Ever since the pandemic, online therapy has gone from niche to necessity, with everyone jumping on the virtual couch. But here’s the thing – you don’t have to be an online counselor to take advantage of digital marketing for therapists. Whether your sessions happen over a screen or in a comfy office chair, the right strategy can help you connect with clients and build that all-important trust.
Digital Marketing for Therapists – It’s a Must, but Why Exactly?
Counselors and therapists work with sensitive topics – you know that better than anyone. When people are looking for help, they often turn to the internet from the comfort of their own homes. And as your potential patients are searching online, you need to be there, too.
But with around 200,000 therapists in the US alone, standing out can be tough, especially for small businesses. That’s why nearly 60% of them invest in digital marketing, using different strategies, like content writing and social media, to promote their products or services.
Working with a professional content marketing agency can help you stay on top of the latest trends, connect with the right people, and ultimately grow your practice. Here are the various tools these experts can use in crafting a strategy around digital marketing for physical therapists, psychologists, and other professionals providing mental health services:
Every Good Marketing Strategy Starts With Defining Your Brand
To really stand out in this crowded field of therapists, the first step is nailing down the branding. But let’s be clear – your brand is way more than just a logo or a catchy tagline. It’s the overall way you present yourself and how clients see you in return. A strong brand can be the deciding factor that makes someone choose you over another therapist.
Your branding should highlight what makes your practice unique – that special touch that sets you apart from the rest. Whether you’ve got a unique approach or a deep expertise in specific mental health conditions, your niche is your superpower, helping you focus your marketing efforts where they’ll have the most impact. Here, consistency is key – from your website to the social media accounts, the brand should be instantly recognizable. When done right, even your competitors might be tempted to book an appointment!
The Meeting Point of All of Your Marketing Efforts Should Be Your Official Website
A professional website is something like a digital business card – having one is as important to your practice as having a license. Well, almost as important – but you get the idea. Around 90% of people will be deterred by a poor website experience, and even worse for the business, 44% of them will tell others about it. After all, the official website of your practice is the first impression potential patients will get, way before they even consider calling and booking an appointment.
The design should be easy to navigate, clean, and perfectly aligned with the branding. Remember, consistency is everything, and that goes for both the design and the actual content found on your website. With all of these elements working seamlessly together, your business will boast a website that people will love to scroll through and ultimately, lead them to getting in touch with you.
A Pretty Face Is Not Enough to Keep Your Potential Clientele Engaged
Creating a good website is not just about design – above all, it needs to be functional and packed with the right information. For example, around 70% of small businesses don’t have a call to action on the homepage, and that’s an element you simply can’t ignore.
A professional website development agency will make sure you have all the essentials – a page for the services you offer, client testimonials, blog posts, and contact, among other things. Also, they will implement responsive design, meaning the website will work properly across different screen sizes. Given that mobile searches account for over half of global traffic, and the fact that Google actually uses mobile-friendly design as a requirement for ranking, it’s really a no-brainer.
The Baseline of All Digital Marketing Services for Therapists? Implementing a Solid SEO Strategy
Now that we’ve finally reached the topic of ranking, it’s time to talk about what should be the crème de la crème of the whole ordeal – search engine optimization, or SEO for short. It’s the process of getting the website to climb the ranks in search engine result pages (SERPs), and with 75% of people never reaching that dreaded second page of Google, it’s pretty clear why SEO is important.
Trust is crucial in the therapy business, and it just so happens that it’s vital to ranking as well. Google’s updates such as E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) highlight just how important the quality of information is. Therefore, the right SEO strategy isn’t just about sprinkling keywords throughout the content. It should also include valuable, relevant content, as well as numerous technical stuff, such as website speed and effective link building.
SEO Marketing Services Include On-The-Go Adjustments as Well
With the right SEO marketing agency, you can nail down the strategy and make an effort to bring a steady flow of organic traffic which can potentially transform into real-world clients. But just like in therapy, monitoring progress is crucial in order to tweak the strategy to get even better results. If something’s working, keep going strong – if it’s not, it’s time to cut it loose and try a different approach!
Building Local Connections With SEO Can Bring Clients to Your Door
Somewhere around half of all searches are looking for a location-based service, including the city, neighborhood, or a simple “near me” into the inquiry. And really, if you’re searching for mental health services, chances are you’re not looking for a therapist on the other side of the country, no matter how good they might be.
Even if someone types just “therapist” or “psychotherapy” into Google, the results will include a list of options close to home. That’s why a professional SEO agency will also implement a solid local SEO strategy which, in cahoots with your Google Business Profile, creates connections with the most important crowd – the people who are nearby.
Providing High-Quality Content Works Wonders in Building Trust With the Potential Clientele
In our discussion about SEO practices, we’ve mentioned that notorious word – content. This is a must-have strategy for every therapy practice out there. In fact, it’s no longer an optional avenue but an outright norm – according to Forbes, 90% of marketers implement content into their approach.
With the right strategy, content marketing can do two things – establish thought leadership and provide valuable insights to both potential and current patients. To make it work, you’ll need to throw in a diverse mix of content – blog posts, videos, podcasts, and more – that speaks directly to the needs and challenges of your target audience.
As we’ve already talked about, building trust is key in this industry, and providing high-quality content is a powerful way to do it. Over time, your name might just become someone’s go-to source for mental health topics, and if that sentiment won’t get them to your office, nothing will.
Social Media Is an Effective Tool for Creating Genuine Connections With Your Audience
You don’t need to be a licensed therapist to know that social media has had a massive impact on our mental health – good, bad, and everything in between. Sure, the downsides get a lot of attention (and rightfully so), but let’s not forget that social media can also create connections and help people feel like they belong. Consider nurturing this kind of online presence as a part of your practice.
Platforms such as Facebook, X, and Instagram especially, can be something like your informal office spaces where you can engage with patients in a more laid-back way. For example, you could create stories on Instagram sharing mental health tips or giving a behind-the-scenes peek of your practice.
Consistency is key for getting traffic on social media, and going live right on schedule is the bread and butter should be the bread and butter of any digital advertising agency out there. They can both help you create the content and share it with the right frequency. The bottom line is to focus on providing real value, and soon enough, you’ll be getting value in return, in the form of engagement.
Focus Your Efforts on the Platforms Your Usual Clientele Scrolls Around
All in all, social media is a game-changer when it comes to connection, brand visibility, and bringing in new clients. But to really nail it down, you’ve got to hang out where your intended audience is already spending their time. For example, LinkedIn is the go-to for professional marketing, while Instagram and Facebook are perfect for creating that more casual, friendly setting your potential clients will surely appreciate.
Getting Reviews and Responding to Them Professionally Is Another Great Way to Build Credibility
Online reviews are the modern-day word-of-mouth that gives your practice serious street cred. Sometimes, a single review can be the tipping point for someone deciding whether to book with you, so don’t be shy – encourage your existing clients to share their experience, with the industry’s ethics and privacy policies in mind. Some popular spots for such reviews include:
- Google Business Profile,
- Yelp,
- Facebook.
And don’t forget, responding to these reviews is just as important, no matter if they’re singing praises or pointing out something they didn’t like. Give thanks for kind words, and when it comes to negative feedback, make sure to handle it with professionalism and care.
A well-handled critique can actually show just how much you’re committed to client satisfaction and having an open conversation. Just like with therapy, it’s all about working out the problems and turning the negative into a positive!
A Made Online Success Story – How We Helped a Local Therapy Practice Turn Some Serious Numbers
When a local therapy practice approached our team at Made Online, there was plenty of work to do. Despite their best efforts, the website wasn’t doing much for business, and their social media was more of a ghost town than a bustling community. It’s only natural – digital marketing is far from their line of work. After all, agencies such as ours exist for a reason.
We started by giving their website a complete overhaul. Besides some minor tweaks, we optimized the site for speed and mobile use. We’ve also worked out a local SEO strategy to really get the ball rolling.
Within six months, the website traffic increased by 75%, and their conversion rate – the percentage of visitors who became clients – rose by a whopping 30%. We’ve also managed to revitalize the clinic’s social media presence by a long mile, with the help of consistently sharing tips and starting conversations about mental health. Beyond the numbers, this approach created what matters most – a nurturing and welcoming feeling for their clients way before even reaching the physical office.
Focus on Your Patients While Made Only Handles the Digital Hustle
Between sessions, paperwork, and (hopefully) trying to squeeze in some downtime, DIYing the digital marketing strategy can be an impossible challenge. Sure, you might get around to creating a few Instagram posts here and there, but what about SEO, content writing, PPC advertising, and more?
But here’s the silver lining – just like your clients rely on you for your therapy skills and experience, you can rely on an online advertising agency to handle the digital side of things. Get in touch with Made Online and let’s talk about how we can help so you can focus on what you do best – helping people.