How You Can Improve Your Chances of Ranking in a Google 3-Pack: Private Practice SEO Tips

As a mental health professional who owns their own practice, you may have heard “Google 3-pack” being thrown around. It’s especially important when it comes to where your website ranks. But what exactly is a Google 3-pack, and why should you care about it when it comes to finding your ideal client? In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of the Google 3-pack. As well as how you can improve your rankings as a private practice to appear in it and maintain them.

What is a Google 3-Pack?

First, let’s define what the Google 3-pack is. When an ideal client searches for a local service, such as “anxiety therapy in Little Rock, AR”, Google will often display a box at the top of the search results page (SERPs) with three practices that fit the search criteria. This area of the SERPs is known as the Google 3-pack. It’s a highly coveted spot for practices that want to be displayed first. When you appear at the top of the SERPs you will more than likely see an increase in calls or clicks as most searchers will use the 3-pack to find what they are looking for before they continue scrolling down the search results.

So as a mental health professional, why is it important to rank in the Google 3-pack for your practice? For starters, it’s a great location for your practice to appear on the search results page. Most searchers don’t bother scrolling past the first few results that show up in the SERPs. So appearing in the 3-pack can greatly increase your chances of getting noticed by potential ideal clients. Photo of an African American man smiling while working on his laptop. Learn tips to improve your rankings and how you can get your practice ranking in the Google 3-pack.

It Gives Your Practice Credibility

Another important reason for appearing in the Google 3-pack is that it can lend credibility to your practice. Google’s algorithm takes many different factors into account when determining which practices to display in its 3-pack. It considers the business’s proximity to the searcher, the number of reviews and ratings it has, and the relevance of the business’s website to the keywords being searched for. If your business appears in the 3-pack, it’s a signal to potential clients that you’re a reputable and trustworthy business.

Ready to learn how you can improve your rankings to appear in the Google 3-Pack? Here are a few tips:

Tips For Improving Your Rankings in Google’s 3-Pack

Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile is an important factor in determining whether your practice appears in the Google 3-pack. Always make sure your profile is complete and accurate. This includes your business name, address, and phone number (also known as NAP). Use relevant keywords in your practice description. Also, be sure to select the appropriate categories for your practice as well.

Improve Your Website’s SEO

While your Google Business Profile is important, it’s not the only factor that determines your rankings. Your website’s SEO (search engine optimization) also plays an important role in your rankings. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, has a fast loading speed, and includes relevant keywords in your content. Be sure to create high-quality content that addresses the needs and concerns of your ideal clients, such as blog posts about common mental health issues, such as “Tips on Managing Anxiety Before a Counseling Session”.

Build Quality Backlinks

Local citations are mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number on other websites, such as directories or social media platforms. Building local citations can help increase your business’s visibility and credibility, as well as improve your rankings in the Google 3-pack. Make sure your business’s NAP is consistent across all citations, as discrepancies can hurt your rankings. Checking on your Google Business Profile and NAP will help keep your information accurate at all times.

Backlinks to your website from reputable sources can help increase your online prominence and improve your local search rankings. Reach out to local organizations, schools (such as colleges), partners, and industry associations to see if they would be willing to link to your website. A great way to build backlinks is to also give another practitioner a backlink from your website. Guest blogging on someone else’s page and having them guest blog on yours is a simple and effective way to create one.

Encourage Client Reviews

As mentioned earlier, the number and quality of client reviews can impact your rankings in the Google 3-pack. Try to encourage your clients to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. As well as other review sites such as Yelp or Healthgrades. Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you value feedback from your clients. If you’re unsure how you should respond to a review as a practitioner, check out this blog post on “Responding to Google Reviews in an Ethical Way: Ideas for Mental Health Professionals”.

While it can be tough to rank in the Google 3-pack, it’s a powerful and effective way to get calls, and clicks, and find your ideal clients. By following these tips you can begin improving your rankings and hopefully start ranking in Google’s 3-pack. Photo of a magnifying glass hovering over the words Google My Business. Discover ways you can manage your Google My Business and start ranking in the Google 3-pack.

Apply To Work With Simplified SEO Consulting

Interested in ranking in Google’s 3-pack? Our team at Simplified SEO Consulting wants to help you get your website ranking so you can begin interacting with your ideal clients. With our guidance and support, you will have the right clients calling your practice to get started with your services. To start your SEO journey with our Simplified team follow these three simple steps:

Apply to work with us on your SEO
Meet with one of our Skilled SEO Specialists
Begin improving your rankings to get into the Google 3-Pack!

Other Services Offered With Simplified SEO Consulting

Looking for a different way we might be able to support you when it comes to finding your ideal client? Our team at Simplified wants to support you no matter what your SEO journey is. To help you begin finding your ideal client, we offer support in both our Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses. Simplified SEO Consulting also offers a 12-week Done With You Intensive Program. Check out our blog for more helpful tips and guides to SEO!

About The Author

Brianna is a Mental Health SEO Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. As an SEO Specialist, Brianna enjoys optimizing client websites and interacting with them to help them achieve their SEO goals for their website. Her main goal while working with Simplified clients is to ensure they enjoy their SEO journey as well as to help them understand how the SEO process works. She hopes to inspire clients during the SEO process as well so they can begin working on their websites too!

Looking for extra support? Schedule a consult with the consulting team to see who can help you and how.

April 13, 2023/0 Comments/by Brianna Joplin

Content, SEO Tips

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

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

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

What Exactly is SEO Marketing for Therapists?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Relevant Keywords

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

Call to Action

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

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

Optimize Your Blog Posts

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

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

How Often Should Therapists Post Blog Content?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author:

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

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

April 6, 2023/0 Comments/by Lynsey Heskett

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips, Training

Resources for Inclusive Photos + Alt Text Examples

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

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

Photo Alt Text, Optimizing Photos, & Titles Examples

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

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

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

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

Couples Therapy Website

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

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

Child and Teen Therapist

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

Addiction Treatment Center

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

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

Private Medical Practice

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

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

Speech and Language Pathologist

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

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

Dietician

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

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

Eating Disorder Therapist

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

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

Photo Sites and Their Algorithm

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

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

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

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

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

Open AI

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

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

Creative Market

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

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

Tonl

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

https://tonl.co/

Gender Spectrum Vice

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

https://genderspectrum.vice.com/

Nappy

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

https://nappy.co/

Iwaria

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

https://iwaria.com/

Big Stock Photos

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

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

https://www.bigstockphoto.com/

Flickr (Women in Tech)

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

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

CreateHERStock

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

https://createherstock.com/

Wrap Up on Private Practice SEO

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

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

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

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

Other Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author

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

April 3, 2023/0 Comments/by Jasmine Jaquess

SEO Basics, SEO Tips, SEO Tools

What Are the Top 5 SEO Strategies Every Healthcare Professional Should Use?

In the dynamic realm of healthcare, where patients are increasingly relying on digital avenues to seek solutions for their well-being, the importance of a strong online presence cannot be overstated. For functional medicine doctors, psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals in private practice, implementing effective SEO strategies is more than just a trend—it’s a necessity. Let’s delve into the top five SEO strategies that can empower healthcare practitioners to connect with patients and thrive in the digital age.

1. Crafting High-Quality and Informative Content

At the heart of successful SEO lies content that not only informs but also engages and resonates with the target audience. Healthcare professionals must invest in creating well-researched, evidence-based content that addresses patients’ queries and concerns. Whether it’s blog posts on the benefits of functional medicine, informative videos about speech therapy techniques, or articles detailing chiropractic approaches, high-quality content establishes authority and fosters patient trust.

2. Leveraging Local SEO for Community Connection

For healthcare professionals, connecting with the local community is paramount. Optimizing Google My Business listings with accurate information, patient reviews, and consistent name/address/phone number (NAP) details enhances local visibility. Moreover, employing list management services ensures uniform NAP across different platforms, contributing to improved search rankings and patient engagement.

3. Harnessing the Power of Backlinks

Backlinks, also known as inbound links, play a pivotal role in boosting a website’s credibility and authority. Healthcare professionals can collaborate with reputable medical organizations, universities, and healthcare blogs to secure backlinks to their websites. These partnerships not only enhance online reputation but also drive organic traffic, expanding the practitioner’s reach and influence.

4. Engaging with User-Centric Website Design

A user-friendly and responsive website design is no longer an option—it’s a requirement. Healthcare professionals should ensure their websites are accessible and functional across various devices, including mobile phones and tablets. User-centric design enhances patient experience, reduces bounce rates, and signals to search engines that the website is credible and relevant. So, make sure your website is mobile responsive, free from pesky 404 errors, easy to navigate with proper site structure, and otherwise user-friendly for your potential patients.

5. Incorporating Long-Tail Keywords for Precision

In a competitive digital landscape, healthcare professionals need to be strategic in their keyword selection. Long-tail keywords—specific phrases that address particular queries—allow practitioners to target a more precise audience. For instance, a psychiatrist specializing in anxiety treatment could target keywords like “effective anxiety therapy in [City Name].” These tailored keywords attract patients actively seeking specialized care.

SEO Has the Power to Build Your Practice

The convergence of healthcare and digital accessibility demands a strategic approach to SEO for functional medicine doctors, psychiatrists, speech-language pathologists, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals in private practice. By focusing on high-quality content creation, leveraging local SEO, harnessing the power of backlinks, engaging in user-centric website design, and incorporating precise long-tail keywords, practitioners can establish a strong online presence, connect with patients seeking specialized care, and ultimately contribute to improved patient outcomes. In the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, effective SEO isn’t just a strategy—it’s a conduit for delivering impactful healthcare solutions to those in need.

Ready to Transform Your Healthcare Practice’s Online Visibility? Schedule a Consultation Today!

Embarking on an effective SEO journey can be a transformative step for your private healthcare practice. At Simplified SEO Consulting, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that healthcare professionals encounter in the digital landscape. Our team of experienced SEO specialists is here to guide you through the process, helping you elevate your online presence and connect with patients in a meaningful way. We are committed to providing a high-quality SEO strategy for the healthcare industry and helping healthcare providers reach and help more patients.

We invite you to take the next step by scheduling a consultation with one of our dedicated SEO experts. With our online calendar, you can find a convenient time slot that suits your schedule. We pride ourselves on our prompt response, so you can usually secure a consultation within just a couple of days. During this consultation, we’ll listen to your practice’s goals, analyze your current digital footprint, and tailor a strategic SEO plan that aligns with your healthcare specialization.

To get started, simply visit our dedicated consultation page, where you’ll find our calendar and available time slots. By collaborating with Simplified SEO Consulting, you’re choosing a partner dedicated to helping your healthcare practice thrive in the digital age. Let’s work together to enhance your online visibility, connect with your community, and provide impactful care to those who need it most. Schedule your consultation today and embark on your journey toward SEO success!

April 1, 2023/0 Comments/by Jessica

Content, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

4 Tips for Growing Your Private Practice SEO

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

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

Learn About or Conduct Keyword Research

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

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

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

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

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

Optimize Your Practice’s Website for Private Practice SEO

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

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

Things to Keep in Mind

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

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

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

Using Locations Near You and Building Local Citations

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

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

Create Quality Content to Benefit Your Private Practice SEO

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author:

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

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

March 30, 2023/0 Comments/by Lynsey Heskett

Business Tips, Local SEO, SEO Tips

What is List Management?

In the world of SEO, there are many strategies to improve your private practice SEO.

A close up of. aperson typing on thier phone while sitting at their laptop desk. Learn how to imporve private practice seo and local seo for therapists by contacting Simplified SEO Consulting. One of these strategies that has been around for a while is known as list management. It can be an important part of improving your local seo strategy, but what does it actually mean? Today, we are going to discuss what exactly list management is, why it is important, and how it can benefit your private practice.

What is List Management?

List management involves collecting important information about your site and ensuring it is the same info across the internet. This almost always includes elements like the name, address, and phone number of your practice. But, you can often benefit from including your hours of operation, photos of your practice if applicable, accepted forms of payment, etc.

As you can expect, collecting accurate info about your own practice may not sound like too difficult a task. However, the hard part comes in the form of making sure this information is accurate, regardless of where you see it on Google. In short, list management can help you manage the information of your practice across every directory that has your site’s info. Using a list management tool like SEMRush can help you distribute your practice data across multiple creditable citation websites. List management also involves making sure that there are no duplicate listings, or existing listings with conflicting information.

What Are Citation Sites And Directories?

When talking about list management in relation to SEO, the information gathered from your website is added to sites that contain a list of other websites based on different categories, specialties, or locations. These are directories and “citation sites” that list your business data, and have a wide range of uses. You have likely heard of some of the most popular directories such as Youtube, Postmates, Google Business Profile, Better Business Bureau, and Best Of The Web (BOTW).

Some directories may be focused on specific services like Uber Eats. But, others are focused on specific geographical locations in order to help local area businesses find potential clients, like Nextdoor. There are many different kinds of directories, but you must also be mindful that not every directory is going to be beneficial for your practice. It wouldn’t make sense for a private practice to be listed on a directory like Postmates, so making sure your practice is listed on a variety of directories that are applicable to the services you offer is important.

Why Should I Care About List Management?

List management is vital to ensure the information of your business is accurate no matter what site or directory a potential client may find it on. It plays an important role in establishing authority and a positive reputation with Google, which can influence your placement in the search rankings. Plus, many private practice owners likely don’t have the time to ensure their business information is being corrected on each directory their site is listed on.

As a practice grows along with the number of directories it is listed on, it can become even more difficult to keep up with all the manual changes you would need to make to keep consistent NAP information. Using list management can help reduce the tedium of checking in on each directory. By using a tool like SEMRush, you can ensure that every directory your site is being listed on has the same, updated, consistent information. You can also update your business information in one place, and have it distributed to each directory on your behalf instead of updating each directory yourself.

How can list management help my practice?

While you may have been unfamiliar with what list management is before today, it can still offer support for many private practice owners. Providing accurate information about your practice will help make you more discoverable than other sites with incomplete or inconsistent information. This is why it can be helpful to ensure your practice is listed on both major, trusted directories such as Apple Maps or Facebook and smaller, location focused directories like 2FindLocal and AroundMe. Regardless of the directory, ensuring your information is accurate across all the directories your site is linked to is vital.

List Management and Local SEO

There are many different types of directories, and many can help your practice become more prominent on a local level. However, this is only applicable to practices that offer in-person services, since the service area for online only practice is often harder to pinpoint. Showing up with accurate information on directories such a Google Business Profile for therapists makes it so much easier for potential clients in your service area to find and contact your practice. Having consistent information can also help drive more traffic to your site when people see your directory listing. Plus, it can also

Finally, it is also worth noting that not all directories are credible. You never want to pay for something that will promise you a large number of high quality backlinks. This could be seen as a black hat SEO tactic which is often seen as unethical. Worse, it could also tank your site’s authority and reputation with Google as well.

Start Improving Private Practice SEO with List Management Services from Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team understands that it can be difficult to keep up with the directories your practice is listed on, let alone start finding directories to list your site on. This is why we are happy to offer support with a list management baseline report for your practice. We are also happy to offer a variety of services to support your private practice SEO. You can start your SEO journey with Simplified SEO Consulting by following these simple steps:

Apply to work with us to improve your SEO
Meet with an SEO specialist
Start improving your online presence and trust with Google!

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team knows there are many aspects of SEO that you may need help addressing to improve your private practice website. This is why we offer a variety of SEO services including our Done For You SEO Servicesand DIY Online SEO Courses. We also offer a 12-week Done With You Intensive SEO Program. Visit our blog to learn more valuable SEO info today!

About the Author

Sterling Humburg-Cage graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA in Psychology in 2020. He has integrated what he learned in school into his work as an SEO Specialist with Simplified SEO Consulting. Sterling prides himself on helping current clients & alumni problems solve difficult SEO issues. He’s great at giving clients multiple options about how to approach a situation, finding solutions to some of the more technical aspects of SEO, and responding in a timely manner to client concerns. Since he started, Sterling has met frequently with our alumni and provided them with extra problem-solving support. He now provides additional support with a variety of local SEO services. He often goes the extra mile to do outside research. By doing so, he sure private practice owners have everything they need to rank well on search engines long term for the keywords their ideal clients are using!

March 21, 2023/0 Comments/by Sterling Humburg-Cage

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

Why Creating High-Quality Content is Important for SEO

What is High-Quality Content?

High-quality content on a website is content that is valuable, relevant, and useful to the target audience. It should be well-written, engaging, and informative, and should provide a positive user experience. Creating high-quality content that relates to your ideal client is crucial for effective SEO.

It can help attract and engage your target audience to your website. You want potential clients to stay on your website and view your content. By creating high-quality content you will be giving potential clients helpful information that they want to read. Thus they stay on your website longer.

Some helpful characteristics to remember when it comes to high-quality content are relevance, depth, originality, and clarity. On relevance, you want to make sure the topic you are focusing on is relevant to your website as well as your intended clients. Depth helps give more credibility. You focus on providing detailed information rather than surface-level information. Always be sure your content is original. You always want to provide a new perspective as it can help bring in more viewers. Your content should be very clear, as clarity can make it easier for viewers to understand. If your content is harder to understand they will most likely leave the site.

How to Create Content That Resonates With Your Ideal Client

Start Defining Your Target Audience

Be sure to create content that relates to your ideal client. You want to create content that focuses on the clients you are wanting to see walk through your office door. This helpful high-quality content will help potential clients determine if they see an interest in your services. Or if your content is interesting to them and they want to learn more.

Be Sure You Are Using The Right Keywords

When creating high-quality content, an important component is identifying the keywords your potential clients are searching for. By identifying and incorporating these keywords you are ensuring that your potential clients are finding you and connecting with your website. These keywords are also very helpful as they help improve your search engine rankings. As you rank higher for the keywords you are using you will begin to attract the right audience to your website. Clients will begin to find the content they are looking for and may begin to convert into your client.

Be Sure To Create A Strategy With Your Content

Creating a content strategy is helpful when creating high-quality content. It helps you stay focused on your goals and ensure that your content is relevant, valuable, and useful to your ideal clients. You want to be sure that the content in your pages and blog posts is providing valuable information and knowledge as it helps build trust and credibility with your audience, as they come to recognize your practice, services, and what you stand for. Always try and post your blog content consistently as it provides fresh updated content and keywords. These both help drive more traffic to your website and increase your online visibility.

Be Sure You’re Optimizing Readability

Creating high-quality content can seem like a challenging project. But one crucial part of your making sure your content is high quality is readability. When readability is hard to read, potential clients and viewers might not stay on your site and read your helpful content. Always make sure that your content is easy to read and understand.

Be sure to have short paragraphs and use subheadings to break apart large sections of text. Readers may be overwhelmed when they see a large amount of content without it being broken up. Another way you can help break up text and keep your audience engaged is by adding photos or videos. Photos and videos can help display context to what your content is about. Visual aids often help keep readers on a site. Check out Hemingway, a free website you can use when making sure your content is readable.

Be Sure to Always Encourage Engagement

Your content is important. When you are finished with your subject always be sure to include a call to action (CTA). A call to action is how you will most likely have your potential clients contact you or even convert into actual clients. By including a call to action you are giving the reader a place to address their mental health struggles and contact you to help overcome their struggles. Another way to promote engagement is by leaving a space for readers to provide comments or share their thoughts on the subject is also helpful. Both of this help build a community around your content and improve its relevance to your ideal client.

High-quality content can be very crucial to your website for both search engines and for finding your target audience. By producing your high-quality content you will begin to rank higher on search engine results and gain the like, know, and trust factor with search engines.

This type of content will most likely be read by those who are looking for the type of content you are writing, and possibly turning these readers into your clients. By following these steps and continually refining your content creation process, you can create high-quality content that resonates with your ideal client and helps drive traffic, engagement, and conversions.

Apply To Work With Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team at Simplified SEO Consulting wants to help you get your website ranking so you can begin interacting with your ideal clients. With our guidance and support, you will have the right clients calling your practice to get started with your services. To start your SEO journey with our Simplified team follow these three simple steps:

Apply to work with us on your SEO
Meet with one of our Skilled SEO Specialists
Begin creating high-quality content to improve your SEO!

Other Services Offered With Simplified SEO Consulting

Looking for a different way we might be able to support you when it comes to finding your ideal client? Our team at Simplified wants to support you no matter what your SEO journey is. We offer support in both our Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses. Simplified SEO Consulting also offers a 12-week Done With You Intensive Program. Check out our blog for more helpful tips and guides to SEO!

About The Author:

Looking for extra support? Schedule a consult with the consulting team to see who can help you and how.

March 9, 2023/0 Comments/by Brianna Joplin

SEO Basics, SEO Tips, SEO Tools

What are the Best Practices for Healthcare SEO?

In the digital age, healthcare practices are recognizing the immense potential of effective SEO strategies to enhance their online presence and reach a wider audience. While the field of healthcare is focused on providing quality care, it’s essential to understand that a strong online presence is crucial for connecting with potential patients. This article delves into the world of healthcare SEO, exploring its nuances and benefits for practices aiming to thrive in the competitive digital landscape.

How Healthcare Practices Can Benefit from Effective SEO

Healthcare practices, just like any other business, can greatly benefit from a well-executed SEO strategy. By optimizing their online presence, healthcare providers can connect with patients who are actively searching for their services. A robust SEO approach can lead to increased website traffic, improved visibility in search engine results, and ultimately, more patient appointments. In a field where trust and credibility are paramount, SEO helps practices build their reputation and establish themselves as reliable sources of information and care.

Understanding Healthcare SEO

Defining Healthcare SEO and Its Importance

Healthcare SEO involves employing specific strategies to enhance a medical practice’s visibility in search engine results. Unlike general SEO practices, SEO strategy for the healthcare industry focuses on tailoring strategies to the unique needs and requirements of the healthcare industry. It’s all about ensuring that when individuals search for medical information, treatments, or local healthcare providers, your practice is among the top results they see. This visibility is vital in connecting patients with the care they need and in establishing your practice as a trusted resource.

Key Differences Between Healthcare SEO and General SEO

While the core principles of SEO remain consistent across industries, there are nuances that set healthcare SEO apart. Healthcare-related searches often carry a distinct sense of urgency and concern, requiring a specialized approach to content creation and keyword optimization. Additionally, healthcare providers need to navigate strict regulations surrounding patient privacy and medical information, making compliance a critical consideration in their SEO efforts.

How SEO Fits into Healthcare Marketing Strategies

In the modern healthcare landscape, a well-rounded marketing strategy includes both traditional methods and digital techniques. SEO seamlessly integrates into this approach by ensuring that your online presence aligns with your overall brand and messaging. It’s a way to amplify your marketing efforts and extend your reach beyond traditional advertising methods. By optimizing your website and content, you’re essentially providing patients with a valuable resource that addresses their questions and concerns.

Components of an Effective Healthcare SEO Strategy

Comprehensive Keyword Research: A Foundation for Success

The heart of any successful SEO strategy starts with keyword research. For healthcare practices, this involves identifying the specific terms and phrases patients use when searching for medical information or services. By understanding these keywords, you can tailor your content to address patients’ needs directly, positioning your practice as a relevant and authoritative source.

Optimizing On-Page Content: Creating Valuable and Informative Pages

Every page on your website presents an opportunity to engage visitors and showcase your expertise. Through on-page optimization, you can create informative and user-friendly content that resonates with patients and search engines alike. This includes incorporating relevant keywords, structuring content with headings and subheadings, and ensuring that your pages load quickly and provide a seamless browsing experience.

Building High-Quality Backlinks: Establishing Authority and Trust

Backlinks, or incoming links from other reputable websites, play a crucial role in healthcare SEO. They serve as endorsements of your practice’s credibility and expertise. By cultivating relationships with other trusted healthcare sources and sharing valuable content, you can naturally attract high-quality backlinks that elevate your practice’s authority in the eyes of search engines and patients.

Analyzing the Results and Impact of Healthcare SEO Strategy on Private Practice Growth

By implementing an effective SEO strategy, the functional medicine practice experienced a notable rise in website traffic and engagement. Patients searching for functional medicine services in their area consistently found the practice among the top search results. This increased visibility translated into more appointment requests and ultimately contributed to the practice’s growth and success.

Avoiding Common SEO Mistakes in Healthcare

While the benefits of healthcare SEO are clear, there are also potential pitfalls that practices should steer clear of. One common mistake is keyword stuffing, which involves overloading content with keywords in an attempt to rank higher. However, this approach can lead to content that feels unnatural and unhelpful to readers. Instead, focus on creating valuable, informative content that genuinely addresses patients’ concerns.

Ensuring Accurate and Relevant Information

In the healthcare industry, accuracy is paramount. Avoid sharing medical information that isn’t substantiated or verified by reputable sources. Misleading information not only damages your practice’s reputation but also poses potential risks to patients seeking reliable guidance.

Addressing Outdated or Unwanted Pages: Best Practices

As your practice evolves, your website may accumulate outdated or irrelevant pages. It’s important to regularly review and update your content, removing pages that no longer serve a purpose. Implement proper redirects to guide visitors to relevant pages and avoid leaving broken links.

Unethical or “Black Hat” SEO Strategies

It’s important to know that quality does matter when it comes to SEO. There are many people who have made money from SEO strategies that are NOT in line with Google’s guidelines and this can hurt your overall search engine rankings. Therefore, it’s important to ask questions about the ethics of SEO techniques if you ever have questions and ask about the ethics of whatever SEO agency you hire.

Understanding Google’s Recommendations for Optimal SEO

Google, being the dominant search engine, provides guidelines and recommendations to help websites achieve optimal search engine visibility. It emphasizes the importance of creating content that genuinely benefits users and delivers relevant information. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that your practice’s online presence aligns with user intent and offers valuable insights.

Avoiding Keyword Stuffing and Unnatural Practices

Google’s SEO quality guidelines specifically discourage keyword stuffing, a practice that attempts to manipulate search rankings by overloading content with keywords. This not only results in poor-quality content but also negatively impacts user experience. Instead, focus on creating content that naturally integrates relevant keywords and provides meaningful information.

Ultimately, you’re creating content for real people. Google cares about that. Patients who visit your website care about that. Make sure it’s your top priority as well. And that brings us to our next point…

Creating User-Centric Content That Aligns with Guidelines

User-centric content aligns with Google’s emphasis on user experience. Craft informative articles, blog posts, and resources that genuinely address patients’ questions and concerns. Prioritize content quality over quantity, and ensure that your content serves as a valuable resource for those seeking healthcare information.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Its Role in Healthcare

Defining SEM and Its Distinctiveness from SEO

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) encompasses various paid advertising methods that promote your practice’s online visibility. While SEO focuses on organic methods to improve search engine rankings, SEM involves paid advertisements that appear above or alongside search results. This distinction allows you to target specific keywords and demographics to reach your ideal patients.

How SEM Can Complement Your Healthcare SEO Strategy

When used strategically, SEM can complement your healthcare SEO efforts by providing immediate visibility in search results. While SEO requires time to gain traction and climb the ranks, SEM allows you to appear at the top of results almost instantly. This dual approach ensures that your practice is visible to patients whether they’re seeking immediate care or conducting thorough research.

Looking to incorporate other parts of SEM along with an effective SEO strategy? Simplified SEO Consulting has other digital marketing agencies that we refer to for other types of digital marketing including Google Adwords and Social Media ads.

Staying Up-to-Date with Search Engine Algorithm Changes

The Evolving Landscape of Search Engine Algorithms

Search engine algorithms are dynamic and subject to changes over time. Google regularly updates its algorithms to enhance search results and improve user experience. As a healthcare practice, staying informed about these updates is crucial to maintaining your online visibility and adapting your strategies accordingly.

Adapting to Algorithm Updates and Changes

Algorithm updates can impact your search engine rankings and visibility. By staying proactive and informed, you can adapt your SEO strategies to align with the latest changes. Regularly monitor industry news and Google’s official communications to ensure that your practice remains in step with algorithmic shifts.

The Role of Voice Search in Healthcare SEO

Voice search is an emerging trend that’s transforming the way patients seek healthcare information. With the rise of virtual assistants and smart devices, individuals are increasingly using voice commands to search for medical advice, symptoms, and nearby providers. As a healthcare practice, embracing this trend can give you a competitive edge in reaching patients through voice-enabled devices.

Crafting Conversational Content for Voice Search Optimization

Voice searches are often framed as conversational queries, meaning that users ask questions as if they’re having a conversation. To optimize your content for voice search, create articles and resources that answer common healthcare questions in a natural and conversational manner. Anticipate the queries patients might voice and provide concise, informative answers.

Ensuring Your Practice Website Is Ready for the Voice Search Revolution

As voice search continues to shape healthcare queries, it’s essential to ensure that your practice’s online presence is voice-search-friendly. This involves adopting a question-and-answer format in your content, integrating natural language, and focusing on concise yet comprehensive responses. By catering to voice search, you position your practice as a trusted source for patients seeking quick and accurate medical information.

The Ongoing Journey of Healthcare SEO Success

In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare marketing, SEO remains a cornerstone of success. By implementing a strategic and tailored SEO strategy for the healthcare industry, your practice can unlock its full potential in reaching patients who need your services. Whether you’re a functional medicine doctor, a chiropractor, a therapist, or any other healthcare provider, the principles of effective SEO apply.

Empowering Private Practices Through Effective SEO Strategies

As a private practice owner, you hold the power to empower your practice through effective SEO strategies. By embracing the intricacies of healthcare SEO, optimizing your online presence, and staying attuned to industry trends, you can position your practice as a reliable source of care and information. Remember that SEO is not just about rankings—it’s about forging meaningful connections with patients and guiding them on their healthcare journey.

Your Next Step: Embrace SEO to Thrive in the Digital Healthcare Landscape

The journey towards effective healthcare SEO begins with embracing the power of digital marketing. As patients increasingly turn to the internet to find healthcare solutions, optimizing your practice’s online presence becomes a necessity. By applying the principles of SEO tailored to the healthcare industry, you’re not only enhancing your practice’s visibility but also making a meaningful impact on the lives of patients in need. Don’t wait—take the first step towards optimizing your healthcare practice for success in the digital age.

Here at Simplified SEO Consulting, we began when a group psychotherapy practice owner from Missouri started offering her SEO services to other mental health professionals. As we grew, we slowly started working with clients who had other specialties such as psychiatrists and SLPs. Then, after working on SEO for functional medicine doctors at a couple of practices, we realized that more general healthcare SEO was an area we wanted to expand on outside of just mental health SEO. We’ve fine-tuned our signature SEO services to really fit the needs of healthcare private practices. And we’re here to help.

So, if you’re ready to optimize your healthcare practice for search engines, you can begin by scheduling a free Zoom consultation with one of our SEO specialists. A member of our team will take a look at your website, ask you a few questions about your goals for growing your business, and discuss which of our SEO services would make the most sense for your practice at this time.

March 1, 2023/0 Comments/by Jessica

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

Trending and Upcoming SEO for Therapists: Practices to Use for Your Mental Health Business (and Why!)

1. Using Artificial Intelligence to create SEO for Therapists’ Websites

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how people interact with online content. An algorithm in Google’s AI arsenal that is particularly noteworthy is its RankBrain. It was released several years ago and has become an integral part of Google’s search engine ranking system over the past few years. RankBrain is capable of understanding and interpreting the context behind a user’s search query. That results in more relevant search results! This means that users are more likely to find what they are looking for faster. Making it easier to navigate the web and find the information they need. Over 8.5 billion searches are conducted on Google every day, which amounts to a total of 99,000 searches every second.

That’s a lot of people asking Google the same question over and over again – “How do I get out of this infinite loop?!”

2. Adapting to Voice Search Technology when Creating SEO for Therapists

The popularity of voice search technology has soared in recent years thanks to technology like Google Assistant, Apple Siri, and Amazon Alexa. Voice search technology is changing the way people search for information and products. It is important to use long phrases that people use in their everyday conversations to have the best results in voice searches. In fact, 55% of homes are expected to have a smart speaker by 2022.

Make sure your keywords are relevant for voice search marketing. You can find long phrases that people use in everyday conversation by looking at how they speak. Longer, more natural phrases tend to produce better results in voice searches.

Fun Fact: In 1952, the first voice recognition device was created by Bell Laboratories and they named it Audrey.

3. Target Mobile Versions of your Site

In today’s search engine world, Google indexes websites based on their mobile versions. That means they look at the mobile versions primarily rather than the desktop versions. Mobile traffic is currently more than 50% of all web traffic. 73% of internet users will be able to access the internet only using a mobile device by the year 2025, so this change is quite logical.

You can assess your mobile site’s effectiveness using Google’s mobile-friendly test. You can also check out the “mobile usability” report in Google Search Console. Googlebot will also not load content that requires user interaction, like clicking or swiping.

Fun Fact: In December 2022, Google is projected to have handled around 84.08% of global searches. Bing and Yahoo handled 9% and 2.55%, respectively.

SEO for Therapists & Counselors Made Simple!

To begin working with Simplified, follow these three simple steps:

Book a Session with Simplified SEO Consulting
Learn about SEO Consulting for Therapists
Take a breath and relax, knowing your SEO is handled!

Other Services at Simplified SEO Consulting:

We can also help if you need other types of support! We offer a variety of training options to meet your needs, including a 12-week training program, small group intensives, and courses. If you are ready to start using SEO, or you are planning to move your site or redesign your site, then the strategy session may be an excellent option for you. We can also assist you with our Done for You Program if you want to work with a dedicated and skilled team of professionals.

About the Author

Being an avid supporter of therapy, in addition to being an avid learner and a technology lover in general, Amber fits right into the Simplified SEO team. She has an HR Certificate, a Bachelor’s in Psych, and is enrolled in a Master’s program in Psychology. Among her many responsibilities is her active involvement in her local nonprofit organization, The STARS Foundation, where she serves on its board, volunteers, and takes her daughter to many fine arts classes and activities. Spending time with her family is one of her greatest pleasures. She has a spouse, a daughter, three spoiled dogs, one farm cat, and a few chickens. She lived in the city before moving to Missouri (where chickens were definitely not permitted!) and feels fortunate to be able to experience many different types of lifestyles at such a young(ish) age.

February 28, 2023/0 Comments/by Amber Fuqua

Local SEO, SEO Tips

How to Write An SEO-Focused Google Business Profile Update

Your Google Business Profile (formally Google My Business) offers many ways to inform potential clients about updates to your practice, and is helpful to those that may benefit from your therapeutic services. Thankfully, creating the best Google Business Profile post is easier than you may think. But, it can still take time to highlight each important element of an effective GBP post. In this post, we are going to go through how to write an effective SEO-focused Google Business Profile update.

Focusing Your Google Business Profile Update

Before even starting your GBP post, you need to have a clear understanding of what the post is going to be about. Google Business Profile updates only allow for a certain number of characters, so brevity is vital. Updates must be under 1,500 characters (not words), which means each post will generally have one main focus. You can first start improving SEO for private practices by highlighting specific topics related to your practice, or services your practice offers.

Effectively Sharing Information

Google Business Profile updates can be a great way to share information from your blog posts or service pages that can help generate more interest in the content of your site. You can take a little fact or tip from a blog post or page and describe the steps in your GBP update. You can also provide a link to the page you are referring to, and pick out a photo to help catch the viewer’s eye. Or, you may also decide to promote new services you offer and provide more information about your practice.

In addition, you can also use these updates to let folks know about upcoming events your practice may be involved in within your community. Updates that are focused on a specific location can often benefit from references to notable location indicators in the area, such as:

Local parks
Hiking trails
Local landmarks
Local structures (banks, hospitals, libraries, post offices, etc.)

It can be difficult to strike the right balance between keeping posts brief but informative. But, writing posts that are under 700 characters can be good practice for getting your point across quickly. Using lists like the one above can be an effective way to cut down on your character count, describe steps to a process, or address multiple points.

Sharing your Surroundings

Not every post may be as focused on location as others. But, working in references using keywords that are location specific can be a great way to incorporate useful local SEO info within your post. This may include keywords such as “anxiety therapist in *insert service area here*”, “trauma therapist near me”, or “eating disorder therapist in *insert service area here*”. The specific keywords will vary based on your private practice SEO goals. But, the general rules still remain the same, and the same precautions must be taken when using keywords. In particular, it can be easy to focus too much on keywords like these, and force them into the post unnaturally.

Including location references to Google Business Profile updates in a natural way can take time.

Creating posts and looking at examples of other similar updates can offer a great way to see what works, and what doesn’t. GBP updates can help Google understand where exactly your practice is located and the services you are focusing your private practice SEO efforts on. Here is an example of a Google Business Profile update that introduces a new therapist while still referencing the location, and the services they offer.

Choosing the right photo

In this example, it makes sense to include an image of the new clinician. However, when it comes to deciding on the best photo for your post, it is best to choose something that relates to your topic in an uplifting, or outcome-oriented way. Google has strict guidelines it requires posts to follow. Images that depict things that go against their community guidelines may cause your new post to get taken down from your listing. So, it is important to review them to get an idea of what may be seen as prohibited content.

Addressing Google and Content Guidelines

Sometimes, Google will delete your post due to something going against their guidelines around updates. While this can be discouraging, it shouldn’t stop you from creating new posts. Google loves to see consistent upload schedules, and you can always try to reword the post to exclude the part Google may deem inappropriate. For some therapists, this may be a harder battle than others due to the nature of the services they offer. For example, a sex therapist will have to be more mindful of the language they use in order to establish context for Google to avoid having their GBP updates taken down.

In Conclusion

A message that a Google Business Profile post was taken down suggesting to review the content policy. Learn more about improving SEO for private practices through GBP updates. Simplified SEO Consulting can help address private practice SEO today! Putting each of these pieces together to create effective SEO-focused Google Business Profile updates is easier said than done. But, with time and practice, the process can be a fun and fulfilling way to make the most of updates to your practice. It is also worth stating that linking back to the specific blog or page you’re referring to is a very important part of the process! Make it as easiest as possible for people to reach your site. Doing so will go a long way in helping your practice get discovered on a local level. For most posts, you will likely want to choose the “learn more” button even though it is optional. This will allow you to include the link to the specific page on your site you want to go.

Begin Improving Private Practice SEO with Simplified SEO Consulting

Creating effective posts can take time. Our team of SEO specialists would be happy to offer support in capitalizing on each and every update. All while supporting your organic SEO presence as well. We offer a variety of services to support you and help grow your practice on a local level. You can start working with us by following these steps:

Apply to work with Simplified SEO Consulting
Meet with an SEO specialist.
Start improving Google’s rankings and meet your practice’s goals!

Other Services Offered With Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team at Simplified SEO Consulting is happy to offer support in a number of ways. We can offer support in improving local SEO for therapists as well as DIY Online SEO Courses. We also offer Done For You SEO services, and a Done With You 12-week Intensive SEO program as well. Feel free to visit our blog to learn more today!

About the Author

Sterling Humburg-Cage graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA in Psychology in 2020. He integrates what he learned in school into his work as an SEO Specialist with Simplified SEO Consulting. Sterling prides himself on helping current clients & alumni problems solve difficult SEO issues. He’s great at giving clients multiple options about how to approach a situation and responding quickly to client concerns. Since he started, Sterling has met frequently with our alumni and provided them with extra problem-solving support. He often goes the extra mile to do outside research and make sure private practice owners have everything they need to rank well on search engines long-term for the keywords their ideal clients are using!

February 21, 2023/0 Comments/by Sterling Humburg-Cage