As a psychotherapist, you may find yourself asking “Do I really need to be on therapy directory sites to get new patients?”
Over the years, there’s been a lot of debate on the value of online directory sites like Psychology Today and GoodTherapy.
On one hand, they seem like a great way to get more referrals and increase your therapy practice’s online presence. On the other hand, every therapist you know seems to be listed on those sites.
How can you ensure that your practice comes up above theirs on a therapy directory site?
Simple answer, you can’t. The most important reason to be on therapist directory sites has nothing to do with being found … it’s to get a high-quality link to your site for SEO.
Are Therapist Directory Sites Good for SEO?
One of the many ways search engines determine what page to show your website on is by looking at how many other sites link to you … and how “important” those linking sites are.
In theory, every directory site you sign up for is providing a high-quality backlink to your site. However, be sure to do your research.
Psychology Today, for example, is one of the most respected and well-known sites in the psychotherapy field. Search engines know this and would put great importance on a link from that site.
But, that’s not what they do.
When someone clicks on the “website button” on your Psychology Today profile, they are taken to a different website for a fraction of a second and then redirected to yours.
Many other therapist directory sites do this as well. Be sure to check this out before signing up.
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Which Therapist Directory Site(s) Should I Choose?
Depending on your budget, it might make sense to choose sites that will actually get you new clients – and not just increase your Google rankings and SEO.
A simple rule of thumb is this: if it’s free, you should add yourself. If you have to pay, do your research first. Here are a few things to think about:
- How many therapists are listed?
- Where is the site based out of?
- Is the site’s philosophy or about page in line with your own?
- Does that site come up in a Google search when you try to find a therapist in your area?
- Does the site have a free trial?
- Does the site provide “real” backlinks?
If you have any questions on how to best use therapist directory sites — or how to optimize your marketing efforts for search engine optimization (SEO) — just reach out below. I’m always here to help.
