Okay, y’all—real talk: SEO is one of those things that makes most people’s eyes glaze over faster than me trying to listen to my husband explain how fantasy football works. BUT… if you’re a retreat leader, coach, solopreneur, or creative biz owner—you cannot afford to ignore it. Seriously. SEO (that’s Search Engine Optimization for my “what the heck is that?” friends) is like the engine under the hood of your business. Social media might look cute and shiny, but SEO? That’s what actually drives people to your site.

🚨 What is SEO for Retreat Leaders & Why Does It Matter?

SEO is how people find you organically online. It’s what tells Google, “Hey! I’ve got the goods people are looking for!” And guess what? People still use Google way more than social media when they’re actually searching for something—like a yoga retreat in Costa Rica, a business mastermind in the desert, or a soul-awakening weekend with horses (sound familiar? 😉).

Now don’t get me wrong—social media is fab for brand building and connection. But social media posts are like fireworks: bright and flashy but gone in seconds. SEO is the slow burn—it keeps working for you while you’re off living your life (or napping in a hammock at Retreat Ranch). Plus, SEO doesn’t just show up in Google searches—it helps you get found on Pinterest, YouTube, podcasts, and even in social platforms with their own search bars.

✨ Ways to Use SEO for Retreat Leaders in Your Retreat Biz

Here’s how you can start weaving SEO magic into your business without needing a PhD in tech:

1. Blogging (YES—It’s Still a Thing!)

Write blogs on your site about the kinds of questions your ideal guests are Googling. Things like “best retreats for women over 40” or “how to host a successful yoga retreat.” Bonus points if you guest blog on other sites—it helps build backlinks (aka SEO gold).

2. Podcasting

Start your own or be a guest. When you post podcast episodes, use SEO-friendly titles, write keyword-rich show notes, and share links to your site.  PS you know we have a Podcast for you right?

3. Social Platforms

Yes, SEO works here too. Use hashtags strategically, write keyword-friendly bios, and use searchable terms in your captions (like “retreats near Austin” instead of “can’t wait for this weekend!”).

4. YouTube

YouTube is the second biggest search engine after Google! Upload helpful videos with good titles, descriptions, and tags. Think: “How to prepare for your first wellness retreat” or “Behind the scenes at a horse yoga workshop.”

5. Pinterest

This is a visual search engine, not a social platform. Pin your blogs, freebies, and retreat pages with keyword-heavy descriptions. I use Pinterest weekly for our biz and it’s a powerhouse!

6. Your Website (The Holy Grail)

• On-page SEO: This is all the stuff on your website—keywords, headers (H1, H2), internal links, image labels, etc.
• Off-page SEO: These are things happening off your site—like backlinks from other blogs or being featured on someone else’s website.
• Alt text: Always describe your images with keywords. That pic of your glamping tent? Don’t name it “image123.” Try “luxury-glamping-retreat-Texas.”
• Keywords: Use tools like Ubersuggest (my fave—it’s simple and free-ish!) to find keywords your audience is actually searching.
• Long-tail keywords: These are longer, more specific phrases like “women’s wellness retreat in Texas Hill Country” vs. just “retreat.”
• Proper copy: Make sure your site sounds like you and talks directly to your ideal guest—but still uses SEO-friendly terms (hint ChatGPT can help with this).
• Links and backlinks: Link to other pages in your own site and get other websites to link back to you. Google loves that.

💡 Pro Tip: I took an awesome course from Faith Hanan (https://faithhanan.com/) that helped me understand this without losing my mind. Or, you can totally hire someone on Fiverr or Upwork to help optimize your site if tech just ain’t your thing.

📈 How SEO + Content Marketing + Social Media = Business Magic

Here’s a simple sample flow you can use to grow your audience and fill up your retreats:

1. Create a Freebie – A downloadable guide like “5 Signs You’re Ready for a Soulful Retreat”
2. Landing Page – Set up a page on your site where people can get it (opt-in style)
3. Collect Emails – They give their email, you give them the goods
4. Automated Email Series – Send them a few value-packed emails and introduce your upcoming retreats
5. Write a Blog – Around the same topic, optimized for SEO
6. Pin it – To Pinterest using a keyword-rich description
7. Post to Social – Share the freebie, blog, and email signup on IG, Facebook, etc.
8. Repeat weekly – Keep the content flowing and your audience growing

✅ Shannon’s Super Simple SEO for Retreat Leaders Checklist

• Have keywords on every page of your site
• Use long-tail keywords that match what your dream guest is searching for
• Write blogs at least twice a month
• Add alt text to every image
• Use H1 and H2 headers correctly
• Link internally between your pages
• Guest blog or get backlinks from other sites
• Use Ubersuggest weekly to find new content ideas and keywords
• Repurpose your content (email, blog, podcast, Pinterest, social!)
• Make sure every page speaks directly to your dream guest

You’ve got this! SEO doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start simple, stay consistent, and keep talking to your people. I promise—it’s like planting seeds that bloom while you sleep.

Need help or have questions? DM me or swing by Retreat Ranch—we’ll chat SEO over a sauna and some sips. 😉

You’re doing amazing things. Let’s make sure people can actually find them!

—Shannon 💛