Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid on Your Doula Website
SEO can feel like a riddle wrapped in a mystery, especially if you’re already balancing the emotional and physical demands of being a doula. You want your website to shine, connect with families, and show up in searches, but let’s be real—there’s a lot to juggle. And with so much information out there, it’s easy to unknowingly trip up on common SEO mistakes that can hold your website back.
The good news? These mistakes are totally fixable, and I’m here to walk you through the big ones so your website can do what it’s meant to: attract the families who need your support most.
Skipping Keywords (or Overloading Them)
Keywords are the bread and butter of SEO—they help search engines understand what your site is about and connect it with people searching for your services.
The Mistake:
Some doulas skip keyword research altogether, while others go overboard, stuffing their pages with awkward phrases like “doula near me” five times in one sentence. Both approaches can hurt your ranking.
What to Do Instead:
Research keywords that your ideal clients are actually searching for. (Think: “postpartum doula in [City]” or “birth support near [City].”)
Use them naturally in your headings, page titles, and body text. Pro tip: If it doesn’t sound like something you’d say out loud, it’s too much.
Forgetting About Local SEO
As a doula, your clients are looking for support close to home. Ignoring local SEO is like leaving a sign on your door that says “Maybe open? Maybe not?”
The Mistake:
Not optimizing your site for local searches—like failing to include your city or region in your content or skipping a Google Business Profile.
What to Do Instead:
Add location-specific keywords to your website.
Claim your Google Business Profile, and make sure it’s fully optimized with accurate contact info, services, and hours.
Encourage clients to leave reviews—it’s gold for both trust and local SEO.
Ignoring Mobile Optimization
Did you know that most people searching for doulas are doing it on their phones? If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of potential clients.
The Mistake:
A clunky, hard-to-navigate website that doesn’t adjust well to smaller screens.
What to Do Instead:
Test your website on a phone or tablet to see how it looks and feels.
Make sure buttons are easy to click, text is legible, and images load quickly.
Neglecting Content Updates
Stale content is like leaving last year’s Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge—it’s not doing anyone any favors.
The Mistake:
Having outdated blog posts, services pages, or info that doesn’t reflect what you currently offer.
What to Do Instead:
Regularly update your website with fresh, relevant content. (Think blog posts answering common client questions or highlighting recent testimonials.)
Make sure your services page is accurate and highlights everything you offer.
Skipping Meta Titles and Descriptions
Meta titles and descriptions are the snippets that show up in search results—and they’re prime real estate to grab someone’s attention.
The Mistake:
Leaving these fields blank or using generic, vague text that doesn’t speak to your audience.
What to Do Instead:
Write clear, keyword-rich meta titles and descriptions for every page.
Use this space to tell potential clients what’s in it for them. Example: “Find compassionate birth support with an experienced doula in [City].”
Not Tracking Your Progress
You can’t fix what you don’t measure. Skipping analytics tools like Google Analytics or Search Console leaves you in the dark about what’s working (and what isn’t).
The Mistake:
Flying blind without any data to guide your SEO efforts.
What to Do Instead:
Set up Google Analytics to track your website traffic and visitor behavior.
Use Google Search Console to monitor how your site performs in search results and fix any errors.
Overlooking User Experience
Your website might have all the right keywords, but if it’s frustrating to navigate, potential clients won’t stick around long enough to book.
The Mistake:
Ignoring site speed, broken links, or confusing layouts that make it hard for visitors to find what they need.
What to Do Instead:
Fix broken links and test your site’s navigation regularly.
Speed up your site by compressing large images and minimizing unnecessary code.
Ready to Fix Your SEO Mistakes?
SEO doesn’t have to be a mystery. Whether you’ve made one of these common mistakes or all of them, the next step is clear: a Free SEO Audit is your ticket to understanding where your site stands and how to make it better.
What You’ll Get:
A detailed look at what’s holding your site back.
Actionable steps to fix the issues.
A roadmap for attracting more families to your services.
Claim your Free SEO Audit today, and let’s get your website working as hard as you do.
SEO mistakes happen, but they’re fixable. It’s never too late to tweak, refine, and get your website back on track.
