How to Create an Informative Website for Your Therapy Practice

There are many elements which should be included in an effective website. Design, hosting, content, accessibility, layout, search engine optimization and many other things are all important things to consider.

What do your visitors get from your website? Do you offer things they can use? Find items, details and articles that are useful for your target market. To do this, you need to determine what type of people make up your target market and then include information that will be useful to them.

Add Educational Information to Your Website

Something that is especially beneficial for complementary practitioners is to include educational information on your website. Offering informative articles and links is a great way to encourage people to visit your site on a regular basis to look for new information. Even if they don’t decide to work with you right away, make sure they leave with some helpful health tips or information about the benefits and services you offer. These things bring them back and can convince them to work with you instead of another practitioner.

The content on your website is most effective if it educates visitors about the services you offer. You can include articles about the therapy techniques you use. Other valuable topics are articles that explain the conditions you can help with your therapy. The aim is to help them understand the conditions and symptoms – and, of course, how you can help them feel better and improve their quality of life.

Utilize Easy Site Navigation

Have you heard the term “user friendly”? There are many ways to make your website user friendly. One important way is to make it easy to navigate. When a new visitor comes to your site, can they find the pages and information they want - easily? It is critical to make it easy for website visitors to find the information they want. When people struggle to find information online, there are a multitude of other places they can look with only the click of their mouse.

Is your website easy to navigate? There are many sites that are a nightmare to use. One key in sales and service professions is to make it easy for people to buy and to find what they want. Make it simple and keep it uncomplicated.

Consistency on your web pages makes it easier for people to find what they want. Here are a couple of examples of content on a consistent website:

Use the same type of header at the top of the page.

Use the same footer information at the bottom of each page.

Keep the link layout the same on each page – left, right or top.

It’s good to have your contact information at the bottom of each page.

These are just a few examples, but it’s amazing how big a difference these things can make to your website visitors. Have you ever been to a site that has links on one page and then the next is a cyber dead end? This means that you click on a link and it takes you to a page with no links and you have to click “back” to return to a part of the website that can be navigated. This is not a user friendly layout.

Use a Site Map To Promote Your Website

When your site gets large, it is impossible to create links to every page that are easy to find. In this case a site map can be invaluable. How many times have you needed to find a web page and you couldn’t find a link? A site map is organized and makes it much easier to find specific and sometimes obscure pages. Another benefit to a site map is that search engines like them. A good site map is a great way to attract search engines.

Enhance the Appearance of Your Practice Website

When your promotional website is online, consider how it looks to visitors. It is best to have a welcoming website which is appropriate for the content and subject of your therapy. The colours you use, the fonts and the design make a difference to your visitors.

What are you trying to accomplish with your website? One common goal for a therapist website is to promote your practice and to attract potential clients. If this is your goal, then make sure that it fulfils the goal!

In sum, take a fresh look at your website. What do your visitors see?

Does it have an appealing appearance?

Did you use “friendly” or “harsh” colours?

Do your pages load quickly or do they move slow with dial up service?

Can visitors navigate through your site easily or is it confusing?

Is your contact information available?

Does your site “teach” your visitors anything?

Kim Richardson - the therapists' coach - helps you make a success of your therapy business. To download your FREE 7 Part mini course please see his small business coaching website.

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