5 Reasons You Should Blog As A Therapist

Working in the mental health field is demanding, and it’s essential that clients remain your top priority.. So it might feel counter-intuitive to invest precious resources on developing the content of your website. You provided  high-quality information on your homepage about your services and policies; what else was there to do?

If you want  your website to become a useful tool for both you and your clients though, simply having your practice information isn’t enough; you need optimized content and active engagement. You can most easily get these things by adding a blog, This addition to your web presence will be one of your most  powerful tools. A blog is a marketing tool and a client resource rolled into one, and if you’re not using one you’re missing out on a major opportunity.

Five Reasons To Have A Blog As A Therapist

1. You Can Share Information With Prospective Clients

You want potential clients to know what you do and where you specialize. But you shouldn’t try to cover every detail about your therapeutic approach and general mental health advice right on your homepage; it will quickly become cluttered.  A blog, on the other hand, is the perfect place for this. You can provide helpful information about your specialties in an easily accessible format that won’t overwhelm your clients. It also gives you a platform to share information that may not directly relate to your specific practice, but which  will still benefit people and  draw more of them to click on your website.

2. Active Blogs Attract Google’s Attention

Search engines prioritize websites that use well-chosen keywords, employ headings to make content easier to read, and update frequently. There are whole books on the ‘why’ of all this. But the important thing to know is that if you write about what you’re interested in, make use of basic images and headings, and update on a regular basis, you are going to get a lot of positive attention from Google. And when that happens, the algorithm will reward your efforts by putting your website higher in its rankings. This means that when someone searches for a therapist in your specialty or in your area, you have a much higher chance of showing up on page 1 of the search results.

It’s easier to accomplish this with a blog than just your basic webpage. You might be able to use keywords and headings there, but you can’t get that activity boost from static content.. A regularly-updated blog gives you the chance to consistently provide new information and improve your search engine optimization (SEO) at the same time.

3. You Can Explore New Topics

If you primarily work with clients with anxiety disorders, but you’re really fascinated by sports psychology, having a blog lets you explore that interest without needing a whole new website. You’ll want to keep a lot of your posts focused around your ideal client population, but if you want to take a week and write about the pressures placed on professional athletes, you can. And if you still use keywords relating to anxiety and mental health, you’re still helping your search engine visibility while stretching your wings in some new territory.

4 It Encourages You To Stay Current

As a therapist you have to stay current on research for your practice and your license. But when things get busy it’s sometimes hard to do more than the bear minimum. Blogging helps motivate you to prioritize reading up on the current trends, because you’ll be thinking about what people might be googling.. If you can write about your specialty while also addressing some of the most current and pressing questions about mental health, a lot of people will be drawn to your site. It’s not exactly a continuing education credit, but it’s still a good incentive to keep your finger on the pulse of the mental health community.

5. You Can Outsource Blogging and Still Get The Benefits

So much of your therapy practice is on your shoulders. No one can develop your skills or do all your documentation for you. But blogging for your practice is one thing you can hire someone else to do without sacrificing quality. A professional writer can add content and help boost your Google rankings, leaving you free to stay focused on your clients. Many writers in the mental health niche are working or studying in the field in some capacity, and some are even licensed therapists themselves

By hiring a writer with strong research abilities, mental health experience, and SEO expertise, your web presence and engagement can grow exponentially while you stay focused on running your practice.

It might be scary to put your content in someone else’s hands, but remember, writers in this niche care about mental health. They are motivated to help you and your clients succeed and thrive. And they know they can help you do that by creating quality informative content for you.

For me, mental health writing is both a specialty and a passion. I want to help you build the online portion of your practice so it’s serving both you and your clients. If you’d like to learn more about creating a blog, or if you’d like to discuss working with me, you can Contact Me here. You can also Email me at anessa@kemnacontent.com.

Be Well!