Problem

In November 2023, our client, a Montana-based outpatient addiction and mental health treatment center serving both adults and adolescents, embarked on a comprehensive rebranding initiative. This involved a significant shift in their service model from an Intensive Outpatient (IOP) focus to a broader Outpatient (OP) framework, accommodating clients of all ages. Alongside changing their name and logo, they introduced an array of new treatment options and programs, including Experiential Therapy—with activities such as music therapy, art therapy, equine therapy, and other outdoor pursuits—as well as a Virtual IOP to support ongoing needs. Additionally, they expanded their insurance partnerships to include Medicaid. Faced with the dual challenge of a complete website overhaul and the need to enhance a previously limited local presence, they were determined to maintain and gain momentum and visibility despite the changes.

Solution

Lead to Recovery adopted a comprehensive strategy to tackle the challenges faced by the treatment center. Here’s how we approached the solution:

  • New Website Build: Starting from scratch on a new domain with no existing authority, we conducted extensive keyword research to identify high-traffic terms related to addiction and mental health treatment services. Our team crafted twenty pages of engaging content aimed at attracting traffic and generating leads. The website’s design highlights the picturesque Montana landscape, incorporating data and statistics to underscore the effectiveness of their Experiential Therapy and outpatient programs.
  • Google Business Profile (GBP) Optimization: Despite the treatment center retaining its original location, the GBP listing required a complete update following the launch of the new website. We revitalized the business description, services, images, attributes, and other profile elements, including adding a tracking phone number and URL with UTM parameters to better monitor GBP-driven traffic. Weekly posts were initiated to promote new content and encourage phone inquiries.
  • Call Tracking Overhaul: We updated the client’s call tracking setup, introducing dedicated numbers for all digital sources—local, organic, and paid—to precisely track the origins of leads and actual admissions.
  • Local Citation Cleanup & Buildout: Following updates to GBP and call tracking, we refreshed other listings on platforms such as Bing Places, Apple Maps, Yelp, and Psychology Today with the latest information. We maintain a schedule of adding new citations every few months, ensuring all details are current.
  • Ongoing Content Creation: Our team consistently generates new content focusing on treatments, programs, and insurance options not covered in the initial website launch. Content development is guided by both client priorities as new services are introduced and our ongoing keyword research. We aim to release at least one blog post monthly, targeting trending or previously unexplored search terms.
  • Backlink Acquisition: With new content continually being published, we actively pursue backlinks from industry-relevant sites to enhance the domain authority and improve local search rankings.
  • Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: As the SEO efforts began to show results, we launched targeted Google Ads campaigns focusing on addiction treatment, mental health services, and branded searches, aiming to draw in more clients.
  • Social Media Blasting: To bolster the client’s digital footprint, we optimized their Facebook and LinkedIn profiles and shared our SEO-focused content to maximize online visibility and engagement.

Outcome

From February 2024 to November 2024, our integrated SEO and paid advertising strategy yielded a substantial rise in both local and organic traffic, as well as an increase in paid leads. This comprehensive approach significantly boosted the treatment center’s online visibility and engagement.

  • Greater Organic Search Impressions: During the first ten months of our SEO campaign, there was a significant increase in impressions from organic searches, enhancing the treatment center’s visibility and substantially boosting website traffic.

1 Organic Impressions

  • Greater Organic Search Clicks: In addition to impressions, organic website traffic saw a significant month-over-month increase since the launch of the new website, driven by continuous content marketing and link development efforts.

2 Organic Clicks

  • Increased Organic & Local Phone Calls: Organic phone calls reached their peak in May, while local calls hit their highest point in February, coinciding with the launch of the new website. Although monthly call volumes fluctuated, the overall trend showed a consistent upward trajectory. Utilizing call tracking, we successfully attributed these leads to actual admissions, enabling precise measurement of ROI.

3 Organic Calls

4 Local Calls

  • Improved Local Keyword Rankings: Over ten months, local keyword rankings improved by 1,391 placements, a direct outcome of optimizing the Google Business Profile and enhancing other relevant local listing sites.

5 Local Keyword Rankings

  • Achieved Top Rankings for Target Terms: We achieved top rankings for high-value, relevant keywords, including “outpatient addiction programs”, “adult outpatient programs”, “adolescent outpatient programs”, and “virtual IOP.” These terms secured the #1 position on Google both locally and throughout the state of Montana.

6 Top Rankings

  • Significant Growth for Previously Unranked Terms: Several previously unranked terms experienced significant growth, including “experiential therapy programs”, “cocaine rehab”, “meth rehab”, “benzo rehab”, and “oxy rehab.” These terms saw a substantial rise in rankings, reflecting the effectiveness of our SEO strategies.

7 Unranked Term Growth

Conclusion

In conclusion, the rebranding, website launch, and ongoing Local and Organic SEO efforts have significantly increased admissions month after month for our rehab center client in Montana. Impressions, traffic, and calls continue to show an upward trend as we move into the new year. We expect further growth with additional investments in paid advertising and social media strategies. Our client has established a strong presence in the local community, providing addiction and mental health services and consistently outranking longer-established competitors with similar offerings.