strategy for personal injury lawyers. It increases online visibility, attracts targeted traffic, establishes credibility, and is often more cost-effective than traditional advertising. By optimizing your website and content for search engines, you can effectively reach potential clients in need of your legal services and grow your personal injury law practice.

What is the Best Advertisement for a Lawyer?

Selecting the best advertisement for a lawyer depends on various factors. Including the firm’s practice areas, target audience, and marketing budget. SEO encourages the creation of high-quality, informative content. By addressing common legal questions and concerns through blog posts, articles, and resources, you can demonstrate your legal expertise and provide value to potential clients. This content can serve as a resource for your target audience and showcase your legal knowledge. Other advertisement ideas for law firms include:

Content Marketing: Crafting informative and valuable content is a potent way to demonstrate expertise and engage potential clients. Blog posts, articles, and whitepapers can showcase your legal knowledge and build trust.

Search Engine Optimization (SEMoney falling down. If you want to know how much a lawyer should spend on marketing, continue reading! Our SEO specialists can help you boost your personal injury law firm.O): Organic search visibility is essential. SEO elevates your website’s ranking in search results, increasing the likelihood that potential clients will find you. It’s an investment that yields long-term benefits.

Social Media: Engaging with your audience on social media platforms can enhance brand recognition and foster relationships with potential clients. Sharing valuable content and showcasing your expertise can be highly effective.

How Much Should a Law Firm Spend on Marketing?

Determining the appropriate marketing budget for a law firm necessitates a thoughtful evaluation of your goals, practice areas, geographic location, and competitive landscape. However, a general guideline is to allocate between 2% to 5% of your gross revenue to marketing. Newly established firms or those in highly competitive markets may need to allocate a higher percentage. 

It’s essential to consider the specific marketing channels that align with your objectives. Digital marketing often provides a cost-effective approach, and strategies like SEO offer excellent returns on investment (ROI). Regularly reviewing and adjusting your marketing budget in response to results and changing market conditions is critical for long-term success. The great thing about SEO is that we are watching your data on a regular basis with tools like Google Analytics.

How Much Do Law Firms Spend on SEO?

The amount law firms allocate to SEO can vary widely based on their size, objectives, and the level of competition in their target market. If you’re a small personal injury firm, continue reading this helpful blog “How Do I promote My Small Law Firm Using SEO?” It’s crucial to understand that SEO is an ongoing process, and results may take a few months to manifest. This investment should be viewed as a long-term strategy that builds your law firm’s online presence. Ultimately, it enhances your law firm’s visibility on search engines like Google and attracts more clients! The specific budget allocation should be tailored to your firm’s unique goals and circumstances. 

Strategizing Marketing for Law Firms

The question is, what does marketing do in a law firm? Marketing has become a vital tool for law firms seeking to succeed in today’s competitive landscape. By addressing fundamental questions about the need for marketers, the best advertising practices, budget allocation, and the significance of SEO, this guide provides insights to help law firms make informed decisions and maximize their online presence and client acquisition efforts. Remember, the power of marketing can truly transform the future of your law firm. 

Begin SEO Services with Simplified Consulting Today!

Ready to elevate your personal injury law firm’s online presence and attract more clients? Our expert SEO services are tailored to empower your practice. Let’s connect to discuss how we can boost your visibility and drive results. Follow the simple steps below:

  1. Schedule a free consultation here.
  2. Meet with one of our great SEO Specialists.
  3. Begin marketing your law firm and watch it grow!

Other Services Simplified SEO Consulting Offers:

Simplified SEO Consulting offers a range of services to help you improve your website’s online presence. We offer Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses, which are customized to enhance your search engine rankings and attract your ideal clients. We also have a 12-week Done With You Intensive Program for comprehensive training. Our Content Networking service can help you boost your online presence and attract more of your ideal clients. Check out our blog for more tips and guides on SEO.

In today’s fast-paced and competitive legal industry, marketing has become more crucial than ever for law firms. It’s no longer a matter of choice but a necessity to thrive in an increasingly digital world. With countless law firms vying for the attention of potential clients, adopting effective marketing strategies is essential for setting your practice apart. As well as building a robust online presence, and maintaining a competitive edge. This article explores the best marketing strategies for law firms. Delving into the significance of marketing in the legal field, the objectives of marketing, and the need for digital marketing. We will also cover content marketing strategies, offer insights on creating an effective marketing plan, and provide guidance on budget allocation. For those seeking specific expertise in marketing and SEO for personal injury attorneys, we’ll delve into the specialized services of law firm SEO agencies and digital marketing companies.

Why do law firms need marketing?

In today’s legal arena, simply relying on legal acumen is no longer sufficient to thrive. Marketing is not always the most thrilling aspect of practicing law, but it is undeniably vital. It serves as the bridge connecting your legal expertise to those who need it most.

Law firms, regardless of size or specialization, face stiff competition. With a multitude of choices available to potential clients, standing out becomes a formidable challenge. Marketing steps in as the solution, enabling firms to display their specialized knowledge, nurture brand recognition, and build trust within their target audience.

The inherent competitiveness of the legal industry underscores the necessity of marketing. It provides the means to not only reach potential clients but also to engage them meaningfully and, crucially, convert them into loyal clients who will entrust the firm with their legal needs. In essence, while marketing may not be the most exciting part of running a law practice, it is essential for consistent growth, ensuring your firm’s continuous ability to attract paying clients.

What is the marketing objective of a law firm?

The central aim of law firm marketing is to usher in a continuous influx of potential clients. Through comprehensive marketing strategies, law firms aspire to do more than just generate leads; they strive to enhance brand visibility, assert their expertise, and establish a reputation as authoritative figures in their specialized fields of law. Ultimately, the primary goal is to convert these leads into paying clients, thereby ensuring a consistent caseload.

Picture a modest-sized personal injury law firm that has meticulously crafted a digital marketing strategy enriched with effective SEO practices. This forward-thinking approach leads to remarkable outcomes.

As a direct consequence of their strategic marketing endeavors, the law firm reaches an increasingly vast audience of individuals with genuine legal needs. These individuals often face distressing situations, seeking assistance to obtain the justice and compensation they deserve. The firm’s strategic focus on SEO places them at the forefront of online visibility, ensuring that when potential clients are searching for answers, they find this law firm’s valuable insights and services.

With every well-executed SEO strategy, the law firm amplifies its reach to prospective clients with legitimate personal injury cases. These are individuals whose lives have been disrupted, who are in need of professional legal support to help them secure the rightful compensation they deserve. By using SEO to align their digital presence with the precise needs of their target audience, this firm connects with more clients facing issues that their attorneys are expertly poised to address.

The Benefits of This Marketing Strategy

The benefits of this scenario are two-fold. First, the law firm is in a position to provide much-needed assistance to individuals during their times of distress. The firm’s expertise and dedication to client service enable them to win cases efficiently, securing just compensation for their clients and helping them regain their lives. This outcome directly aligns with the profound purpose of legal practice – to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it.

Secondly, from a business perspective, the law firm witnesses substantial growth. Their increased caseload, driven by effective SEO strategies and an unwavering commitment to client success, results in higher revenue. The revenue generated, in turn, enables the firm to expand its practice. Resulting in employing more skilled attorneys and elevate its standing within the legal community.

In essence, the primary objective of law firm marketing, when effectively executed, is to cultivate a win-win situation: law firms reach more clients in need, and in doing so, they advance their own practice, making a lasting impact in the legal world. The alignment of legal prowess with strategic marketing creates a synergy that benefits both the firm and its clients. It’s this remarkable symbiosis that defines the true essence of law firm marketing.

Do law firms need marketers?

While some law firms may attempt to manage marketing in-house, enlisting the services of professional marketers can substantially enhance their marketing strategies. Skilled marketers bring specialized knowledge, strategies, and tools that allow law firms to navigate the complexities of digital marketing effectively. With these experts, law firms can optimize their marketing efforts and maximize their online presence.

Some larger firms may choose to hire someone in house. If you go this route, make sure they’re getting proper training. We’ve seen practices hire a marketing professional in house but struggle to get them proper training for all the different types of marketing they’re supposed to do. Particularly training related to the specific niche of creating a law firm marketing strategy. So, they may know a little bit about networking, a little bit about creating digital content, a little about social media, some about Google Adwords and some SEO. But they don’t know enough to do more than maybe one of those very effectively. So, make sure you’re really investing in that person being trained in how to do a couple of those things really well and in doing those things well within the realm of law firm marketing.

Do law firms need digital marketing?

In today’s digital age, digital marketing has become a cornerstone of successful marketing strategies for law firms. Online platforms offer powerful avenues to reach potential clients, including search engines, social media, email marketing, and more. Embracing digital marketing allows law firms to tap into a broader audience actively seeking legal services. By engaging in digital marketing, law firms can effectively connect with clients where they spend a significant portion of their time: online.

The truth is that there are a lot of different ways to market a law firm. And I’m not here to tell you one way is better than another. You can absolutely build a successful law firm without digital marketing. Billboards, handshakes, mailers, etc. These strategies have worked for law firms for years.  And if they’re working for your practice and you’re growing at the rate that works for you, stick with your current marketing plan.

But if you’re struggling to consistently get enough clients to grow your law firm at the pace you’d like, consider the power of digital marketing for law firms. There’s a reason so many people saw that digital marketing is the best law firm marketing these days. It’s because everyone carries a phone in their pocket. The minute they think about contacting an attorney, it’s easy to ask Siri, “Hey, where’s a personal injury attorney near me?” So, hiring a law firm seo agency or using other digital marketing strategies for law firms is a great way to make sure you’re the one that shows up when people start doing those searches in your area.

What is content marketing for law firms?

Content marketing is a central strategy for law firms aiming to share valuable insights, establish expertise, and strengthen their authority in their specific practice areas. This strategy involves creating high-quality, informative content that addresses common legal concerns, answers questions, and provides valuable insights. Content marketing can take the form of blog posts, articles, social media posts, and other resources that educate and engage potential clients.

Content marketing is often part of a bigger digital marketing strategy. For instance, in our content network program, we produce large amounts of content for our clients. We meet with you to discuss your ideal clients and what you often talk to new clients about. Then, we help produce blog posts that discuss those topics and create a network of content around the things you typically share with your clients to help you attract the type of clients who will be responsive to your message and work well with you. 

How do you create a marketing strategy for a law firm?

Developing a robust marketing strategy for a law firm involves a comprehensive approach. Key steps include identifying the target audience, defining unique selling points, and setting specific, measurable goals. The strategy should encompass a range of digital marketing tactics, content creation, social media engagement, and methods for tracking and measuring success. Crafting a tailored marketing plan tailored to a law firm’s unique identity and objectives is vital for achieving meaningful results.

The Ethics of Marketing for Attorneys and Law FirmsA woman typing on a laptop with ethics icons popping up. If you're wondering what the best law firm marketing strategies are, keep reading! Learn more from our SEO specialists.

I remember as a child sitting in our basement looking at the yellow pages of the new phone book. When we got to the section where the lawyers advertisements were my father, a private practice attorney, scoffed and questioned whether or not it was ethical for an attorney to advertise in the yellow pages. Oh, how times have changed. What we consider ethical in marketing has changed. But ethics do still matter. Because as an attorney, you are still generally trying to reach and work with clients who are in a vulnerable position when they reach out to you. So, that might be something that you’re thinking about when you’re considering hiring a marketing professional. Or, it’s at least worth noting that it’s something my law firm seo agency is thinking about.

Marketing within the legal field carries an inherent responsibility to uphold the highest ethical standards. Attorneys and law firms must abide by the guidelines set forth by their respective state bar associations and legal authorities. This responsibility includes ensuring that all marketing materials are honest, accurate, and not misleading to potential clients. Confidentiality and client-attorney privilege must always be safeguarded. Additionally, the dignity and respect inherent to the legal profession should be maintained in all marketing efforts. These ethical considerations form the bedrock of law firm marketing, allowing attorneys to promote their services effectively while upholding the trust and integrity of the legal practice.

How much should a law firm spend on marketing?

The budget allocated to marketing by law firms can vary widely depending on the firm’s size, location, and specific goals. An investment in marketing efforts can yield significant returns in terms of acquiring new clients and cases. There may be periods of growth where you need to invest more than other times.

SEO for Personal Injury Attorneys

As the legal industry evolves in the digital age, specialized marketing services have emerged to address the unique needs of law firms. At Simplified SEO Consulting, personal injury attorneys were the first type of attorneys that we lended our hand to when one asked Danica for help marketing their law firm. Personal injury attorneys, in particular, benefit from targeted SEO services that focus on improving their online visibility. Especially in attracting clients seeking legal representation in personal injury cases. Here are some key points to consider when seeking the services of the best law firm SEO companies:

Keyword Optimization: Law firm SEO agencies employ strategies to optimize keywords relevant to personal injury law. By targeting specific keywords, they ensure that the law firm’s website ranks higher in search engine results when potential clients search for personal injury representation.

Local SEO for Personal Injury Attorneys: Personal injury cases often involve local clients. Law firm SEO agencies prioritize local SEO strategies to ensure that the firm appears in local search results. This helps potential clients find local personal injury attorneys more easily.

Content Creation: Law firm SEO agencies produce high-quality content that showcases the expertise of personal injury attorneys. This content, in the form of blog posts, articles, and website copy, educates potential clients and builds trust.

Marketing in the Legal Profession

The legal profession’s competitive nature makes marketing essential for law firms looking to succeed in the digital age. By recognizing the significance of marketing and adopting a strategic approach, law firms can engage potential clients. In addition to strengthening their online presence, and enhancing their reputation. Digital marketing has become a cornerstone of law firm marketing strategies. By offering powerful tools, you can connect with clients actively seeking legal services. The adoption of content marketing, alongside a well-structured marketing strategy, can lead to increased leads and clients.

For law firms seeking to optimize their online presence and enhance their SEO, specialized services from law firm SEO agencies and digital marketing companies are invaluable. These services cater to the unique needs of personal injury attorneys and offer tailored strategies to improve online visibility. If you’re a law firm or personal injury attorney looking to enhance your marketing strategies and grow your client base, consider reaching out to Simplified SEO Consulting. Our expertise in law firm marketing and SEO services allows us to provide tailored solutions for your practice. Let us help you navigate the complexities of digital marketing, improve your online presence & attract more clients. We can help you achieve your marketing objectives effectively.

Unlocking Success: Transforming Your Law Firm’s Online Presence with SEO

If you’re part of a law firm seeking to optimize your online presence and enhance your SEO, our services can make a significant difference. The world of SEO for attorneys can be complex, but we simplify the process for you. We help your practice shine in the digital landscape.

By working with Simplified SEO Consulting, you’ll receive personalized solutions to bolster your marketing strategies. We’ll assist you in navigating the intricate world of digital marketing, strengthening your online presence, and increasing your reach. Let’s embark on this journey together, turning your online marketing objectives into reality.

In the highly competitive legal sector, staying ahead in marketing and SEO is a continuous effort. With the right strategies, a dedication to providing valuable content, and an effective online presence, you can ensure your law firm thrives in the digital age. If you’re ready to enhance your marketing game and strengthen your practice, contact Simplified SEO Consulting today. Let’s work together to maximize your online potential and achieve lasting success.

Don’t wait; the digital world is constantly evolving. Reach out to us, and let’s explore the possibilities of your law firm’s success in the digital era. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

Ready to empower your law firm’s marketing strategies? Contact Simplified SEO Consulting today to get started on your journey to success.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Simplified SEO Consulting

Schedule a free consultation with one of our SEO Specialists today . We enjoy working with law practices. We can provide you with expert guidance on law firm marketing strategies, digital marketing, and SEO tailored to your unique needs. Let us help you unlock the full potential of your legal practice.

Contact us now to learn more about how Simplified SEO Consulting can assist you in navigating the complex world of law firm marketing, enhancing your online presence, and attracting a steady flow of clients. We’re here to support your journey towards greater visibility and success in the digital age. Get started today by following these few steps:

  1. Schedule a consultation here!
  2. Meet with one of our dedicated SEO Specialists. 
  3. Watch your personal injury law firm flourish!

About the Author

My name is Jessica Tappana and I’m the founder of Aspire Counseling. I’m the granddaughter of a judge, the daughter of an attorney who was in private practice much of my childhood. As well as the stepsister of an attorney and have spent much of my life witnessing the stressors and successes of those in the legal profession. So, when Danica, our COO, approached me a couple years ago about starting to provide SEO for a personal injury attorney friend in private practice I was happy to lend our resources and services. What we found is that our specific set of SEO skills was incredible effective with this population. In addition to the healthcare private practices we were already serving. While we haven’t been helping attorneys as long as we’ve been optimizing private practice websites for psychologists and psychiatrists, we are having immense success and we know what we’re doing. We use effective, in depth digital marketing techniques. So, if you’re looking for high quality SEO services, I only hire the best team members! We’re ready to help you take your firm to the next level.

Brick wall with quote that says As we know, stories, papers, and treatments come from a great foundation. There is an art to telling a great story and presenting information. Your approach doesn’t need to be the same as others, but there is a similar formula. If you want to convince someone that a treatment modality works, the base of your argument needs to be well-researched. Likewise, if I am trying to tell a creative story, I need to set the storyline up well. Ultimately, a successful delivery begins with a firm foundation. Otherwise, you have no hope of convincing your audience you’re knowledgeable or that you’re someone credible to listen to. And we know you’re intelligent mental health professionals!

So why is this so important to keyword research? Well, Google is essentially the buffer between you and your ideal client. If Google’s algorithm isn’t impressed by your foundation, then there is no way it will reach your audience. So where do we begin to connect with Google so you can reach your ideal client? Let’s talk about some strategies involved in keyword research.

Optimizing Keywords with Locations

Ideally, when page optimization occurs we want to optimize with the intention of adding in long tail keywords. What this means is that a keyword with 3 or more words is considered a long tail. We may add a keyword phrase such as addressing mental health or anxiety treatment in Tulsa, OK. When you add a location indicator, Google is more likely to find you. Location indicators are better for people to find you on Google than keywords without locations and short tail phrases. So in the case of long vs. short, anxiety treatment in Tulsa will rank faster, than just anxiety treatment. If you ever wonder why your SEO specialist takes this approach to your subheadings and copy, this is a strategy to help you rank better. Once you are ranking very well in your area, then your SEO specialist will branch out to more short-tail keywords because you will likely rank for them better after the initial long-tail optimization.

Optimizing for Keywords in Common SearchesMan doing keyword research for business on silver laptop. If you're looking for the best mental health keywords, you've come to the experts. Counseling keywords can be difficult to get just right. That's why we are so meticulous in choosing the best keywords for your clients.

When your SEO specialist meets with you, their goal is to draw out common pain points your clients are talking about. What do you commonly hear in your practice and what are the questions you commonly answer? We are trying to see what your ideal client may be looking for. Therefore, when we do our initial keyword research, it’s based on what a client would search for and not what a clinician would be looking for. It’s key to keep in mind that what we think and what a client thinks, especially with the 2 am trauma brain, are not the same. In other words “speak the same language as your ideal client.” Therefore, we encourage you as we talk strategy to really think back to what is happening in your sessions and bring this feedback into your SEO planning calls. Likewise, if you’re doing SEO training on your own with us, take some time to brainstorm common pain points and questions for your own keyword research.

What You Need to Know About Researching Keywords

So as a client or a future client, what do you need to know when it comes to keywords? First, know that when you work with us we will add keywords to alt text, copy, meta descriptions, and subheadings. It’s part of our strategy and it’s meant to help you rank. We understand that there is a dance between good SEO and addressing your clients authentically. If you’re someone who doesn’t like your copy being messed with, then let your specialist know and you together, can find a healthy balance so you can keep your voice and get proper ROI. Ultimately, know you’re in good hands with us and we will get you a ranking.

What Research for Keywords is not

A tip for the future is to remember that keyword research is not about ranking for the most technical terms. We want you to rank for specializations such as perinatal mental health and DBT. These are important components of what makes you a good and effective therapist or counselor, however, you do need to be mindful of your audience. If you’re working with high-functioning medical professionals, then this may be perfectly fine to reach your ideal audience.

However, we commonly talk about the 2 am stress brain. If a parent is looking for therapy for teens and you’re talking about the technical side of CBT, then this isn’t going to turn into a client most likely. Ultimately, we want to find a healthy balance between what keywords are important for you to rank for. Plus we want to find keywords that are what your client is actually searching for. Now that you know the importance of keyword research, check out Jessica’s blog post on where you put keywords.

Keyword Pro tip:

You can use Google Trends if you want to do your own research for your blogs before we go into our optimization. Likewise, using the Google search engine for a topic you want to provide an answer for is very useful.Woman on computer near notebook and coffee doing keyword research. This person has figured out what the best keywords for online counseling pages. To learn more about Simplified specialists role and keywords, continue reading our blog.

Begin SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

Whether you’re trying SEO on your own or using our Done for You services, we also offer packages for SEO alumni as you want to do maintenance for your site. If you have any questions or your question was not answered, please reach out. Our passionate team of SEO experts would be happy to answer your question and talk about what services might work well for your business. Follow these three steps to begin ranking better on Google.

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO Consulting is passionate about providing SEO services for helping professionals and therapists. Our comprehensive SEO services are included in our Done for You SEO Service packages. Also, we offer alumni packages and al la carte SEO services. Our SEO staff provides several SEO training opportunities. including our “Top of Google” online course and 12 weeks of online video training. We also offer an SEO Strategy package to learn more about SEO and what you can do to rank better on search engines.

Contact Simplified SEO to learn more, or book a free SEO Consultation to decide which option is best for your business. We hope to hear from you soon!

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!

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably thinking about investing in your websites SEO to help you reach potential clients on search engines like Google. So, you’re probably wondering what does an SEO specialist do exactly?

Well, that’s a really good question. But, before I go further, I want to explain that at Simplified SEO Consulting, you don’t just work with one SEO specialist, you work with our entire team of SEO experts. What this means is you have multiple brains working on getting you the best SEO results possible. First, you’ll meet with an SEO consultant that will assist you in figuring out your individual SEO needs and help you determine what SEO service to enroll in. Then, you’ll meet with your primary SEO specialist, the one who does the first round of work on your pages, and our lead SEO specialist, Danica, who reviews your page and looks at things like big picture strategy. Finally, our in-house SEO Suru Jessica signs off ensuring we have done everything in our power to get you ranking well. Furthermore, each SEO expert had their unique strengths and interests. So, we consult with each other frequently. 

So, now that I have shared that with you, let me explain to you what it is I do as an SEO specialist when I do a comprehensive full-service page or blog post optimization:

Your SEO Specialist Does Thorough Keyword Research

I love doing keyword research because it gives us a very comprehensive idea of what your potential clients are searching for. So, this means I do research to see rather they are looking for therapy or counseling, couples counseling or couples therapy, etc. I aim to identify at least 3 keywords to target per page. Then I use this information to optimize your page and inform me of changes in your data. 

Learn more about keyword research from these blogs:

Where to Put Keywords on Your Private Practice Website?

Keyword Research Tools: Where to Look for Keywords

Counseling Keywords: Search Terms to Target on Your Private Practice Website

Identify Your SEO Competitors

We identify your SEO competitors to determine how hard it will be to get you ranking well for your targeted keywords. Your SEO competitors are not necessarily the therapists down the road. But, they are the practices that google would rank higher than you for the keywords we’re targeting in your area.

Meta Descriptions

When you work with us, your pages get 3 rounds of meta descriptions. This is very intentional. We do one early in the month based on keyword research and see how Google responds, then we go in and make edits as necessary. Then, Danica and/or Jessica review these meta one last time towards the end of the month and make changes as necessary based on your data. 

5 Tips for Writing a Perfect Meta Description for a Counseling Website

How Can Meta Descriptions Help my Counseling Website?

Readability

As the in-house readability expert, I must make this statement: READABILITY MATTERS! We want your pages to be easy to read by your potential clients who do not have any or much clinical knowledge. We find that people don’t want to read a bunch of complicated terminologies when they’re needing help. They want answers quickly and efficiently.

You may be thinking: my clients are well educated, so they need to be assured that I am too. Sure, but when they need help are they in the frame of mind to read something complicated? Furthermore, their intelligence does not mean they share the same knowledge-base you do. So, when we work on readability we do things like take complicated words and simplify them THINK: use NOT utilize. We also shorten sentences, break up paragraphs, and add transition words when necessary.

Want to learn more about readability? Check out our blogs:

Using Yoast on WordPress: Should I Always Go for Green?

Let’s Talk About Readability

Headings and Subheadings

This is an area where wording matters tremendously. We aim to get your targeted keywords in your subheadings as much as possible. Google, and your reader, scan these and determine what your page is about. 

Photo Optimization

We add titles and alt text to your photos. Not only is this an ethical practice for your reader with disabilities, but it’s another place where keywords matter. 

Call to Action and Other Services Section

These two sections are biggies and a place for some great internal link opportunities! Your call to action is a clear and direct statement to your potential client telling them how to begin services and includes the links they should use to do so. In your other services section, we tell your client about all the other services you offer and link to those pages which is very important in order to rank well.

Index Your Page on Google Search Console

We use Google Search Console and index your pages or posts every time we work on your site to tell google a change was made. Learn more about it here: 

Blog Post Ideas

A big bonus of our services is that we send you a list of blog post suggestions targeting keywords we want you to rank better for. We do this because BLOGGING IS IMPORTANT! And, we hope this list will inspire you to blog regularly!

Check out our blogs about blogs:

Are blog posts just for SEO?

How to Write a Long Enough Blog Post

Timely Topics for Blog Posts

Writing Blog Posts to Serve Your Clients and Boost Your SEO

3 ImportantWriting a Guest Blog Post

Data Monitoring

All of us monitor your data constantly. When there’s a dip and you drop in keyword rankings, we’re on it and address it if possible. 

Want to know more about SEO data? Check out these blogs:

3 Reasons Why You Should Track Your SEO Data

Google Analytics: How to Use the Data

How do I Know if My Search Engine Optimization Efforts are Working?

Communication

We want you to be as informed about your SEO progress as possible. When you work with us, we will set you up with a data dashboard. We update this regularly informing you of our progress on your page. It also contains all your data and relevant information. Basically, it’s your SEO control center! 

Our SEO Services

Simplified SEO Consulting offers a variety of SEO packages to fit your needs. The scope of work and how many pages we optimize is determined by the package you select. Plus, we also offer copywriting services for the ultimate hands-off SEO experience! 

Learn more about our SEO services here. 

What’s the most important part of an SEO specialist’s job? 

It’s helping you reach your ideal clients and meeting YOUR unique goals. We understand that every therapist and practice has different needs. For example, individual practices may only need to get 2-5 calls a month to meet your goal. But, a group practice may want 10 calls a week. Whatever your goals, we can help. Every member of the Simplified SEO consulting team becomes invested in our clients’ success and practice. We get so much joy from seeing you rank well and hearing about your successes. It’s truly the biggest reward. 

Ready to Begin Working with an SEO Specialist? 

Happy woman working from home on her laptop drinking coffee. She works with an SEO specialist from Simplified SEO Consulting to rank better on GoogleIf you’re ready to begin optimizing your website to help you reach your ideal client on Google, then we’d love to help! Follow these steps to begin SEO services with Simplified SEO consulting: 

  1. Make an appointment for a free 15-minute consultation with a member of the Simplified SEO Consulting team
  2. Learn more about our SEO packages and training opportunities
  3. Start optimizing your webpage and see it rank better on Google!

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

The Simplified SEO Consulting team is passionate about providing SEO services for helping professionals and therapists. Our comprehensive SEO services are included in our Done for You SEO Service packages. Also, we offer alumni packages and al la carte SEO services. Our SEO staff provides several SEO training opportunities. including our “Top of Google” online course and 12 weeks of online video training. We also offer an SEO Strategy package to learn more about SEO and what you can do to rank better on search engines.

Contact Simplified SEO to learn more, or book a free SEO Consultation to decide which option is best for your business. We hope to hear from you soon!

About the Author:

Cory Moss is a Simplified SEO specialist based in Kansas City. She specializes in working on readability. She really enjoys helping her clients get to the top of Google and attract their ideal clients.

Try these Non-Techy SEO Tips

Are you struggling to figure out where to start with SEO? Everything feels very overwhelming when you begin. There are so many terms and techniques that can help, but it all just doesn’t make sense. Where do we even begin? 

If this sounds familiar don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The terms just mesh together at some point. But we need to remember, as we are learning we should give ourselves a break. You’re trying. If you’re looking for a place to begin, you’ve come to the right place. Simplified isn’t just the name of the business, but it’s the name of the game. Let’s dive into some non-techy SEO tips that can help you get started. 

 Get a google my business listing

Whether online or in-person services are offered, Google needs to know about your business.  There are boxes that pop up on the right-hand side of your screen when you search for certain businesses. What happens when you don’t have information set up that tells us who you are? People will disregard the information, or may never find you. Likewise, Google won’t know what your business does. You don’t have to be SEO savvy to add this section. It is a simple non-techy SEO tip where you have all the information needed. If you’re looking for more information on how this can help, the site upcity has some great tips. This page talks about how Google my business can help your SEO as well as how to keep this ranking and up to date. 

Picture of connect google my business app. Trying some non-techy SEO tips and tricks can be easy. seo for online counseling pages doesn't have to be a hassle. Get an SEO jumpstart today by connecting your business to google.

  • Claim your business; let us know you’re here
  • Make sure your info is correct; such as hours, your business category, and photos.
  • Keep your services up to date
  • Respond to reviews; google loves engagement. It makes your service more credible to Google.

Put your Address on your Footer

If you’ve ever gone to any site looking for a location, I’m sure you’ve looked at one of two places. The contact page or you scroll down to the bottom of a page. Usually, websites place the address here because once it is added, all pages reflect the change. So, this is a simple, one-time, non-techy SEO task anyone can do. Why does adding this non-techy SEO tip help SEO on Google? Well, it allows you to add internal links that allow for traffic across your site. The more links on your site, the more reputable google will find it. It’s a great way to increase rankings. Yet, it is important to note that adding external links to your footer is not recommended. Google devalues these links in the footer. 

 

 Include Specialty Pages

This is important for a few reasons. First, it helps you narrow down what you’re good at as a therapist. If you can say these are the core topics that I excel in treating, you’re more likely to drive in clients. They will feel that you can understand their issues best. Second, when people see pages such as individual, group, or couples therapy, it may not be specific enough to their issues. This is why we ask you to speak to a client’s pain points. If you can speak to the issue, you’re likely to convert a client. Whereas generalizing the service may make someone unsure whether you understand their dilemma. If you are unsure of what pages should I have on my website to rank well for google? Try adding trauma, anxiety, depression, and online services to start. Non-techy SEO has nothing on you!

 

Blog Regularly Blogging And Content Creation Concept, Text New Blog Post On Note book. If you're wondering how often should i post blogs to improve my seo? Then this is the right post for you. Maybe you even have the question about how to write a long enough blog post. We can answer these questions.

Writing can be a hassle. It takes time to create a cohesive and thoughtful blog post. Then you have to consider the SEO aspect of creating your post. But, you’re doing a great service to your clients when you blog. Not only are you exhibiting your continued knowledge on various topics, but you are able to speak to a specific issue. You may not be able to say all that you need on a service page. This is why you should create specialty pages. Think about anxiety, you may be able to create a blog post about social anxiety in college settings. This may speak to this particular population, and make them feel that you understand their issue. Blogging is a powerful tool. Monthly blogging and optimizing can make Google recognize your service pages better. But how often should I post blogs to improve my SEO? If it is your goal to blog more, setting goals to blog once a month on reoccurring topics clients mention or adding a post on your passion for the field will build your credibility. This is an easy non-techy SEO tip that speaks to your expertise.

 Get some backlinks

We have mentioned this before, but backlinks are some of the best Yet to improve SEO. Yet, they are not always easy to come by. You would need another source to add you to their site. What is most important about building backlinks is to make sure we are getting credible and safe backlinks. There is nothing worse than getting a scammy backlink and then having Google penalize you for it. Now we don’t expect any of you would do this, but it’s important to invest in quality backlinks that will boost our SEO. How can you get backlinks? Start with getting into local directories. Then contact a colleague who you have a good working relationship with. Agree to give them a backlink based on a post they did and have them return the favor. Either way, you will be able to build up quality backlinks. If you’re looking to build quality backlinks, refer to the new Simplified SEO course for backlinks which becomes a free gift on your fifth month with us. Do you feel ready to use these non-techy SEO tips? 

Girl online searching for answers. This girl is wondering how she can build high quality backlinks for her practice. Backlinks for therapy practices are not easy to come by, but with some luck she will have some success with SEO for counselors.

Begin SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

I hope this non-techy SEO blog post was helpful to you as you read through it. These are simple ways to get a head start on boosting your page. If you have any questions or your question was not answered, reach out. Our passionate team of SEO experts would be happy to answer your question and talk about what services might work well for your business. Follow these three steps to begin ranking better on Google.

  1. Schedule an appointment for a free 15-minute consultation with a member of the Simplified SEO Consulting staff
  2. Learn more about our SEO packages and training opportunities
  3. Start optimizing your webpage and see it rank better on Google!

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO Consulting is passionate about providing SEO services for helping professionals and therapists. Our comprehensive SEO services are included in our Done for You SEO Service packages. Also, we offer alumni packages and al la carte SEO services. Our SEO staff provides several SEO training opportunities. including our “Top of Google” online course and 12 weeks of online video training. We also offer an SEO Strategy package to learn more about SEO and what you can do to rank better on search engines.

Contact Simplified SEO to learn more, or book a free SEO Consultation to decide which option is best for your business. We hope to hear from you soon!

About the Author:

Jasmine Jaquess is a Simplified SEO specialist based in Columbia, MO. She specializes in platforms such as Squarespace and Wix but has learned to love word press sites as well. She really enjoys hearing the client’s goals for their business and helping them achieve them.

Here at Simplified SEO Consulting, we want to provide you with truly valuable information.  Recently, our team was brainstorming questions people might have about SEO and discussing the questions we hear from new clients most often. Today, we’re going to start answering these questions and, when relevant, we’ll link you to blog posts we’ve already written. So, let’s get started!

Is SEO Important for Therapists?

In a word, yes! SEO is important for any business owner that wants to appear in online searches for search engines like Google. While specific SEO strategies may differ based on the industry, understanding the basics of SEO is vital to stay competitive in today’s digital landscape.

Common Questions About SEO

What does SEO stand for?

SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization.” Search Engine Optimization means creating a website and making changes to it with the hopes it will help your website show up frequently in search engine results.  A well-optimized website with great SEO shows up on the first page of Google when your ideal client/customer searches for your services.

Is SEO worth it?

male therapist works on his SEO from his home. He works with an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO consulting to get ranking better on Google. Learn more about SEO marketing for therapists from Atlanta, GA to San Francisco, CA.

Absolutely. SEO is a long-term marketing strategy that holds its value. In the 21st century, people are looking for services online. Getting your website to show up organically on Google puts you in front of the exact clients who need the services you are offering.

We highly recommend most service-based businesses consider using SEO as part of their marketing strategy.

A great example of the power of SEO comes directly from the experience our founder, Jessica, has had to build two businesses using SEO as a marketing tool. When Jessica was expanding her private practice Aspire Counseling in Mid-Missouri, she wanted to find new ways to get her clinicians in front of their ideal clients to fill their caseload. So, she spent hours researching, learning, and implementing the SEO practices we use at Simplified SEO. She had so much success getting potential clients to call and convert from her SEO investment, that she created Simplified SEO to help other helping professionals do the same.

Click here to read about Jessica’s SEO journey.

What SEO Tools Are the Best?

Tools you may use to optimize your website include:

For keyword research, our SEO team most commonly uses KWFinder and SEMRush which are both paid tools. However, all of the keywords on this list can be excellent sources for your keyword research!  We do have a blog post with more information on some of these keyword research tools available here.

We also included in this list our favorite tool for blog post ideas (Answer the Public), checking on the quality of backlinks to your site (Linkody), and two general tools that have LOTS of functions if you’re really getting serious about SEO (Moz & SEMRush).

Where should I use keywords on my website?

Great question, you should aim to incorporate keywords throughout your website. But, here’s a list of the main places you should use keywords:

  • man working on the seo for his private practice website after SEO training with simplified SEO consutingYour home page
  • Meta descriptions
  • Page and blog post titles
  • In the text and in subtitles
  • Call to action section
  • Other services section
  • Alt text and titles on photos

To learn more about where to include keywords on your counseling website check out Jessica’s article: Where to Include Keywords on My Private Practice Webpage

What businesses should use SEO?

SEO is useful for any business where potential clients would look for their services online. This is especially true for businesses where there might be some stigma around asking your friends for recommendations. For example, many people don’t want their friends and family to know they’re going to counseling, so they search for therapists and their services online.

SEO is great for helping professionals of all kinds. This includes, but is in no way limited to, therapists, psychiatrists, private practice physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, lawyers, life coaches, child care facilities, education services, and more!

Who shouldn’t use SEO?

Someone just starting a brand new business in an industry where few people look online should wait to invest in SEO. For instance, if you are opening a bakery in a really busy part of town and are confident you will have a lot of word of mouth referrals, you might not need to worry about how you rank on Google.

Even in the mental health world, there may be times where you don’t need/want to invest in getting your website to the first page of Google. The times when this applies are if you have too many clients, or if your business is based around referrals from other providers. Also, some people in less competitive areas are able to easily rank just by writing some great content.

Will SEO Exist in 10 years?

female psychiatrist works on her SEO for her private practice after SEO training from Simplified SEO ConsultingInteresting question. I believe the answer is yes, but it will evolve. Optimizing for Google might not be the priority anymore. It might be optimizing for Youtube, which is similar, but different. SEO is all about getting in front of your ideal clients, so this means optimizing your content on the places they search for services. Likewise, it may mean tweaking how we optimize now and learning new techniques to appease Google’s ever-changing algorithms.

Now, if you’re asking if you’ll still rank as well in ten years as you do now, that’s a different question. Ranking well on Google requires maintenance work. You never know when one of your competitors will work on their SEO causing you to fall a bit in rankings. If you’re curious about ways to maintain your already excellent rankings, check out our alumni packages.

Is SEO just about getting a website ranking well on Google?

Ultimately, SEO is about increasing your business revenue. However, it’s also about filling your practice with the clients you will ENJOY working with. Therefore, it starts by getting you in front of the RIGHT clients. This is why keyword research is so important, that you have meta descriptions people will click on and that your website speaks to your ideal client.

What SEO techniques should I use on my site?

male therapist works on the SEO for his private practice website after reading an SEO guide for therapists from Simplified SEO Consulting

There are many different SEO techniques. However, there are few techniques that are very useful in getting you ranking better on search engines.

Popular SEO techniques include:

  • Building backlinks
  • Keyword research and usage
  • Content creation- often in the form of blogging and or copywriting
  • Addressing technical issues on a site
  • On-page optimization
  • Adding alt text to your photos that is rich in keywords

How do I know where to start on my SEO Strategy?

Google considers over 200 factors when deciding rankings. So, there are a lot of different things you can do that would be considered “working on SEO.” Different SEO companies focus on different components. Which optimization techniques you focus your energy on is likely influenced by the type of service or product you offer, your own goals, and your competition. This is why we generally recommend you choose an SEO company familiar with your specific field.

At Simplified SEO, we were founded by a therapist who owns her own private counseling practice. So, our specialty is helping therapists and those in closely related fields get to the top of search engines.  We’ve also worked well with people in other service-based industries, particularly in the healthcare field.

What do SEO Specialists do?

SEO specialists help you get your website ranking well on search engines. There can be a wide variation in the actual services performed. For example, a professional may do an SEO audit and some advice about what you can work on. Or, they may create content that will help your site rank better.  Alternatively, they could provide in-depth on-page optimization.  Some provide long-term, ongoing SEO services.

It’s important to know that you may interview different SEO companies who all do different things to improve your rankings.  All of them may have a solid understanding of what factors search engines are considering. However, they’re choosing to focus on different facts.  What all of these services have in common is that the professional’s goal is to help your website show up better in search engines and attract your ideal client.

Which SEO Plugin is Best for WordPress?

There are several good SEO plugins for WordPress, however, we recommend and use the Yoast plugin. We love how user-friendly it is. Plus, it gives us important information regarding optimizing your website and readability.

What are the most important things I can do for SEO?

Because Google takes into account so many factors when deciding how to rank your website, it’s difficult to know where to start!  Some of the places I recommend you focus on your energy include:

  • male SLP works on his private practice website to get it ranking better on Google after meeting with an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. Learn answers to questions like is SEO important for therapists by searching for SEO marketing for therapists today. Start with a great website design that is really easy to navigate
  • Building backlinks to your site
  • Do proper keyword research
  • Adding relevant content that speaks to your ideal client/customer
  • Make sure your website has a security certificate
  • Use lots of internal links
  • Write clear meta descriptions on each page
  • Make sure the main content on your site is easy to read

Does readability matter for SEO?

Yes. It does. Simply put, having a page that’s easy to read improves the reader’s experience. Therefore, Google will give you a better ranking if your page is easy to understand. We recommend writing your page as if explaining a concept to a middle schooler.

A lot of the business owners we work with are professionals who worry about “dumbing down” their page. They work with really educated, private pay clients who hold advanced degrees. The truth is, on a good day your ideal client probably does understand most of what you are saying. However, your ideal client may not be in a frame of mind to read very technical information. They may be distressed and need answers quickly. It’s often at a client’s lowest, most distressed moment when they are in “freeze, fight or flight” that they’re searching the Internet for a therapist.  Therefore, while we focus on readability for SEO, we also believe it serves your potential clients well.

Some of the easiest things you can do to improve readability are:

  • Shorten sentences
  • Keep paragraphs under 300 words
  • Add higher level subheadings (H2s & H3s to divide sections)
  • Use simple and clear language.

Check out one of my earlier blogs on readability.

What are backlinks and are they actually important?

Great question! Backlinks are when another site links to your website. Backlinks increase your trust flow which will increase your ranking on search engines. Google’s goal is to give its users accurate and relevant information, so they value backlinks as a sign of your website’s trustworthiness and value.

Where do I get backlinks?

There are many different techniques for building backlinks to your website. You can be featured on a podcast, list your website on a directory, act as a source for media or many other options!  Getting backlinks from a variety of sources will give your website “staying power” on search engines!

Throughout our time working on webpages, and based on Jessica’s success in her own practice, we’ve narrowed down a list of the best places therapists specifically can look into to get backlinks. So, check out our list and think about the people or places who would be willing to give you backlinks. Then, check out Alyssa’s comprehensive blog about backlinksfor more information. Or, check out our new backlinks course!

Some of our most popular backlink sources are:

  • female helping professional meets with a client online. She ranks well on Google after working with an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. Learn questions like is SEO important for therapists by searching for SEO marketing for therapistsOnline directories
  • Resource lists
  • Acting as a source for media and news outlets
  • Be a guest blogger
  • Job postings
  • Public speaking
    • Ask the event’s host to give you a backlink on their invitation or website
  • Sponsor an event or donate to a charity
  • Be a guest on a podcast

What is the difference between an internal link versus an external link?

An internal link occurs when we link from one page or post on your website to another page or post on your website. An external link occurs when you link from your website to another website. Both have a place in optimizing a website, but internal links will generally help your rankings more.

When our staff optimize websites, we focus heavily on adding internal links because they boost your overall search engine rankings and increase the amount of time your potential client is spending on your website. Which will hopefully compel them to contact you and convert. But, an external link is very useful because it adds credibility and shows that you know what other resources might be useful for your viewers.

To learn more about internal and external links check out a blog I wrote: How to Use Links and Anchor Text to Boost Your SEO.

What pages should I have on my website to rank well for Google?

Having the right pages is a key component of website strategy. If you are a service based business (therapist, psychiatrist, SLP, OT, etc), the basic pages I would recommend include:

  • A well-designed home page
  • 4-6 service pages describing your specialties to your clients
    • These pages need to be 500 words or more
  • Contact page
  • About page or a meet the team page
  • A blog

How often should I post blogs to improve my SEO?

Blogging is an essential part of getting you ranking better. This is why we remind all our clients or blog readers to blog regularly. The frequency of blogging depends on how competitive your area is. But, even if it’s not competitive we recommend a minimum of two blogs a month. Furthermore, we recommend you write blogs resting to the keywords you’re wanting to rank well for. Remember, blogging isn’t just good for your rankings, It can also help your private practice in many ways, and you can learn about those ways by reading Jessica’s article: Are blog posts just for SEO? 

What is the difference between SEM and SEO?

SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing and typically refers to paid strategies that help your website appear more often in search results.  One common SEM strategy is Google Adwords.  SEO, on the other hand, refers to Search Engine Optimization which is where you rank organically in search results.

Should I use Google Adwords or SEO?

In general, SEM strategies are better for short-term visibility, and SEO is better for long-term visibility. Many of our clients choose to use both strategies. If you have to choose one, consider your goals and timeline. Adwords is better for short-term results and getting in front of people quickly. SEO is a long-term strategy but you don’t have to pay for every person who clicks on your site.

You can read more about it in this blog post from Alyssa about Google Adwords.

Should I hire out for Search Engine Optimization?

female SEO specialist meets with her clients to discuss SEO strategy for a private practice website. Help improve counselor SEO with SEO marketing for therapists today from Tampa, FL to Washington DCThis is a very personal question. So, my answer depends on this question: How much time and effort are you willing to put into optimizing your own website? If you are a data nerd like our Simplified SEO staff, you may want to learn all about how to increase your rankings and interpret data. But, if you don’t have time for that, then you should absolutely consider hiring out for search engine optimization.

Simplified SEO has a variety of comprehensive SEO services, a la carte SEO services, and training opportunities. So, rather you’re a DIYer or a delegator, we’ve got you covered.

What questions should I ask an SEO specialist before hiring them to optimize my site?

First, you want to make sure your SEO specialist is a good fit for helping you achieve your SEO and business goals. Then, you want to understand what strategies they are going to use, how you’ll communicate with them, and what overall plan they have for your website.

Some questions you can ask your SEO specialist include:

  • What’s your experience working with similar businesses?
  • What results will you get?
  • What are your plans or packages?
  • How long do people usually need your services?
  • How do you measure success?
  • Am I paying for backlinks with your package?
  • What specific on-page SEO techniques do you use?
  • How will you communicate with me?

Begin SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

female therapist looks happy when she sees her rankings increase due to SEO training with an SEO expert at Simplified SEO consutingThank you so much for following along and reading through this blog. I hope you found the answers to your questions, but if not, please contact us. Our talented team of SEO experts would be thrilled to answer your question and talk about what services might be a great fit for your business. Follow these three steps to begin ranking better on Google.

  1. Schedule a consult with our Client Success Specialist or Consult Team.
  2. Learn more about our awesome team of SEO Specialists.
  3. Begin optimizing your site and seeing the results on Google!

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO Consulting is passionate about providing SEO services for helping professionals and therapists. Our comprehensive SEO services are included in our Done for You SEO Service packages. Also, we offer alumni packages and al la carte SEO services. Our SEO staff provides several SEO training opportunities. including our “Top of Google” online course and 12 weeks of online video training. We also offer an SEO Strategy package to learn more about SEO and what you can do to rank better on search engines.

Contact Simplified SEO to learn more, or book a free SEO Consultation to decide which option is best for your business. We hope to hear from you soon!

About the Author:

Cory Moss is a Simplified SEO specialist based in Kansas City. She specializes in working on readability. She really enjoys helping her clients get to the top of Google and attract their ideal clients.

*Updated April 29th, 2023*