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Understanding Important Site Schema Types

Site schema markup might sound technical, but it’s really just a way to help search engines understand your website better so they can show it off in the best possible light. Think of it as giving search engines a cheat sheet about your content—making it easier for them to highlight different parts of your business like services, blogs, products, or FAQs in search results. But here’s the catch: search algorithms and user habits change over time, so keeping your schema up-to-date is key. If it’s outdated, you could miss out on opportunities to stand out, so a little upkeep goes a long way in staying visible and relevant. 

With this in mind, we are going to highlight some of the most common types of site schema used these days, and how you can make the most of this as Google changes over time. Without further ado, let’s get started!

What Exactly is Schema Markup?

A graphic of a search button with a clicker hovering over. Learn how to improve therapist seo by searching for private practice seo today. Contact a professional for support with improving SEO for online therapy today.At its core, it’s a way of organizing information on your website so search engines can make sense of it. Think of it like tagging your content with labels that tell search engines, “Hey, this is a service I offer,” or “This is a special discount going on for a product I sell.” By doing this, you’re giving search engines the tools they need to show your site in cool, interactive ways. Some of these may include featured search results, star ratings, recipe cards, or event listings you’ve probably seen on Google. The best part? When search engines understand your site better, your content is more likely to get noticed, leading to richer search results and better click-through rates. It’s a win-win for both you and your audience. However, depending on what your website offers, certain types of schema may not be as useful as others. 

When it comes to schema types, each one has a unique purpose to help search engines understand your content and present it to users in the best light. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most important ones:

  • Organization Schema: Perfect for businesses, it highlights essentials like your name, logo, and contact details, helping build trust and boost local SEO.
  • Breadcrumb Schema: Focused on navigation, this schema makes your site easier to explore and helps search engines rank your pages more effectively.
  • Article Schema: A must for publishers and bloggers, it showcases your posts or news articles in search results to grab readers’ attention.
  • Product Schema: Essential for e-commerce sites, it displays key details like pricing, availability, and product information directly in search results.
  • Review and Rating Schema: Builds credibility by showing off aggregate ratings and customer reviews, which can encourage more clicks.
  • FAQ Schema: Perfect for common questions, it often earns you a spot in search results with a clean and concise snippet.
  • Event Schema: Ideal for concerts, webinars, or local gatherings, it ensures your events are easily discoverable in search results.

By choosing the right schema types for your content, you’re not just helping search engines—you’re creating a better experience for your audience too.

Not every type of schema will be a perfect fit for every website—it all depends on what your site offers and what you want to highlight.

For instance, if your business revolves around selling products, then Product and Review schemas are a must-have to showcase your offerings and customer feedback right in search results. On the other hand, a service-based business might skip those and focus on Organization schema to establish credibility and make sure contact details are easy to find. Similarly, Event schema is a no-brainer for companies hosting concerts, webinars, or workshops, but it wouldn’t make sense for a blog-only site. Tailoring your schema choices to match your content and goals ensures you’re giving search engines the most relevant information—and not wasting time implementing markup you don’t actually need.

Why Schema Evolves Over Time

Schema evolves because the way people search and interact online is always changing. Search engines update their algorithms to better understand content and meet user expectations, which means new schema standards often emerge. 

A close up of wooden blocks with letters that spell the word adapt. Learn how to improve SEO for therapist website and the importance of adapting to changes. Search for an SEO specialist for therapists today.For example, in the past, Google focused on providing users with answers through things like guides and “How To” resources. As a result, they created “HowTo” schema to make following step-by-step guides easier. But, as Google has phased out the rich results for this type of schema, new forms have taken its place. This may include new forms of schema for voice search and “zero-click” search results, or other schema types that accommodate conversational queries that have gained importance. Additionally, unique needs—like the introduction of COVID-19 schema to share timely updates—drive the development of new options. Staying current with these changes ensures your site stays competitive and relevant in search results.

Best Practices for Managing Schema Changes

Managing schema changes effectively ensures your website remains optimized and visible in search results. Staying informed is crucial—keep up with updates from Schema.org and search engine guidelines to understand emerging standards. Regular testing and validation are equally important; tools like Google’s Rich Results Test and the Schema Markup Validator can help identify and fix issues quickly. Frequent audits of your schema markup ensure it stays relevant to your content and audience. By combining these practices, you can confidently adapt to changes and maintain your site’s competitive edge.

Future Trends in Schema Markup

As search engines continue to evolve, so does the role of schema markup in shaping digital visibility. AI and machine learning are driving smarter search algorithms, meaning schema will likely adapt to enhance personalization and contextual relevance. Multimedia schema types, like those for videos and podcasts, are gaining importance as online content becomes more dynamic. Additionally, the rise of voice assistants has highlighted the need for conversational interfaces, making schemas tailored for natural language queries essential for staying ahead. As the pace of technological change changes, so must the awareness of schema changes over time.

Schema markup is a powerful tool for boosting search visibility and improving user experience.

A close up of a woman smiling while looking at a laptop while sitting on a sofa. This could represent finding the right support for private practice seo. Search for counselor SEO and how an SEO specialist for therapists can help. However, its effectiveness hinges on staying updated with new developments and evolving strategies as search technologies advance. By regularly auditing and refining schema implementations, you can ensure your site remains competitive and engaging. Take action today: review your current schema setup, explore new schema opportunities, and stay informed about best practices to keep your website future-ready.

Receive SEO Support with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team of SEO specialists can help you learn more about site schema and the best ways to support your website. You can start working with the team at Simplified SEO Consulting by following these steps:

  1. Apply to work with us to improve your SEO
  2. Meet with an SEO specialist 
  3. Start improving your SEO rankings!

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team knows there are many aspects of SEO that you may need help addressing on your site. This is why we offer a variety of SEO services. Other services offered include our Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses. We also offer a 12-week Done With You Intensive SEO Program. Visit our blog to learn more today!

About the Author

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

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What is Technical SEO?

Technical SEO is often one of the unsung heroes of SEO optimization.

Regardless of how nice your site looks on the surface, it may not matter if it isn’t technically sound. This subset of SEO is focused on improving a website’s technical aspects to improve its ranking in the search results. It may not be the first thing visitors to your site notice. But, they will be able to tell the difference between a technically sound site, as will Google! So, today we are going to be addressing what technical SEO is and how to improve it for your website.

Understanding Technical SEO

Technical SEO can be thought of as the processes one takes to ensure that a site has the technical needs to help improve organic rankings in search engines like Google. It differs from other types of SEO like on-page SEO due to the elements that are optimized to meet the needs of the search engine. While on-page SEO may highlight the importance of things like page format, content, and keywords, technical SEO is more concerned with things like page crawling, domains, loading speeds, and the behind-the-scenes architecture of a website. 

This foundational aspect of SEO supports and enhances the effectiveness of on-page SEO and other optimization efforts by creating a more robust, accessible, and user-friendly website that is easy to navigate. Without it, it can be difficult to rank compared with more technically sound sites that keep up with the best practices that search engines love to see. 

Key Components of Technical SEO

When it comes to the key components that make up technical SEO, there are a variety of parts to take into account. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind:

Crawling and Indexing

Crawling and indexing are essential processes in SEO that Google uses to discover and catalog web pages. It involves search engine bots, known as spiders or crawlers, that periodically browse the internet to find new or updated pages. These bots follow links from one page to another, gathering data about each page’s content and structure. 

Once a page is crawled, it is indexed, which means the information is stored in the search engine’s database and organized for easy retrieval. Indexing allows search engines to quickly provide relevant results when users perform a search query. Ensuring that a website is easily crawlable and indexable is crucial for it to appear in search engine results and reach its intended audience.

Without crawling, Google can’t recognize when changes occur on pages, which can make it hard to get credit for the changes made. But, tools like Google Search Console make it possible to manually request indexing, prompting Google to take another look at the changes made. You can learn more about Google Search Console by visiting some of our other blogs on the topic!

Website Architecture

Website architecture is vital for SEO because it directly impacts how search engines and users navigate and understand a site. Improving your website structure enhances user experience by providing a logical and intuitive navigation system, which also helps search engines crawl and index content more efficiently. XML sitemaps are crucial as they offer a roadmap of all the pages on a site, ensuring search engines can find and index them even if they are not easily accessible through normal browsing. 

Internal linking structure is also essential, as it distributes link equity across the site, helping search engines understand the hierarchy and relationship between pages. Effective internal linking can improve the visibility of important pages and ensure that link value flows throughout the site. Overall, a well-planned website architecture supports better indexing, higher rankings, and an enhanced user experience.

URL Structure

Creating URLs (the unique address for a resource, like a webpage) for pages on your site is a process that has become more automatic over time. In many cases, the CMS you use (WordPress, Squarespace, etc.) will create a URL using the title of the page. Clear and descriptive URLs help users understand the content of a page before they click on it, enhancing the likelihood of engagement. Search engines also prefer concise and relevant URLs because they indicate the page’s topic and improve the indexing process. 

URLs and Content

Including keywords in URLs can boost search rankings, making it easier for search engines to match pages with relevant queries. A well-organized URL hierarchy supports better navigation and internal linking, helping distribute link equity across the site. An optimized URL structure contributes to higher visibility, better user interaction, and better search engine performance. It is possible to change the URL from the default title. But, in most cases it won’t be in your best interest to do so. This is especially true if the title of the webpage has been optimized to include things like keywords or location indicators that can help contribute to on-page SEO.

Site Speed

Site speed is critical for SEO because fast-loading websites provide a better user experience, which keeps visitors engaged and reduces bounce rates. Search engines like Google prioritize fast sites in their rankings because they aim to offer the best possible experience to users. Slow websites can lead to higher abandonment rates from potential customers leaving before the page can finish loading. Improving site speed can also enhance mobile performance, which is only becoming more important as more users browse the web on their phones and other mobile devices like tablets. 

Additionally, faster sites often lead to higher conversion rates since users are more likely to stay and complete desired actions. Overall, optimizing site speed is essential for both user satisfaction and search engine visibility. This can be improved by using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. This tool can help you measure how fast your site loads and give support on how to improve site speed. 

Mobile Optimization

Mobile optimization is crucial for SEO because a significant portion of web traffic now comes from mobile devices like cell phones and tablets. A mobile-friendly design ensures that users have a smooth and enjoyable experience on smaller screens, which can reduce bounce rates and increase engagement. Implementing AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) can enhance this experience even more by enabling faster load times. Optimizing for mobile devices improves search rankings and helps reach a broader audience more effectively.

Security

Security is another key factor in SEO. HTTPS plays a significant role in safeguarding data and enhancing trust. Search engines like Google prioritize HTTPS websites because they provide a secure connection. This protects user information and boosts credibility. To implement HTTPS, you need to obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority and install it on your server. This change not only secures data transmission but also signals to search engines and users that your site is trustworthy. In turn, this can improve organic search rankings and user confidence, leading to better overall site performance.

Helpful Technical SEO Practices

Structured Data and Schema Markup

Structured data, or schema markup, is a form of microdata added to a website’s code to help search engines better understand the content and context of the pages. By implementing schema markup, websites can enhance their visibility in search engine results with rich snippets, such as star ratings, event details, and product information, which can significantly improve click-through rates. 

Canonical Tags

Canonical tags are HTML elements used to prevent duplicate content issues by specifying the “preferred” version of a webpage. This helps search engines understand which version of the page to index. This can help consolidate link equity and avoid the dilution of ranking signals across duplicate pages. 

Robots.txt

Robots.txt files are used to manage and control how search engine bots crawl and index a site’s pages. They can improve crawl efficiency by blocking access to unnecessary or sensitive parts of the site. This ensures that important pages are prioritized. 

International SEO

For global websites, international SEO is crucial, involving the use of hreflang tags to indicate language and regional targeting. This ensures that users are directed to the right version of a page based on their language and location. By doing so, this can improve user experience and search visibility in different markets.

Technical SEO Is Just as Important as On-Page SEO

Technical SEO forms the foundation that allows your content to be effectively discovered, crawled, and indexed by search engines. Without a solid technical framework, even the best-optimized content can struggle to rank and reach its audience. Balancing both technical and on-page SEO efforts is vital for a comprehensive SEO strategy.

Begin Improving Technical SEO with Simplified SEO Consulting

If you want to stay relevant, gain clients and continue to be the go to source for Google, work with our team to update your Technical SEO Health, your Local SEO, and address your Copywriting needs.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how our services can help you grow your client base, increase your online visibility, and establish your professional reputation. Let us handle your SEO needs so you can focus on what you do best: helping others.

You can also learn more about our team and read our informational blogs to gain more insight and understanding.

Services Offered at Simplified SEO Consulting

At Simplified SEO Consulting, we provide a range of services to help helping professionals achieve their goals and grow their practices:

 

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How Do I Get Pages Indexed by Google?

You put a lot of hard work into your site, and it’s important this work is recognized.

As SEO changes, one of the most consistent things that has remained true is the need to index pages on your website. There are multiple ways one can go about accomplishing this, with some taking more time than others. But, regardless of how you go about doing it, indexing pages is a vital part of building SEO rankings. So, today we are going to be discussing how to index your pages with a few different methods, and troubleshooting what to do when errors arise.  

Let’s get started!

Using Google Search Console:

A close up of google search console in a search bar. Learn how seo for counselors can be improved by searching for how to rank on google for therapists. In most cases, you will likely want to start with Google’s own tool to try and index your pages. Google Search Console (GSC) allows you to learn more about your site’s search traffic and address issues that appear. In a lot of cases, these issues may keep you from improving your rankings in the search results. But, we’ll get to that in just a bit. What’s important to know now is that Google Search Console has an indexing feature. This feature ensures new and existing content on your site has been crawled by Google’s robots and added to their index of existing pages. By doing so, you can get credit for the content you create and move your way up the keyword rankings. 

First off, you will need to make sure you’ve connected Google Search Console with your website to confirm you are the true owner. 

This process should involve uploading an HTML file or HTML tag to your site, which can be found on Search Console itself. The site builder you have (wordpress, squarespace, wix, etc.) will affect how you add this connection to the backend of your site, but an SEO specialist or web designer should be able to place it right where it needs to be. 

Once you log into your Google Search Console account, the process of indexing a page is relatively straightforward. 

It first starts with getting the URL of the specific page you want to index. Once you have the URL copied, use the “URL Inspection” option on the left hand column of the window. Then, paste it in the search bar. The text in the search bar should say something along the lines of “inspect any URL in…” followed by your site’s URL. Once you paste it and click enter, you will then receive info on if the URL has been indexed and is currently on Google. Or, if there is an error keeping it from being indexed. 

If you have a new, fresh page, then you likely won’t see it indexed on Google yet.

So, you will want to click the “Request Indexing” text in order to start the process. Once it has time to test the URL, it will report back to you with a confirmation that indexing has been requested. If this doesn’t happen, it will tell you what errors might be occurring that keep the URL from being indexed. There are a variety of potential issues that may keep a URL from being indexed, but that could have its own blog topic we address in the future. For today, we will just stick with indexing itself and some of the best methods to do so. 

Even though it may give the confirmation that indexing has been requested, it can still take time for the page to actually get indexed by Google. This is why checking back every now and then can be a helpful way to check on the progress of the process. It may not be a few days or even over a week before pages are indexed. So, submitting sitemaps can be another important part of ensuring Google knows what to expect from your site.

Sitemaps and Indexing 

business man holding a laptop with a question mark. Search for seo for mental health professionals and how SEO for online counseling pages can help.It’s important to ensure pages have been indexed. But, doing this for each individual page can be difficult for Google to keep track of. This is why we suggest submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console in order to better help Google what pages to expect from your site. A sitemap helps provide info about pages on your site and the relationships between them. By providing Google with a sitemap, you can expedite the indexing process. The method for submitting sitemaps will differ depending on the site builder, but this is also a pretty straightforward process. 

But What if Google Search Console Doesn’t Work?

Time is often a luxury. But, there may be cases where you really need to get pages optimized sooner rather than later. If this is the case, you may need to make use of paid tools like IndexMeNow that allow you to get pages indexed in a shorter period of time. The benefits of using something like this come from being able to get credit from your changes faster, but this comes at a cost. IndexMeNow works by using credits, which are redeemed to index URL’s on your site. One credit, one URL. However, if the tool is unable to index a given page within 10 days, they will re-credit your account so you can give it another shot.

This allows for a more timely method of indexing your site. All while still retaining the assurance you will get your money back if it is unable to complete it’s task. 

Sometimes, time is of the essence. This tool can help you make the most of the time new content spends on your site and give you ample opportunities to try again if it can’t get it done in a timely manner.

Troubleshooting Google Search Console: Common issues

Some of the most common issues one may encounter when trying to index their pages come from pages having special indicators that tell Google not to index the page. This is often referred to as a “no index” tag. Sometimes these can happen in error. But, in other cases, it can be helpful to avoid including certain pages on your site that aren’t important from an analytics standpoint. Some examples of pages that may not be indexed include:

  • Pages with a specific robots.txt rule to not index the URL
  • Duplicate URLs
  • 404 for deleted pages with no replacement

If you have cases like these, it’s worth not adjusting the setting, and keeping these pages hidden from Google’s index. It is great to have the ability to control these aspects, but they aren’t necessary 

Start Getting Your Site Recognized With Google with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team of SEO specialists are happy to offer support in building and sustaining your SEO. We can help ensure pages are indexed and optimized to help you reach higher rankings. Start the SEO process with Simplified SEO Consulting by following these steps:

  1. Apply to work with us to improve your SEO
  2. Meet with an SEO specialist 
  3. Start building better backlinks!

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team knows there are many aspects of SEO that you may need help addressing on your site. This is why we offer a variety of SEO services. Other services offered include our Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses. We also offer a 12-week Done With You Intensive SEO Program. Visit our blog to learn more today!

About the Author

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

 

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Tips for Online Therapy Websites

In today’s digital age, an effective online presence is essential, especially for therapists. Therapy is shifting toward online therapy due to its convenience and accessibility. Your online presence can significantly impact your ability to attract and retain clients. A well-designed website that’s easy to navigate, engaging, and filled with valuable information can be your most effective tool. Not only does it serve as your virtual office, but it also reflects who you are as a therapist and the quality of your services.

However, having a website is only the first step. Ensuring it can be easily found by potential clients is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) steps in. SEO for mental health or private practice SEO is a strategy that helps increase your website’s visibility on search engines. Making it easier for potential clients to find you. SEO for online counseling pages is especially crucial now, given the surge in people seeking online therapy. Together, a well-designed website and effective SEO strategy can significantly boost your online therapy practice.

Your Online Therapy Website is ImportantShows a therapist working on SEO for mental health. Represents how private practice SEO can help attract potential clients.

Your professional website does more than just inform. It builds trust and credibility with potential clients. Plus, it markets your services to a broader audience. It’s your digital storefront, and often, it’s the first impression people have of you and your practice. A well-designed website can convey professionalism, expertise, and compassion. All of these are critical qualities for therapists. On the other hand, a poorly designed website can turn potential clients away.

For example, having a website that’s difficult to navigate or has outdated information can give the impression that your practice is disorganized and outdated. This can create doubt in potential clients’ minds about the quality of your services. A professional website that is easy to navigate and regularly updated, on the other hand, can help build trust and credibility with potential clients. Plus, adding SEO keywords to your website can increase its visibility and attract the right audience.

Elements of an Effective Online Therapy Website

Just like with traditional therapy, having a strong foundation is crucial for success. Your website is the foundation of your online therapy practice. To ensure it’s effective, here are some essential elements to keep in mind:

A Clear and Engaging Homepage

Think of your homepage as the main entrance to your virtual office. It needs to be welcoming and informative. Consider using compelling copy and engaging visuals to quickly communicate who you are and what you offer. Deciding what information to present on your homepage can be tricky, but always remember, clarity is key.

However, don’t put all the information on your homepage. Instead, use it as a teaser to encourage your ideal clients to explore more of your website. Some information you can include on your homepage are:

  • A brief overview of your practice and what sets you apart
  • Your areas of expertise or specializations
  • Contact details for potential clients to book an appointment

Comprehensive About Page

Your About page is your chance to shine. It can tell potential clients who you are, what you stand for, and why you’re passionate about helping others. This page is crucial in building rapport with potential clients. They want to know who they will be working with and if they can trust you. Including a professional bio and a personal touch on your About page can help establish credibility and connect with potential clients.

Services and SpecializationsShows a therapist trying to figure out where to put words on a counseling website. Represents how private practice SEO can support your business.

Just like you market your services and specializations in traditional therapy, it’s essential to do the same with online therapy. Your service pages are the marketing part of your website. Making sure they are easy to navigate and clearly present your services and areas of expertise can make all the difference. Potential clients often have specific needs, and if they can’t find the information they need quickly, they may look elsewhere.

When you think about what to include on your service pages, think about what your ideal client would want to know. Think of what a potential client is going to need to know when they are panic searching at 3 am. This insight can help you create informative and easy-to-understand service pages that cater to your potential clients’ needs.

For example, signs and symptoms of specific disorders or how a particular therapy approach can help with certain issues. These are all valuable pieces of information that your ideal clients may be looking for. Plus, a great piece of content is a section on how you stand apart from other therapists in your area. This can help potential clients understand why they should choose you and your services.

Contact Information and Booking

Convenience is key, especially for online therapy. Make sure that potential clients can easily find your contact details on your website. This information should be readily available and easy to find. Providing multiple ways for potential clients to get in touch. This can be an email or phone number, can also make it easier for them to reach out.

If you have read any of our blogs or seen our website, you’ll know that we a call to action section on service pages. We’ve even added a contact form at the end of each article you read. This makes it easier for potential clients to reach out and book an appointment. Another way to make booking appointments more convenient is by integrating online booking systems. This allows potential clients to schedule an appointment right from your website, without having to call or email. Plus, these systems can

Testimonials and Reviews

If you want to showcase the praise and trust your previous clients have in your services, adding a testimonials or reviews section to your website can be highly effective. Potential clients are more likely to choose a therapist who has positive feedback from previous clients. This helps build trust and credibility with potential clients, which is crucial for online therapy.

To display reviews effectively, consider including them on your homepage or service pages. You can also create a dedicated page specifically for reviews and testimonials. Or, you can utilize a Google Business Profile to showcase your reviews. Whichever method you choose, make sure it’s easy for potential clients to access and read.

Blog or Resources Section

Content is king. Maintaining a blog or resource section on your website can not only showcase your expertise but also provide valuable information to potential clients. Your blog complements your service pages because they are the resource section of your website. It’s a platform where you can share relevant and informative content about mental health, therapy, and wellness.

Creating valuable content for your blog not only helps establish you as an expert in the field but also increases your website’s visibility through SEO. By incorporating keywords related to mental health and therapy into your blog posts, you can improve your website’s search engine ranking. This can lead to more traffic and potentially more clients finding your website.

Optimize With Phones in Mind

When you are wanting to know something quickly, where do you look? On your laptop? Your stationary desktop? No, most likely, you grab your phone and search for it. The same goes for potential clients looking for mental health services. As smartphones become increasingly integrated into daily life, more and more people are using them to access therapy services.

This is where mobile optimization comes in. Having a mobile-friendly website means that it’s accessible and easily navigable on various devices such as phones and tablets. This is crucial for SEO as Google ranks mobile-friendly websites higher in search results. Why? Because a majority of people are using their phones to search for information, and Google wants to provide the best user experience.

To ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices, consider the following tips:

  • Use a responsive design: This means that your website will automatically adjust its layout based on the device it’s being viewed on. This ensures readability and usability across all devices.
  • Simplify navigation: When viewing a website on a phone, having too many menu options can be overwhelming. Simplify your navigation by using dropdown menus or organizing pages under broader categories.
  • Compress images: Large image files can slow down your website’s load time, which is a major turn-off for potential clients. Compressing images can help improve load times and make your website more mobile-friendly.
  • Prioritize important information: When designing your mobile site, make sure the most crucial information (contact details, services offered, etc.) is easily accessible at the top of the page. This makes it easier for potential clients to find what they need quickly.

Remember, if your potential client is frustrated with your website’s usability on their phone, they may move onto the next therapist who has a more mobile-friendly site. Don’t miss out on potential clients by neglecting mobile optimization. Plus, Google will appreciate it too!

SEO and Online Visibility

When you are looking for a service or product, chances are you’ll do a quick search on Google. The same goes for potential therapy clients. That’s why having a strong online presence and good SEO (search engine optimization) is crucial for attracting clients. Because, let’s be honest, how far on Google’s search results page have you ever gone? Most people don’t look past the first two pages.

So, how do you improve your website’s visibility through SEO? Here are a few tips:

  • Research keywords: These are the words or phrases that potential clients will type into Google when searching for mental health services. Incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your website content, including in page titles, headings, and body text.
  • Utilize meta descriptions: This is the brief summary that appears under your website’s title in search engine results. Use keywords and informative language to entice potential clients to click on your website.
  • Create quality content: As mentioned before, content is king when it comes to SEO. Regularly update your website with valuable and relevant content to improve your ranking. Google is like a toddler. It loves to see you add new things, like content, to your website.

Optimize for Local SEO Shows someone hiking in Colorado. Represents how local seo can help with seo for mental health and private practice seo.

While general SEO is important, local SEO should also be a focus for therapists. Why? Because most people prefer to see a therapist within their local area. By optimizing your website for local search results, you have a better chance of attracting nearby clients. Plus, it convinces Google that you actually exist and know the area you are targeting.

Here are a few tips for improving your local SEO:

  • Use location keywords: Incorporate the name of your city or town throughout your website to help Google identify where you are located and what services you offer in that area.
  • Create a Google Business Profile: This is essential for local businesses, including therapists. It allows you to manage how your business appears on Google search and maps.
  • Write location blogs: Write blogs that talk about local places and name drops the city or area you are targeting. This can help improve your website’s visibility in local search results. For example, “5 Relaxing Spots to Visit in Jonesboro, AR” or “The Best Hiking Trails in Denver, CO for When You’re Feeling Anxious.”

By implementing these tips, you can improve your website’s SEO and online visibility, making it easier for potential clients to find your services. Remember, a strong online presence is important when you are offering online therapy services, so don’t neglect SEO for your private practice website. Remember: more visibility means more potential clients!

Let’s Get Your Private Practice SEO On Point

SEO can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can improve your website’s ranking on search engines and attract more potential clients. Offering online therapy services is needed now more than ever, and having a strong online presence is crucial for success. So don’t underestimate the power of SEO – start implementing these strategies today and watch your private practice grow! At Simplified SEO Consulting, our range of SEO packages caters to your budget and specific requirements. Additionally, we provide self-paced SEO resources and online courses to assist you in navigating SEO on your terms. Our team of SEO specialists can’t wait to support you in creating a successful online presence for your mental health private practice. Let’s conquer SEO together!

Want to learn about SEO? Sign up for our SEO Course for Therapists and learn how to use the power of blogs and SEO to reach more clients and grow your practice! Or want to outsource it? Check out our SEO Consulting packages and schedule your consult today! Ready to get started?

  1. Schedule Your Consult
  2. Learn about our team
  3. Attract Your Ideal Clients with Simplified SEO!

Other SEO Services At Simplified SEO Consulting

Whether you’re an SEO expert or eager to explore our array of amazing services, we’ve got something for everyone! Check out our other SEO services for therapists and online therapy providers. We offer options such as our 12-week training, small group intensives, and courses. Our strategy session can be a great option for those just getting started! We also provide ongoing support with our SEO maintenance packages, this is perfect for former clients who want to keep improving their SEO. Or, if you’re ready to work with a passionate and skilled team, our Done for You Program is the perfect fit for you! Whichever option you choose, we’re excited to work with you and help elevate your online presence. Don’t wait any longer, Simplified SEO Consulting is here to help you reach your business goals through effective SEO strategies!

About the Author:Lynsey, SEO Content Writer for Simplified SEO Consulting. Lynsey provides seo for mental health for professionals. Search "private practice seo" today!

Are you a therapist specializing in online therapy or considering adding online therapy to your practice? Meet Lynsey, the passionate SEO Content Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. With expertise in mental health and SEO, Lynsey combines her love for writing and mental health to help therapists like you unlock the power of SEO. She understands the unique needs of therapists offering online therapy and creates tailored SEO strategies that align with your brand and attract your ideal clients. Invest in the success of your online therapy practice by investing in your SEO. Visit our website today to learn more about Lynsey and our team at Simplified SEO Consulting. Contact Simplified SEO Consulting now to get started and discover the importance of SEO for therapists like you.

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Why Being Told Your SEO Sucks Is Actually a Good Thing!

Have you ever received a random email out of the blue from someone telling you how bad your SEO is?

A close-up of a magnifying glass next to the letters SEO. Learn how to improve SEO for counselors by searching for how to build SEO for therapists today.Emails like this are common, so you may get them before you have done any SEO. A large number of these are often SEO scams. But, many of our clients report these more frequently after doing some initial SEO work with us. While it can be equally surprising and worrying to receive cold call emails from SEO companies you don’t know, this can sometimes serve as a sign you are doing something right. Most of the time, it is best to just ignore requests such as these. But, you can still take events like these as opportunities to self-reflect on your SEO efforts. By doing so, you can learn more about what is and is not working for your site. Today, we are going to be addressing why being told your SEO is bad from unprovoked emails can actually be seen as a good thing.

They May Say Your SEO Sucks, But They Found You, Didn’t They?

It can be scary to get messages that tell you that your SEO isn’t where it needs to be. The SEO landscape is very competitive, and it can feel imperative to get any kind of edge you can to ensure you are found in Google’s search results. But, in order to even send this message to private practice owners in the first place, they must have been able to find your site or email in order to contact you. While this isn’t directly stating it, this is still an acknowledgment that your site is being noticed in the search results. Being noticed is a sign that you are in fact doing the right thing from an SEO perspective. Otherwise, how would SEO companies find your site to reach out to you in the first place?

The Importance of Self-Reflection in SEO

A woman looks off with a pensive look. This could represent the questions brought up by improving private practice SEO. Learn how to build SEO for therapists today.So you’ve received an email telling you what is wrong with your SEO. It’s best to ignore it, right? In most cases, yes. But, you can still use this as a chance to reflect on what elements of your SEO strategy are contributing to your success, and what can potentially be changed. Your improving SEO was how other companies found you in the first place, and the SEO advice offered in these emails may actually be beneficial when searching for the next ways to improve your SEO. These can often include tips on how to improve the speed of your site, different forms of content to create, or other technical improvements.

There are a number of tools that can help you better understand how your site is performing. Some of the most useful tools include the likes of the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool, and Google Pagespeed Insights. Other tools can also show you how to improve the overall health of your site via a site audit. Making use of tools like these can reveal much more information about your site than what a single email can tell you. But, using cold emails as reminders can still offer occasional insight into what to address on your site. 

Be sure to also ask yourself, is this worth the trouble?

It goes without saying that it is important to know how you can improve your site. But, it’s equally important to ask if the changes you’re making are actually worth the time you are putting into them. There are so many things that you can do to support your SEO on the client-facing and technical sides. Yet, not every change will affect your SEO in the same way, or have the same results. While something mentioned in a cold email may be made to sound like a high-priority situation, it may not actually be worth the time and effort put into fixing it. 

A man smiles while looking at his laptop and coffee cup. This could represent learning how to build seo for therapists. Learn to support your private practice seo today. Messages may include references to how low your rankings are and how they can support you to improve them. Emails may seem more urgent and warn of something you’re doing wrong. For example, you may receive an email that tells you how your SEO is suffering due to not having enough backlinks. In an event like this,  they may suggest that you purchase links through them in order to help improve your SEO. However, the links you would likely receive from something like this are more than likely going to be scammy, and not the high-quality links that will help your practice. In a case like this, it is actually seen as an unethical SEO practice that can actually do more harm than good to your SEO. 

In Conclusion

Receiving cold emails can be seen as unwelcome for a variety of reasons. But, these emails can occasionally provide insights into what you may be able to improve on your site. They can also serve as a jumping-off point for improvements you can capitalize on yourself. So, next time you receive an email like this, feel free to delete it but take a moment to reflect on your site as well.

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

Our team is happy to offer support with growing your SEO and supporting your practice. An SEO specialist would be happy to provide support across the country. You can start your SEO journey with Simplified SEO Consulting by following these simple steps:

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

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author

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

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Using the GoDaddy platform for your Private Practice Website SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

With all the platforms for creating and maintaining websites, it can be overwhelming to decide which will be the best for your private practice website and its SEO. Often we are asked which website builders we prefer, and much like anything else, they all have Pros and Cons. For those of you looking to invest in GoDaddy or already have, this blog is for you! 

How to choose the best hosting option for your Private Practice Website

The importance of search engine optimization (SEO) cannot be overstated. Search engines rely on SEO to find our websites, which means that it’s essential to understand precisely what it is and how it can benefit your private practice in Arkansas, Online, and beyond! Finding ways to utilize SEO for your website and career can be the best decision you make for yourself. 

 

First of all, it’s important to know that with GoDaddy, you have the option of:

Image of a woman looking at a computer while talking on the phone. This represents how SEO services for therapists are a call away when you need them, reach out to us today!

Hosting your URL on GoDaddy with another platform’s website builder.
OR
Hosting & Using GoDaddys’ Website builder for your site. (Free and Paid options)  
 For a lot of people, competitive pricing is an essential factor when selecting a provider. As a domain registrar and web hosting company, GoDaddy is a very well-known brand. Aside from registrars, they also provide their customers with web hosting, website builders, and email services. 

If you are a GoDaddy customer but don’t use their website builder, you need to get your SEO up to speed with the platform your website is built on. 

Does GoDaddys Website Builder boost SEO rankings for an Online Private Practice Website?

As far as website building is concerned, GoDaddy has one of the more user-friendly interfaces available. This hosting service comes with a very simple and intuitive graphical interface. This is designed to cater to beginners since you don’t have to have great coding skills to get started publishing and managing your website.

However, web administrators seeking more control can encounter problems when it comes to email addresses, database files, and memory. When trying to navigate the GoDaddy policies regarding web forms, wikis, and auto-generated content, you will find that you will need to put more effort into it. There are a number of other hosting services that have fewer restrictions on their use.

The Rundown on GoDaddys’ Digital Marketing Suite 

GoDaddy provides a tool that costs $6.99 per month and analyzes your website for keyword and phrase suggestions. You can ‘start for free’  and use it for more than SEO with social media content templates and related content to provide support in getting traffic for your private practice.Image of a typewriter and a notepad with the word "blog'. Blogs are important additions to your SEO and we can help with that! Let our SEO experts help your Private Practice Website today! Even though this tool is helpful and can be used to make a difference, it has some limitations. This is likely why they also offer SEO services as part of one of their packages. It is without saying that at Simplified SEO Consulting, we recommend hiring us if you need Search Engine Optimization services for your private practice. This is because we help mental health professionals focus on the clients they want to attract. In contrast, GoDaddy provides services in a generic manner that primarily targets getting website views rather than booking clients.

After completing the suggested changes, such as changing your homepage title to include a keyword, you can track your website’s search rankings on the Search Engine Optimization dashboard after implementing these changes.

 

You specialize in mental health, and so should the SEO experts you lean on for advice and support. 

 

Using WordPress and GoDaddy for your online Private Practice Website 

WordPress and GoDaddy have partnered to offer users WordPress hosting plans. With their auto-install Quick Start Wizard, you can get started quickly with the creation of your website. 

In the event that you already have a WordPress site that you would like to migrate to GoDaddy, it may take some technical expertise. Even experienced website owners may find it challenging to follow the steps for moving a WordPress website to GoDaddy, even though there are step-by-step instructions. WordPress has its own SEO tools and tips that can be used to optimize your service pages or blog posts. 

 

Person at the computer representing the private practice website owners we help on daily basis. Reach out to us today!   The Summary:

 Many people have criticized the GoDaddy company because of its marketing tactics, aggressive up-selling practices, and poor customer service. Because of its affordability, brand recognition, and comprehensive set of tools, it has become a popular choice for users.

Owners of small private practices with very limited technical expertise can easily register a domain name and build a website with relative ease, but making use of GoDaddy’s hosting services may not be the most appropriate choice for Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The majority of our clients use WordPress or Squarespace to build their websites. We have found that these two platforms make it easily possible to implement search engine optimization techniques.  

 

Fun Fact: SEO is a millennial! It was created in the mid-90s. 

 

SEO Marketing for Therapists & Counselors Made Simple!

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

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

Other Services at Simplified SEO Consulting:

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

 

About the Author

Amber has a BA in Psychology at APU and is working towards her MA in Psychology at SNHU while working with the best team in the world, Simplified SEO Consulting. She is a mother, animal & space enthusiast, and public relations volunteer at a fine arts nonprofit who enjoys helping others succeed.

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Connecting Google Analytics To WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix

There Are Many Content Management Systems (CMS) Available for Business Owners.

You may be more familiar with the other names these platforms use, such as WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix. Each has its own benefits and limitations, & knowing how to interact with your site with helpful tools is a vital part of ensuring you are making the most of what your site has to offer. While most will offer the functionality to integrate tools like Google Analytics, others may not have what you need to easily connect to Google Analytics

One of the most important interactions your site will have is with Google Analytics, which is how important data is tracked. However, to start using Google Analytics, you must first connect it with your site. There are a few ways to do this, but the process itself will differ depending on the specific CMS you are using. So, today we are going to address how to connect Google Analytics to three major CMS: WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix.

Before We Get Started, You Will Need Your Google Analytics Measurement ID

A screenshot of a Google Analytics account. Learn how Google Analytics can offer support with therapist SEO. Contact us to learn more about improving private pratice seo today.

For each of these examples, you will first need to be signed in to your Google Analytics account and have your measurement ID copied from your account. You can find this by clicking the gear icon in the bottom left corner, selecting the Admin tab, and selecting your site’s property from the dropdown menu.

Once the correct site has been selected, you can use the Setup Assistant to check if your site is indeed collecting data from Google, or click on “data streams” to find the specific data stream for your website. Once you click on your site’s data stream, you can copy the measurement ID, which you will need for each of these examples.

Connecting Google Analytics: The WordPress Process

The navigation bar of a WordPress site. Learn how to improve therapist SEO by searching "private practice seo" today. Simplified SEO can support your private practice website.When connecting Google Analytics to a WordPress site, you will need to access the backend of your private practice website and navigate to the Tools section of the navigation bar on the left side of your screen. Depending on the plugins you have installed on your site, the location of the Tools tab may differ. But, once you’ve navigated to this section, you will only have to click on the Traffic tab near the top of the screen. 

Once in the Traffic tab, simply scroll down to the Google Analytics section and paste your measurement ID into the “Google Analytics Measurement ID” box. Once pasted, click “save settings” to confirm your changes. With this completed, Google Analytics should now be able to collect data from your website! 

What if I Can’t Use A Measurement ID?

If you can’t use your measurement ID or need to manually add the Google Analytics integration, you will need to get a bit more information to successfully connect your site. However, you can still easily find this information on your Google Analytics account. Much like finding your Measurement ID, you will need to access the data stream connected to your site. Luckily, you can use the previously mentioned steps to navigate to your site’s specific data stream. Once here, you will need to scroll down the “Web Stream Details” window and click on the “View Tag Instructions” section. This will have a set of instructions for you to manually add the necessary code to your site, or identify your CMS with Google.

A screenshot of Google Analytics web streams. Learn how to improve your private practice seo by contacting Simplified SEO Consulting. We can offer support for your private practice website today.If you decide to manually add this code to your WordPress site, you will need to navigate the backend of your site once again. Once here, you need to add the copied code to the header section on each page of your site. But, WordPress doesn’t automatically allow you to edit the header code of your site. Due to this, you will likely need to install a plugin that will allow you to make these additions. Thankfully, regardless of your choice of plugin, you will often find access to your site’s header code in the Theme settings of the website builder. Please ensure you are familiar with your site and the plugin you are using if you decide to manually add the necessary code since errors in the code of your site can have a wide variety of ramifications. 

The Squarespace Process

The navigation menu of Squarespace, showing how to improve therapist SEO. Contact Simplified SEO Consulting to learn more about private practice SEO and how to improve your private practice website.For Squarespace users, the process for connecting to Google Analytics is fairly straightforward! Once you have your measurement ID, you will need to access the back end of your private practice website. Once on your home screen, click Settings, then Advanced. Click on External API Keys from here, and paste your measurement ID in the Google Analytics section. After you save your changes, your site should successfully be connected with Google Analytics!

Manually adding code to Squarespace

Thankfully, the process for adding to the header is also fairly straightforward. First, you will need to navigate to the Home screen on the back end of your site. Once on your home screen, click Settings, Advanced, and finally Code Injection. This option will allow you to paste the necessary code on each page of your site without having to go through each page one by one. As previously mentioned, please practice caution when adding code manually to your site, since issues can arise when it isn’t implemented correctly.

The Wix Process

Last but not least, we have Wix! In order to add your measurement ID to a private practice website using Wix, you will need to first log into your site and navigate to the backend dashboard. Once here, you will need to choose the Marketing Integrations tab under the “Marketing and SEO” section on the navigation bar. After navigating to this screen, you should see the integration for Google Analytics and also have the option to add your measurement ID to your site. After you save your changes your site should successfully begin tracking data through Google Analytics!A screenshot of marketing intergrations of a Wix platform for Simplified SEO Consulting. Learn more about private practice SEO and improving your private practice website today.

Manually Adding to Wix

In order to manually add the necessary code from Google you will need to log in to your site and scroll down on the navigation bar to Settings. Once you click on this, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page where you will see the option to add custom code to your private practice website. Click “Add Custom Code” to paste the necessary code. This is similar to Squarespace in that you can set the code to run on every page of your site, thus helping you save time on implementing this integration.

Conclusion

Addressing the more technical aspects of SEO can sometimes feel stressful and complex. But, understanding each step in the process can help you feel more comfortable with making these vital additions to your private practice website. Connecting Google Analytics is only one part of your SEO journey, but you don’t have to do it alone!

Begin Improving Private Practice SEO with Simplified SEO Consulting

Becoming familiar with Google Analytics and other technical SEO aspects is much easier said than done. This is why our team of SEO specialists would be happy to offer support in helping your site reach the first page of Google. You can start your SEO journey with Simplified SEO Consulting by following these simple steps:

  1. Apply to work with us to improve your SEO
  2. Meet with an SEO specialist 
  3. Begin improving your private practice website and SEO!

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the 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 in a timely manner to client concerns.  Since he started, Sterling has met frequently with our alumni and provided them with extra problem-solving support. He now provides additional support with a variety of local SEO services. He often goes the extra mile to do outside research. By doing so, he sure private practice owners have everything they need to rank well on search engines long term for the keywords their ideal clients are using!

 

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Meta Descriptions for Therapist “About” Pages

Let us start with the basics of what a meta description is really for. The short answer is that it gives both Google and potential clients a snapshot of your page. The tricky part is that you have to summarize your 500+ word page within a certain amount of characters. All while making sure the meta description positively affects your SEO.

In order to fully utilize your meta descriptions it must fulfill its two main jobs. The first job of the meta description is to help improve search engine rankings. So that your page will appear in Google searches for your ideal clients. Its second job is to navigate people from their search and onto your page. Thus improving your “click through rate”.

Tips for Writing A Good Meta Description for Your About Page

Image of a mental health professional in a white shirt reaching out her hand. Showing how meta descriptions for therapists "about" pages can help them connect with clients. If they learn how to write a meta description for a private practice website.For service pages, the meta descriptions highlight that specific therapy technique or service page that you offer. While on blog posts they display the topic of the post and your expertise on the subject. However, your meta description on your about page should specifically showcase your area of expertise and your specific niche. That being said you know what you are offering to your clients better than anyone. This means you basically have everything that you need to write the meta description for your about page. However, these guidelines can make crafting it a little easier.

Picking the Right Keywords

The best keywords for your about page are normally going to be general “counselor”, “therapist”, or “psychologist” type keywords. However, if you specialize in one specific area then you might have a more specific keyword. For example, if you are a counselor who focuses mainly on trauma, PTSD, CPTSD, and emotional abuse recovery then your main keyword might be “trauma therapist”. Another example is if one therapist in a group practice only offers couples or marriage counseling. The main keyword on their about page might be “marriage counselor” or couples therapist”.

Keep It Unique

If you are the only therapist at your practice then keeping your “About” page meta description unique will be fairly simple. It will already stand apart from your service pages because you are highlighting yourself as a counselor/therapist/psychologist. However, if you have a group practice you will want to make sure that you have unique metas for each of the therapists. Tailor the meta descriptions on their pages to their unique skills, strengths, and niches. One of the ways to do that is to highlight different keywords for each person’s page when appropriate.

Not Too Short & Not Too Long

Watch the length of your meta description carefully. To start you want to make sure that it is over 120 characters but do not want it to go over 155 characters. If you go over the 155 then you risk the text getting cut off. However, if you are under 120 characters then your meta description might not be picked up by Google at all and they will just pick a snippet from your page. In order to get full use of it I like to make meta descriptions as close to 150-155 characters as possible. Honestly, I rarely find it hard to meet the 120-character minimum. Instead, I sometimes struggle to keep it under 155. In these cases, I will reword sentences or change out phrases until I get a combination that meets all the guidelines listed above.

Image of a man in a blue shirt in a wheelchair typing at a computer. Showing the type of clients you can reach when you invest in SEO for therapists and mental health professionals. Where you can learn to where to use keywords within your meta description on your about page.Other Things To Consider

  • If there is room at the end include a call to action. Such as:
    • “Learn more now”
    • “Call today to learn more”
    • “Read on”
  • When you can include a location within the meta description

Examples of Meta Descriptions for Therapist “About” Pages

Mary Smith | Trauma Therapist | Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0X3

Mary Smith is an expert EMDR & trauma therapist in Winnipeg. She specializes in treating emotional abuse, CPTSD, & PTSD. Call to learn more!

Dr. Kent | Psychologist | Little Rock, Arkansas 72002

Learn more about Dr. Kent who is a Psychologist in Little Rock, AR. He provides counseling for general anxiety, agoraphobia, panic attacks & more. Read on!

Jane Foster | EMDR Therapist | Dublin, IE D07 V57C

Jane Foster is an understanding EMDR therapist at Example Therapy Services. She specializes in trauma recovery with children, teens, & adults.

Final Thoughts on Writing Meta Descriptions for Therapist “About” Pages

Search engine optimization is not always an exact science. It’s a dance of balancing what Google wants, maintaining your voice or vision, and appealing to your ideal clients. This means you might find yourself needing to rewrite your meta description and that’s alright. When optimizing your about page try starting with the meta description. Then after optimizing the page go back to the meta description and see if you want to make any changes to it. Another time you might end up rewriting the meta description is if you are not seeing the “click through rate” that you are wanting. For example, if Dr. Kent, from the meta description above, is ranking well for “psychologist in Little Rock, AR” but isn’t seeing a lot of clicks then it might be time to do a rewrite.

Learn More About SEO for Therapists & Mental Health Professionals

If you are interested in learning more about SEO for Therapists, Psychiatrists, or Psychologists then Simplified SEO Consulting can help guide you.  We offer services that range from completely do-it-yourself SEO courses to done-with-you SEO classes to done-for-you SEO. Whether you want to learn how to do search engine optimization yourself or if you are looking to work directly with a Mental Health SEO Specialist we can help you grow your business! Ready to find the best way to get your website in front of your ideal clients? Then book a free consult today!

SEO Specialist for mental health therapist websites, Winnie. She specializes in helping therapists to understand where to put keywords on their websites. Including how to incorporate them within a meta description.About The Author

Winnie is a Mental Health SEO Specialist who enjoys helping private practice owners grow their websites and their businesses. Her primary focus is working with therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and functional medicine doctors who choose our done-for-you services. She has written meta descriptions for home pages, about pages, service pages, and blogs for mental health professionals across the United States and in Canada.

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A Guide To Creating A Private Practice SEO Friendly Website

Are you a therapist who is creating a new website? Or are you considering redesigning your private practice website? If you are and you want to get a head start on SEO you are in the right spot. If you have met with our consulting team then you might have heard that Simplified SEO Consulting likes to start working on SEO after your new website has had a chance to sit on Google for a little while. However, there are some things that you can do while creating your website that will give you a leg up on the search engine optimization process.

Mental Health SEO Keywords

SEO for private practice websites starts with choosing the right keywords. I am not suggesting that you have to do intensive keyword research as you are creating or redesigning your website. If you plan to do our Done-For-You SEO Program your dedicated SEO specialist will do extensive keyword research on each page that they optimize. While if you do our Small Group Intensive or Do-It-Yourself SEO Course you will receive training and more detailed instructions on how to conduct keyword research that will help you reach your ideal clients. 

However, knowing the right keywords for your area as you are creating a home page, about page, and services pages can help give you a jump start on your SEO journey. For example, did you know that in general “anxiety treatment” is more commonly searched than “anxiety therapy” or “anxiety counseling”? Additionally when you compare searches per month in the US “therapist” is searched more often than “counselor”. The right keywords for you to use are dependent on what area you are trying to rank in. 

Image of a woman writing on a notepad while looking at a laptop. Represents how private practice seo supports therapists in their SEO journey.References for Mental Health SEO Keywords

Content, Content, Content

It has been said time and time again that content is king/queen, but it remains to be true so it warrants being said again. When creating your website be mindful of which service pages you want to add. Think about your ideal client and what kind of mental health services you want to be offering. Then make a list of what services you want to provide. The list of services will look different for every private practice owner. It might include anxiety therapy, trauma therapy, therapy for women, sex therapy, therapy for men, EMDR, LGBTQIA+ counseling, therapy for teenagers, etc. The key is to identify what you want to offer and make an individual service page for each of them. 

Once you move on to creating those service pages keep in mind the length of your copy. Generally speaking, you want your pages to have 500 words but no more than 3000 words. Google likes to have a lot of quality content when determining rankings. It can be hard to go back and add 200 words to a service page that was originally 300 words long. Instead, try to make sure that as you are creating content you are aware of the word count. 

Benefits of Quality Content on a Private Practice SEO-Friendly Website

As a therapist, you may be aware of the importance of having an SEO-friendly website. However, did you know that quality content plays a crucial role in improving your website’s search engine rankings? But also attracts more organic traffic and ideal clients to your website? That’s right! There are also other benefits of having quality content on your SEO-friendly website. They include:

  • Improved search engine rankings
  • Increased website traffic
  • Higher engagement and user satisfaction
  • Better conversion rates
  • Increased authority and credibility in the industry

 

So, as a therapist looking to improve your website’s search engine rankings, quality content is king. Not only does it attract more traffic, but it also helps establish you as an expert in your field. By providing valuable and informative content, you can build trust with potential clients and improve your online presence. So, if you want to increase your visibility and reach more people, make sure you prioritize creating high-quality content for your SEO-friendly website.

References & Guides For Creating Content For A Private Practice Website

Pay Attention to Your Slugs

Once you have created a new page or blog post for your website there is one more thing that needs to be done before publishing it. That is to create an SEO-friendly URL slug. Once a page has gone live it can be tricky to change an existing URL slug. This is why this is one of the most important things you can do for your SEO as you are creating your website. 

So what should you include in your slugs? You should try to include both keywords and location indications. So first start with the main keywords you are wanting to focus on. Then include what city or state you are attempting to rank in.

Examples of URL Slugs For Service Pages

  • Graphic of a long paper coming out of a computer. Represents how private practice seo supports therapists to make their wesbite more visible to clients and boost their rankings.

    Anxiety Page: anxiety-treatment-Little-Rock-Arkansas
  • Virtual Therapy Page: online-therapy-North-Dakota
  • EMDR Page: EMDR-therapy-Tulsa-Oklahoma
  • Stress & Burnout Page: stress-management-Edmonton-Alberta
  • Couples Therapy: marriage-counseling-Manchester-New-Hampshire 

Include At least 3 Photos

As a Mental Health SEO Specialist, one of the areas I utilize during the optimization process is the alt text and photo title. It is a great way to increase accessibility while also integrating keywords and locations. At Simplified SEO Consulting, we recommend all of our clients have at least 3 photos on each page and blog post. If you plan to start services with us or take our training course then it might be easier to include those photos while creating the website. Rather than trying to add them in later while working on SEO. You can learn more about the SEO benefits of including at least 3 photos on every page here. 

Are You Ready to Start SEO Services on Your Private Practice Website?

Whether you are just creating your private practice website, redesigning your website, or you have had a website for years it is never too early or late to start learning about search engine optimization at Simplified SEO Consulting. Our Mental Health SEO specialists are here to help! We have services ranging from SEO-intensive training so you can learn how to optimize your own website to done-for-you SEO. It can be a big step to invest in SEO but we are here to help you at every step. Get started by following these steps:

  1. Make a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable team members
  2. Learn more about our dedicated SEO Specialists for therapists and the services we offer
  3. Start increasing your rankings on Google

Services Offered at Simplified SEO Consulting

Our SEO specialists are here to help you get optimal search engine optimization for counselors. Are you short on time but want to move forward with SEO for your private practice website? Then our Done for You package might be the best choice for you. Looking to build your knowledge of search engine optimization for yourself but need guidance on selecting mental health SEO keywords? Wanting to reduce costs by working on your own website? Then enrolling in our SEO intensive training or online course are options that are built for you. Whichever route you choose Simplified SEO Consulting will provide you with support and guidance. Get started with your free 30-minute consultation today to figure out the best path for you!

About the Author:

Image of the blogs author Winnie. Represents how seo consulting helps therapists and their website become more seo friendly and seo informed.Winnie is a part of our caring team of SEO Specialists at Simplified SEO Consulting. She enjoys learning and growing her knowledge in not only search engine optimization but also mental health. Staying up to date on all aspects of SEO so she can bring you the best service possible. 

Her specialty is working with our clients who have picked our Done for You package. This includes helping those clients get their website SEO-friendly and finding the best mental health keywords for them. If you’re ready to start on your search engine optimization journey, apply to work with us.

 

Updated on 4/30/2023 by Lynsey Heskett

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Google Analytics Issues and How to Fix Them

Google provides a variety of resources to help you better understand how your site is performing on the web. Many of these resources such as Google Analytics (GA) can offer invaluable data. But, this tool isn’t without occasional errors that can throw a wrench in your efforts to improve your site. So today, we are diving into some of the more common issues you may experience while using Google Analytics.  And, how you can go about solving them!

An illustration of a screen showing website data. This could represent Google Analytics in counseling and the effects it can have. Learn more about how to rank on google for therapists by contacting simplified seo consulting. 65202Getting Started with Google Analytics

It is first worth noting that the data Google Analytics offers isn’t native to your site. To start allowing Google to track data, you must first use your Google account to sign up for Google Analytics and set up your account. After doing so, you have to ensure the tracking code is installed on each page of your website. This may sound like a pain to do, but there are a few ways to simplify the process depending on the site builder you are using. 

Installing the Google Analytics Tracking Code

Making sure the tracking code is on each page of your website has become a much easier process with the help of a few other tools often used alongside Google Analytics. The most straightforward method is still embedding the source code into the website. But, this process can be difficult and confusing depending on your familiarity with the technical aspects of your site. If done and cause issues if done incorrectly. As a result, we like to advise against this unless method unless you feel comfortable enough to do so, or if there are no other options. 

Alternatives to Install Your Tracking Code

But, one of the best options is the Google Tag Manager. This system allows you to add measurement codes and tags to your website or app. You only need to add the Tag Manager code to your site, and you can use the services available with the Manager. Another useful tool is the Google Analytics plugin itself. This will differ based on the website builder you are using but can offer a simple way to integrate the tool with your site. 

Using either of these can help you ensure the tracking code is ending up where it needs to be. However, based on the complex your site and practice are, there is a chance you may still run into other issues along the way. 

Data Issues

In the process of reviewing your Google Analytics data, you may find what is reported is nowhere near what it should be. This may manifest in the form of a very low bounce rate, inflated page views, or a variety of other ways depending on the issue. When this data fails to reflect the accurate metrics of your site, it can lead to a great deal of confusion and frustration. But, using the Google Analytics troubleshooting tool can help you get to the root of the issue. In many cases, these issues will relate to:

  • Data missing from reports
  • Pages being reported more than once
  • Internal traffic appearing in reports
  • Bots/spam skewing reported data

An illustration of a screen showing website data. This could represent Google Analytics in counseling and the effects it can have. Learn more about how to rank on google for therapists by contacting simplified seo consulting. 65202While these issues may be different, each involves becoming familiar with creating filters on Google Analytics. Creating filters will allow you to address each of these issues by changing what data you see in your reports. There are a variety of filters that can help your site in many ways. So, becoming familiar with them can go a long way in helping you curate the data you want to see on your site.

When Other Properties Affect Your Data

Depending on the size and scope of your practice, you may also experience issues related to the data of other websites appearing in the wrong report. This can occur if you have multiple Google Analytics properties on the same account and is often a result of the wrong tracking code being installed on the site. Using Google Analytics to track the data for multiple websites can be convenient. But, you must take extra care that it has been configured correctly. Otherwise, you run the risk of skewed results.

One of the best ways to go about solving this involves logging into your Google account. From here, you can go to the property in question and see if it matches the tracking code installed on your site. Another important thing you may want to enable is cross-domain tracking. This will allow you to track data across multiple sites from the same Google Analytics account. But, you will not have the same access to the data you have with a single site. Instead, you will be able to access data including:

  • Pageviews
  • Unique visitors
  • Average session duration
  • Traffic between pages      

Taking this into account can help you better understand how best to track the data on your site, and help avoid errors in what is being reported.

A illustration of a person reviewing data with two magnifying glasses. Simplified SEO Consulting can offer support with Google Analytics in counseling. Learn more about how to rank on Google for therapists and other services. 65202Closing Thoughts

Google Analytics can provide invaluable insights about your site. But, the data isn’t always as accurate as one may believe. So, understanding how these issues can arise can help improve the reliability of your data and the overall health of your site. It can feel like a lot to take into account. But, remember that there is always support available should you need it! 

Begin Working with Simplified SEO Consulting

Our team of SEO specialists can help you improve your SEO and other technical aspects of your site. We have supported many private practice owners in creating healthier websites, and we would love to support you as well! To start your SEO journey, please follow these simple steps:

  1. Book a free 30-minute consultation call.
  2. Meet with an SEO specialist.
  3. Start improving Google’s rankings and meet your practice’s goals!

Other Services Offered with Simplified SEO Consulting

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

About the Author

Photo 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!

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