Using Inclusive SEO Keywords

You are a diversity focused psychiatrist or therapist and want to rank for SEO keywords. Your practice is going, but could use a boost. You’ve done some keyword research yourself, or hired someone to do it for you and well, the keywords they recommend are. . . not the terminology you would use.

“Mason, why do we use keywords that are out of date? I want to use the most up to date language to ensure I am in alignment with my ideal client. To be frank, I don’t want to offend people who might benefit from my services!”

I understand and empathize entirely. Writing copy for SEO with language that feels out of alignment is difficult. You don’t want to attract clients who aren’t ideal, but also know that you’d love to reach people who simply don’t know any better. Luckily, there is a way to navigate this to maintain your authenticity and rank for SEO without turning away clients who understand the latest terminology.

Why do we use SEO keywords that are out of date?

I know it can be confusing to try to rank for keywords that don’t seem to be in alignment with current language usage. However, many times the keywords that are up to date are much harder to rank for and/or don’t have the search volume that makes it worth optimizing for that keyword. For example, the SEO keyword “Asperger syndrome” has nearly 5 times the amount of searches as “neurodiverse” and is just as easy to rank for.

We want to get your website in front of as many of the right eyes as possible. Imagine you are a stressed out and worried parent of a kiddo who is dealing with being neurodiverse. Are you more likely to search for terms that are more commonly used, but not as inclusive as the latest language? Probably.

This doesn’t mean you use offensive language or use words inappropriately. Instead, use words which are slightly dated, but not blatantly offensive. For example, trying to rank for “neurodiverse support group in Georgia” leads to so few search results that the data simply isn’t there. However, searching for “Asperger’s support group in Georgia” leads to over 200 searches a month, and is actually easier to rank for than “neurodiverse support group in Georgia.”

Informing your clients you ARE inclusive, even if your SEO Keywords aren’t

Now that you understand why we sometimes want to rank for language which is dated, let’s talk about how to do that without turning away your ideal clients who might be hurt or offended by language usage. There are many ways you can use dated language while also using language which is up to date. See the three tips below to get started!

Use External Links to Explain the Out of Date Language

The easiest way to show that you are inclusive while using dated SEO keywords is to include a link to an explanation of why that word is offensive. Including a disclaimer at the top of the blog post also helps with this. It let’s your ideal clients know you are being intentional in using dated language. Let them know you would ALWAYS respect the language they use to identify with. The APA style guide has a great inclusive language dictionary which can give you good definitions to use, and is a great resource to link for to help educate both clients who are up to date on language and those who are not.

Include a disclaimer

In addition to, or in place of a link to a definition, a disclaimer at the bottom of the blog post is a great option. The only negative to this is that someone might not scroll that far, therefore I would encourage you to use both a definition link and a disclaimer at the top of the page to ensure everyone finishes the blog post (and of course clicks that call to action link and schedules their first appointment)!

Including the disclaimer on your home page or about page is a great practice to keep your site from getting too cluttered.

Writing a diversity statement

Something I would encourage all of you to do is to write a diversity statement. Writing a diversity statement and including it on your about or home page goes a long way. This can be a simple paragraph which encompasses where your therapy practice stands on inclusion. It can also explain that some people simply don’t know the best language yet.

Sample diversity statement:

“At _______ we strive to be as inclusive as possible. However, we acknowledge that language is ever changing and fluid. We are all on different stages in our journey to inclusion, which means at times we might use language which isn’t as up to date. This is intentional so that those who are just beginning their journey can come along for the ride and get the support they need. Using the language our clients use is a commitment we have made as a practice. We welcome caring critique of the language we are using and desire to learn how to know better, so we can do better.”

Begin Copywriting with Inclusive SEO Keywords at Simplified SEO Consulting

Writing can be difficult, and finding time as a busy practice owner isn’t easy. As a mental health SEO Copywriter, I recommend hiring out your SEO and writing. We see tremendous results for clients across the country. I love taking the stress out of getting words onto the computer screen. Follow these three simple steps to begin copywriting with Simplified SEO Consulting today!

1. Book a Consult Call with our Client Success Specialist or Consult Team
2. Find out about our awesome team of SEO Specialists.
3. Take a deep breath, knowing your SEO is handled

Other Services Offered by Simplified SEO Consulting

We offer many services in addition to copywriting at Simplified SEO Consulting. We offer Done for You SEO Service packages and SEO training courses. Our “Top of Google” course is incredibly popular with those who are just exploring the world of search engine optimization for therapists. To get started, schedule a call with our Client Success Specialist today!

About the Author

Mason Aid (They/He) is a Mental Health SEO Copywriter at Simplified SEO Consulting. They love solving the puzzle of fitting the right keywords into your copy so you attract your dream clients. They have their Bachelors Degree in Sociology and a continued interest in advocating for marginalized people and mental health.