How to start an addiction treatment website that converts

Creating a new website can be daunting – so many things to think about, and it all seems complicated! However, if you’re looking to start an addiction treatment website, I’m here to show you how easy it can be. In this post, I’ll outline the steps you need to take to get your rehab center website up and running. So strap yourself in – it’s time to learn how to build a website with a great first impression

1. Select your domain name

One of the most important aspects of starting a website is having a concise branded URL; a unique domain name will help you stand out from the competition. This is why you see startups with crazy names like Airbnb and Uber.

For example, Nike didn’t go with “theshoecompany.com” because that is too broad and can be applied to every shoe company worldwide. Their URL is short, concise, branded (nike.com), easy to share, and highly memorable.

In healthcare SEO, you still see a lot of Exact Match Domains; EMD is where you purchase a domain name that matches the keywords you want to rank for (e.g., City + Keywords –> OrlandoDrugRehab.com), this black-hat technique used to work very well until Google devalued it in its algorithm. The 2012 EMD Google algorithm update removed that loophole.

Websites like Banyan and Bettyford prove you do not need an Exact Match Domain to rank in the top ten.

2. Find a reliable hosting provider

People do not have the patience to wait for your website to load, so fast hosting is vital. I recommend using a hosting provider like WPEngine; it has daily backups, a staging server, excellent support staff, and is hosted on Google’s servers.

If you have technical experience, a Virtual Private Server (VPS) is another great option for speed and affordability. Vultr and Digital Ocean are two great cloud computing providers.

I would avoid hosting providers like GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Hostgator. The rates are affordable, but shared hosting providers can experience performance issues that create a slow website. This performance lag can frustrate users and lower engagement rates.

3. Choose a blogging platform (CMS)

WordPress is the go-to platform for the majority of addiction treatment centers websites. It has millions of plugins, many affordable developers that can be hired, is extremely fast when developed correctly, and can easily manage lead generation campaigns using tools like Gravity Forms.

For those unfamiliar with the term CMS, it stands for Content Management System. It is the backbone of your website and is where you will need to upload all of your website content.

4. Find your Niche and decide what to write about

Although drug rehab is a niche within the healthcare world, focusing on a specific niche for your business is essential.

I’ve seen a lot of success with websites specializing in drug rehab for pregnant mothers or addiction treatment for business professionals. This technique highlights what you are best at and helps you stand out from the competition.

Like when you go on vacation, most countries offer excellent food, shopping, and experiences, but typically, one thing draws people to visit them.

5. Choose a theme and design your site.

Analyze your competition. Do you notice any aspects of their web design services or functionality that you find appealing? Start small by selecting your color palette—typically three branded colors you will use consistently across your site. Then, choose a user-friendly font and refine the overall look until you achieve a responsive design that aligns with the style and feel you want to project.

For the best results, consider working with a professional design team to create a high-quality, responsive website that adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes, including mobile devices and smartphones. Alternatively, explore themes on platforms like ThemeForest for a mobile-friendly solution that fits your needs.

6. Create Essential pages

You must start with the Programs page; this will highlight your services and concentrate on bringing in VOBs (verification of benefits) and clients. Use clear calls to action on this page, such as “Verify Your Benefits” or “Contact Us,” to guide your target audience and their loved ones toward taking the next step. Include your phone number and contact forms prominently to make it easy for visitors to reach out.

After creating the Programs page, publish pages for each of the programs you offer:

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
• Outpatient Program (OP)
• Residential Treatment
• Sober Living
• etc.,

Devising a parent/child URL structure, also known as a Silo, will help search engines like Google:

1. Better understand your content
2. Provide a better user experience for readers
3. Allow content managers to keep track of what has already been written

Here is an example of a content silo:
e.g., domain.com/programs/sober-living/

Next, you will want to create pages on:

• Treatments (e.g., Alcohol, Benzos, Heroin, etc.)
• Therapies (e.g., CBT, Individual, Group, Dual Diagnosis, etc.)
• Insurances (e.g., Blue Cross Blue Sheild, etc.)
• Resources (e.g., What to bring, Marchman Act, etc.)
• About, Contact (e.g., Include a tour, galleries, team members, qualifications)
• Alumni

Ensure the Contact page includes clear calls to action, a prominently displayed phone number, and an easy-to-use contact form to convert visitors effectively.

The goal is to:

1. Inform a reader of what programs you offer (Awareness).
2. Have them discover your treatments (Discovery).
3. Encourage them to learn about therapies that might help them.
4. Provide them trust [about page with location photos, accreditations, qualifications] (Evaluation).
5. Enable them to contact you (Purchase).
6. Create a brand (Loyalty)

This process guides your target audience through a sales funnel and ensures every landing page aligns with their needs and concerns, whether they’re searching for help themselves or for their loved ones.

7. Develop a Content Strategy

Search engines like Google love experts, so it is crucial to show expertise on your website.

You accomplish this expertise by completely covering a content topic. SEO tools like AnswerThePublic will provide you with the most asked questions about specific issues and help you become a subject matter expert.

8. Commit to a regular publishing schedule

Starting a website can be fun and exciting; most people want to write and publish as much content as possible. Creating content is excellent until running a business takes precedence; writing pages can become a hassle. It’s essential to spread your blog posts out over a monthly period. Having fresh monthly content will increase your crawl budget and frequency of crawls by Google and other search engines.

9. Invest in photography, personalize your site

Most people are visual learners, so proper images are vital to a website. You wouldn’t book a hotel without first seeing the interior and exterior photos, so why would this be any different? Most drug treatment programs can last 30 to 90 days, so it is essential that clients feel safe and comfortable while in detox & treatment.

10. Publish and Promote your Website

Just because you built a website does not mean people will flock to it. As of Jan 14, 2022, over 1.92 billion websites are online. So it would be best if you shared it more than ever. Even blockbuster movies with A-list celebrities need to promote a new film, so push your website as much as possible on social media and other platforms.

Conclusion

So there you have it – the basics of starting a website. It’s not as daunting as it may seem, and with a bit of effort, you can share your programs and treatments with the world. What are you waiting for? Start writing! Now that you know how to start a website, what will you write about first?

FAQ