Welcome back to part two of my comprehensive guide to copywriting for SEO series. I wrote this series because I know how challenging copywriting can be for busy therapists. I have had a lot of clients who tell me that copywriting is both intimidating and time-consuming. But, it doesn’t have to be so hard. My goal today is to simplify it a bit.

In part one I shared three tips to make copywriting easier: write like you’d speak to a client, speak to their pain points, and create a page for every service you offer. These tips are extremely important and it’s worth reading the blog to learn more about them. But today, I want to share three more practical tips to improve your writing experience and better your SEO.

3 Copywriting for SEO Tips:

  Include References to the Places You Want to Rank Wellpensive woman writes in a notebook next to an open laptop representing copywriting for SEP. Learn how to optimize your website in SEO training with an SEO specialist

It’s critical to include references to your location or the places where you would like to draw clients from in your website copy. This helps tell Google where you’re located, thus helping you show up better in search results for clients who are looking for services in that area.

If you have an online therapy practice, this tip is extra important. Because you cannot technically have a Google My Business listing, it often takes Google longer to realize what areas you serve. Therefore it may take longer to get you ranking in those areas. So, you must mention areas throughout your state in your website copy.

If you have multiple locations, it’s still important to make references to the places where you see clients. Although you may not be able to mention them all, look for spots to weave it in where it looks natural.

Two powerful places to really highlight where you’re located are in your footer and in a location(s) page. Let’s talk about those in-depth a bit:

  • Footer: If you have a physical address put it here. If you do not, then mention where you’re located. For example, “Our therapy office is located in Kansas City, MO however, we see clients throughout Kansas and Missouri.”
  • Location Page: I would argue that having a location page is for all practices that see clients in person. However, I feel it is especially important for practices with multiple in-person locations. On this location page, I encourage you to embed a map if possible and provide driving locations to your practice.

Look for Opportunities to Add Keywords and Internal Links

man types on his laptop computer in a cafe. He learned about copywriting for seo from an seo specialist at Simplified SEO ConsultingI know writing copy is intimidating but I encourage you to write first, then look for opportunities to target the keywords you want to rank for. The same goes for adding internal links to other pages on your site. Sometimes, simply putting your thoughts down on paper without worrying about other things makes writing easier.

Once you have written your page or post, then look for places to add in or modify the wording to add keywords and links. This can be done throughout a page or a post however, there are a few places that I find offer great opportunities to add in these SEO elements. These places are:

  • Headings and subheadings
  • A call to action section where you detail the three steps to start services at your practice (here you can link to your home, contact, about page, etc.)
  • An other services section where you share about the other offerings you provide at your practice and link to those pages.

Proofread Your Work

man with grey hair sits at his laptop and smiles at the camera representing copywriting for SEO and getting seo training with an seo specialist at simplified seo consultingI am certainly guilty of making spelling and grammatical mistakes when I write. Most people are. However, I always try to take the time to go back and proofread my work before publishing it. Even then, I am bound to make a mistake here and there. That’s when I rely on the wonders of technology and the tools that are at my disposal.

I personally love using the Hemmingway Editor and the Grammarly plugin when I write. Both tools catch common spelling and grammatical errors and they tell me if my writing is confusing or hard to read. I encourage you to use both as you work on writing copy for your private practice website.

Google likes to rank pages it considers “trustworthy.” So, if there are lots of spelling and grammatical errors it may hurt your rankings a bit. Now, I’m not saying it has to be perfect, but reading it over once or twice can really help.

SEO Services For Your Private Practice Website:

If you’re ready to optimize your website and improve your private practice website’s SEO, Then our SEO specialists can help! We would be honored to support you in your efforts to get in front of your ideal client on Google. To get started, follow these steps:

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

About the Author:

Photo of Cory, our Content Coordinator who helps you write blogs for SEO and also offers 1:1 SEO TrainingCory Moss is a Simplified SEO specialist & our Content Specialist based in the Kansas City metro area. She specializes in working on readability for therapist websites. She really enjoys helping her clients get to the top of Google and attract their ideal clients. Cory is great at speaking to clients about their dream practice and figuring out exactly what content on their website will help them reach those goals. She enjoys helping people learn about SEO and watching how people can improve their optimizing over time!

So, you have heard as a private practice owner, you should invest in SEO. It’s the newer wave of marketing for therapists and seems like the perfect solution to getting consistent traffic. The only problem is, you don’t have time to learn and you don’t know what you should be looking for. I mean, did we even cover this in graduate school? What questions should I ask an SEO specialist before hiring them anyway?

Oftentimes, private practice owners want to do what is the best marketing-wise for their practice, but don’t know where to begin. This can add stress to your life and create a financial burden if it ends up being the wrong service for you. As mental health SEO specialists, we strive to make choosing an SEO company easy for you. Therefore, we have compiled a list of helpful questions to ask the potential SEO companies that will help give you the best results. You don’t need to know everything about SEO to ask the right questions about your needs. If you find yourself asking “what questions should I ask an SEO specialist before hiring them to optimize my site”? this blog is for you!

What Questions Should I Ask an SEO Specialist Before HiringThem to Optimize My Site?

Credibility

Animated woman with red hair against teal and yellow background. SEO help for therapists matters to your brand, but can be stressful. How do you know " what questions should i ask an seo specialist before hiring them to optimize my site?", we are here to help you if you're looking for monthly SEO here!

Strategy

Additional Services

Blocks with question marks stacked up. If you're in search of therapist SEO, we can help you understand what questions should i ask an seo specialist before hiring them to optimize my site? See what is the best for your journey. We specialize in marketing for therapists and are here for you!

Packages and Options

Things for You to Consider Before

 Investing in SEO

What You Need to Watch Out for 

  • People guaranteeing results 
  • Dazzling presentations with no substance 
  • Assuming the company knows best, without doing your own research 
  • Beware If your data and traffic are fluctuating and it’s not due to googles algorithm 
  • Sudden growth can be a sign of black hat SEO and this can harm your results. 

Finding the best-fit matters! 

As mental health professionals and mental health SEO specialists, we know that investing in a website and SEO is a huge time and money investment. You’re here to get your ideal clients and we want to make sure that you’re getting the best support possible. If you’re interested in finding support for you and your practice, we would be happy to help you understand more about what questions should I ask an SEO specialist before hiring them to optimize my site? Begin your journey today!

Get Started with Your SEO Journey!

If you’re wondering how our services fit you, let’s have a consultation and see. 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: 

  1. Schedule a consult with our Client Success Specialist or Consult Team  
  2. Learn more about our wonderful team of SEO Specialists. 
  3. Begin finding the best SEO company for you and find your people 

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 packagesonline 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 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: 

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 and is actively seeing clients in practice as part of her practicum. Currently, she serves as the Client Success Specialist in new client consultations with Simplified SEO Consulting and is a Mental Health SEO Specialist. She specializes in platforms such as Squarespace and Wix. If you’re ready to see how Simplified can serve you, schedule your next consultation with Jasmine and see how she can support your business needs! 

First, A Quick Recap On Directories & NAP

As Google has grown in complexity, so have the ways people use to rank on the search engine. Some methods have evolved to be more manipulative than others, such as blackhat SEO. But, others have remained tried and true ways to help your practice climb the ranks. One of the best examples of this is the variety of helpful therapist directories listed on Google! These listings allow therapists to increase local SEO, the visibility of their practice online, and drive traffic to their site. They can even provide backlinks to help build the authority of their private practice website.  A woman smiles as she types on a laptop with the text SEO on the screen. We offer support for private practice website. Contact us to learn how we support local SEO for therapists today.

Directories such as Therapy Den can make it so much easier for people looking for specific services to get the support they are looking for. They also serve as an important factor in local SEO. This kind of user convenience is why Google takes the name, address, and phone number (NAP) listed on any given directory so seriously. Having the same info on directories throughout Google builds trust. It tells Google that your info is accurate, current and that you can help the potential client.

On the other hand, conflicting info on many directories can be confusing for both Google and anyone that might see your business info. This confusion can make things hard for those looking for mental health services. As a result, Google may penalize these sites that have conflicting info. 

The Issue with Some Directories         

When we take the number of existing directories into account, doing your due diligence as a therapist may sound difficult to accomplish. Why? You may be able to confirm your NAP info is consistent across every directory you’re listed on. But, being listed on the wrong directory can still do more harm to your site than good! So, we are going to dive into what to watch for when deciding if listing your info on a directory is the right choice.

Photo of person holding a phone in front of a computer representing someone about to make a phone call to a therapist they found online.

Listing Exclusivity 

When first choosing a directory, it’s vital to understand how the listing process works on that site. This can differ depending on the nature of the directory, and who they serve. Some directories are for general therapists, while others serve niche mental health services. And some lists don’t target therapists at all Similarly, many directories are free, while others may require a fee to be included in the listing. 

Many directories exist to serve a variety of demographics. But, you may need to be wary around directories that claim to accept a majority (or every) link that comes their way. It may seem like an easy way to get a backlink, but directories that do this often exist for the sole purpose of creating links. Links that originate from these listings don’t hold any SEO weight. They aren’t actually made to help connect businesses to customers. Instead, seek out directories that don’t accept just anyone! Quality directories should have listings from businesses that would be of value to potential clients. Having consistent NAP info listed on these quality directories will be what ultimately helps your site grow and connect with your ideal client.   

Relevance and Competition An image of letter blocks that spell SEO. We can offer help with local SEO for therapists. Learn how we can help your private practice website today.

Another important factor when choosing a directory is to consider how relevant the directory is to you and your practice. Think about it this way. You specialize in exclusively in-person therapy services. So, it probably doesn’t do you much good to have a listing on a quality directory aimed towards online-only services! Having a backlink from that directory going back to your private practice website would be great! But, anyone visiting your site would quickly realize you do not have the online-only services they are looking for, causing them to leave your site to try elsewhere.  

Understanding the relevancy of directories to practice can help you better understand your niche, and hone in on which specific directories would be most beneficial for you to be listed on. 

Checking the Competition

Yet, that isn’t to say more general directories like Good Therapy should be outright avoided. Being listed on both larger and more niche directories allows you to look into other businesses listed alongside yours!  

Checking the other businesses that are listed on a given directory can also help provide valuable insight into the quality of a directory. Are you seeing other professional, trusted businesses listed alongside yours? Or, do the links connect back to sites that appear to be more “spammy” than you expected? Answering these types of questions can help you better recognize the quality of businesses you are ranking against. They can also inform you of the standards the directory has for business listings as well!

On-Page Investigation

Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that reviewing many on-page aspects of a directory can tell you a lot of vital information! 

Design

Google takes the design of the site into account, so it is also important to ask yourself if the directory has an effective, clean, and cohesive design. The end goal of most directories should be to connect the potential client with the business. So, ask yourself how easy it is to navigate from page to page. Does it look like a person took the time and effort to carefully create the site? Or, do things appear to be automated by a program? If things appear to be laid out in a confusing way, this may be due to an increased focus on pleasing the Google algorithm rather than helping potential clients. 

“Last Updated…” 

While you look at the overall design, check for the last time the site received an update. Directories receive new listing requests as time goes on. So, they should also be updated as time goes on to reflect site edits. If a directory hasn’t been updated in years, this may be a red flag it is less than reputable. Often, these directories only list your practice to have another link to add to their list. It is always worth taking the time to comb through a directory to learn if the site you’re on is going to be active, or has laid dormant for years.  

Name RecognitionA close up image of a magnifying glass looking at the text Google My Business. Contact Simplified SEO Consulting for support with local SEO for therapists and other services. We can help your private practice website thrive!

We’ve gone over a few directories in this blog. But a top directory you may already be familiar with is actually Google My Business! Our SEO specialists are quite familiar with GMB and the benefits it offers local SEO when optimized correctly. This is a trustworthy directory. But it isn’t the only one! Other widely known examples include Yelp, Yellow Pages, and DMOZ. These well-known directories are much safer in terms of legitimacy. But, this does not mean you need listings on every major directory    

Conclusion 

It can be difficult to find the right directories to list your practice. This is why it is so important to use your judgment. Conduct your own research when making these kinds of decisions. Other therapists can also offer insight, so try and reach out to our fellow therapists for support as well! They may already be familiar with the same directory you’re looking into!

Begin Working With An SEO Specialist with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team of SEO specialists is experienced in providing both on-page and off-page SEO support. We can help you build local SEO for therapists with our Local SEO services. Our team can ensure your NAP info is consistent across Google My Business and other quality directories. To start working with Simplified SEO Consulting, follow these simple steps: 

  1. Schedule an appointment for a free 30-minute consultation
  2. Learn more about our team
  3. Start improving local SEO for therapists today!

Other Services Offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO Consulting offers many services to improve local SEO for therapists. You can improve your SEO on your own with our DIY Online SEO services. We also offer Done for You services for clients looking for support in their SEO journey, as well as alumni support. Learn more about our training workshops, SEO strategy package, and 12-week Done with You intensive program.

About the Author

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

Have you ever sat down to write copy for your website and realized that it was a lot harder than he thought it would be? I know I have. In fact, I’m sitting here writing this blog thinking the same thing. But here’s the thing, having good website copy and blogging regularity is an important component in achieving good SEO. But don’t worry, I won’t leave you to figure this out on your own, today I’ll give you three tips to make copywriting for SEO just a little easier. After this, be sure to check out Copywriting for SEO: Part Two!

3 Tips for Writing Copy for SEO

Tip #1: Write Like You’d Speak to a Client

Indian man types on his laptop computer. He is a therapist working on copywriting for SEO for his private practice website. Learn more about SEO from an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting

We can’t stress this enough, you have to write like you’d speak to a client. Writing too clinically is the number one mistake clients make when they write their own copy. They assume that this reassures The potential clients that they know their stuff and can help them. They assume all their clients care about the letters behind their names or the specific certifications they hold. Although this may be true for a small handful of clients, this is not true for every client. Especially clients who are in crisis.

We call this writing to the 2 AM trauma brain. Think about your potential client who is up in the middle of the night worried their marriage is falling apart, having a panic attack, or concerned about their child’s well-being. They’re not in a mental state to look up a bunch of clinical terms or dissect big words. They are keyed up and have Cortisol coursing through their bodies and. Ask yourself what do they want to hear? My opinion is that they want to hear something that will offer reassurance during this tough time. Something calming and easy to understand. If you’re too technical, this person may navigate off your website to get what they’re looking for. This won’t get you your ideal client and it can actually hurt your SEO.

The clients that do need technical and credentials can get it in other places of your website like your personal about page for example. So, I encourage you to prioritize readability.

Tip #2: Speak to Their Pain Points

man taps a pencil to his chin while he makes a list in a notebook. He is thinking about his clients pain points when doing copywriting for SEO for his private practice website. Learn SEO from an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting

As I said above, when your potential client is struggling, what they really want to know is that they are not alone and you can help them. So you have to speak to and address their pain points.

Ask yourself, what challenges are your ideal clients dealing with? How do these challenges make them feel? Check your intake notes too. Write these down.

We recommend addressing their pain points first and foremost in most of the copy for your website (especially on service pages and blogs). Then empathize with these challenges and let them know that they’re not alone.

You may find that when you address these first, it makes writing the rest of the text easier because you can talk through those pain points, you do it all the time! So you can totally tell them how you would help them through these challenges.

Tip 3: Create Service or Speciality Pages for Each Service You Want to Rank For.

Happy black muslim woman at a computer staring out the window. She is working on SEO and writing copy for SEO after reading a blog by an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting

Creating one individual therapy or counseling services page is another mistake we frequently see therapists make on their websites. But here’s the thing: having them mentioned here and there in passing on your site will not necessarily help you rank for those services.

When you mention it, Google may take notice or they may not. When you create a section on a page like an individual therapy page, for example, Google may say ok they know a little about that subject and take note. But when you have a whole page on it, that really gets their attention and makes them realize that you’re an expert in this area. This is what helps you rank better.

Another question I’m often asked is: do I really need a specific page for online therapy if it’s just something I offer but don’t specialize in? My answer is, typically yes. There are always things you can say about online therapy that will help you potential clients and get you ranking through the state where you offer services, thus potentially attracting clients from outside your physical location and expanding your client base.

Want to Learn More about SEO for Therapists?

If you’re intrigued and want to know more, then please stay tuned for part two of my copywriting guide next month and learn 3 more tips for writing copy for your private practice website.

If you’re looking for SEO help then you should check out this page on our Done-For-You SEO services. Or, if you prefer SEO instruction or training, we can help you too! We offer a variety of online SEO courses and SEO training opportunities to meet your needs.

Contact us and schedule a free 30-minute consultation with a member of our SEO team to learn the many ways we can support you and help you ethically reach your ideal client.

Get SEO services for your private practice website:

If you’re ready to optimize your website and improve your private practice website’s SEO, Then our SEO specialists can help! We would be honored to support you in your efforts to get in front of your ideal client on Google. To get started, follow these steps:

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

About the Author:

Photo of Cory, our Content Coordinator who helps you write blogs for SEO and also offers 1:1 SEO TrainingCory Moss is a Simplified SEO specialist & our Content Specialist based in the Kansas City metro area. She specializes in working on readability for therapist websites. She really enjoys helping her clients get to the top of Google and attract their ideal clients. Cory is great at speaking to clients about their dream practice and figuring out exactly what content on their website will help them reach those goals. She enjoys helping people learn about SEO and watching how people can improve their optimizing over time!

Do online coaches and consultants need SEO?

Yes, you do! The field of online coaching is very broad. It is not enough to create a website and say that you’re a health and wellness coach, a life coach, or a coaching therapist. This may seem specific to you, but to your ideal client, this is very vague. It’s important that when you do SEO for life coaches, therapists, health coaches, and so on, that you’re getting specific with your niche. Not in a way that makes it too difficult to get clients, but by specifying and speaking to your ideal client or “avatar”.

Benefits of SEO for Coaches

  • First, you’re able to get in front of your ideal clients- The most visible you’re, the more likely people Mind map with SEO strategy. You deserve an SEO strategy that works! If you're offer coaching services, seo for coaches can help you. Learn how to find the best keywords for coaches or keywords for life coaching today. Read our blog to learn more!are to come in contact with your services. 
  • Builds credibility- SEO is all about building client relationships and connecting with your ideal clients through Google. Therefore, the better optimized your site, the more likely clients and prospects will see your programs and content. 
  • Raises your authority- When you’re a leader in your field, people follow suit, therefore, if you’re able to get backlinks and have reputable sites mention you on their site. The better you will rank. 

Tips on SEO for Coaches to Get Ranking Better!

Content is King! Or Queen!

Something that I see on coaching websites very often is clear, concise, and straightforward reasons to begin coaching with them. They outline what your goals are and how they can help you. Plus they outline the packages and how to get started. So what is wrong with this strategy when it comes to SEO? Google likes content and sometimes the way coaches build out pages can be more vague than you realize.

We know as SEO specialists and you know as coaches that nobody is going to ready a built-out service page, but Google will. Google loves content and if you can lay out your client’s pain points, why they may need support, how you can help, and where to get started in 500 words, Google is going to see you as a more credible source, than someone with 100 words on their page. Google needs built-out content, but what does the client need as well. A straightforward message that says “ I can help you”. That means in our SEO strategy with content, we need to make sure our keywords are niched down, headings make it clear that you can help, and that you understand who you’re trying to reach. It’s a balancing game. 

A great way to enhance your content is by creating pages on what is life coach, how can a health and wellness coach help you. Why do I need a business coach or consultant, and so on? Then creating resource guides, tips, and talking directly to your client’s needs, will help connect with your people, potential clients, and of course Google.

A Smart Keyword Strategy Will Get you on the map

What is considered a “smart” keyword strategy? Well if I told you what a health coach was, would you know what I do? Probably not, we often want to be ranking for the most highly searched for keywords, but forget that we also need to reach our ideal clients in the process. That doesn’t mean health coach, life coach, online coach, business consultant, and so on isn’t going to help you. It is just those search terms are being used by everyone and that makes them watered down. We need to be specific in who we are targeting. Online coaching for busy moms, coaching for side hustles, fitness coaching for busy women. Who are you targeting? Are they dealing with weight loss, time or stress management, building a business?

We must create a strategy that entails both a long tail ( online coaching for women in Texas) and a short tail ( online coaching) so you’re getting on the map for what you need and eventually moving up with the more challenging keywords. 

Content written on notebook near coffee cup and pen. Coaching is such a broad field and niching down is complex. Why not get support with seo for coaches. Whether you need seo for life coaches, health coaches, business coaches and more. We can help. Learn more today!

So how do I know if my keywords are right?

My response to this is how long have you been working on your strategy, do you know your ideal clients, and are you adding in the right content that connects. If you’re doing all these things and still see no results, then consider restructuring your approach. Chances are something in your copy is connecting or you’re haven’t found the sweet spot in your niche. Likewise, know that for an effective SEO strategy, you need to give it 6 months minimum to work. So how can you support your business in the meantime? Get connected!

Begin Connecting with Like-minded and different professionals

Building connections matter to get the referrals you need to your practice. Many individuals network or create podcasts to get their names out there with other professionals in their field. As well as with individuals they can partner with and refer to in the future. Two ways we suggest building on this strategy is to one create cornerstone blogs that talk about coaching, what you do, and how you help. Talk about the individual issues you see clients facing and how you can help to empower them to create the reality they are seeking. Additionally, an ethically built-out backlinks strategy will help skyrocket your credibility with Google. The more often people link to you the more Google recognizes your influence in your industry. Therefore, if you can do guest blogging, an interview, Facebook lives, or be on a podcast episode, always ask for a backlink to your site. 

Make sure your website design and appearance is professional and trustworthy

When it comes to your design and appearance, make sure you’re correctly reporting your qualifications and what you can help with. If you are not experienced in certain areas, get training so you can best support your clients. Make sure that your content and programs are original and are providing the results you expect for your clients. Additionally, make sure you have people you can refer out to such as counselors, dieticians, personal trainers, designers, life coaches, and more. Make sure when building your website that content is original and that you have a security tag on your website so it indicates that people who come to your site won’t be at risk of having their information exposed. The better care you take of your brand and content, the more trustworthy you will be to your clients and prospects. 

Make sure your coaching identity is clear

Often when I see coaching websites, they are lacking in content and don’t explain their purpose. Take time to explain your expertise, who you’re, help people recognize you’re human and capable of helping. Write blog content that connects

Is SEO for Coaches for You?

Yellow coaching words. SEO for coaches, includes seo for life coaches, health coaches, body image coaches, and more. If you need help with an SEO strategy, learn how we can help you find the best seo keywords for coaching today!

Whether you’re a body image coach, health coach, business consultant, coaching therapist, life coach, or anything in between, we can help you. Coaching is a necessary and complex business to get ranking, but our strategy can help. We strive to create individualized plans for each client so you’re bringing in the right people for you. If you’re ready for a strategy and support, see how we can help you!

Ready to Begin Working with Us?

Let’s work together to get you on the map for your niche. SEO is a great way to help you gain organic traffic as a coach. If you’re ready for support and an SEO strategy tailored to your needs, let us help you!. 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:

  1. Schedule a consult with our Client Success Specialist or Consult Team 
  2. Learn more about our wonderful team of SEO Specialists.
  3. Begin your ethical and holistic SEO Journey!

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting    Jasmine, an SEO specialists at Simplified SEO consulting. If you're looking for SEO help, then contact us today. You can learn about holistic SEO, an ethica coaching strategy and more. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation today with our consult team and learn how we support seo for coaches today!

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 packagesonline 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 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:

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, an SEO Specialist, and Client Success Specialists at Simplified SEO Consulting. You may be wondering where to start with your SEO for private practice or group practices. You have come to the right place.

Jasmine Jaquess is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University and is actively seeing clients in practice as part of her practicum. Currently, she serves as the Client Success Specialist in new client consultations with Simplified SEO Consulting and is a Mental Health SEO Specialist. She specializes in platforms such as Squarespace and Wix but has learned to love WordPress sites as well. Her favorite part of the job is writing copy for clients and helping them find their voice to communicate with clients how they can best serve them.

 

A laptop sits on a work desk with a lamp shining on a screen with the word SEO. Search engine optimization for counselors is an important focus of Simplified SEO Consulting. Contact us to learn more about counselor SEO, how to build SEO for therapists, and other services.

There are many important aspects of search engine optimization for counselors that get a lot of love because of their importance or prevalence. But, there are so many helpful facts about search engine optimization for counselors that many people actually don’t know about. That’s why today we are going over 3 lesser-known facts that can help improve your SEO efforts. 

Fact 1: Finding Your Focus is Important to SEO

 
In our current day & age, counselors offer a variety of services to support their clients. In fact, having so many options can make it difficult at times to find exactly what you’re looking for. This is why focusing on creating a “niche” can make a difference in your SEO strategy.
 
Honing in on a specific focus can provide a variety of benefits from a business standpoint. One of the most notable things is how competitive it can help you be among the competition around you. Creating high-quality content centered around your focus specialty can help establish yourself as an authority on the topic. You can also achieve this by linking to and from sites that have a direct relation to your specialty. As a result of doing this, your site is seen as more trustworthy and knowledgeable about the topic. Thus, it will be more likely to rank higher in the search results.

How “niching down” is an Effective Approach

Alternatively, not having a specific focus, or “niche” isn’t impossible. But, it can make it harder to stay competitive. This is due in large part to the difficulty and popularity of some search terms over others. Popular counseling keywords that are more general, such as “depression therapy”, are often much harder to rank for. This is because of the vast number of people looking up the common term. But, often, this isn’t the most important term. Those are reserved for the terms that relate to the niche services your practice offers.
 
In truth, fewer people will be likely to search for a more specific phrase. For example, let’s use “depression therapy for tweens.” Deciding to focus only on an adolescent demographic can offer many benefits. Potential clients may be limited to that age range, but there is also less competition as a result!
 
By doing this, you don’t have to worry about ranking for a very competitive term like “depression therapy.” Instead, you can focus on a term like “depression therapy for tweens’.’ These more specific terms often have less competition. Optimizing for these more specific keywords will help your site to rank well. It will also allow you to better reach the audience you want to assist in the process! This is a clear example of how important keywords are to SEO.

Fact 2: Location and Local SEO are Vital

You may already have a presence on the internet. Thus, making your practice more familiar with Google. Or, you may be a newly established practice, working your way up the rankings. Regardless, the fact that having at least one location of focus in keyword research can help you establish or improve rankings. Choosing to focus your keyword efforts on one location is an approach that can help improve SEO. You first establish a strong local presence in one area. Once established, it becomes easier for your practice to expand by using the existing credibility of your centralized, established presence. By focusing on one area at a time, you can have an easier time expanding to nearby areas that are easier to rank for. Thus, helping you grow in the process.
 
This approach can be very helpful for practices that have many locations across a state. Or, practices that wish to provide online services in different cities, states, or countries.

Location and Why Local Search Engine Optimization for Counselors is ImportantA graph follows the path of a finger as it creates an upward trend. This represents improving search engine optimization for counselors. Contact Simplified SEO for support with how to build seo for therapists. We offer psychologist search engine optimization, counselor seo, and other services.

While mentioning locations, it’s also important to state the importance of local SEO. It deserves its own blog post. But, in short, local SEO involves the collective strategies carried out to improve the visibility of your site on the search engine. This is important because the more people in your area seeing your site will result in a better chance of reaching the clients that can benefit from your services. Yet, it can also be more difficult to rank for keywords that are important to your practice in more populated cities. Still, understanding the importance of local SEO will help you to remain competitive.

Fact 3: There is More to Mobile

With all the focus on understanding the Google algorithm and other aspects of SEO, it can be easy to overlook how important mobile platforms are. Year after year, more people use their smartphones to access the internet. As a result, it becomes more important to ensure your site operates well on a variety of platforms. Creating a unique site that only works on a computer won’t benefit your practice if no one can see it!

Knowing Your Platform

Even though you have put hours of work into your website designed for a traditional computer setup, there is almost always a chance this may not translate well to another format. That’s why it is very important to be familiar with the website editor/builder you are using. Learn how you can view a preview of what your site will look like on a computer, tablet, and smartphone. Then, make improvements if needed so potential clients won’t run into any issues while on your site. Some platforms give you more control over these layouts than others. So, it is important to be aware of the options you have at your disposal. We even have a helpful guide covering which platform is best for SEO!

Closing Thoughts on Search Engine Optimization for Counselors

These are only a few of the topics that may not receive as much coverage as they deserve. But, understanding how these facts can improve your SEO efforts is very much worth the time it takes. By focusing on your efforts and learning new strategies, you can help your practice thrive!

Search Engine Optimization for Counselors at Simplified SEOA graphic of an arrow in an upward trend with the text "seo optimization" on the wall. This represents search optimization for counselors. Simplified SEO can help answer the question “how to build seo for therapists.” Contact us for support with SEO for counselors today.

At Simplified SEO Consulting, our caring team of SEO specialists is trained to support you in climbing the ranks of Google. For support through our Done for You or Alumni services, we would be happy to help you along your SEO journey. To start working with Simplified SEO consulting, follow these three steps:
  1. Learn more about our team
  2. Start rising the ranks, and reaching your ideal client!

Other Services Offered at Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO Consulting offers a variety of services to support search engine optimization for counselors. We offer a la carte and Done for You services, as well as alumni support. We also offer training workshops, and an SEO strategy package to help therapists find the right clients. For more helpful info, please visit our blog!

About the Author

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

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

5 Quick SEO Tips:

1. Add Your Address or Identifying Location Information to Your Footer

Woman in a headscarf works on her laptop in an office setting she learned 5 quick tips to boost SEO for counselors from an SEO Consultant at Simplified SEO Consulting

Adding your location to your footer tells Google where you’re located. Having it visible on every page on your website is extremely important. If you have a physical address, use that. But if you’re also seeing clients online or have an online-only practice then include a statement such as “serving the entire state of (insert name) including (name of cities in that state) via online therapy. For example “Although our counseling practice is physically located in Kansas City, MO, we see clients throughout the state including Columbia, Jefferson City, and Saint Louis via online therapy. 

2. Respond to Source Inquiries on HARO.

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

Some HARO tips:

  • Make sure you sign up as a source
  • Set filters to get inquiries on subjects you actually want to write about
  • Make sure to include your URL and request that they include your link in any digital reprint of their article.

3. Do Some Light Keyword Research

Hispanic man works on his laptop in an office setting representing working on SEO for counselors. Learn more from an SEO expert who does SEO for therapists at Simplified SEO ConsultingYou don’t have to spend hours doing keyword research. Just taking a few minutes here and there to check and see what terms are ranking well in your area will make optimization easier down the road. If you’re not sure where to begin check out these blogs about keyword research:

4. Make a List of Blog Post Suggestions

Coming up with blog post topics can feel overwhelming. Especially if you’re pressed for time. So taking the time to create a list when ideas come to you can reduce your stress and simplify the blogging process.

If you’re struggling to come up with ideas here are some things you can try:

  • Reflect on your past sessions, is there a topic that comes up often? If the answer is yes, then add it to your list.
  • If you’ve recently read a good book that pertains to your counseling work, then add that to the list as well.
  • Do a search for a keyword you’re targeting on AnswerThePublic.
  • Pretend you’re a travel guide and come up with fun activities for your ideal client to do in your area. For example “5 fun fall activities for families in Kansas.”

Here are some great articles about blogging:

5. Update your Google My Business Listing

Have you double-checked that all the information on there is correct? Did you add new information about your practice’s COVID safety policies? Have you posted a blog recently that you could share there? If not, taking ten minutes to do so can boost your SEO and give valuable information to your clients looking at your listing on Google.

Want to learn more about Google My Business? Check out these blogs:

Final Thoughts on SEO for Counselors

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

If you don’t have time to work on your SEO and make changes like these, don’t fret. Simplified SEO Consulting offers comprehensive Done-For-You SEO services. Our consultants are skilled at helping our clients create an SEO strategy that will thoroughly meet the needs of their private practice so they can get in front of their ideal client and grow their business.

Begin SEO Services with Simplified SEO Consulting

Attractive Black female clinician working on her computer representing SEO for counselors. Learn 5 quick tips to optimize your website from an SEO specialist at Simplified SEO ConsultingThese are just some of the tips we share with clients when they work on their SEO with us. Our SEO specialists are ready to help you take your marketing to the next level and set yourself up for long-term success attracting your ideal client on Google.

To get started follow these simple steps:

  1. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with a Simplified SEO Consulting team member
  2. Learn more about our SEO services and SEO training opportunities
  3. Begin optimizing your webpage and watch your site rank better on Google!

About the Author:

Cory Moss is a Simplified SEO specialist & our Content Specialist based in the Kansas City metro area. She specializes in working on readability for therapist websites. She really enjoys helping her clients get to the top of Google and attract their ideal clients. Cory is great at speaking to clients about their dream practice and figuring out exactly what content on their website will help them reach those goals. She enjoys helping people learn about SEO and watching how people can improve their optimizing over time!

Search Engine Optimization or SEO can be tricky, especially when you don’t know what it entails, just that you were told you need it.  Luckily, you’ve got me, an SEO specialist specifically for counselors, to give you some pointers. When trying to grow your business and your online presence, it is important to gain trust with Google and improve your SEO. Specifically, search engine optimization for counselors can help your ideal clients find your site and realize that your provide the help that they need.

Why Do I Need SEO?

Optimizing your website can help you show up in Google searches, be a site your ideal clients want to click on, and hopefully, get you the calls and consultations you are needing to really fill up your schedule. In other words, I am so glad you are here, because you are about to learn some quick tips to help you with your website’s SEO!

Image of a cartoon brain wearing glasses holding a coffee cup and using a laptop. This image illustrates how private practice therapists can use an SEO consulting service to boost their SEO rankings.

There are a million and one little things you can do that can add up to make a big difference on your site. Today, I’m going to share 10 things with you!

Now, before I start sharing the good stuff, I want to remind you that search engine optimization for counselors is not rocket science. Plus, you went through how many years of school for that degree? You certainly have a good head on your shoulders. You can do this. And if you read through this and decide it is still out of your wheelhouse, I totally get it. We’re humans and we simply can’t be good at everything.

Thankfully, you’re in the right place to get help. Whether you want to learn to do SEO yourself or would rather have it done for you, our staff at Simplified SEO Consulting is here to help!

Hopefully by now you realize that search engine optimization (SEO) is so important for your private practice! Because we care so much about helping you find your ideal clients, I wanted to share some tips with you to increase your website’s SEO!

10 Quick Tips: Search Engine Optimization For Counselors

1.Include Pictures

Pictures are extremely helpful for your SEO! The space it creates for more keywords is an extreme benefit to your ranking goals. Make sure your images have an image file name and an alt text that both include keywords. Further, your photos should be representative of your practice and your values.

Additionally having photos that are inclusive of different races, religions, body sizes, lifestyles, sexual orientations, and more can show potential clients that you are inclusive and accepting of all walks of life. Pictures are worth a thousand words… allow them to speak for you!

2. Break up the text!

Seeing a giant paragraph of text is overwhelming for everyone. It can turn people away from your page, because no one wants to sift through a big block of 400 words just to figure out what they need to know. Break up your text into sections. Make your pages more user friendly by having subheadings that hit the main points with the explanations in each section. Remember, you are a therapist, seeking clients who need help. Anyone in crisis is not going to process a large amount of information. Break it down and spread it out so they can easily navigate the page and find the information they need!

3. Speak to your ideal client

This one might seem like a no brainer, but I challenge you to really reflect on your content throughout your site. Does it speak directly to the pain points of your ideal client? Like the people you really want to see. There is no sense in speaking to all who are hurting when you don’t want to see everyone. You have a niche, so don’t be afraid to stick to it.

4. Use your real voice

When writing blog posts or service pages, you need to really think about the language you are using. Does the voice on each page sound like you and your therapists? The goal here is to sound just as you would in a therapy session. Speak to clients in a way they can trust and relate. Speak through your pages and posts just as you would want to talk to someone during the first therapy appointment! Make sure to always use authentic, original content! 

A photo of wood carved out to spell "Blog" in big block letters. This photo represents the importance of blogging and adding content to a private practice website. Through search engine optimization for counselors, you can learn how to improve blogging for your site. | 65202 | 65203

5. Use blogs as “homework” 

A personal favorite tip. Write with the idea in mind that you can use these blogs as assignments for your clients. Blog about things you want your clients to know. Think about what ideas and tools you would want them to think about and utilize outside of sessions, and recommend they read that before you meet again. For example, if you use DBT… write a blog post about DEARMAN for them to read and refer back to rather than giving a handout. What a way to boost views and view time!

6. The more content the better

Yes, I know I said to break up with bulky text. But that doesn’t mean less text. It just means you need to space it out. Google needs to trust that you are an expert on the content. In order to do that, you need to write about it… a lot. Write multiple  blog posts that relate to your service pages to help google see that you really know what you are talking about. Build that trust! Don’t want to write it yourself? I get that completely! You can always hire us to write and have it done for you!

7. Simplify the language and improve readability

I know you are intelligent and I know you worked hard for that degree. Trust me, as a grad student, I understand that you are so used to APA format and using language that appeased your professors. But, this is not the world of academia. This is the world of SEO and having user friendly content. More importantly, your content needs to be crisis friendly. It’s no secret that it is harder to process information when trauma, anxiety, and other mental challenges are clouding your brain. Try to keep this perspective in mind when writing. If it isn’t easily understood by a middle schooler, it is probably too complex. Simplify it!

8. Connect Google my business

Make sure this is connected to your site so google knows who you are and where you are. Connecting your Google my business helps you show up in Maps and can benefit current and future clients!

9. Include internal links wherever possible

An image of letter beads spelling out "Content" in different colored beads. This photo could represent the importance of creative content on a private practice website, as suggested for search engine optimization for counselors in the Columbia, MO and throughout the United States. 65202 | 65201

Keep people clicking around on your site! Provide internal links throughout the pages and posts and link to other relevant content on your site. Make it a game even– start on one page of your site and see if you can get to every other page on your site just by clicking through internal links. There’s a challenge for ya!

10. Build an “About Us” page

Use this page of your website to expand on the expertise of you and any other professionals on your team. An “about us” page is great for discussing strategies, theories, and preferred clientele. That also means that about pages are great for keywords! Create space and use it!

Search Engine Optimization for Counselors: We Can Help!

Again, SEO for counselors may seem intimidating at first, but you can do it! And, you don’t have to do it all alone. You can always reach out to us and gain a helping hand in boosting your rankings. We are here for you. Our services can support you in doing your SEO yourself through courses, help you through a strategy session, or we can do the hard stuff for you with our Done-For-You Services. Reach out today and start talking with us about your private practice goals!

Start SEO for Therapists today!

Our SEO Specialists are excited to help you build your practice and see you reach your ideal clients. All of our specialists have a background in the mental health field and understand the importance of hitting pain points, speaking to your ideal client, and sharing content that is relatable and helpful. To start SEO services with Simplified SEO Consulting, please follow these simple steps:

  1. Book a free consult 
  2. Meet with an SEO specialist to discuss our services
  3. Start improving your site’s SEO today!

Other Services Offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO Consulting was built to provide personalized services that fit your needs. Therefore, we offer a variety of services. For those with the desire to tackle SEO on their own, we offer DIY services. For those who already understand SEO but need a bit of help, we offer a strategy session or we can work with you through our Done With You services. Finally, we offer Done For You services, where you don’t have to spend time on the hard stuff. You can simply tell us your goals and allow us to get to work! Still not quite sure what you want yet? Read through our blog and learn more about SEO for your private practice site!

Happy Blogging 😉

SEO Specialist for mental health therapist websites, Reagan.

About the author

Reagan is one of our newest Simplified SEO Specialists, but she has been diving right in to the work. As a new graduate student working towards her LPC, she understands the importance of reaching your ideal clients and building out your private practice. Reagan enjoys blogging, both for Simplified and in her free time. Reagan helps current clients through our Done-For-You services, but also speaks to potential clients through our FREE consults! Reagan is excited to be here and is ready to start helping you on your SEO journey!

 

Imagine this, you’re going into an ice cream shop. You’re told on Google that this is the best ice cream in the world. In fact, you notice a ton of comments on their Google my business page, Good ratings, and a ton of options. So you and your family choose to go into this ice cream shop because of the recommendations you received. You checked the web pages, skimmed it briefly, and have decided this is for you. So you and your family roll up to this shop.

Upon getting to the address you notice a run-down warehouse, no cars in the parking lot. There is a lone stand with an individual handing out, what appears to be ice cream. You notice that what is actually there isn’t ice cream, but t-shirt sales and nothing else. You realize very quickly that what you thought you were getting was in fact false advertising, the t-shirts are not even good quality and now you’re confused. All you wanted was ice cream?! Why are there t-shirts?

What is the point?

Now, this is a silly analogy, but you get the picture. Essentially when people invest in black hat SEO, this is what they are doing. They make their website seem like the optimal choice, develop false credibility, and ignore user experience. You don’t want to buy your “ice cream
From a sketchy warehouse selling mediocre t-shirts.

It’s false advertising and leaves the user disappointed. Even though the false individual gives the impression of success based on false comments, faked reviews, they are essentially lying to the user. Here is the thing, when we forgo user experience to appease the search engine for traffic and affiliate payments, we are forgetting the whole purpose of why we are mental health professionals. USER EXPERIENCE, and helping our ideal clients. This matters and trust is the number one key to establishing any type of therapeutic relationship with a client. So why would we use shady marketing tactics to draw people in?

What is Black Hat SEO?

Two black magician hats with red ribbon. If you have an ethical SEO strategy, you're going to see better results. Black hat SEO tactics are not healthy for your side or for user experience. Learn how our mental health seo specialists can support you today!

In short, Black Hat SEO is a great way to get banned from Google’s search engine. This can heavily damage your SEO and deplete all the efforts you have made to get to the top. Essentially, as Google and the internet have started becoming more popular, people have used certain black hat SEO techniques to make sure they are at the top of the search engine in order to increase their rankings, traffic, and affiliate income. Now there used to be fewer restrictions on the internet, and people were able to work around this to achieve the marketing goals they were looking for. 

Now…

Whether it’s Bing, Google, Yahoo, or anything in between. These search engines have established clear-cut guidelines on how to use and market their search engine ethically. If you violate these guidelines, your SEO rankings will be damaged. The recovery process will be tedious and time-consuming. So it’s best not to engage in the first place.

Differences in White Hat SEO and Black Hat SEO

You may have heard the term white hat SEO and thought, is this a less risky version of the black hat SEO? Actually, white hat SEO is the right way to communicate with the Google search engine. White hat or holistic SEO takes longer but is worth it in the end. This includes creating high-quality content, such as blog posts about your therapy specialties, services, and issues your ideal clients struggle with. These include at least 500-2000 words of well-written content geared toward user experience.

You can also use manual backlinking. This means that someone is ethically helping you build backlinks. This involves guest posting. This means other therapists blog on your blog and you on theirs. Additionally, you can either hire or on your own create mini-blogs for your site. These need to be high-quality blogs but can help support your keywords and services. For example, if you’re a grief therapist. Create a blog series on anticipatory grief, disinhibited grief, and grief and loss. This will help to maintain credibility on your end.  

What is Google’s Guidelines to Ethically Use Their Search Engine

If we take a look at the community guidelines put forth by Google, you will see the following. 

Google also outlines what is considered to be “unethical” according to their guidelines:

Google outlines that if you violate their guidelines using black hat SEO tactics, that the company will take manual action against your site. Once the issue is resolved, then you can follow up with Google to have your site reconsidered and no longer banned. However, know that your SEO will still take a while to recover.

Black Hat SEO Techniques That Will Get

Snap back grey, white, and black hats. Are you looking to approach SEO from an ethical search engine optimization perspective? Learn how black hat SEO can damage your site and the differences between white hat SEO and black hat SEO.

You Banned from Google

  • Buying an expired well-ranking domain name, and then switching the content
  • Writing the same content over and over again ( reduces traffic)
  • Update content, make sure it’s not obsolete, revamp it, re-upload will increase traffic and rankings ( don’t recycle content)
  • Keyword Stuffing ( Placing too many keywords or irrelevant content to page)
  • Automatically Generated/Duplicate Content
  • Hidden Text (Adding hidden content in order to rank)
  • Doorway/Gateway Pages
  • Cloaking (showing google one page and then serving another)
  • Paid/Manipulative Links
  • Misused Structured Data and Rich Snippets
  • Misleading Redirects ( linking a page to a ranking page and then redirecting to an alternative page)
  • Trading products for links ( offering a product or money for links)
  • Negative SEO ( Building low-quality links to competitors websites)
  • Article spinning ( adding thin content just to get ranking)
  • Comment Spam ( Having comments generated on your site.)
  • Stealing content from the web
  • Auto-Generated Content
  • Social media scam ( buying shares and likes)
  • Rich snippet markup scam ( enhances listing on google with irrelevant content)
  • Automated queries ( false traffic to the website)
  • URL injection spam ( hacking a site like WP and injecting links into pages
  • Domain Squatting ( holding onto a trademark domain)

What is a link scheme?

Basically, with linking, there are ethical ways to build them and very sketchy ways. We want to encourage you to avoid the following:

  • Buying links
  • Exchanging links
  • Low-Quality Articles and Guest Posts ( needs to be high quality and relevant)
  • Automation ( building a bunch of links to others links) 
  • Profile Links ( social media profiles that include links) 
  • Link Network ( paying for links to other websites)

Essentially, if at any time when gaining a link or creating a link it isn’t done to enhance user experience, but to gain quick attention, that would be considered a link scheme and should be avoided immediately. Remember we are trying to build trust and that can take some time. Don’t shortcut this to gain attention, traffic, followers, or affiliate income. 

Why You Should Avoid Black Hat SEO Tactics?

  1. First It will affect your SEO once your Google finds out.
  2. Results are always temporary, and the long-term payout is more harmful.
  3. If you’re optimizing for the search engine, you’re ignoring the purpose which is user experience.

If you want to understand more about user experience. Then check out our blogs on writing content for clients and holistic SEO

What Should I do if I have engaged in some of these Black Hat

Colored pencils, colored airplanes and SEO thought bubble. Black hat SEO tactics have damaged many therapy websites and our mental health SEO specialists want to help you avoid this. Learn the difference between white hat SEO and black hat SEO today!

Tactics?

This process will take time and can be done. For example, link scheming needs to be disavowed through the Google search console. Takedown and cancel automated programs and sponsors. Have your website be looked over by Google to be seen as credible again. If you have traded products for links, clean it up, undo keyword stuffing. If you have malicious content take it down. Remove pages you have done a bait and switch on. If your domain was hacked you will have to follow up with Google. This is a small portion of what you will need to do. It can be undone, but the process is tedious and will affect your SEO.

How do I report Black Hat SEO Techniques and Tactics?

File a scam report to Google. Even though reporting will not automatically result in action from Google, you’re improving algorithmic spam detection. 

Need Support with Advanced and Technical SEO on Your Website? 

If you have been subject to Black hat SEO tactics, our specialists can help you. An ethical SEO strategy is important to our SEO specialists. While the process can be tedious, our specialists can strategize with you long-term to gain credibility. 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:   

  1. Schedule a consult with our Client Success Specialist or Consult Team  
  2. Learn more about our wonderful team of SEO Specialists.   
  3. Begin your ethical and holistic SEO Journey!

Other Services offered by Simplified SEO Consulting     Jasmine, an SEO specialists at Simplified SEO consulting. If you're looking for SEO help, then contact us today. You can learn about holistic SEO, avoiding black hat seo tactics, and more. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation today with our consult team!

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 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:   

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 service for therapists or Seo for trauma therapists, then get in touch and schedule your free consultation today!  

Jasmine, an SEO Specialist, and Client Success Specialists at Simplified SEO Consulting. You may be wondering where to start with your SEO for private practice or group practices. You have come to the right place.   

Jasmine Jaquess is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University and is currently beginning per practicum work soon. Currently, she serves as the Client Success Specialist in new client consultations with Simplified SEO Consulting and is a Mental Health SEO Specialist. She specializes in platforms such as Squarespace and Wix but has learned to love WordPress sites as well. Her favorite part of the job is writing copy for clients and helping them find their voice to communicate with clients how they can best serve them. 

When you search for a product or service, it always helps to have clear, easy access to the results you need. How often have you looked elsewhere for services or given up when it was too difficult to find the info you needed? It’s never comforting to feel uncertain about the details of the business you’re working with. Or, to be unsure of what you’re spending money on. As a therapist, it’s very important to include consistent and available info about your practice for people to see. So, that’s why the topic of the day is a little something known as NAP!

What is NAP?A graphic of a laptop, map, and other parts of local SEO. Contact Simplified SEO to learn about NAP SEO marketing for therapists. We offer SEO training and other services.

If there is one thing you remember from today, I hope it is that NAP is a very important acronym when it comes to a website’s SEO. You may not be familiar with this term since it would be considered an element of off-page SEO and our blog posts frequently focus on on-page SEO. 
However, being familiar with it will help your practice stand out from the rest. Simply put, NAP stands for “name, address, and phone number.” This is a big focus for Google, as it helps to better identify your practice on a local level. Providing this info along with hours of operation, available parking, handicap accessibility, etc. consistently various places on the internet will make it easier for those in your area to learn more about your services.

Why is NAP important?

Having consistent NAP information that’s found on various sites on the website helps with your local SEO (helping you show up in search results when someone near your business is looking for your services). When the same name, address and phone number show up multiple places on the web for your practice, you build authority and trust with Google. The engine always aims to provide the best, most relevant results in the top search results. So, ensuring that you are making it as easy as possible for people to find the info they need is crucial to attaining and maintaining successful SEO. The easier it is to learn about your practice, the better.
 
Of course, the more information you can provide about your practice is great in the eyes of Google. But, NAP should be the gold standard for what gets included on your site. We recommend that you have this information in an accessible, visible location. Your NAP info might live right above your main navigation bar, or at the end of your page in the footer. Having this available will help visitors to your site see this info no matter the page they’re on.

Directories and Listings

It is worth mentioning that your NAP information shouldn’t only stay on your website. This is actually another reason why therapist directories can do wonders for SEO! Local and reputable directories provide a popular hub for others to discover your practice. This added visibility can make it easier for potential clients to find your practice. As an added benefit, having your NAP listed on a creditable directory also gives your site a backlink. This helps your site become recognized as another credible source. Thus, Google views your site as one that deserves to be seen, and is more likely to push it up in the rankings!
 
Yet, it is also worth stating there are a lot of “spammy” directories out there. If you find that your site has a listing on another site, it is always a good idea to look into it. Determine if it is creditable, or if it’s from another site that only cares about your link. It can be an uphill battle to keep your NAP info off of “spammy” directories. But, it is worth it in the end so Google doesn’t lump your site in with others that might be less than reputable. Earning the right backlinks can be difficult, so our team made a comprehensive guide just for that!

NAP Consistency is KingA graphic showing three characters building up SEO marketing for therapists through charts, graphs, and data. Simplified SEO Consulting offers support for therapist SEO. Contact us for SEO training today.

How confusing would it be to see the address of a business listed on a directory, only to see a different address for the same business listed elsewhere? This is exactly the type of situation we want to avoid. So, using a tool that detects these discrepancies among listings can be invaluable. Confirming that the right NAP info is consistent across Google is very important. If it isn’t, this doesn’t only confuse Google. It may also hurt your chances of ranking well and may drive away potential business as a result. It’s always best to be as crystal clear as possible!

Keeping NAP Current is Queen

In addition to having consistent info across Google, it is also important to ensure it stays up to date! If you plan on moving your practice to a new location, be sure to update your NAP info. This can be a pain to coordinate based on the number of sites your info is on. But, it is always worth it to keep this info as current as possible.

But Wait, What if My Practice is Online Only?

With the global pandemic, more therapists have begun offering online services. For many, they may have decided to ditch the office to cut back unnecessary costs. Or, they have found ways to provide support for clients from home with online therapy. In cases like this where your office is technically your home, your NAP info would have to include your actual home address.
For a vast majority of mental health private practice owners who have an online-only business, this is the info they don’t want to be posted for anyone to see. But, Google My Business isn’t meant to be available for online-only practices. It was created with physical, brick-and-mortar locations in mind. Since having an online practice often happens from home, therapists need to provide their personal information. In some instances, you may be able to “hide” your address and just choose your “service areas.” However, in some cases online business owners may choose to forgo listing their business on Google My Business (GMB) altogether.  Although there may be other places your name and phone number can show up on directories, resource lists, etc.
 However, online practice owners who really want to have a GMB profile do possible alternatives to listing their home address. These workarounds can provide online therapists with similar opportunities as in-person therapists. In fact, our team has written a helpful blog on the subject! Click here to learn more about these alternative options.

Closing Thoughts About NAP A woman on a laptop looks off pensively with the cartoon graphic "seo" on the wall. This represents the SEO training that Simplified SEO Consulting can provide. Contact us for support with therapist SEO today.

 With the popularity of online therapy, it isn’t wild to think that Google will change its guidelines. The rules that Google creates change as our world does. It is difficult for online therapists to navigate their business in some respects. But Google will be likely to better accommodate online therapists in the future. NAP is such an important part of SEO. In fact, it is all but a necessity to be competitive in the rankings.
 
If they do change these guidelines, you can be sure we will create a helpful guide! We love providing support and will be happy to support you in developing and maintaining your online presence.

Begin SEO Services with Simplified SEO Consulting

 You don’t have to search directories and keep track of your info alone. Our team is happy to offer the tools you need to keep track of your NAP info. We also provide support in disavowing any links to “spammy” sites that may be benefiting from yours. We’re experienced in on-page SEO optimization. We offer a variety of services to help you climb the rankings on Google. To start SEO services with Simplified SEO Consulting, please follow these simple steps:
  1. Learn more about our team
  2. Start becoming more visible, and helping your ideal clients!

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

Simplified SEO Consulting provides several services to help private practice owners thrive. We offer both Done for You SEO services and a la carte services. For those who have completed our program, we also provide alumni support. If you are curious about learning more about SEO, we also offer training opportunities as well. We also offer an SEO strategy package for support with reaching your ideal clients. Contact us today to learn more about our services, and start rising the ranks of Google!

About the AuthorPhoto of Sterling, an SEO Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting that specializes in all things technical SEO!

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