As a mental health professional who owns their own practice, you may have heard “Google 3-pack” being thrown around. It’s especially important when it comes to where your website ranks. But what exactly is a Google 3-pack, and why should you care about it when it comes to finding your ideal client? In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of the Google 3-pack. As well as how you can improve your rankings as a private practice to appear in it and maintain them.
First, let’s define what the Google 3-pack is. When an ideal client searches for a local service, such as “anxiety therapy in Little Rock, AR”, Google will often display a box at the top of the search results page (SERPs) with three practices that fit the search criteria. This area of the SERPs is known as the Google 3-pack. It’s a highly coveted spot for practices that want to be displayed first. When you appear at the top of the SERPs you will more than likely see an increase in calls or clicks as most searchers will use the 3-pack to find what they are looking for before they continue scrolling down the search results.
So as a mental health professional, why is it important to rank in the Google 3-pack for your practice? For starters, it’s a great location for your practice to appear on the search results page. Most searchers don’t bother scrolling past the first few results that show up in the SERPs. So appearing in the 3-pack can greatly increase your chances of getting noticed by potential ideal clients.
Another important reason for appearing in the Google 3-pack is that it can lend credibility to your practice. Google’s algorithm takes many different factors into account when determining which practices to display in its 3-pack. It considers the business’s proximity to the searcher, the number of reviews and ratings it has, and the relevance of the business’s website to the keywords being searched for. If your business appears in the 3-pack, it’s a signal to potential clients that you’re a reputable and trustworthy business.
Ready to learn how you can improve your rankings to appear in the Google 3-Pack? Here are a few tips:
Your Google Business Profile is an important factor in determining whether your practice appears in the Google 3-pack. Always make sure your profile is complete and accurate. This includes your business name, address, and phone number (also known as NAP). Use relevant keywords in your practice description. Also, be sure to select the appropriate categories for your practice as well.
While your Google Business Profile is important, it’s not the only factor that determines your rankings. Your website’s SEO (search engine optimization) also plays an important role in your rankings. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, has a fast loading speed, and includes relevant keywords in your content. Be sure to create high-quality content that addresses the needs and concerns of your ideal clients, such as blog posts about common mental health issues, such as “Tips on Managing Anxiety Before a Counseling Session”.
Local citations are mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number on other websites, such as directories or social media platforms. Building local citations can help increase your business’s visibility and credibility, as well as improve your rankings in the Google 3-pack. Make sure your business’s NAP is consistent across all citations, as discrepancies can hurt your rankings. Checking on your Google Business Profile and NAP will help keep your information accurate at all times.
Backlinks to your website from reputable sources can help increase your online prominence and improve your local search rankings. Reach out to local organizations, schools (such as colleges), partners, and industry associations to see if they would be willing to link to your website. A great way to build backlinks is to also give another practitioner a backlink from your website. Guest blogging on someone else’s page and having them guest blog on yours is a simple and effective way to create one.
As mentioned earlier, the number and quality of client reviews can impact your rankings in the Google 3-pack. Try to encourage your clients to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. As well as other review sites such as Yelp or Healthgrades. Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you value feedback from your clients. If you’re unsure how you should respond to a review as a practitioner, check out this blog post on “Responding to Google Reviews in an Ethical Way: Ideas for Mental Health Professionals”.
While it can be tough to rank in the Google 3-pack, it’s a powerful and effective way to get calls, and clicks, and find your ideal clients. By following these tips you can begin improving your rankings and hopefully start ranking in Google’s 3-pack.
Interested in ranking in Google’s 3-pack? Our team at Simplified SEO Consulting wants to help you get your website ranking so you can begin interacting with your ideal clients. With our guidance and support, you will have the right clients calling your practice to get started with your services. To start your SEO journey with our Simplified team follow these three simple steps:
Looking for a different way we might be able to support you when it comes to finding your ideal client? Our team at Simplified wants to support you no matter what your SEO journey is. To help you begin finding your ideal client, we offer support in both our Done For You SEO Services and DIY Online SEO Courses. Simplified SEO Consulting also offers a 12-week Done With You Intensive Program. Check out our blog for more helpful tips and guides to SEO!
Brianna is a Mental Health SEO Specialist at Simplified SEO Consulting. As an SEO Specialist, Brianna enjoys optimizing client websites and interacting with them to help them achieve their SEO goals for their website. Her main goal while working with Simplified clients is to ensure they enjoy their SEO journey as well as to help them understand how the SEO process works. She hopes to inspire clients during the SEO process as well so they can begin working on their websites too!
Looking for extra support? Schedule a consult with the consulting team to see who can help you and how.
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