Simple Steps to Optimise your Private Practice Website
So, you have gone to the trouble to build your own practice website. Perhaps a friend did that for you or you contracted a designer to get this all-important marketing tool looking just right. You have spent hours finding the perfect pictures, motivational quotes, getting all the colours you like and finding the perfect font.
With great excitement and anticipation you launch your site, your friends and family are suitably impressed. Now it's just a case of sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring, right? WRONG!
Like many others who have travelled the same journey, you may find little or no responses coming in from the people who actually matter, paying clients! So you hit the Google search bar and key in the phrases and terms you spent so much time researching and you may find that your site effectively does not exist or is so far down the pages.
Here is what you need to do:
1. Check your index status
The first and most important thing to do is to actually check that Google knows you exist. It is not a case of building your site and the search engines will naturally find you. You actually have to tell them your site exists!
To check if your site is indexed on Google and if so, how it may appear, use this entry in your Google search bar...
site:yourwebsitename.co.uk
If you are on the index, a list of your pages will appear. If not it is imperative that you take care of that right away. It's quite a simple process and this link will help you do that...
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/submit-url
2. Update your professional membership directories
Once that is done the next most important thing to do is to update any professional membership directories you may be listed on. Many of the professional bodies have members directories which feature very prominently in search results. Potential clients often research therapists via an accredited body and, if your website shows on your directory entry, they can follow a link to your website.
Not only does this create a valuable "inbound" link which search engines love, it also reinforces your personal brand in the mind of the client, giving you a greater chance of turning that lead into a paying client.
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a dynamic and ever-changing field. Unfortunately there are many sharks in these murky waters and I would urge you not to take up offers of link building or believe promises of amazing results on search engines.
At the end of the day, as long as your site is written with your client in mind, is created on non-flash systems and contains relevant and good content, your site will naturally rise up through the pages. Be patient and focus on building a solid and sustainable practice and the results will come.
As always, please feel free to contact us on 07714 398 776 or email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to discuss websites and SEO for counsellors or therapists.
