You may not love it, but there’s not way of getting around it: you HAVE to be listed on Psychology Today. When anyone online is looking for a therapist, that’s the very first website that shows up in the search results. It definitely has it’s benefits for the user; you can use filters like therapist gender and speciality, location and insurance to find a mental health professional that suits your needs. But for the therapist, it can feel frustrating being listed. Once you fill out your profile, you feel like getting leads is out of your control. You just sit back and wait for someone to hopefully pick you.

While there is no full-proof way to improve your search RANKING, there are ways to optimize your profile to be more attractive to leads. We’ve done some research and discovered ways to help yours stand out, especially on the profile preview page. What makes a person stop scrolling when they come across the preview of your profile? What moves them to look over your profile and then make contact? We’ll answer those questions and help you optimize your profile to get not just leads, but high-quality leads.

Optimizing Your Profile Preview

**This is your Profile Preview**

This is what users see when they have entered filters and begin scrolling through the search results.

When you are filling out your profile, you are also creating the preview that will pop up in the search results. The user has already used filters to narrow down the search, so what makes them stop on YOUR preview and open the full profile?

We conducted a poll and found that these were the top three traits that made a profile preview “clickable”:

The first few sentences of the preview get their attention
Respondents of our poll overwhelming said that this was the number one reason they would click on a profile. If those first few sentences don’t get them interested, they will continue to scroll.
The therapist’s speciality was named in the first first sentences
Many of our respondents wanted to know right off the bat what a therapist’s speciality was, especially if they were looking for help with a specific issue.
A good headshot
Our respondents said while they don’t necessarily need to see a professional headshot, they also don’t want to see a cropped photo of you from your vacation or date night.

So how do you use these traits to optimize your profile preview? We’re so glad you asked!

Getting Their Attention Through Language (covers traits 1 & 2)

It can be hard to know exactly what to say to make someone stop scrolling and look at what you have to offer. You have an average of 40 words, or 277 characters, to get their attention and have them click on your profile. So what does it take to make this happen?

One of our poll respondents said this:

“It’s almost like a dating profile, if you don’t get me interested in the first couple of sentences I’m going to keep scrolling. Personality is just as important as qualifications.”

Another said,

“For me, I was looking for people who came off as warm and compassionate. While I appreciate someone who knows their jargon, I valued their ability to connect with me on a more human level.”

To get someone’s attention with your opening paragraph preview, you want to use language that is client-centric. They want to feel like they’re looking at someone who gets them and could potentially help them with their issues. Remember, being vulnerable with a therapist is hard, so you want to emotionally attract them to you by making them feel safe and seen. When you talk about yourself and use therapeutic jargon, it can turn them off and make them feel like you’re cold and clinical. Instead, use client-focused language that evokes emotions of hope, healing, empowerment and stability.

Also remember that many people immediately use filters to narrow down their search, so you don’t need to mention who you serve, where you’re located or the payment accepted in the first 40 words. Remember to stay positive and offer a sense of compassion—after all, they are coming to you for help, which means they need to feel like there is hope for change and healing.

Even though most people will use the Issues filter to narrow down their search, it’s a good idea to reiterate that you specialize in treating those issues. Restating their issue will help reaffirm that you have expertise in that area and help establish a sense of trust.

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to help write those first 40 words:

DON’T…

Open with your credentials
Use jargon or technical terms
Talk about yourself
Use overly-sophisticated language

DO…

Use language that would resonate with the audience you’re trying to reach
Keep the language simple and direct
Stay positive and offer compassion, using language that makes them feel safe and seen
Mention the common issues you address

The Profile Picture

The profile picture was the next profile preview trait that our poll respondents reacted to. Sometimes, a photo that is professionally taken can feel too staged or stiff, but on the other side, a grainy, casual photo of you can come off like you’re archaic and out of touch.

Professional headshots can be expensive, but it can be worth it if you are going to get some longevity from them. Professional headshots can be used for your website, social media, advertising and speaking engagements, and having a set that you use consistently can give your brand a sense of professionalism and confidence. If you’re going to invest in professional photos, make sure they are not too staged. You’ll want some that exemplify your profession, but you will also want to get some lifestyle photos as well. Having a variety of backgrounds, poses and outfits will give you a nice selection to choose from. We suggest you use a lifestyle photo or Psychology Today; one that is centered on your face, where you look friendly, approachable, and kind.

If you’re not in the market for professional shots, you can take one on your own using your phone and a few editing apps! (Just a note: we are referring to iPhones when discussing editing.) Luckily, we’ve got some tips on how to use your phone to get a great shot!

Setting:

Take some photos in and outdoors to have a variety of backgrounds and lighting.
Be aware of your background. Make sure it’s not too busy.
Try and avoid taking pictures when the weather is rainy or cloudy. Even if you’re indoors, having the sun as a natural light source is a good idea.

Taking the Picture:

No matter where you are, make sure you’re facing a light source. That could be a window or a lamp in your office, or towards the sun if outdoors.
Don’t take pictures outdoors when the sun is at its highest and brightest. You’ll come off too squinted!
Use the Portrait Mode on your iPhone.
Experiment with holding the phone closer and further way from your face, and also a little higher and lower.
Take the photo straight on—don’t tilt your head to the left or right (towards your shoulders) or tilt the camera.
Take a variety of face angles, with your face positioned a little to the left, center and right.

Editing the Picture:

First, use the Edit tool on your Photos app to automatically adjust and correct the photos settings. This is found in the top right corner of the photo. Click Edit >> Adjust >> Auto. We don’t recommend using a filter.

Then, you can opt to use an app to enhance your photo. We use Facetune, which can automatically enhance your picture and remove blemishes, dark circles and more. You can even add makeup! Even if you don’t use some of the advanced features, it does help refine the image to make it look clean and professional.

You can also experiment with AI! Some of the better ones have associated costs, but the one we like the best is called GIO. It offers a large variety of settings outfits and HD enhancements to give you picture a professional-quality upgrade.

While the mystery of the Psychology Today ranking algorithm is still unknown, you can control the effectiveness of your profile preview. Optimizing your Psychology Today profile preview is one of the best ways to attract the right clients. Using the research and tips we provided, you can successfully edit your preview to make sure it’s working FOR you, not against.

If you need help getting your preview in tip-top shape, give us a shout! Our expert copywriters can take those first 40 words and make them magic. We can even guide you though taking a photo and we’ll edit it for you!