What Every Dietitian Needs to Know About Website Design
Release Date: 04/15/2025
Leading a Business That Lets You Live Your Life
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the This episode wraps up Season 3 of the podcast. We'll be back for Season 4 this fall! Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Hannah Turnbull, founder of , a group practice specializing in eating disorders, and a business coach at . Hannah shares her journey of building and leading a thriving group practice, the challenges and rewards of managing a team, and her bold decision to step away for an 18-week sabbatical. Together, they dive into leadership, company culture, burnout, and what it really takes to create a sustainable business that supports both...
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Fractional Practice Management for Group Practice Owners
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Charlie Golighlty, founder of Group Practice Partner, a fractional practice management partner for strategic, mission-aligned support. Charlie shares why so many solo clinicians and group-practice owners feel like they’re juggling too many hats and constantly putting out fires, and how bringing in someone who understands both the clinical world and the language of business can transform that chaos into clarity. If you’ve ever felt burnt out in the day-to-day business operations and are ready to step back, see...
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COAST: A Business Strategy When Life Comes First
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to talk about the COAST stage of business. Join them to discuss the importance of coasting as a business owner, how it can be a strategic and intentional phase, and the benefits it brings to personal and professional life. When you’re a business owner, the need to COAST can come up at any time, sometimes planned, and sometimes unplanned. Whether you think you’ll be coasting anytime soon or not, this episode will leave you feeling confident when it’s your...
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LEAD: Hire, Manage, and Build Your Private Practice Team
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to talk about the LEAD stage of business. This stage is focused on the importance of hiring and leading a team. Hear insights on how dietitians can step into leadership roles, overcome the fear of hiring, and build a sustainable business. Whether you already have a team, are ready to hire, or may want to hire in the future, this episode is for you. Introduction to the LEAD Stage: Learn why hiring is essential for expanding your business without...
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GROW: What It Really Takes to Get Fully Booked on Your Terms
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to talk about the GROW stage of business. This is a stage where you'll focus on expanding your reach, refining your marketing strategies, and implementing new systems, all while continuing to serve your clients effectively. This stage of business is all about getting fully booked but on your terms. In this episode, Jennifer walks you through the ups and downs and practical advice for marketing, finances, and much more. Whether you're looking to refine your...
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START: How to Counsel Your First 5 Clients and Keep Them Coming Back
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and team member Courtney Vickery, CEO of Declet Designs, to talk about the START stage of business, the time where you transition from setting up your private practice to seeing your first clients. We'll explore the emotions, challenges, and action steps involved in this stage, focusing on the importance of developing strong counseling skills and effective customer service strategies. Whether you're just starting to see clients in your private practice or looking to refine your counseling approach, this episode...
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SET UP: Open Your Business in 30 Days
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, as she kicks off the brand new Stages of Business Series with the very first stage: SET UP. In this episode, Jennifer dives into what it really takes to get started - from finding the courage to begin, shifting your mindset for success, and the practical steps to open up a business. This is the first of five episodes, each one dedicated to a different stage of business growth! If you’re thinking about starting a nutrition private practice, now or in the future, this episode will give you the insight, advice, and...
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The Highs, Lows, and Lessons of Every Stage of Business
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Courtney Vickery, a valued team member and a multi-passionate entrepreneur in the weight-inclusive space, as they dive deep into the journey of building a successful private practice. In this special series, they explore the five distinct stages of business: SET UP, START, GROW, LEAD, and COAST. Each stage comes with its own set of emotions, challenges, and action steps, and they’re here to guide you through them all. Whether you're just setting up your practice or looking to expand and lead a team, they’ve got...
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Big Risk, Bigger Rewards: Expanding Insurance Services as a CEO
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Amy Plano, Founder of The Reimbursement Dietitian, a successful private practice CEO passionate about helping dietitians create profitable nutrition private practices using insurance. Amy shares her journey of expanding The Reimbursement Dietitian by introducing a new service to help dietitians get credentialed and contracted with insurance companies. Jennifer and Amy chat about the ups and downs of starting something new, why meeting clients where they’re at really matters, and how group practices are shifting...
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Helping Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Food
Pursuing Private Practice
Welcome to the Join Jennifer McGurk, the CEO of Pursuing Private Practice, and Sumner Brooks, the founder of EDRDPro, co-author of How to Raise an Intuitive Eater, mom of two, and dog-loving RDN. Sumner shares her advice on raising children to become intuitive eaters, drawing from her personal journey in motherhood and her professional expertise. We discuss her three keys framework for fostering a healthy relationship with food and body image in children, and explore the challenges and triumphs of “balancing” motherhood as a business owner. Whether you're a parent, a dietitian, or...
info_outlineWelcome to the Pursuing Private Practice podcast!
Join Jennifer McGurk with guests Courtney Vickery, Whitney Bateson, and Morgan Sinclair as they share their unique journeys and expertise in creating impactful websites for healthcare professionals. Discover the importance of a well-designed website as an extension of your business, learn about the different platforms and tools available, and gain insights into the technical aspects of website maintenance.
Whether you're a dietitian looking to enhance your online presence or simply curious about the intersection of nutrition and design, this episode is packed with valuable advice and inspiration.
- Transition from Dietitian to Designer: The guests discuss their journeys from working as dietitians to becoming website designers, highlighting pivotal moments and motivations.
- Importance of Having a Good Website: The discussion focuses on how a website acts as a business extension and a crucial sales tool, compared to social media.
- Google Analytics and Tracking: An overview of basic tracking metrics, their importance, and the impact of AI and ChatGPT on search and analytics.
- Favorite Aspects and Challenges of Being a Website Business Owner: The guests share what they love about their work, the challenges they face, and the importance of outsourcing.
Timestamps:
- 03:29 Guest Introductions: Meet our guests as they share who they are and their unique takes on designing websites for dietitians.
- 03:51 Wellness Pro Website System: Whitney talks about her Wellness Pro website system and how it helps dietitians get online with ease.
- 04:50 Branding and Web Design Studio: Morgan talks about her studio that supports weight-inclusive clinicians with branding and website design.
- 05:58 WordPress, Support, and SEO: Courtney shares how she helps dietitians build solid WordPress sites with ongoing support and a focus on local SEO.
- 07:14 Journey from Dietitian to Designer: Hear how each guest made the leap from being a dietitian to becoming a website pro.
- 19:05 Importance of a Website: Speakers dive into why a website isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a key part of your business that works like a 24/7 salesperson.
- 26:56 Website Components and Planning: From domains to plugins, they break down the essentials of planning and setting up a professional site.
- 32:45 Maintenance and Technical Aspects: Discussion on website upkeep, especially what it takes to keep a WordPress site running smoothly.
- 42:13 Google Analytics and Tracking: They explore how to track what’s working (and what’s not) on your site using Google Analytics.
- 46:23 Impact of AI on Websites: A quick chat about how tools like ChatGPT and AI are shifting the digital landscape, especially around analytics and traffic.
- 51:56 Favorite Aspects and Challenges: Our guests reflect on what they love most about their work and the real challenges that come with running a website business.
This episode is your reminder that building an intentional, effective website is totally doable and a powerful way to grow your business.
About Whitney:
Whitney Bateson, MPH, RD, is a website strategist and marketing expert who has helped over 130 wellness professionals create high-converting websites that attract clients and grow their reach. As the creator of the Wellness Pro Website System, she has developed a proven, step-by-step framework that empowers business owners to launch beautiful, strategic websites - without the tech overwhelm.
Whitney is also the host of The Growth Show podcast, where she shares practical marketing strategies and website tips to help health and wellness entrepreneurs build profitable, sustainable businesses.
Find Whitney on Instagram: @whitneybateson
About Morgan:
Morgan Sinclair (she/her) is a multipassionate entrepreneur in Houston, Texas. She designs brands and websites for clinicians through Morgan Sinclair Designs, hosts trips through The Eating Expedition, and co-hosts the Weight Inclusive Innovators podcast. When not working, Morgan can most likely be found grabbing drinks with friends, signing up for a new hobby, or on her way to the airport for a weekend getaway.
Morgan is an extroverted Enneagram Type 7, feel-your-feelings, dessert-before-dinner kinda gal. When not working, Morgan can most likely be found grabbing drinks with friends, signing up for a new hobby (like getting her level 2 wine educator certification!), or on her way to the airport for a weekend getaway.
Find Morgan on Instagram: @morgansinclair
About Courtney:
Courtney is an anti-diet dietitian turned designer who swapped MyPlate for WordPress and now spends more time crafting websites than meal plans. These days, she’s the CEO of Declet Designs, where she helps weight-inclusive businesses shine online with websites, SEO, strategy, and branding that reflect their unique approach to health.
Before launching Declet Designs, Courtney was deep in the world of dietetics, running her own practice, Vickery Wellness, as an anti-diet dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. When she's not designing websites or teaching future dietitians, she's at home with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband of 15 years, their two kids, a dog named Oliver, and two cats, Finn and Callie. It’s a full house, but she wouldn’t have it any other way!
Find Courtney on Instagram: @decletdesigns
Want more from Pursuing Private Practice?
🗓️ Looking to start your private practice in just 30 days? Do it with our Open For Business toolkit: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/open-for-business/
📈 Want to get 3 new clients in just 3 days? Join the Get More Clients Challenge: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessplan/
🌟 Looking for the ultimate support system to build the private practice you’ve always dreamed of? Check out Business School: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/businessschool/
🌍 Are you ready to lead with confidence and expand your impact? EXPAND is your path to stepping into the role of CEO: https://pursuingprivatepractice.com/business-coaching/
Find us on Instagram @pursuing.private.practice