Where is the Best Place to Advertise for a Law Firm?

When it comes to law firm advertising, we now have many options, making it both exciting and challenging for attorneys looking to promote their services. The question that often arises is, “Where is the best place to advertise a law firm?” In this comprehensive guide, best SEO for personal injury lawyers, we will delve into the intricacies of law firm advertising in the digital realm. We will explore the most effective platforms and strategies, offering valuable insights to help you make informed decisions about where and how to showcase your legal expertise. So, let’s embark on this journey to discover the optimal avenues for advertising with SEO for personal injury law firms in the 21st century.

Why is Law Firm Marketing Important?

Law firm marketing plays a pivotal role in today’s highly competitive legal landscape. It’s not merely about visibility; it’s about building trust, establishing credibility, and connecting with potential clients. Here’s why it’s crucial: Potential clients often turn to search engines when seeking legal assistance in the digital realm. Without an online presence, you risk being invisible to a significant portion of your potential clientele.

Credibility and Trust

A well-crafted online presence, featuring an informative website and engaging content, fosters credibility. It signals to potential clients that you’re a reputable and knowledgeable attorney.

Building Trust

Trust is the bedrock of legal services. Law firm marketing allows you to build trust by showcasing your expertise and providing valuable insights to your audience.

Gaining a Competitive Edge

In the legal field, competition is fierce. Effective marketing can give you a competitive edge by making your firm stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Where is the Best Place to Advertise for a Law Firm?

Determining where to best advertise for your law firm depends on various factors, including your target audience, budget, and the nature of your practice. Here are some effective places to consider:

Your Firm’s Website

Your website is your digital headquarters. It’s where potential clients go to learn more about your services. Ensure it’s informative, user-friendly, and regularly updated with relevant content.

Search Engines

Effective SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can help your firm rank high on search engine results pages (SERPs). Ethical SEO practices ensure your visibility without resorting to black-hat tactics.

Social Media Platforms

Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter offer excellent opportunities for engagement. Share legal insights, updates, and engaging content to connect with your audience.

Paid Advertising

Invest in paid advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads. These allow you to target specific demographics and keywords.

Email Marketing

Maintain regular communication with clients and leads through email marketing. Share newsletters with legal updates and success stories to keep your audience engaged.

Online Directories

Ensure your firm is listed on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and Avvo to boost your local visibility.

Legal Industry Websites

Join legal industry websites and directories like Avvo and Martindale-Hubbell to enhance your online presence and reputation.

What is the Best Form of Advertising for a Lawyer?

The best form of advertising for a lawyer depends on your specific goals and resources. A combination of strategies often yields the best results. Here are some effective methods:

Content Marketing

Regularly publish high-quality content like blog posts, articles, and videos. These showcase your expertise and provide value to your audience.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Ethical SEO practices help your website rank higher on search engines, increasing your visibility to potential clients.

Social Media Engagement

Engaging with your audience on social media platforms humanizes your firm and fosters client relationships.

Paid Advertising

Invest in targeted paid advertising campaigns to reach potential clients actively seeking legal services.

Email Marketing

Use email to nurture leads and maintain relationships with clients through newsletters and updates.

Digital Marketing for Law Firms

Digital marketing for law firms encompasses a range of strategies aimed at enhancing your online presence and attracting potential clients. It’s about leveraging digital channels to connect with your audience effectively. Here’s how:

Informative Website

Your website is the hub of your digital marketing efforts. It should provide comprehensive information about your practice areas, services, and legal insights.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Effective SEO ensures your website appears prominently on search engine results pages when potential clients search for relevant keywords.

Content Marketing

Regularly publishing informative content positions you as an expert in your field and provides value to your audience.

Social Media Engagement

Engaging with your audience on social platforms helps build relationships and keeps your firm top of mind.

Email Marketing

Email campaigns allow you to nurture leads and maintain client relationships through regular communication.

Paid Advertising

Targeted paid advertising campaigns can increase your visibility to potential clients.

Law Firm Marketing Plan Examples

Creating a comprehensive law firm marketing plan involves careful consideration of your firm’s goals, target audience, and available resources. Here are some examples of strategies you might include:

Content Calendar

Develop a content calendar outlining topics, publishing schedules, and responsible team members. Regularly update your blog with informative posts related to your practice areas.

Email Newsletter Campaigns

Create and send out regular newsletters to your email subscribers. Include legal updates, success stories, and informative articles to engage your audience.

Social Media Strategy

Develop a social media strategy that includes posting schedules, content ideas, and engagement tactics. Interact with your audience by responding to comments and messages promptly.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Consider running pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads to target specific keywords and demographics.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Implement ethical SEO strategies to improve your website’s search engine rankings. Optimize your website for relevant keywords, use a consistent and data-driven blogging strategy, and build quality backlinks.

Elevate Your Law Firm Advertising with Simplified SEO Consulting

Law firm marketing is not just about promotion; it’s about building trust and credibility with your audience. Establishing a robust online presence through strategies like a user-friendly website, ethical SEO practices, content marketing, and engaging with clients on social media can set your personal injury law firm apart in a competitive landscape. Embrace digital marketing as a means to connect with those who need your expertise most—your potential clients.

Are You Ready To Watch Your Law Firm Grow?

Drive more client traffic and cases to your firm by using Simplified SEO Consulting! We’re ready to help your personal injury law firm grow by discovering the key to online success with SEO. Don’t miss out on potential clients, follow these simple steps:

Schedule a consultation here!
Meet with one of our dedicated SEO Specialists.
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.

May 20, 2022/0 Comments/by Danica Wolf

Business Tips, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

When is the Right Time to Invest in SEO?

Are you on a good platform to invest in SEO?

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

Does it make financial sense to invest in SEO?

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

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

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

Do You Know Your Niche?

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

Are You Expanding Your Practice?

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

Would You Rather Invest in SEO by Outsourcing?

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

Do You have Content and Copy You Love?

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

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

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

Are you Ready to Blog?

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

Are you planning to rebrand soon?

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

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

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

Begin Working with Our Team!

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

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

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author:

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

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

May 3, 2022/0 Comments/by Jasmine Jaquess

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

Online Therapy & SEO

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

The SEO part of Online Therapy

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

What does this mean for SEO?

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

The SEO Advantages

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

Advantages:

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

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

Online Therapy and SEO Overview

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

In need of SEO help with ranking for Online Therapy?

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

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

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

SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author

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

April 26, 2022/0 Comments/by Justin Bohannan

Backlinks, SEO Tips

SEO Backlinks for Therapists. . . With Ease!

Image of multiple hands fist bumping representing the teamwork needed to boost your backlinks for therapists on your website. Learn more about backlinks for therapists at Simplified SEO Consulting today! You know you need to get backlinks to improve your SEO, however. . . you simply don’t have time for all that! It sounds overwhelming. There are so many different tactics and methods and a quick Google search leaves your head spinning. You’re a busy private practice owner, and managing a website and blogging is more than enough. Getting other sites to link to you as well. Ugh. It’s all just too much.

I totally get it. Being busy building a private practice therapy office is difficult enough. Add in trying to optimize for SEO and blog and wow, it’s simply overwhelming. You didn’t get into psychology to write and strategize, you got into therapy to help people! Now you feel like all your time is being eaten up by trying to find clients instead of helping the clients you have! Now you have to try and get backlinks for therapists? Oh goodness. Luckily for you, I have a few tips up my sleeve to help you improve your backlink game, with minimal effort on your part. At Simplified SEO Consulting, we get that you’re a busy private practice owner. We want to take SEO for psychologists off your plate!

To begin, we’re going to talk a little about what backlinks are in the first place! Then we’ll talk about why they are important and finally we’ll rock out some tips on how to get backlinks with minimal effort!

What are backlinks for therapists?

To put it super simply, backlinks for therapists are links on other websites which go to your site. Therefore, if you are mentioned in a blog post or a web article, a link is often included back to your website, which not only helps drive traffic, it also improves your SEO because Google knows that your page is more legit. There are different levels of quality of backlinks which adds another layer to building a solid backlink game. You want to get more backlinks, yes. However, quality backlinks for therapists from established news sites and .edu websites carry more weight with Google than other early-stage websites.

How to get good backlinks for therapists, (relatively) easily:

Backlinks are important because they are a vote in your favor in Google’s eyes. They see you as more reputable if you are linked to by an already established website. Here are my 5 favorite ways to get backlinks with minimal effort!

Guest post

happy man is writing a guest post to get backlinks for therapists to improve SEO for psychologists. Learn more about SEO from a SEO specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. The most common way to get backlinks as a therapist is to do some outreach and guest post on others sites. Yes, you do have to spend some time writing and potentially even come up with a pitch. But the research and time spent has a great return. Writing a quality guest post for another website is good for your SEO and gets your name out into the world! I recommend coming up with a few ideas for blog posts and researching websites in your field who might benefit from your voice. Then it’s just a simple email and you’re (hopefully) on your way to getting a solid backlink!

HARO

Have I mentioned I love HARO? I LOVE HARO! HARO stands for “Help a Reporter Out” and is a site that allows you to be considered as a source for major publications. It’s as easy as reading an email once to three times a day and replying with a pitch, or your take on what they are asking about. I personally check HARO for my business and see requests for mental health professionals almost daily. Take 10-30 minutes a day and reply to appropriate requests and you just might find yourself being linked to in a high-flying publication!

Request to be on a College’s Resource list

If you are in a university town, consider reaching out to the school’s LGBTQ Center or Women’s Center (or appropriate center for your niche) and ask to be included on a resource page. This gives you a high-quality backlink and can add clients through the college having you listed as a resource!

Podcast guest

My last and personal favorite way to get backlinks for therapists is to guest on podcasts. This can be as easy as asking around in your network who has a podcast and asking to be on it. On a more complicated level, consider which podcasts you enjoy listening to in your niche and make the ask! Pitching can be scary, but the payoff can be tremendous! Podcast guesting is great! Because once you land the gig, it is literally at most an hour and a half of your time. It also gets you great promo and publicity from the owner of the podcast.

Consider Done for You SEO with Simplified SEO Consulting

If you still find yourself overwhelmed with the prospect of doing ALL the things for SEO, consider hiring us to do your on-page SEO for you! Our team of highly skilled mental health SEO specialists are here to help you navigate the wild world of the internet as you build your private practice therapy office.

How to begin improving your SEO in 3 easy steps:

You might be thinking “Oh em gee. . . how am I supposed to do ALL the things for SEO?!” Well, the honest answer is that SEO is a lot. It takes know-how and time. The good news is that here at Simplified SEO Consulting, we have a team of rockstar SEO specialists who are here to help you rank at the top of Google as a therapist!

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

Book a Consult Call with our Consult Specialist
Learn about SEO Consulting for therapists
Step back and relax, knowing your SEO is handled!

Other Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

If Done for You SEO isn’t striking your fancy at this time, consider signing up for a DIY SEO Course or joining an SEO training! There are many ways Simplified can help support you as you go on the journey of improving your SEO.

About the Author

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

April 7, 2022/4 Comments/by Mason Aid

Business Tips, SEO Tips, SEO Tools, Websites

All About Wix and SEO

You may have heard it time and time again. Wix doesn’t always produce the best SEO results, especially in highly competitive areas. However, we have as mental health SEO specialists have seen some good rankings in areas like Wisconsin, Florida, Oregon, California, and such. Usually, we recommend Squarespace or WordPress. However, to those who love their WIX website, we are here to support you. There are ways to boost your website to get the most out of SEO.

Why Would Someone Work with a Wix Website?

There are many reasons practice owners find themselves on a Wix website. Usually, individuals are here because they are trying SEO for themselves. Therapists know that SEO is great for private practices and referrals, however, SEO can be expensive. So individuals build a site and do some baseline SEO to get on the map. Others have already invested in SEO and have been on Wix for a while. Honestly, if you know how to maneuver around Wix, it can be a great platform to use.

Here are some of the benefits of working with a Wix website.

It’s free
You can customize your site
Honestly, it’s easy to use
Has a clear and easy to understand website walkthrough
Wix does offer support on the platform.

Work on the basics for Wix and SEO

Remember that SEO takes time on any platform. We recommend in-depth SEO for about 6 months. We need to begin with high-quality content and good keyword research. These are the building blocks of the site. Make sure you have at least 500 words of content broken down into subheadings ( heading 1-3 only). Then make sure you are doing basic readability, this can make or break communicating your message to your clients. Additionally, add photos, internal and external links.

Nuances with Wix to Know

Photos:

Wix can be interesting to optimize and it is important for SEO, that we have the opportunity to add in Alt text. On other sites like Squarespace and WordPress, you can add an alt description and title. On Wix, you can only add an alt title. So make sure you are placing the focus keywords here with train tracks | separating the content. Add in 3-5 zip codes as well. Place 3 or more photos to get the best results on WIX. There is an option to add a tooltip to your site which works as a caption or alt description. The only issue with this is that it will show up on the page or blog itself rather than being an invisible description for a screen reader. On blogs for Wix, it is ever so slightly different. There is an option to add a caption and a title. However, just like the tooltip, the caption option will show up on the blog. If you are ok with this, then by all means add it on there to enhance your SEO, otherwise just focus on the alt title.

Important Point About Photos

Another issue we often see on Wix websites is that individuals will use backgrounds in place of photos. You may be wondering, “how is that not a photo?” The thing is we want to ensure that we are adding photos in for the purpose of optimization ( locations, zip codes, focus keywords). If we are not able to add in these elements, then although it may be appealing design-wise, it doesn’t enhance or offer value to your SEO. If you absolutely want these background photos or headings on your pages, make sure you still include 3 independent photos, that have the opportunity to be optimized.

Meta Descriptions:

On Wix just as on any site, you have a certain length that your meta title and description should be. Wix actually has a shorter requirement and it will display on your preview of the meta when you type it in. Therefore, Make sure that you can see all of the text you intentionally want to be viewed by potential clients. Anything over this limit will show up as dots and can be off-putting from a user experience standpoint. Place the focus keyword, locations, and a zip code for your meta title. Then add in an attention-grabbing meta description incorporating keywords and locations.

Font Size and Subheadings

There have been many sites I have seen where it looks like individuals have places Heading 1-Heading 3 as we would want on a site. Formatting can be unusual on Wix if you are not familiar with it. The good thing about Wix is that it offers more options to change font size, type, and colors. Make sure you have only one heading 1. It can be easy to assume that on Wix the headings are not interchangeable, however, you can easily modify it. If you like the font and size of an h1 for other headings, great news, you can mimic it on Wix and change it to an H2. Be careful that you’re not adding in Heading 4- 6 because Google doesn’t register this as a valid heading to read to someone using a screen reader.

Reasons We Do Not Recommend Wix for SEO

Individuals report having low rankings. Wix did fix this error back in 2016, but even so, Wix is a closed-circuit site, so adding additional plug in’s is not possible like on wordpress.
While you do not need a ton of tools to rank well for SEO, Wix doesn’t have as many options like Squarespace and WordPress
Does not offer advanced SEO options. Since Wix is a beginner-friendly SEO site, it does not have the in-depth options for SEO like other platforms do. With this in mind, that is why we say that we often see plateaus in SEO on a Wix site because you can only take it so far.
Is not always mobile-friendly. It is important to have a mobile-friendly website. Most people are searching for therapy services via their phones. If your site does not look flattering or appealing on a phone, individuals will bounce right off.

What Wix Does Offer

Since Wix is meant to be beginner-friendly, you will be able to use their SEO tools and be guided through some baseline SEO for your site. Such as setting up your home meta description, connecting your site map, and seeing your site analytics.
Doesn’t require coding. One of the biggest reasons individuals find themselves on Wix is because while wordpress is the gold standard of websites, it does require some familiarity with coding, and knowing how to build out certain features. It can be challenging to use if you do not have a web designer or enough experience.

More Features Wix and SEO Include:

Default and custom title tags, meta descriptions, H tags (H1, H2, etc.)
SEO patterns to automatically update sitewide default settings
Custom URLs for every page
Alt image tags to optimize photos on the page
Already optimized mobile-friendly templates
Google Analytics & Search Console integration
Canonical tags
HTTP
XML sitemap
Schema markup
Structured data
Social share settings
Instant indexing

How to Get The Most out of Wix?

Do keyword research, but get specific. You will rank better for long-tail keywords with locations before short-tail. Example: PTSD treatment and trauma therapy in Columbia, MO before trauma therapy near me
Submit site maps, and indexes anytime you make any changes to your site.
Use the SEO Wiz tool. This is kind of a requirement to be able to do any type of SEO on your Wix site
Create quality content on your service pages and blogs
Optimize for Locations in paragraphs, subheadings, and alt text
Write quality meta titles and descriptions. This makes you clickable.
First things first create a quality domain name. Add keywords, brand-specific names, and locations.
Add quality slugs to your pages. Slugs are in the URL and add rankings to your overall SEO. Example www. aspirecounseling.com/depression-counseling-mid-mo
Check to see if your site is mobile-friendly. Wix has options to view on the desktop and on mobile options. Additionally, if you index your pages and you find there are errors. Google search console can tell you what needs to be fixed.
Periodically check in on your data and see where you are maintaining and where you can improve.

Begin SEO for Your Wix Website or Learn About The Best Strategy for Your Practice!

Want to know more about how to get the most out of your Wix Website. Try our Done for you Program. Keep your eyes out for a Wix and SEO Webinar by our Training Director Danica Wolf in the near future. If you need support, we are here to help. Our skilled and passionate team of SEO specialists is here to make sure your SEO journey is tailored to your brand and identity. Simplified SEO Consulting would be excited to help you on your SEO journey. To get started with our service follow these simple steps:

Schedule a consult with our Client Success Specialist or Consult Team
Learn more about our wonderful team of SEO Specialists.
Start getting the best return on your SEO investment from a skilled team!

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 (about 3 months) of intensive SEO for therapists who want to learn with a guide. Additionally, we are offering a limited-time SEO Mastermind group if you want a great training opportunity for a steal, this is for you. 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:

As an SEO specialist at Simplified, Jasmine is an SEO services consultant and helps new clients become oriented to our services. If you are ready to begin SEO services, then get in touch and schedule your free consultation today!

Jasmine Jaquess is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University. Currently, she is seeing clients in practice as part of her internship. Her interests include working with athletes, high functioning anxiety, mild eating disorders, and more. Currently, she serves as the Client Success Specialist in new client consultations with Simplified SEO Consulting. Plus she is one of our Mental Health SEO Specialists. She specializes in platforms such as Squarespace and Wix. If you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you, schedule your next consultation. If you are ready for a no-nonsense effective SEO strategy, we can help!

April 5, 2022/0 Comments/by Jasmine Jaquess

Keyword Research, SEO Basics, SEO Tips

SEO Keywords for Lawyers: Crafting a Digital Path to Legal Success

When legal information is just a click away, law firms must strategically navigate the online realm to reach their target audience effectively. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) plays a pivotal role in this journey, and at the heart of SEO lies the strategic use of keywords. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into SEO for personal injury attorneys. Let’s explore keyword importance, best practices, and how they can elevate your law firm’s digital presence.

Understanding the Digital Legal Landscape

In the not-so-distant past, legal services relied primarily on traditional marketing methods, referrals, and word-of-mouth. Today, the legal landscape has undergone a seismic shift. Potential clients no longer thumb through the Yellow Pages or solely rely on personal recommendations to find legal counsel. Instead, they turn to the internet, with search engines as their trusted guides.

This transformation has ushered in a new era in legal marketing—one where your law firm’s digital presence can be a game-changer. The digital legal landscape is vast and complex, comprising websites, search engines, social media platforms, and online directories. To thrive in this landscape, lawyers must not only adapt but also master the art of digital marketing, with SEO keywords as their secret weapon.

Can Lawyers Have Blogs?

Now, you might be wondering, can lawyers have blogs? Absolutely, and here’s why it’s crucial. In an era where information is abundant, clients seek not only legal expertise but also guidance and transparency. A well-maintained blog allows lawyers to provide valuable insights into legal matters, showcase their knowledge, and address common legal questions.

Think of your blog as a platform to establish authority, foster trust, and engage with potential clients. It’s where you can translate complex legal concepts into accessible language, offering clarity and reassurance. By sharing your expertise through blog posts, you not only educate your audience but also humanize your practice, making it relatable and approachable.

The Power of SEO Keywords

At the heart of effective digital marketing and SEO lies the strategic use of keywords and a great SEO tool like Mangools. Keywords are the terms and phrases that individuals type into search engines when seeking information or services. For lawyers, these keywords are the digital keys that unlock visibility, engagement, and, ultimately, new clients.

Imagine keywords as signposts in a vast digital landscape. When potential clients enter specific queries into a search engine, these signposts guide them to relevant destinations. A well-chosen keyword can ensure that your law firm’s website is one of those destinations.

What Are SEO Keywords for Lawyers?

SEO keywords for lawyers are specific terms and phrases related to the legal field that potential clients commonly use when searching for legal services. These keywords help search engines understand the content of your website and match it with relevant user queries. For personal injury lawyers, this might include keywords like “personal injury attorney,” “car accident lawyer,” or “workers’ compensation attorney.”

To illustrate, picture a potential client who has sustained injuries in a car accident and is seeking legal representation. They turn to a search engine and type in the query “car accident lawyer in Austin, TX.” This query contains the keywords “car accident lawyer” and “Austin, TX.” If your law firm’s website is optimized for these keywords, it stands a significantly better chance of appearing in the search results.

Keyword Research for Lawyers: The Foundation of SEO

Effective SEO begins with thorough keyword research. This process involves identifying the keywords and phrases that potential clients are most likely to use when seeking legal services. It’s akin to understanding the language your clients speak and ensuring that your digital content resonates with their needs.

Consider keyword research as the compass that guides your digital strategy. It helps you uncover the exact terms and questions potential clients are using in their search queries. Armed with this knowledge, you can tailor your content, including blog posts, web pages, and social media, to align with these keywords.

Is 500 Words Enough for SEO?

While there’s no strict word count requirement for SEO, longer content often performs better. In-depth articles (1,500 words or more) tend to provide more comprehensive information, which can be valuable for potential clients. However, the key is to focus on quality over quantity. Content should be informative, well-structured, and engaging, regardless of its length.

Imagine your content as a conversation with a potential client. It’s not about how many words you use but about providing the information they need in a clear, concise, and helpful manner. When you do this effectively, search engines take notice, and your content is more likely to rank higher in search results.

Good SEO Keywords Examples for Personal Injury Lawyers

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, choosing the right SEO keywords for your law firm can be the difference between thriving in the digital realm and remaining hidden in its depths. To shed light on this crucial aspect of legal marketing, let’s explore some good SEO keyword examples tailored specifically for personal injury lawyers.

The Art of Keyword Research for Law Firms

When it comes to SEO, keywords are the compass guiding potential clients to your virtual doorstep. They are the words and phrases individuals type into search engines when seeking legal services. For personal injury lawyers, these keywords are the digital bridges that connect them with clients in need of representation.

Selecting the right keywords requires finesse and strategy. It’s about understanding your potential clients, anticipating their needs, and crafting keywords that resonate with their search queries. Below, we’ll delve into some excellent examples of SEO keywords for personal injury lawyers, each strategically designed to capture the attention of individuals seeking legal counsel.

“Personal Injury Attorney Near [my city, state, or region]”:

This keyword serves as a geographical beacon, guiding local clients to your law firm’s doorstep. It’s a testament to the importance of specificity in SEO. While “Near me” was once sufficient, the competitive nature of the digital space now demands precision. When a potential client in your area seeks legal representation, they’re likely to include their location in the search query. By optimizing your website for this long-tail keyword, you increase the chances of appearing in their search results.

Example: Imagine someone in Chicago, Illinois, who has been injured in a car accident. They’re looking for a personal injury attorney nearby, so they enter “Personal Injury Attorney Near Chicago IL” into a search engine. If your law firm’s website is optimized for this keyword, it has a higher likelihood of appearing at the top of the results, making you the go-to choice for this potential client.

“Car Accident Lawyer”:

This keyword is a cornerstone for personal injury lawyers specializing in auto accident cases. It’s a straightforward yet potent keyword that targets individuals who have experienced car accidents and are now seeking legal guidance. When potential clients enter this keyword into a search engine, they are signaling their immediate need for legal assistance.

Example: Consider an individual in Los Angeles, California, who has been involved in a car accident and seeks legal representation. They type “Car Accident Lawyer” into a search engine. Personal injury law firms optimized for this keyword are more likely to capture the attention of this potential client and, ultimately, secure their business.

“Workers’ Compensation Attorney”:

This keyword caters to lawyers focused on workplace injury claims. Workplace injuries can be complex, and individuals seeking compensation often require legal expertise. By optimizing your website for this keyword, you position your law firm as a trusted resource for those navigating the intricacies of workers’ compensation cases.

Example: Picture an employee in New York City, New York, who has suffered a workplace injury and is seeking legal counsel. They turn to a search engine and enter “Workers’ Compensation Attorney.” If your law firm’s website is SEO-friendly for this keyword, it’s more likely to appear prominently in the search results, establishing you as a go-to choice for this individual’s legal needs.

“Medical Malpractice Lawyer”:

This keyword is a beacon for potential clients in search of legal representation for medical negligence cases. Medical malpractice is a highly specialized field, and individuals dealing with such matters require experienced attorneys. By optimizing your website for this keyword, you ensure that those seeking help in medical malpractice cases find their way to your firm.

Example: Imagine a patient in Houston, Texas, who suspects they have been a victim of medical malpractice. They want legal counsel and enter “Medical Malpractice Lawyer” into a search engine. A law firm specializing in medical malpractice cases and optimized for this keyword has a higher chance of catching the attention of this potential client.

“Slip and Fall Attorney”:

This keyword appeals to individuals who have experienced slip and fall accidents and are now in need of legal assistance. Slip and fall cases often involve premises liability, and clients require a lawyer who understands the nuances of such claims. By optimizing your website for this keyword, you position your law firm as the solution for those facing slip and fall legal challenges.

Example: Picture a resident in Miami, Florida, who has suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident at a local business. They require legal representation and turn to a search engine to find a “Slip and Fall Attorney.” A law firm well-versed in premises liability cases and optimized for this keyword is more likely to be their choice for legal counsel.

Effective Niche Keyword Research The Digital Path to Legal Success

In the realm of digital marketing for personal injury lawyers, SEO keywords are the building blocks of your online presence. They serve as the lighthouse guiding potential clients through the digital fog to your law firm’s door. By selecting and optimizing your website for these carefully chosen keywords, you enhance your visibility and increase the likelihood of connecting with clients in need.

Effective keyword selection is not a one-time endeavor; it’s an ongoing strategy. Regularly reviewing and updating your keywords to align with changing trends and client needs is essential. Additionally, it’s crucial to partner with an experienced SEO company that understands the legal field’s intricacies and can craft an individualized SEO strategy tailored to your law firm’s unique strengths and goals.

In the digital age, where the path to legal success is paved with keywords, your choice of words can make all the difference. Select wisely, optimize strategically, and watch as your law firm’s digital presence grows, solidifying your position as a trusted legal authority in your field.

Keywords for Law Firms: Beyond Practice Areas

While practice area-specific keywords are essential, don’t overlook broader keywords. These can encompass your law firm’s name, location, and key strengths. For example, “Smith & Associates Law Firm,” “Chicago Personal Injury Law,” or “Experienced Trial Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA.” These keywords bolster your firm’s overall online visibility.

Think of these broader keywords as the pillars of your law firm’s digital identity. They establish your brand, convey your specialization, and make it easier for potential clients to find you. By incorporating these keywords strategically across your digital assets, you ensure that your law firm leaves a lasting impression in the digital legal landscape.

Key Words Lawyers Use: Legal Jargon

Legal jargon is a unique set of keywords for lawyers. While potential clients may not use these terms in their searches, lawyers frequently incorporate them into their content to demonstrate expertise. Examples include “amicus curiae,” “tort law,” or “pro bono services.” These terms can be valuable for connecting with other legal professionals and showcasing your in-depth knowledge. However, these are not the words your ideal legal clients are using. When determining the best SEO strategy for your law firm website, we will discuss which lens is most effective for each page and post depending on the target audience.

The Best Keyword Research Tool for Lawyers: Your Trusted SEO Partner

Keyword research tools like SEMrush, KW Finder, and Ahrefs can provide valuable insights into keyword volume, competitiveness, and related terms. However, the best keyword research tool for lawyers is a trusted SEO partner who understands the legal field’s intricacies and the unique needs of your law firm. At Simplified SEO Consulting, we use multiple keyword research tools and conversations with our clients to determine the best keyword research strategy for your law firm website.

Think of your SEO specialist as a seasoned guide in the digital wilderness. They not only have access to the latest tools and techniques but also possess the expertise to interpret data and translate it into actionable strategies. By collaborating with a trusted SEO partner, you can navigate the complexities of SEO keywords with confidence, knowing that your law firm’s digital path is in capable hands.

Crafting an Individualized SEO Strategy for Personal Injury Attorneys

In the world of SEO keywords for lawyers, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. Each law firm is unique, with distinct practice areas, target audiences, and geographic focuses. That’s why working with a trusted partner, like Simplified SEO Consulting, is key to success. An experienced partner will listen to your specific needs, adapt to evolving search engine algorithms, and ensure that your law firm maximizes its online potential.

Imagine your SEO strategy as a tailored suit, designed to fit your law firm’s unique contours perfectly. With the right partner by your side, you’ll receive personalized guidance, from keyword selection to content optimization, all aimed at enhancing your digital presence. It’s a collaborative effort that aligns your law firm’s goals with the ever-evolving digital landscape.

The Power of SEO Keywords for Lawyers

In the digital age, your law firm’s success hinges on its digital presence. SEO keywords are the threads that weave the fabric of this presence. They connect you with potential clients, establish your authority, and ensure your law firm remains visible in a crowded online arena. By understanding the importance of SEO keywords, conducting thorough keyword research, and partnering with an expert SEO company, your law firm can effectively harness the power of SEO, rise above the competition, and continue to serve your clients with excellence.

Begin Law Firm SEO Services with Simplified SEO Consulting

Unlock all of the SEO power If you’re ready to watch your law firm grow and reach potential clients with the help of Simplified SEO Consulting, follow these simple steps!

Book a consultation here.
Learn more about SEO packages & meet with our SEO Specialists.
See your law firm grow by reaching ideal clients and growing your online presence!

April 1, 2022/0 Comments/by Danica Wolf

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

Ideal Clients: How does this affect SEO?

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

What do you mean by “ideal client”?

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

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

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

How exactly does this influence SEO & search engine rankings?

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

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

How do I know who MY ideal clients are?

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

Here are some examples of potential ideal clients:

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

How important are location indicators?

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

Ideal Clients Overview

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

Private Practices: Are you in need of SEO help?

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

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

SEO Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author

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

March 22, 2022/0 Comments/by Justin Bohannan

Content, SEO Tips

How Current Social Movements Can Help SEO

SEO Improvements and Current Social Movements

As a social worker, I take a lot of pride in being involved in current social movements. It’s a huge value for me. That’s the main reason I decided to pursue social work compared to being a clinical psychologist or licensed counselor. Psychotherapy alone can do enough about mental health when people are battling oppression. Consider a scenario where your client walks into your office and they want help with their depression. But the reason they’re feeling depressed is because they are unable to pay their rent after having been discriminated against. The inability to pay rent is directly related to their depression. There is only so many mindfulness techniques a therapist can do before realizing this is a systematic thing.

A recent US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health which says that “Poverty in childhood and among adults can cause poor mental health through social stresses, stigma and trauma. Equally, mental health problems can lead to impoverishment through loss of employment or underemployment, or fragmentation of social relationships.”

Social Justice as an Ethical Principle

Pride flags. This image could depict a social movement for mental health professionals to write about. 65201

Not only is this a personal value of mine, it’s also a requirement of the National Association of Social Workers for our social work professionals. This is mentioned in the Code of Ethics under Ethical Principles. “Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people.”

Even if you’re not a social worker, as a mental health professional, it’s important to be competent in current social movements. Let me state here that, yes, being competent and writing about social movements is good for SEO. But it’s also good to be competent just as a general functioning member in society.

Additionally, using your professional privilege to talk about social movements is important. Mental health professionals usually have some sort of platform with their practice. With this platform, promoting social movements could convince others who are on the fence about taking action.

Okay, so how does this relate to SEO?

Social Movements can help with Inspiration for Blogs

Firstly, content is king. Having blogs, updated ones, is really important to SEO. When the amount of content on your site increases, so does Google’s trust in your site. Google is a smart cookie, they only give props to a site if they’re competent enough to deserve it. Not only this, but if a social movement is causing stress to one of your patients, you can relate a blog back to a service you provide. This is done many times in relation to an anxiety and stress page.

Having those hyperlinks adds lots of SEO and tells Google, again, that you know your stuff! If you’re feeling passionate about a certain topic, such as a social movement, write about it! Like I’ve said, writing is good, yes. What is more specific in helping SEO is when you’re writing about current events. This shows Google that your site is updated and competent, and you know your stuff! Using current events for inspiration for blog-writing is one great way to boost SEO.

Talking about Social Movements Helps Humanize Yourself to your Clients

Secondly, taking a stance on a certain topic can help you humanize yourself to your clients. Many of our therapists worry that their clients see them as having their lives all figured out. Let me assure you, mental health professionals still have their own battles, even when they’re guiding you with yours. It is good to let your potential clients know that you are a regular person and you keep up with movements that are happening in the world. Let them know that you, too, go home and watch the news, and you’re not actually all that different from the clients you meet with. It’ll most likely allow your clients to feel more comfortable opening up to you, if that rapport hasn’t yet been established.

Writing about Current Social Movements Can Help You Attract Your Ideal Client

Lastly, writing about a current social movement can help attract your ideal client. When you write about things that are important to you, you’re getting calls from people who also find them important. More than likely, your ideal client is feeling some way about a social movement, too. So, talk about it! These are things that affect their mental health exponentially, just like it does yours. Scheduling with clients that are similar in values with you can lead to a really productive therapeutic relationship.

Let’s Bring it all Together

Current social movements can help SEO in many ways. First, social movements can help you find inspiration to write blogs. Next, taking a stance on social movements can humanize you to your clients. Lastly, writing about current social movements helps attract your ideal client and benefits the therapeutic relationship! BOOM. Write about social movements for your next blog, you won’t regret it.

Begin Improving your SEO at Simplified SEO Consulting

If you’re ready to start improving your SEO, our mental health SEO specialists can help. We would love to help you start climbing the rankings on Google. Once this happens, you can start getting you calls from your ideal clients. This is the ultimate goal we have for you! Let’s get started:

Schedule a free consultation.
Get connected with a member of our SEO Specialist Team!
Begin climbing Google rankings and meeting your ideal clients!

Other Services at Simplified SEO Consulting

If writing content isn’t your thing, Simplified has multiple other services to provide! We offer Done For You SEO Services for professionals who are willing to let our SEO specialists take care of their SEO. We offer SEO training for professionals who are wanting to take care of their own SEO with a little help, and many DIY online courses.

About The Author

Jewel is currently part of our team as a Mental Health Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. She helps private practice owners find their ideal client by optimizing their websites and providing direct support to clients. Jewel loves the gratification when she sees a therapist’s data increasing and their phones buzzing. As a person who puts a lot of value into mental health , she loves knowing that Simplified’s services help therapists and patients find each other to improve mental health in the world. Jewel is currently in her Master’s in Social Work program at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. She also interns every week at a Kansas City psychiatric hospital. When she has the time, she loves to read, volunteer, spend time with friends, and travel.

March 17, 2022/0 Comments/by Jewel Fivecoat

Backlinks, SLP private practice

Why & How to Earn Backlinks as an SLP in Private Practice

Did you know that one of the most effective ways to improve your search engine rankings is to earn backlinks to your site? In fact, building backlinks is arguably one of the top 2 or 3 things you should do when optimizing your website for search engines long term. Having legitimate backlinks will help you rank higher in search engines, which means more traffic and clients for your practice. In this article, we will explore what backlinks are, why they are important for your website’s SEO, and how you can go about earning them for your private practice website.

What are Backlinks?

Simply put, backlinks are links from other websites that point to your website. These links act as “votes” for your site, telling search engines that other websites find your content valuable and relevant. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more likely search engines are to view your website as an authority in your field, which can improve your rankings in search results.

Why Backlinks are Important for Your Private Practice Website

Backlinks are an important factor in determining your website’s authority and relevance to search engines. In fact, they’re arguably one of the top few most important things you can do to improve SEO. I think they’re particularly critical to have when you’re looking at doing a website redesign or making significant changes on your site.

When a search engine sees that other websites are linking to your content, it assumes that your website must be providing valuable information. This is why websites with a large number of high-quality backlinks tend to rank higher in search results than websites with few or no backlinks.

In addition to improving your search engine rankings, backlinks can also drive traffic to your website. When people see links to your site on other websites, they may click through to your site to learn more about your services. This can help you attract new clients and grow your private practice.

Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a great way to earn backlinks while also getting your expertise out there. This is where you write a blog post for someone else’s website, and they include a link to your website in the post. It’s a win-win situation, as they get to publish great content, and you get a backlink.

To start, look for websites in your niche that accept guest posts. Research and brainstorm post ideas that align with your expertise and the website’s audience. Make sure your bio includes a call to action and a link to your website. Then reach out to the website owner and pitch your blog post idea. Remember that most sites have guidelines for guest blogging, so make sure to follow them. You can read more tips for guest blogging here.

I will add here that often “cold emailing” doesn’t work so well. Most people don’t want to post a blog post for someone they know nothing about. So consider starting with reaching out to other SLPs you know in private practice. Or agencies in your area that typically service children who would benefit from your services. Or mental health professionals who work with stressed-out caregivers. Maybe a physical therapist that you frequently refer to. Just think of who in your network has an audience that would benefit from your expertise. Once you have built up a few relationships, it will be much easier to get those backlinks.

Lastly, if you’re one of our clients we highly encourage you to post on our closed Facebook group that you’re willing to write a guest blog and offer a few topics you could easily write on. Remember, you don’t want to offer multiple other websites the exact same blog post. However, you could offer a similar topic that is tailored to their audience.

Resource Lists

Another way to earn backlinks is by getting added to resource lists. A resource list is a page on a website that lists out helpful resources for a specific topic. For example, a website that focuses on speech disorders may have a resource list for SLPs in private practice. To get on this list, you need to reach out to the website owner and ask if they will include your website as a resource. Make sure your website will be a valuable resource for their audience.

I’ll add here that often the same types of websites you offer a guest blog post to may also have a resource list you could be added to. However, I recommend casting an even wider net when asking to be added to resource lists. Think school resource lists, physician resource lists, hospital resource lists, etc.

Being a Media Source

Being a media source means that reporters or journalists can reach out to you for quotes or information for their stories. This can be a great way to not only earn backlinks but also to establish yourself and your practice as an authority in your field.

One way you can start increasing your reach in this area is creating a media page on your website that includes a bio, headshot, some topics you have particular expertise to talk in and contact information. Then start building relationships with reporters and journalists in your industry. Follow them on social media, engage with their content, and eventually, reach out to them to let them know that you’re open to being a source. I’ve also been known when there’s a media story related to one of my expertise to reach out to a reporter I know writes those types of stories and offer up a story or to provide my expertise. That one works out less often, but at least once I got an incredible backlink from it.

HARO Inquiries

One of my personal favorite ways to get great, high quality backlinks is responding to Help a Reporter Out (HARO) inquiries. HARO is a service that connects reporters with sources. You sign up to receive 3 emails a day full of different media inquiries from all sorts of topics. You can then respond directly to the reporter’s inquiry and if they pick your response you could get featured in the article and earn that sweet, sweet backlink.

Press Releases

Press releases are a great way to get backlinks, as well as generate some media coverage for your business. Writing and distributing press releases can help you reach your target audience and increase brand awareness. When writing a press release, make sure it is newsworthy, follow the correct format, and include relevant keywords. Then use a service to distribute it to the right outlets for maximum exposure.

Writing Amazing Content People Want to Link to

One of the easiest ways to earn backlinks is by creating valuable and shareable content that people want to link to. This can include blog posts, infographics, videos, and other media that is helpful, informative, and shareable. When creating content, make sure it’s unique, well-researched, and offers something of value. Then use social media and outreach to promote your content to your audience and potential linkers.

Directories

Directories are a great way to get backlinks and improve your Local SEO. This includes listing your website on local directories, like Yelp or Google My Business, as well as industry-specific directories, like the ASHA directory. Many list management services (like ours) can help with this, and optimizing your listings can help you rank higher in search engines.

Participate in online communities

Join online communities related to your field and participate in discussions. When you provide helpful advice and insights, people are more likely to link to your website as a source of valuable information. This also helps to build relationships, which can lead to more backlinks.

Create and share infographics

Infographics are a great way to present complex information in a visually appealing format. When you create and share infographics, people are more likely to link to them and share them on social media.

You are an expert at what you do and have so much information the general public doesn’t understand about communication. If you can break down one of those things into an easy to understand infographic that can be really valuable information people want to link to! You have extensive knowledge of various speech and language disorders, treatments, and techniques. Creating an infographic that visually represents this information could be a powerful tool for earning backlinks to your website. For example, you could create an infographic that breaks down the components of a stutter, including potential causes, common characteristics, and evidence-based treatment strategies. You could also create an infographic that outlines the various stages of language development in children, complete with age-appropriate milestones and red flags for potential delays or disorders.

By creating visually appealing and informative infographics that relate to your field (especially to your niche or favorite population to work with), you have the potential to attract links from other websites that are looking to share valuable resources with their readers. Just make sure you condense the graphics before putting them on your website. This can help you build authority and increase visibility in search engine results pages. Additionally, infographics have the potential to go viral on social media, which can further increase the number of backlinks and referral traffic to your website.

A word of caution: Great backlinks are earned, not bought

Never use any link-building tactics that violate Google’s Webmaster Guidelines. This includes buying backlinks, link farms, article spinning, and participating in any other sketchy practices. As you start to rank better, you’ll likely start to get emails that your SEO is horrible. As odd as it sounds, this could be a sign you’re getting closer to your goal of improving SEO and ranking higher in search engine results pages.

Some of those cold emails will offer to sell you backlinks. Maybe they’ll even say that you can buy backlinks with at least a specific “domain authority.” Know that domain authority isn’t a metric used by Google. It’s an algorithm created by Moz to measure link popularity. It’s not a reliable gauge of quality and can, in fact, be gamed.

Furthermore, know that buying backlinks specifically violates Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and can result in your website being penalized or even de-indexed. If you’re ever in doubt about the source of a link, do some research before accepting it!

Link Building Can Sound Intimidating at First, but IS Possible

By following ethical SEO tactics and honing your skills in content creation, you can build a solid foundation for improving the SEO of your private practice website. With the right strategy, it is possible to earn backlinks that will help you rank higher in search engine results pages, drive more traffic to your website, and improve visibility for potential clients. Good luck!

Earning backlinks as an SLP in private practice isn’t rocket science, but it does take effort and strategy. I’ve shared lots of specific strategies here. It’s normal if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed reading the whole list. I recommend starting with one link-building strategy at a time. Remember that it’s not just about getting backlinks, though. It’s about creating valuable content for your audience and becoming a trustworthy source in your industry. By doing this, you’ll not only earn backlinks, but you’ll also attract more traffic and clients to your private practice.

Professional Support for SEO for Speech Therapists in Private Practice

If you’re still feeling overwhelmed by the idea of improving SEO on your own, my team is here to help. At Simplified SEO Consulting, we specialize in supporting helping professionals such as speech therapists in private practice with their SEO and digital marketing strategies. We offer a wide range of SEO services for speech therapists including a DIY online SEO course specifically for backlinks and another one step by step guide going over many other components of SEO. Yet, our most popular service is our “done for you” program where we work really closely with practice owners but do the bulk of the work. You give us some info about your niche and we’ll take it from there!

If you want to learn more about how Simplified SEO Consulting can help you improve your SEO and get more clients, contact us today. We’d love to discuss how we can support you and your private practice!

About the Author

As an experienced private practice owner and SEO specialist, Jessica Tappana has been providing expert guidance to private practice owners for over five years. Her belief that helping professionals do their best work when they have a steady stream of the clients they work the best with led her to found Simplified SEO Consulting, where she leads a team of talented professionals specializing in SEO for healthcare providers. With a private psychotherapy practice of her own and years of experience working with mental health therapists, Jessica has honed her skills in driving traffic and boosting online visibility.

Now, she is excited to extend her expertise to SLPs in private practice, offering customized SEO services to help them reach new clients and grow their businesses. With her extensive knowledge of SEO, Jessica enjoys creating insightful content and delivering valuable tips to empower speech therapists to take control of their online presence. Keep an eye out for more helpful insights from Simplified SEO Consulting!

March 13, 2022/0 Comments/by Jessica

SEO Basics, SEO Tips

The Hidden SEO Power of Photos

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

What information is beneficial when optimizing photos?

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

Therapy Keywords

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

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

Locations For Potential Clients

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

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

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

What areas should you utilize when optimizing photos?

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

Choosing and Compressing Photos for Private Practice SEO

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

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

Step by Step Guide to Compressing

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

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

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

Alt Text for Photos

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

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

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

Photo Title

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

2 to 3 words summarizing the image
1 long-tail keyword
2 to 3 short tail keywords
3 to 4 zip codes

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

Examples of Photo File Names for Psychiatry & Counseling Websites

Here are a few examples:

Happy Couple | Marriage Counseling in Denali, AK | couples therapy | Marriage Counseling After Affair | Denali, AK 99755
Smiling Teen | Teen Counseling in Kapalua| Adolescent Therapy | Teen Therapist | Kapalua, HI 96761 | 96706 | 96720
Diverse Group | Group Therapy for Addiction in Phoenix | Addiction Counseling | Addiction Therapist | Phoenix, AZ 85054 | 85357
Prescription Bottles |Psychiatric Medication Management in southern San Jose| Psychiatrist | psychiatric care | Coyote, CA 95013 | 95037 | 95038

Final thoughts in regards to SEO for counselors

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

Want help making the most out of your photos?

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

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

Simplified SEO Consulting’s Other Services

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

About the Author:

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

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

March 8, 2022/2 Comments/by Winnie Youger-Rash