Keyword Research For Therapists

You want to get the most out of every webpage when you’re building a therapy website. You know that you need to write compelling content that clients can find, and that means implementing effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

So, after conducting some careful research, you learned that incorporating the right keywords is the secret to helping clients find your counseling website.

But, what are keywords? And, how can you choose the best ones for your therapy website?

Keywords are the terms or phrases you use to describe each specialty page. They help Google understand what your page is about so it can determine when and where to show your content.

But, if you have already identified the specialties you want to offer at your practice – anxiety, depression and couples, for example – you may wonder why you need to bother with keyword research for therapists.

“Google’s smart,” you say to yourself, perhaps a bit too loudly, drawing a concerned glance from your dog. Shouldn’t a page about depression attract depression clients? What’s the difference between using “depression treatment” and “depression therapy” in your content?
keyword research at cousnelingwise
Keyword research for therapists helps you present your content and approach in a way that helps the right clients find your website.

Imagine you are writing a new depression page for your website. You know that a majority of your potential clients are going to find you through the internet, but very few will scroll past the first page of search results.

If you choose “depression” as your keyword, you will not only be competing with other therapists but WebMD, PsychologyToday, local and national news stories and Wikipedia. If you choose “depression treatment” or “depression therapy”, however, you have dramatically reduced your competition while still focusing on terms your potential clients will search.
A focused keyword is a main component in optimizing your specialty pages; it allows your webpage the opportunity to rank in search engines.

Each page on your therapy website should be aimed at a targeted search. And, by incorporating a carefully selected keyword, you are telling Google that your page is the one that clients want to see, helping your website show up higher in search results

How Are Your Potential Clients Searching For Therapists?

You can write an informative depression page that captures the emotions your client is experiencing, but your growth will be limited if you don’t use the right keywords so people can find your website.

So, when you’re choosing keywords for your therapy website, you want to think like Carl Rogers: focus on your clients’ needs. How are people with no counseling experience searching for help when they feel frustrated, frightened or desperate?

But, you also want to focus on Google’s needs. What steps can you take within your content so Google sees exactly what you offer and shows your counseling site to the appropriate clients?
It is important to remember that your level of expertise and understanding is far greater than your clients’.

There is a very real difference between how therapists talk about what they do and how someone who’s never been to therapy talks about it. While you may focus on a particular modality, such as EMDR or CBT, there may be better keyword options to consider.

Many clients have never heard of these approaches and might feel intimidated by technical terms when discussing their mental wellbeing. For these reasons, potential clients aren’t likely to type “emdr therapy” or “cognitive behavioral therapy” into a Google search.
There are many factors you should consider when selecting keywords, and an expert who specializes in keyword research for therapists can ensure you take each one into account.

For example, people may use different search terms in different regions, and you may benefit by using “marriage counseling” over “couples counseling”, even if you also work with unmarried couples.

The ability to recognize how Google and your clients think about your website can help you identify the best keyword options for each page on your counseling site.

At CounselingWise, we find you actionable keywords that people are searching for, so you give your page the best opportunity to reach clients and convince them to call you. Instead of building pages that give general definitions, you are attracting clients who are ready to hire you.
If you’re ready to jumpstart your website with proper keyword research, learn how we can help you through our offerings.
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