If your website isn’t bringing in new client inquiries regularly, it’s not (just) an Instagram problem.
It’s likely your SEO is working against you — and not in the “you need to be a full-time blogger” kind of way.
Most private practice websites aren’t suffering because they don’t have enough content.
They’re suffering because they’re making a few preventable mistakes that Google is quietly punishing.
The good news? You can fix them! And you don’t need to be a tech wizard or hire an SEO agency charging $2,000/month to do it.
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! I’m Courtney Vickery, a web designer and strategist who helps weight-inclusive dietitians, therapists, and health pros get found online without selling out their values.
At Declet Designs, SEO isn’t an afterthought — it’s part of how we build every single page. Let’s dig into the biggest SEO mistakes I see every week on private practice websites (and exactly how to fix them).
Search engines rely on clear structure to understand what your site is about. If your navigation is confusing, your page hierarchy is inconsistent, or your internal linking is nonexistent, Google has no idea what’s important on your site — and neither do your visitors.
Messy structure = poor crawlability + bad user experience = low rankings.
Stick to 5–7 top-level items max. Prioritize key pages:
Keep dropdowns organized and grouped by topic or audience — not your internal process.
Every major page should answer these questions:
Google is obsessed with intent. If your “Nutrition Counseling” page is vague and overlaps with your “Intuitive Eating Support” page, that’s keyword cannibalization and confuses both search engines and humans.
Don’t just link “click here” in a random sentence. Use relevant anchor text:
“Learn more about how I support clients with intuitive eating.”
Link to related blog posts, your Contact page, and other relevant service pages. This helps with SEO and keeps users engaged longer.
Submit your sitemap.xml through Google Search Console. Bonus points for creating a visual site map page for humans — especially useful for accessibility and UX.
In 2025, Google is smarter than ever at understanding intent. It’s no longer about “stuffing in keywords,” it’s about solving problems clearly and fully for the user. If your content doesn’t match what someone’s actually searching for, or doesn’t answer their question well, you won’t rank.
No matter how pretty your site is.
You don’t need to be an SEO pro to do this. Use free or low-cost tools like:
Start by typing in what you think people search for. Then look at what Google suggests and what actually ranks. Think about both short-tail and long-tail keywords.
Example:
This is an easy SEO tactic that most websites ignore.
Every page should have:
And they should reflect both the page content and the keyword you want to rank for.
Example:
Title: Eating Disorder Dietitian in Athens, GA | Vickery Wellness
Meta Description: Weight-inclusive nutrition therapy for eating disorders in Athens, GA. Virtual & in-person support available. Schedule a free consult today.
If you’re using WordPress, plugins like Rank Math, Yoast, or my favorite, SEO Press Pro make this super easy to manage.
You don’t need to keyword stuff (actually, please don’t), just be clear.
Use your primary keyword:
Then use related terms to support it. For example, if your main keyword is “body image therapy,” you might also mention “self-esteem,” “eating disorder recovery,” or “therapist for body dysmorphia.”
Even if you offer virtual services, Google still wants to know where you are. Your website should include:
In 2025, Google still prioritizes websites that are fast, mobile-friendly, and accessible. If your site is slow to load or hard to use on mobile, that’s going to tank your rankings — especially for local search.
Plus, Core Web Vitals are still part of the algorithm. That includes:
Use tools like:
These tools will show you what’s slowing things down and give you tips to fix it.
This is one of the easiest wins.
If you’re using WordPress, (like I do here at Declet Designs), install WP Rocket and enable lazy loading. You can also use Cloudflare for free CDN + speed improvements.
Hosting matters — a lot. If you’re using Bluehost or GoDaddy, switch, please. I’m begging you.
I use and recommend Rocket.net for all our support plan clients — it’s blazing fast, secure, and comes with enterprise-level caching and CDN built in.
More than 60% of all Google searches happen on mobile.
Use Chrome’s dev tools or a real phone to test:
If not, fix it. Now. Seriously.
Every image needs alt text. This helps both SEO and screen readers.
Example:
“Courtney Vickery, weight-inclusive web designer in Georgia, smiling at her desk.”
Also make sure:
Google rewards accessible sites.
Install an SSL certificate. If you’re using decent hosting, it’s probably free through Let’s Encrypt.
Not only does it protect your site and your visitors — it’s also a ranking factor.
If you’re running a private practice, you don’t need to know everything about SEO — but you do need to avoid the basics that tank your visibility.
Here’s a recap:
✅ Get your structure in order
✅ Match content to search intent
✅ Fix technical issues dragging your site down
Do that, and you’ll start seeing better rankings — and more importantly, more right-fit clients finding you.
Want help cleaning up your site’s SEO without wading through jargon or feeling like you need to become a tech person?
That’s literally what I do at Declet Designs.
Start out with our Advanced SEO Reviews and check out our SEO Tune-Up service. You can also submit and inquiry and we’ll make a plan that doesn’t involve a million blog posts or black-hat nonsense.
Courtney has 15+ years of experience putting together and designing marketing materials, WordPress websites, customer experiences, and workflows that help you save time and money. She developed these skills during her years as a Director of Corporate Health Services, Group Fitness Program Manager, Lead Wellness Dietitian, fitness and yoga instructor, and her own nutrition private practice, Vickery Wellness.
She also taught undergraduate courses at the University of Georgia where she graduated with the following degrees:
Declet Designs offers website design, strategy, and SEO for weight-inclusive private practices & small businesses. Located in Athens, GA, and serves businesses nationally and internationally.
Declet Designs is a welcoming and inclusive space for all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, neurodivergence, or national origin.
Declet Designs is located on the lands of the Muscogee and Tsalaguwetiyi people and wishes to acknowledge them as the Traditional Custodians of this land. We also pay our respects to their Elders, past, present & emerging.
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