SEO for Chiropractors: Choosing the right chiropractic keywords for your website | Updated for 2026
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If you are a chiropractor who wants your website to show up in Google, the words you choose matter. Understanding SEO for Chiropractors means you can choose & implement the right keywords help people find your clinic, click on your site, and book an appointment. In this guide to SEO for chiropractors you’ll learn the best chiropractor SEO keywords, how to pick them, and where to use them so more local patients find you online.
What is SEO?
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of formatting your website content both on the front end and behind-the-scenes so that Google and other search engines know what you do and can include you in the search engine rankings. Since Google can’t sit down with you for tea to find out how awesome you are, your SEO settings are one of the best ways that you can communicate your areas of expertise to Google. Don’t want to even think about learning a new skill? Check out my done-for-you SEO packages for wellness pros!
Why is implementing SEO so important for chiropractors?
Like most wellness practitioners, as a chiropractor, you depend on being found by new clients in order to grow your practice. While there will always be a certain number of new clients who simply walk in your door looking for chiropractic care, a thriving chiropractic clinic depends on multiple sources of new business.
Do you get new chiropractic bookings every day from clients who found you online?
What if… these clients found you for not just typing the phrase “chiropractor near me” but also 10+ other keywords that people typically use when looking for a chiropractor?
That’s the sweet spot, y’all. Your goal is to show up EVERYWHERE your ideal clients are searching.
And by everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE. They should ideally keep seeing your link across Google search results for multiple terms, making your website an obvious choice when clicking on your website!
I’d like you to think about each page on your website as a portal of sorts where people can enter & discover your services. Each and every page on your website needs to be optimized for one primary keyword and up to two related keywords. That way, there are multiple opportunities for you to show up.
For example, if you have a page devoted to your chiropractic services for pregnancy, you need to think about keywords – two or three at the most – that are most closely associated with perinatal chiropractic services. If you specialize in back pain or recovery from sports injuries, you should be thinking about the terms the people struggling with these issues would be using to try and find you online.
SEO for chiropractors: how keyword targeting works
So if every page on your chiropractic website is an opportunity to show up online, how do you know which keywords to pick? This is the tricky part.
A keyword is a word or phrase a person may type into Google to find the service, product, or information they are seeking. When you use a keyword on your website, you are providing a word or phrase that tells Google what your business is all about: Who You Are, What You Do, & Where You Are Located.
Using keywords helps Google to easily answer these questions.
Warning: Sometimes, as practitioners, we get lost in our own lingo and forget to consider how our potential clients search for our services. It is important to optimize your site for the language they would use to describe you and your services, not the language you would use. For example, you might be optimizing just for the Webster technique while they are searching for chiropractic care for breech babies!
Google is smart enough to recognize which words are related as variations. So it’s okay to use a few related keywords on a single page to reflect the range of ways potential clients search for chiropractic services.
Here are some of the top keywords chiropractors should consider using.
To understand SEO for chiropractors, you need to first understand the phrases people are using to find you. These are what are called “transactional” keywords – terms potential clients type in specifically knowing that they want chiropractic services.
- chiropractic adjustment
- chiropractor near me
- chiropractor
- family chiropractic
- gonstead chiropractic
- walk-in chiropractor
- chiropractic massage
- chiropractor cost
- chiropractic care
- sports chiropractor
- pediatric chiropractor
- prenatal chiropractor
- baby chiropractor
- Chiropractic Wellness Center
- complete chiropractic
- chiropractor sciatica
- wellness chiropractic
- chiropractor for neck pain
- chiropractor for back pain
- chiropractor for headaches
- chiropractor for TMJ
- chiropractor for whiplash
- car accident chiropractor
Now, add your location into the keyword!
Local SEO keywords help your chiropractic website show up for people in your area who are seeking your services. Along with your Google Business profile, you need to optimize your website content for your location and service area.
Does your site show up in the Google Local 3-Pack (or “Map Pack”)? This featured section of Google search results shows the top three local businesses for a local search. It includes a map, business name, ratings, hours, address, and phone – all key elements if someone is looking for a local chiropractor & wants to book now! Here’s a great guide with additional tips on how to rank at the top of the local 3-pack for chiropractic clinics.
Here are sample phrases people might use to find a local chiropractor ASAP. Examples include:
- Chiropractor in [city]
- [City] chiropractor
- Chiropractor near [neighborhood] > check out my blog post on targeting “near me” keywords
- Chiropractor open now
- Best chiropractor in [city]
- Emergency chiropractor [city]
- Walk-in chiropractor [city]
- Chiropractor for back pain [city]
- Sciatica chiropractor [city]
- Chiropractor for neck pain [city]
Consider adding service pages for specific specialities or conditions you treat as a chiropractor
Instead of having a single chiropractic services page covering all the different ways you can help your clients, from sciatica to pregnancy, consider creating specialty service pages focused on a more complex keyword such as:
- Back pain chiropractic care
- Sciatica treatment
- Neck pain relief
- Sports injury chiropractic
- Prenatal / pregnancy chiropractic
- Webster Technique
- Pediatric chiropractic
- Auto accident / whiplash
- Insurance + direct billing
- New patient page (important for conversions)
What about long-tail keywords for chiropractor blog strategy?
One of the best ways to implement SEO for chiropractors is to focus on long-tail keywords. It’s common to overlook the vast potential of long-tail keywords for your chiropractic website’s SEO. These are informational search terms -longer phrases that people are typing into Google to get specific information about something they want to learn more about. They are useful because there is far less competition for these longer terms, so they are easier to show up for – and offer great inspiration for new blog posts! Plus, you have the chance to provide the perfect useful answer to their question!
How do you find long-tail keywords? Think about the common questions you get from clients – common aches and pains and concerns. Typically, these are 4+ words, and more often take the form of a phrase or questions such as:
Is chiropractic care good for sciatica?
One of the best ways to find these longer-tail keywords is to go to your Google search bar and simply start typing a question. It actually provides long-tail keyword suggestions by showing you the most common questions people type in. For example, if you start by typing “Is chiropractic”, you’ll discover the following suggestions:
You’ll find even more suggestions by going to the bottom of a search results page and looking at the related searches:
and even more when the “people also ask” boxes pop up:
Thank you, Google!
The 3 Types of Keywords Chiropractors Need to Target with SEO
| Transactional Keywords | Local Keywords | Informational Keywords |
| These are used when someone wants to book an appointment now. | These are likely to generate a result with a Google map showing local chiropractic clinics. | Typically long-tail keywords, these are best used in blog posts or product descriptions to target highly specific search terms. |
| Examples: “chiropractor near me,” “sports chiropractor,” “walk-in chiropractor” | Examples: “chiropractor in [city],” “best chiropractor in [city]” | Examples: “does chiropractic help sciatica,” “how many sessions for back pain” |
Where should you use all these great keywords on your chiropractic clinic website?
That, friends, is a conversation far more detailed than I can do justice to here, but here are the basics:
ON-PAGE OPTIMIZATION
These are changes you make on the visible side of your chiropractic website – the actual content the public is reading. Yes, Google reads it too! These include keyword usage within your content (roughly 1-2 %, so up to 2x / 100 words), content length (Google likes a minimum of 300 words), page headers and subheaders, your page URLs, and both internal and external links. Your site speed and mobile responsiveness also matter.
OFF-PAGE OPTIMIZATION
These are the changes you will make behind the scenes: your back-end SEO settings, such as page titles and meta descriptions, image alt tags, and your site title and description. It also includes external steps such as submitting a site map to Google Search Console and actively seeking quality backlinks to your site. Not sure what some of these terms even mean? Ask Google 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions about SEO for Chiropractors
What are the best SEO keywords for chiropractors?
The best keywords match what your patients search for. Start with “chiropractor in [city]” and “chiropractor near me.” Then add service keywords like “back pain chiropractor,” “sciatica treatment,” “sports chiropractor,” or “prenatal chiropractor,” plus your city and neighborhoods.
How do chiropractors rank in Google Maps?
Google Maps rankings mostly come from your Google Business Profile, and can give a big boost to SEO for chiropractors. Fill it out fully, choose the right categories, add services, post updates, and keep your contact info consistent everywhere online. Reviews, distance, and relevance also play a big role.
How many keywords should a chiropractor target per page?
One main keyword per page, plus a few close variations. For example, one page could target “chiropractor in Toronto,” “Toronto chiropractor,” and “chiropractic clinic Toronto.” Do not try to cram 10 different services onto one page
Should chiropractors blog for SEO?
Yes, if you blog with a plan. Blog posts help you rank for questions people ask, like “Does chiropractic help sciatica?” or “How long does whiplash last?” They also build trust before someone books.
How long does SEO take for a chiropractic clinic?
Most clinics see early results in 3 to 6 months, and stronger growth in 6 to 12 months. It depends on your competition, your website, your reviews, and your consistency. Google is a slow cooker, not a microwave.
Good chiropractic SEO takes time…
Remember – there are no quick fixes for SEO. Good organic SEO will lead to great search results featuring your practice – but it takes time. Months and even years. Don’t despair! Every single small change you make to your chiropractic website will help – each new blog post, and every page whose SEO settings you fine-tune.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
Hi there, I’m Sarah Juliusson, and yes I really am a Website Doula. I design and build doula & wellness websites designed to show up in search and attract your dream clients. With 15+ years in web design, and another 20+ years as a former doula business owner, I believe in the value of your work as much as you do. My clients include Birth Doulas, Postpartum Doulas, NCS Agencies, Midwives, Birth Centers, Chiropractors, Therapists, Wellness Clinics & more. Explore your options for a custom website today.
