SEO Strategy for Occupational Therapist
A data-driven execution plan to capture local search intent. This playbook targets high-value "near me" queries and transactional service keywords.
Execution Roadmap
Most OTs target 'occupational therapy near me', you’ll dominate by reverse-engineering patient intent. Start with 3 hyper-specific keyword clusters:
- **Condition-Specific**: 'OT for stroke recovery in [City]' (e.g., 'OT for stroke recovery in Austin')
- **Age-Specific**: 'Pediatric occupational therapy for autism in [Neighborhood]' (e.g., 'Pediatric OT for autism in Brooklyn Heights')
- **Setting-Specific**: 'Occupational therapy for home modifications in [County]' (e.g., 'OT for home mods in Orange County')
URL Schema
// URL Structure Blueprint
/occupational-therapy/[city]/[condition-or-service]
// Example:
/occupational-therapy/austin/stroke-recovery
/occupational-therapy/brooklyn/pediatric-autism
/occupational-therapy/orange-county/home-modificationsUse this search operator in incognito mode: 'occupational therapy * in [City]' (e.g., 'occupational therapy * in Denver'). Google’s autocomplete will reveal 50+ long-tail variations you’ve never considered.
Generic 'LocalBusiness' schema won’t cut it. Use these OT-specific schema types to trigger rich snippets and voice search dominance:
OT-Specific Schema Markup
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "ProfessionalService",
"name": "[Your Practice Name]",
"image": "https://example.com/occupational-therapist-image.jpg",
"url": "https://example.com/occupational-therapist",
"telephone": "1-800-123-4567",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "123 Main St",
"addressLocality": "[City]",
"addressRegion": "[State]",
"postalCode": "[Zip]"
},
"geo": {
"@type": "GeoCoordinates",
"latitude": "XX.XXXX",
"longitude": "-XX.XXXX"
},
"areaServed": {
"@type": "GeoCircle",
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "123 Main St",
"addressLocality": "[City]",
"addressRegion": "[State]",
"postalCode": "[Zip]"
},
"geo": {
"@type": "GeoCoordinates",
"latitude": "XX.XXXX",
"longitude": "-XX.XXXX"
},
"radius": "10"
},
"hasOfferCatalog": {
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "Offer",
"itemOffered": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "Occupational Therapy Evaluation",
"description": "Comprehensive evaluation to identify areas of need and develop a personalized treatment plan."
}
},
{
"@type": "Offer",
"itemOffered": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "Customized Treatment Plan",
"description": "Development of a tailored treatment plan to address specific goals and objectives."
}
},
{
"@type": "Offer",
"itemOffered": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "Sensory Integration Therapy",
"description": "Therapy to help individuals with sensory processing difficulties."
}
},
{
"@type": "Offer",
"itemOffered": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Training",
"description": "Training to assist individuals with daily living tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding."
}
}
]
},
"medicalSpecialty": "Occupational Therapy",
"hasOccupationalTherapyService": {
"@type": "OccupationalTherapy",
"name": "[Service Name]",
"description": "[150-char patient-centric description]",
"targetCondition": [
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Stroke"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Autism Spectrum Disorder"
}
],
"ageRange": "Pediatric|Adult|Geriatric"
}
}Generic LocalBusiness schema with no OT-specific fields. Misses 80% of rich snippet opportunities.
Hybrid MedicalClinic + OccupationalTherapy schema with condition targeting. Triggers 3x more rich results and voice search answers.
Most OT blogs write about 'what is occupational therapy?', you’ll create content that intercepts patients at every stage of their journey. Use this 3-phase matrix:
- **Awareness (0-3 months)**: 'Why does my child hate tags in their clothes?' (Sensory processing disorder)
- **Consideration (3-6 months)**: 'How to choose an OT for stroke recovery in [City]' (Comparison guide)
- **Decision (6-12 months)**: 'What to expect in your first OT session for autism' (Video + checklist)
12-Month Content Calendar
// Content Calendar Template (12-month view)
{
"month": 1,
"topic": "Sensory Processing Red Flags in Toddlers",
"contentType": "Blog + Instagram Carousel",
"targetKeyword": "signs of sensory issues in 2 year old",
"funnelStage": "Awareness",
"cta": "Download our free 'Sensory Checklist for Parents'"
},
{
"month": 4,
"topic": "OT vs. PT for Stroke Recovery: What’s the Difference?",
"contentType": "Comparison Blog + YouTube Video",
"targetKeyword": "occupational therapy vs physical therapy for stroke",
"funnelStage": "Consideration",
"cta": "Book a free 15-minute consult"
}Create a 'For Referring Physicians' content hub with pages like: - '/for-doctors/when-to-refer-to-ot-for-stroke' - '/for-doctors/ot-interventions-for-autism' Optimize these for physician search intent (e.g., 'when to refer to occupational therapy for stroke') and watch your referral pipeline explode.
Forget generic guest posts. Target these 5 OT-adjacent industries with hyper-relevant link opportunities:
- **Special Needs Schools**: Offer to write a guest post on 'How OT Supports Classroom Learning for Kids with Autism'
- **Senior Living Communities**: Create a 'Fall Prevention Checklist' and get it linked from their resources page
- **Hand Therapists**: Collaborate on a 'When to See an OT vs. Hand Therapist' guide (they’ll link to you)
- **Adaptive Equipment Companies**: Get featured in their 'Therapist Spotlight' series
- **Parenting Bloggers**: Offer a free 'Sensory-Friendly Holiday Gift Guide' (they’ll link to your site)
Outreach Template
// Email Template for Special Needs Schools
Subject: Free Resource for Your Parents , OT Tips for Classroom Success
Hi [First Name],
I’m [Your Name], an occupational therapist specializing in [condition, e.g., autism] in [City]. I’ve created a free guide called “5 OT Strategies to Support Learning in the Classroom” that I think your parents would love.
Would you be open to sharing it in your next newsletter or linking to it from your resources page? I’d be happy to tailor it to your school’s specific needs.
Here’s a preview: [Link to Google Doc]
Let me know if you’d like any adjustments!
Best,
[Your Name]Most OT websites use generic 'Contact Us' forms. You’ll convert 3x more leads with these OT-specific conversion assets:
- **Condition-Specific Lead Magnets**: 'Stroke Recovery Checklist' (for stroke patients), 'Sensory Diet Template' (for autism parents)
- **Interactive Quizzes**: 'Does My Child Need Occupational Therapy?' (10-question quiz with email capture)
- **Video Consultations**: Offer a 'Free 15-Minute Sensory Screening' (low-commitment CTA)
- **Insurance Verification Tool**: 'Check if We Accept Your Insurance' (reduces friction for patients)
Landing Page URLs
// Lead Magnet Landing Page Structure
/lead-magnet/[condition]-[resource-type]
// Examples:
/lead-magnet/stroke-recovery-checklist
/lead-magnet/autism-sensory-diet-template
/lead-magnet/hand-therapy-exercises-pdfGeneric 'Contact Us' button with a phone number. Low intent, low conversion.
Condition-specific lead magnet + interactive quiz. Captures 8%+ of visitors as leads.
Parents of kids with autism or sensory issues are your highest-intent audience. Create a 'Parent Portal' with: - A 'Does My Child Need OT?' quiz - A 'Sensory Red Flags' checklist - A 'How to Talk to Your Pediatrician About OT' script Gate these behind an email capture and watch your lead volume skyrocket.
Most OTs beg for reviews. You’ll create a system that makes patients want to leave 5-star reviews. Here’s how:
- **The 'Progress Photo' Review**: After 3 sessions, send a text: 'Reply with a photo of your child’s progress (e.g., holding a pencil, tying shoes) and we’ll feature it in our 'Success Stories'!' - 80% of parents will reply with a photo + permission to share - Follow up: 'We’d love to feature your story! Would you mind leaving a quick review?'
- **The 'Milestone Review'**: For stroke patients, send a review request after they hit a milestone (e.g., 'You just buttoned your shirt for the first time in 6 months! Mind leaving a review?')
- **The 'Video Testimonial'**: Record a 30-second video testimonial during a session (with permission) and send it to them afterward: 'Here’s your video! Mind leaving a review with this link?'
Review Request Template
// Review Request Email Template
Subject: Your Child’s Progress Made Us Smile!
Hi [Parent’s Name],
We’re so proud of [Child’s Name]’s progress with [specific skill, e.g., 'holding a spoon']! It’s moments like these that remind us why we love being occupational therapists.
Would you mind leaving us a quick review? It helps other parents find the support they need. Here’s a link: [Review Link]
Thank you for trusting us with [Child’s Name]’s care!
Warmly,
[Your Name]
[Your Practice Name]Most OTs write generic blog posts. You’ll create data-driven content that Google has to feature. Here are 3 OT-specific datasets to mine:
- **Condition Prevalence Data**: '1 in 36 children in [State] has autism, here’s how OT can help' (source: CDC)
- **Insurance Coverage Data**: 'Which insurance plans cover OT in [State]? (2024 Guide)' (survey 50+ local plans)
- **School District Data**: 'Which [State] school districts have the best OT services?' (FOIA request for IEP data)
- **Waitlist Data**: 'Average wait time for pediatric OT in [City] (and how to get seen faster)' (survey 20 local clinics)
Featured Snippet Template
// Featured Snippet Optimization
<h2>How Long Is the Waitlist for Pediatric OT in [City]?</h2>
<p><strong>Average wait time:</strong> 4-6 months (based on a survey of 20 [City] clinics)</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>Clinic</th>
<th>Wait Time</th>
<th>Accepts Medicaid?</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>[Clinic 1]</td>
<td>3 months</td>
<td>Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>[Clinic 2]</td>
<td>8 months</td>
<td>No</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><strong>Pro Tip:</strong> Call your pediatrician and ask for a 'fast-track' referral to [Your Practice Name]. We can often see patients within 2 weeks!</p>File a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with your state’s Department of Education for: - Number of students receiving OT services by school district - Average caseload per OT in each district - Most common IEP goals for OT Use this data to create a 'State of OT in [State]' report, journalists and parents will link to it!
Stop wasting time on manual SEO tasks. Use these OT-specific tools to automate your workflow:
- **Keyword Research**: Use 'AnswerThePublic' to find OT-specific questions (e.g., 'can occupational therapy help with anxiety?')
- **Schema Automation**: Use 'Schema App' to auto-generate OT-specific schema markup
- **Review Management**: Use 'Podium' to automate review requests via text message
- **Content Repurposing**: Use 'Repurpose.io' to turn blog posts into Instagram carousels, YouTube videos, and LinkedIn posts
- **Local SEO**: Use 'BrightLocal' to track your rankings for 200+ OT-specific keywords across 50+ cities
Zapier Automation
// Zapier Automation for OTs
1. Trigger: New patient intake form submission
2. Action: Add patient to 'Review Funnel' sequence in Mailchimp
3. Action: Send text message via Podium: 'Hi [First Name]! We’re so excited to work with [Child’s Name]. Mind leaving us a quick review? [Link]'
4. Action: Add patient to 'Progress Photo' campaign in ActiveCampaign (send after 3 sessions)Growth Model
This model assumes consistent content generation and basic backlink acquisition. ROI typically stabilizes within 90 days of full indexation.
