Backlinks are one of the most important part of a therapy website SEO campaign. They are a crucial part of Off-page SEO. In this backlinks for private practice therapy website guide, you will get to know what are backlinks, why to build backlinks, and how to build backlinks.
What are backlinks?
Backlinks are hyperlinks pointing to your website from other websites. There are billions of live website on the internet. Out of these billion websites when a website add your website link in their post/page, your website gains a backlink.
Backlinks help web crawlers to reach to your website and also helps building trust and authority with search engines. Backlinks are of two types: Nofollow and Dofollow. You can consider backlink as votes to your website.
Each backlink has different authority. Google uses a ranking signal called as PageRank to rank the websites in its search results. PageRank algorithm relies on links to evaluate the quality of a website. Other search engines have different metrics to determine the value of a backlink.
These backlinks are a strong ranking signal for search engines.
Why Backlinks are important?
Backlinks are an important part of Off-page SEO strategy of a therapist website. Google and other search engines rely heavily on links to understand trustworthiness and determine the authority of a website. The more number of high-quality backlinks pointing to your private counselling website, the more trusted your website is considered by search engines and as a consequence more number of keywords your website will be ranking for.
Google and other search engines doesn’t know how reliable your website is. For them each website is same. To understand how authoritative and reliable your psychotherapist website is search engines use backlinks as a ranking signal to assess the quality and reliability. To determine the reliability and trustworthiness of your website, search engines heavily relies on backlinks. Backlinks help search engines determine how trustworthy the website is. Higher trust means higher visibility. Out of many SEO strategies for ranking a psychologist website, building backlinks is one of the most vital.
Google search engine assign a value to each website which they call PageRank. This is the one of the ranking factors used by Google to rank a website for a keyword. The higher the PageRank of a donor website, the more valuable the backlink will be.
Backlinks also help the web crawlers to reach to your website and index your content. Backlinks help build relevance and also helps in adding context to the page topic.
Nofollow Vs. Dofollow backlinks
Nofollow and Dofollow are attributes that are added to a hyperlink. It is added in a link by using rel=”Dofollow” or rel=”Nofollow” attribute. Both of these link attributes have different properties. These attributes helps search engines to assess the quality of a backlink.
Both these type of links attribute play an important role while getting a backlink. It is an important aspect which we should learn about before moving further in this backlinks for therapist SEO guide.
Nofollow backlinks
No-follow backlinks are those links where the webmaster gives Nofollow attribute to a link. It is done to tell crawlers that the webmaster does not trust the content of the website and does not want to pass on the reputation from their website. You can consider them as neutral links which the webmaster doesn’t want to pass link juice to.
Dofollow backlinks
Dofollow backlinks are just the opposite of Nofollow backlinks. When a webmaster gives a dofollow backlink to your therapy website, it means that they are telling the crawlers that they trust the content of the website and pass some of their link reputation to your website. Dofollow links helps building the authority and reputation of your website. Dofollow links pass link juice from the donor website to the linked website.
One thing to note is that a link can only be either Nofollow or Dofollow. It can’t be both.
Types of backlinks for therapy website
Not all backlinks are equal. Some are more valuable than other. There are various types of backlinks that are build when working on the link building campaign of a therapy website. I will list them from basic foundation to advance level.
1. Directory links
Directory links are those links which are placed on various online business directories. These are also called citations. For a local therapy website SEO campaign, directory links play an important role. I call directory links as Pillow links. These links work as the cushion for your private practice website’s link profile. These directory links are also categorized into foundational links as they help building the foundation of a therapy website link building campaign.
There are several business directories where you can list your private practice. These directories not only help you get a backlink, but also helps in building your online reputation. Directory like PsychologyToday is a great place to start. This type of directory is legit, is already trusted by Google, and generates traffic.
One thing to keep in mind while submitting your counselling business to these directories is keep your therapy business name, address, and phone number same. Don’t change them anywhere. It is called NAP consistency (Name, Address, and Phone number).
You may be wondering why to keep NAP consistent? Because Google and other search engines are coded algorithms and not humans. They go from link to link to understand the content and its context. When they will see that your business is listed on directories with different NAP details, this will confuse them, and they will not be able to understand which is the right NAP for the business.
They will not be able to assess the right business information about your private practice clinic. This will hinder your chances of ranking in your local area. So to avoid this, keep NAP consistent everywhere.
2. UGC/Social media links
User Generated Content (UGC) or social media links are those links that are placed on user generated content platforms like forums, website comments, social media posts, etc.
When you post a comment on a website, add links to forum posts or post on social media, those links falls under User Generated Content links. These links can be Dofollow or Nofollow.
Many websites and blogs have their comment section open where you can comment, discuss, and ask a question. Most of these comment section has an option to mention website too. By adding a useful and helpful comment with which the author can engage can help you get a comment backlink from them.
Same applies to forums and discussion boards. By engaging and posting helpful answers you can leave a link on such posts where it feels necessary which will be counted as a backlink.
User Generated Content links are a great way to create awareness and visibility about your business. When you engage with relevant audience on relevant forums, this helps build your reputation. Social media links works as trust signals too.
3. Web 2.0 links
Web 2.0 links are those links that are placed on self-publishing platforms like Medium, Substack, Blogspot, Youtube, file sharing websites like Slideshare, etc. These platforms are micro-blogging platforms where you can publish blog posts, and other media files.
These free web publishing platforms provides a way to increase your brand authority and gaining backlinks naturally. On these platforms you can share how-to guides related to various therapy types, your experiences as a therapist, various symptoms, remedies, general FAQ type posts on these platforms.
While sharing these helpful resources, you can add a link back to your relevant post on your website wherever necessary.
What this will do is the users who will read your post on these platforms can read the original post on your website and can even link to it helping you gain backlinks naturally.
Publishing on Web 2.0 websites will also help you in building your brand authority and trust.
4. Local chamber of commerce links
Local chamber of commerce backlinks are those backlinks which you get when you register on your area’s local chamber of commerce website. Every city has a local chamber of commerce. Can be many too. These local chamber of commerce helps businesses to network.
Each of these local chamber of commerce have their own dedicated websites where each of the member is listed. They have their own directory listing area where the businesses who are registered with them are listed.
In their listing directory, local chamber of commerce provides link to your business website which make them signing up with them more useful. Local chamber of commerce websites attract high quality links from newspapers, magazines, other businesses which make these websites authoritative.
A backlink from such a powerful website is a great addition in local SEO backlink efforts sending positive local ranking signals.
These local chamber of commerce backlinks are very powerful, high in authority, and trusted by Google. Local chamber of commerce backlinks are on of the most important type of backlinks to make while doing local SEO for therapists.
To get these backlinks, just search for local chamber of commerce in your area and register with them. Most of the local chamber of commerce have monthly/yearly membership charges. Take any of the package which you find comfortable and proceed. These backlinks will not only improve your domain authority but also send huge trust signals to Google search engine algorithm.
5. Podcast links
Podcast links are those links which you get when you publish podcast on various podcast sharing platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc. You may have seen many therapists and counsellors appearing on many audio and video podcasts. When you appear on such podcasts or start your own show, it has many SEO benefits for your psychotherapy practice.
When you will appear on a podcast, you will get brand mentions. Your entity SEO will increase. Secondly, these podcast platforms share your website URL with the audience.
These podcast links are mostly Dofollow and very authoritative giving a good boost to your therapy website link building efforts.
6. Press Release links
Press release links are those links that are placed on the press release syndication platforms. There are various press release platforms that syndicate your news to many press release platforms. These links are mostly Nofollow but helps building your business entity. In a press release, your news is normally syndicated to more than 100+ news platforms giving a nice boost to your link profile.
Imagine, your business name being published on 100+ news platform instantly. Your brand authority will see a huge rise.
7. Niche edits
Niche edits are those links where a webmaster place your website’s link in an existing post or page. Niche edits mean getting links from those blog posts which are relevant to your website. For example, a mental health blog talking about your practice as a recommended step.
These backlinks are highly relevant to your website. Niche edit links are mostly Dofollow links. These backlinks are either paid for or gained naturally by writing good informative content.
8. Guest Post links
Guest post links are those backlinks which you get when you publish a guest post on someone else website. These backlinks are gained by approaching relevant websites with high authority, good link profile, and traffic. You approach them for a guest post on a subject which is relevant to their website and in return get a website mention and backlink to your website.
Nowadays, most of the guest post links are paid links. Webmasters ask for money in return of a guest post on their website unless you have a really great content which can benefit them.
9. Sponsorship links
Sponsorship backlinks are those backlinks which you get when you sponsor an event/festival/cause, etc. As a sponsor your business website link is mentioned on the event’s website.
There are various events which happen related to your practice or cultural/festival/cause/sports events that happen locally in your area. What you can do is approach the organizers of these events and offer sponsorship. These events have websites which naturally receives newspapers, local websites, influencers, etc.
When you sponsor these events, the event organizers mentions your business on their website’s sponsor page with a link back to your website’s homepage. These websites being high in authority are highly trusted by Google and other search engines. When they mention your website link on their website, Google and other search engines, considers your website as trusted.
Getting a backlink from them will not only boost your PageRank but also enhance your local SEO trust signals.
10. Testimonial links
Testimonial backlinks are those backlinks which you get when you provide your review as a testimonial to a product/service website you used. Those website add your review on their website along with your website’s link.
There are various tools and services that you might be using. You can use these services to gain a backlink too. To gain trust with future customers every business needs reviews and testimonials of their satisfied customers. They display these high-rating reviews and testimonials on their websites. Usually on the Homepage.
You as a customer can approach the services which you are using, and negotiate a testimonial in return of a homepage backlink to your therapy website. Most of the businesses will happily give it. These backlinks will be suitable for increasing brand mentions.
11. .edu backlinks
.edu backlinks are those backlinks which you get when your website is mentioned on an educational organization website. College and university websites mostly ends with a .edu tld. Because these websites are of educational institutions, these websites attract links from high authority websites like top newspapers, government websites, NGOs, etc. making their link profile very strong. Having a link back from them will be highly beneficial for you.
Google and other search engines trust backlinks from a .edu website. These .edu backlinks send huge local trust signals to your therapy website. You as a owner of private practice therapy can approach them for an event, scholarship program for students, promotional program, or as an alumni.
By offering some valuable offer to them you get the chance to get mentioned on their website.
12. Editorial links
Editorial links are those links that a website earns naturally after being placed on media publication websites. These are the links which you don’t pay for nor gain through guest posts. These links are natural and organic which are gained by writing reading worthy content, studies, statistics, or by creating useful tools and calculators.
To gain such editorial backlinks for your therapy website you should create good informational content or create free tools which these big websites can link to.
13. Partnership links
Partnership backlinks are those backlinks which are earned when you partner with a relevant business to your practice. These partnership backlinks help in local SEO.
As a private practice business owner you occasionally have to associate with other relevant businesses like doctors, psychiatrists, wellness centers, yoga studios, nutritionists, massage therapists, or even community organizations that share the same audience but are not in direct competition with you.
Associating with these businesses you help them with referral clients and vice-versa. When such partnerships are build, the associated partner mentions you on their website with a link back to your website. You too have to repeat the same process.
This you can also call as link-exchange where relevant links are exchanged between to non-competing businesses.
14. Expert Commentary/Media source links
Media source or Expert commentary links are those backlinks that are gained by becoming a source for journalists. Big media publications publish 100s of posts everyday. They have dedicated writers and journalists who write about different subject. They need expert opinions while writing about these blog posts. When they write these blog posts and informative articles, they often cite views of experts in these posts.
To get these expert commentary from expert sources these journalists and writers use platforms where experts are available to answer their questions. They ask questions on platforms like HARO, Sources of Sources, Qwoted, etc. to get the information.
They signup as a journalist there and post their query on these platforms. You signup as an expert there and answer those relevant queries. When those journalists select your query and add them to their post, they give the source a backlink. In this case, the source is you. So, you get a high quality backlink from them.
These are the backlinks that you will earn without paying to these big publication houses.
15. Digital PR
Digital PR backlinks are those backlinks which are gained after sharing a report, study or story with relevant journalist. Digital PR is an advanced link building activity where a relevant newsworthy story is prepared and then pitched to journalists.
Journalists are always looking for newsworthy reports, case studies, statistics, etc. which they can publish on their media portals. One way for them to find these statistics and reports is by just googling them and the second way is when someone sends them the report.
In digital PR second type of work is done. A topic is selected. Data is collected for that topic and then sent to relevant journalists who writes and report on that subject.
When those journalists find your study interesting and newsworthy that can be published on their media platforms they publish it on their platforms. But this not ends here. Other media outlets who writes about that subject also pick the news and cover on their platforms. Sometimes generating 10+ high authority organic backlinks naturally without outreaching.
In this way, you generate high quality backlinks which no one else can have.
Final Words
Backlinks are an important part of Off-page SEO strategy for therapy website marketing campaign. Creating good quality backlinks not only helps with indexing but also builds your online reputation.
Good backlinks from good quality websites helps built trustworthiness with the search engines. These search engines start looking you as a reliable source of information. Your domain value increases and you start ranking for your targeted keywords in search results.
Each type of backlink has its importance. Some backlinks will be more important for Local SEO whereas others will be important for building brand authority.
Through this comprehensive backlinks for therapist SEO guide I have tried to explain everything about backlinks in detail. With these backlink building strategies I am sure you will see huge improvements in your rankings.