Technical SEO vs. On-Page SEO for Doula Websites
You’ve probably heard terms like "Technical SEO" and "On-Page SEO" tossed around, but what do they actually mean for your doula business? If your goal is to make your website easier to find for families searching for support, understanding these two pillars of SEO is crucial.
Here’s the breakdown: Technical SEO ensures your website runs smoothly behind the scenes, while On-Page SEO focuses on what visitors see and engage with. Let’s unpack both and figure out which areas need your attention to create a website that attracts clients like magic.
What is Technical SEO?
Think of Technical SEO as the foundation of your website. It’s all the behind-the-scenes work that helps search engines crawl, understand, and rank your site. If your website has technical issues, search engines won’t recommend it to users—no matter how amazing your content is.
Key Components of Technical SEO:
Site Speed: If your website takes forever to load, visitors (and search engines) will bounce. Faster sites rank higher and keep people engaged.
Mobile-Friendliness: Most clients will find you on their phones, so your website needs to look and function perfectly on smaller screens.
XML Sitemap: This roadmap helps search engines navigate and index your site. Without it, your content might as well be hiding under a rock.
SSL Certificate: Secure sites (the ones with “https”) build trust with visitors and search engines. If you don’t have one, Google will notice—and not in a good way.
404 Errors and Redirects: Broken links frustrate visitors and hurt your rankings. Fixing errors and setting up redirects keeps everything seamless.
Why Technical SEO Matters for Doula Websites
Imagine a potential client clicks on your site and it takes forever to load, or worse, doesn’t work on their phone. They’re gone faster than you can say “organic traffic.” Technical SEO ensures your site is functional, fast, and easy for search engines to recommend to families searching for your services.
What is On-Page SEO?
While Technical SEO handles the mechanics, On-Page SEO is all about the content and visuals that your clients see. It ensures your website is optimized to answer the questions families are searching for while guiding them toward booking your services.
Key Components of On-Page SEO:
Keyword Optimization: Using phrases like “postpartum doula in [City]” helps search engines connect your site with people actively searching for those services.
Content Quality: Blog posts, service descriptions, and FAQs should be engaging, informative, and tailored to your audience’s needs.
Meta Descriptions: These little blurbs in search results help families decide to click your link. Make them enticing and clear.
Headers and Subheadings: Breaking content into easy-to-read sections not only helps your visitors but also signals to search engines what your page is about.
Internal Links: Guide visitors through your site by linking related content. For example, a blog post about birth prep could link to your services page.
Why On-Page SEO Matters for Doula Websites
If families visit your site and don’t immediately find what they’re looking for, they’ll leave. On-Page SEO ensures your content is engaging and organized, helping families feel confident that you’re the right doula for them.
Technical SEO vs. On-Page SEO: Where Should You Start?
The short answer? It depends on your website’s current state.
Start with Technical SEO if:
Your site is slow or hard to navigate.
Visitors can’t easily access your site on their phones.
You have broken links or security issues.
Fixing these issues first ensures search engines can actually find and recommend your website, laying the groundwork for everything else.
Focus on On-Page SEO if:
Your content isn’t resonating with clients.
You’re not using keywords effectively.
Your site feels like it’s missing the personal connection your clients are looking for.
Great content paired with a strong user experience can turn casual visitors into loyal clients.
Combine Both for Maximum Impact
To create a website that’s not just visible but irresistible, you’ll need to balance both Technical and On-Page SEO.
Here’s How:
Start with Technical SEO: Fix site speed, mobile responsiveness, and broken links. This sets the stage for search engines to rank your site.
Optimize On-Page Content: Add client-centered content, use targeted keywords, and make navigation intuitive.
Monitor Performance: Use tools like Google Analytics to track what’s working and tweak your strategy as needed.
Ready to See Where Your SEO Stands?
Your website should be working just as hard as you do—connecting with clients, building trust, and turning visits into bookings. Not sure where to begin? Start with a Free SEO Audit to get a clear snapshot of your website’s performance and actionable steps to improve it.
SEO isn’t about gaming the system—it’s about making it easy for families to find you when they need you most.
