This short guide will teach you the necessary steps to improve your mental health therapy website for Search Engine Optimization.

source: http://metroriderla.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/on-site-seo-factors.jpg

We’re going to keep this article short and actionable by producing a simple checklist of content and pages you need to have on your website to naturally increase your exposure to people looking for your services.  By doing search engine optimization on your mental health website, and by building links from other relevant websites, you’ll earn a passive stream of new clients finding you online.

Essentials:

• NAP: Name, Address, Place
• Specializations
• Resume & Bio
• Mental Health Approach
• Pricing Options
• Three AMAZING Articles
• Connect/Contact Page

NAP: Name, Address, and Place

Every page of your website needs to include your full name, license number and associated credentials, your address, and links to your Google Places business page (and might as well get your Bing Places account in there too).

You can put this information in the footer of your website or (suggested) on the sidebar of a two column website page layout.  (For more information about how to create a website, shoot us an email and we can try to help).

This makes sure that major search engines are localizing your results to searchers in your area.  If you specialize in trauma therapy (and you’ve got relevant content and are authoritative about the topic), Google and Bing will show your results “Trauma Therapist” higher to people it thinks are close to that area.

This is a huge advantage and an SEO tactic: make sure to have your office pinned on a map in google and link to it within your footer.

Don’t overdo it!  Just once a page will suffice.  But make sure to include your name, address, and business “places” accounts (along with associated maps links) on every page.

Specializations, Resume & Bio, Approach, Pricing, Connect

Specializations: Speak to each specialty you have for one paragraph.  Make it concise and high impact.  Talk about your experience and education when applicable.

Resume & Bio: Write your behavioral health resume in plain text.  Do not use a PDF or word file and link to it.  Always reform and rewrite your resume for your website!

Approach:  Discuss common problems and your approach at solving them.  Ideally these are typical problems related to your specializations.

Pricing:  Discuss the insurance you take, out of pocket costs, if you have a sliding scale, and post any links to certified documents about the aforementioned materials when possible.

Connect:  Have an easy to use, HTML contact email form.  Make sure you ask for a phone number.  This will save you time and energy.

Three AMAZING Articles

Publish three very useful, theoretical and actionable articles about your expertise.  Give some knowledge away to encourage folks to trust you and begin therapy with you.

Don’t outsource this!  Give them the attention they deserve.  Your new patients finding you online want to know more about you, themselves, and a possible connection.  Fill their minds with information and encourage them to contact you about your services as well.

FAQ

Do I need a blog?

No, but writing content and creating links into your website regularly will really help (frankly it’s essential) your SEO results.

I don’t have a website!

You should focus your attention on remedying that problem!  Wordpress.com is a great place to start (and it’s really simple).

How much time should I spend on my website each week?

It simply depends on your goals.  For coaches, consultants, and bloggers using their website to promote their (often location-independent) services, we strongly recommend you regularly release great content and tell people about it.  If you have a great thing going with your offline network, double down on that space.

I don’t want to do any of this crap, can you just do it for me?

Maybe.  Shoot us an email!