Website Design For Therapists
As a therapist, do you even need a website? Here's the thing. Most therapist websites are not all that great. A friend or family member maybe designed them, and they don't offer much beyond a couple of generic pictures and contact information. You can look at this situation one of two ways.
- Nobody else has anything amazing, so why should I? or
- This is a huge opportunity to stand out from the competition!
I can promise you that number two is the way to go! Every bit of marketing helps, and taking the chance to create something better will help you stand out from the crowd, bring in more clients, and, more importantly, bring in the types of clients you want to see!
So, let's look at some of the key points for making a great therapist website.
Potential Clients Are Judging You!
Literally, within the first .05 seconds they are making judgements about how trustworthy you are, will you be a good fit for them and should you work together. You need to bring your website design together in a cohesive way that speaks to your ideal client and draws them into your practice.
Start With Your Ideal Client
Phase one of the design process is to start with your ideal client. You must define this person and create a client avatar that meets their needs. The ideal client is different for every therapist. Still, a client who is a middle-aged man with a family worrying about how to pay for college is going to speak differently and have completely different worries from a teenage girl entering high school. No matter your ideal client, you want to speak to their concerns in your copy, so you first need to define who that client is and get as detailed as possible! Starting with your ideal client will set a huge foundation for putting your practice head and shoulders above every other practice.
Move On To the Layout
Once you have defined your ideal client, you will want to move on to some of the more design-focused elements of the page. Start with a clean and clear layout. Just like you want your office to be a calming space, you will want your website to reflect that same aesthetic. Start with a clear layout, easy navigation, and buttons that clarify what actions take are an important part of the page's layout. The main ideas to remember here are:
- Easy Navigation
- Nice areas, including hero sections and bios that continue to draw potential clients in
- Just as you would in your practice, continue to always focus on the client and their needs
A Word About Colors
Many of the sites we build focus on bold colors that stand out. However, we focus on more calming blues and neutrals for our therapist and medical practitioner builds. Why? For the same reason, we mentioned that having a clear layout is so important. You want a calming aesthetic for your clients as they navigate the page. Give them a sense that they could be at home. And this is the best way to do it. Give nice earthy colors to give that sense of calm.
One thing to remember, is that a small splash of color can add to the design and draw attention to an area you want to focus on. For example, a nice muted yellow call to action button can gently nudge potential clients to book a free consultation or appointment, which can help you determine if this individual is the right fit for your practice. Ultimately, that is the goal - to get more clients in the door.
Other Items to Consider Including on Your Site
What are some other sections and things you might want to have on your site? Well, funny you should ask:
Blog
Blogging can be a great way to attract clients and will help with search engine optimization. You can tailor posts to your ideal clients and target relevant search terms for which they are looking.
Blogging is also a good way to show that you are up to date on the latest techniques and trends by producing relevant content.
One piece of advice on the blogging front is to just stick with it on a consistent basis. If you have a blog that has not been updated, you look as though you have forgotten about your business altogether.
Professional Certifications
Include these on your site as they help build trust and show clients that you are taking your business seriously.
A Note on Search Engine Optimization
Speaking of Search Engine Optimization, one piece of advice we give therapist clients is that they should focus on local keywords. These keywords will follow the pattern of [practice area] - Therapist - [city, state]. Following this pattern helps your website rank better when local searches such as "Therapist Near Me' or "Therapist in [city, state]" are performed.
Conclusion
A website is a fantastic way to standout from the crowd in therapy related fields and businesses. If you have a nice professional site, you are going to build trust with clients and get them to book with you at higher and higher rates. Good luck with your business, and if you want some help putting together an amazing site, contact us!