SEO For Speech Therapy Websites
SEO Is Sooooooo Much More Than 3 Letters.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. SEO is a multi-layered, complex, and ever-changing topic. The big picture of SEO is how you get people to find your site on a search engine (like Google) and engage with it.
So how do you do that? Google ranks sites in its search engine based on an algorithm that considers many factors.
Here Are 4 Important Factors That You Can Take Action On Today:
1. User Experience - The #1 Most Important Factor:
User experience is just that - the overall experience of someone on your website.
Currently, user experience (UX) has one of the greatest impacts on a website's SEO rankings. This means if your website looks DIY, isn’t well designed, and is confusing to navigate, the rest really doesn’t matter.
Did you know that people take less than a second to decide whether they are going to stay on your website???
What makes them decide to stay instead of bouncing off? Good design!
You need to answer YES to all of these questions to have a user experience that will keep people on your website AND help you rank higher in Google searches:
Is my website clean and well-organized?
Does my website immediately and clearly tell people what we offer, where we are located, and how to contact us?
Do I use 2 fonts consistently?
Do I use 3-4 colors consistently?
Are there buttons leading people through the site in an intuitive and logical way?
Is my content user-friendly, helpful, and solution-focused?
Are my menu tabs logical?
Is my website easy to navigate?
Does my website look good on mobile?
Those are the things Google looks for when it comes to UX. If you have a poor UX, you will rank poorly in Google searches.
Need a refresh on your website design? Consider one of our website templates - designed with exceptional user experience, or reach out to learn more about our full-service website packages.
2. Keywords Boost Rankings Quickly:
Keywords are an easy strategy to implement, and you might already be using them in your content without even thinking about it.
But before we go any further, remember that if your user experience is poor, no amount of keywords is going to solve your SEO problems.
Here’s how keywords work: Every keyword and phrase has an associated search volume. Some terms like "speech therapy" have very high search volumes, meaning a lot of people search for that term on a regular basis. The higher the search volume for a term, the harder it can be to rank "organically" for that search term. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't use terms with higher search volumes, it just means you need to use those terms more frequently and it’s reasonable to expect competition around those terms.
How to use keywords:
We recommend selecting 3-4 keywords or phrases to focus on in your written content.
As you write your content, keywords should be used in natural contexts. Believe it or not, Google actually penalizes sites that "stuff" keywords into their content or try to hide them (and Google penalizes content written by AI!!!).
Use your primary keywords in key locations such as page titles, headings (H1, H2), meta descriptions, and the first 100 words of your content. This helps search engines and visitors quickly understand what your page is about.
Ensure your URLs include relevant keywords instead of generic terms or numbers (EX: "yourwebsite.com/speech-therapy" instead of "yourwebsite.com/page1").
Use keywords in your image alt text to improve accessibility and SEO.
Use keywords in combination with your location and business name.
Need more keyword help? Check out our freebie “Keyword Phrases Every SLP Needs on Their Website,” available in our freebie library.
3. Fresh Content - Keep it Simple with a Blog:
Google ranks websites higher when they regularly add new content. But constantly updating your website? Not realistic. That’s why blogging is so powerful. It keeps your site fresh, helps you rank for more keywords, and brings in more of the right people.
Here’s what blogging does for you:
Improves SEO – Every new post gives Google more content to index, making it easier for people to find you.
Builds trust – Sharing helpful content positions you as an expert and makes visitors more likely to book with you.
Gets more traffic – Blogs keep people on your site longer, which boosts your rankings and increases conversions.
Want to make blogging simple? Blogging With Purpose walks you through exactly what to write (including over 300 topics!), how to SEO optimize your posts, and how to use blogging to grow your business—without wasting time.
Get instant access here: www.cuedcreativecourses.com/blogging
One last thing: Don't let AI write your blogs. Google can detect AI-generated content, and it won’t help your rankings. More importantly, your readers want to hear from you—your voice, your expertise, your personality. That's what builds connections and brings in clients.
4. Image Alt Text - Any Easy SEO Boost:
Alt text tells search engines what an image is about. It also makes your website more accessible for people using screen readers.
Every image on your site needs alt text. This helps Google understand your content and improves your chances of ranking higher in search results. Alt text isn’t visible to most visitors, but it plays a big role in SEO.
Keep it simple and clear. Describe the image in a way that makes sense. Instead of “image123.jpg,” use “pediatric speech therapist working with child.”
Adding alt text takes seconds, but it makes a big impact. Don't skip it.
IMPORTANT! When You’ve Just Launched Your Site:
A brand-new website cannot immediately compete with websites that have been getting “SEO points” for years. If your site is optimized for SEO, with time, it will begin ranking higher in Google search results.
IMPORTANT!!! When a new site launches, it can take a few weeks to be searchable by just the name and then another 3-9 months for it to start climbing the Google ranks.
Make sure you have completed these steps:
Index your website with Google Search Console
Set up and optimize your Google Business Listing (grab our free GB guide here)
Get Google reviews on your Google business listing
But remember, even if you have indexed your site with Google, it will take time for Google to associate your business name or a search term typed into the search engine with your website. If your site is optimized, you’re blogging, getting reviews, and having a Google Business listing, then the next step is to be patient ☺️.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s What We Can Do For You!
At Cued Creative, we build SEO-optimized websites that will take all of the stress and overwhelm of trying to manage it all on your own. There are two ways to work with our website team - go the supported DIY route with one of our Squarespace templates and feel confident your website is SEO-optimized.
You can also hire our team to do it all for you! Our full-service website packages include ALL of the SEO optimization you need to start ranking quickly. Learn more here!
You can also book a Website Strategy call with Hannah Boeck or purchase a website video review audit to get expert advice and actionable tips.
