Overview of the case study
This case study focuses on the significant increase in keyword rankings on the first page of Google search results within a six-month period, specifically from April 2019 to September 2019. It highlights the strategies and techniques implemented to achieve this boost in rankings.
Mention the significant increase in keywords ranked on the first page of Google search results in six months (April 2019-September 2019)
During the specified timeframe, there was a substantial improvement in the number of keywords that ranked on the first page of Google’s search results. In April 2019, there were 1640 keywords ranking on page 1, and by September 2019, this number increased to 3461 keywords. This represents a significant growth of 1821 keywords in just six months. Additionally, among these keywords, 495 ranked among the top 3 positions in April 2019, which increased to 1027 by September 2019.
Initial Keyword Rankings (April 2019)
Number of keywords ranked on page 1 of Google: 1640 In April 2019, the website experienced a considerable number of keywords ranking on the first page of Google search results. A total of 1640 keywords achieved this feat, indicating a strong presence in organic search.
Keywords ranked in the top 3 positions: 495 Out of the 1640 keywords that ranked on the first page, 495 of them secured highly coveted positions within the top 3 spots in the search engine results pages (SERPs). This indicates a solid performance in terms of keyword competitiveness and visibility, as top positions often receive the highest click-through rates and organic traffic.
SEO Strategies Implemented
Strategy 1: Focus on User Intent
- Importance of addressing user search intent: The strategy emphasizes understanding and fulfilling the intent behind users’ search queries. By creating content that directly addresses users’ questions and provides valuable information, the website aims to improve rankings and user satisfaction.
- Creating content that answers users’ questions: The website focuses on producing content that specifically addresses the questions and needs of its target audience. This approach helps align the content with user intent and increases the likelihood of ranking well in search results.
- Example of successful ranking by targeting user intent: The case study provides an example where an article titled “The Future of Social Media Marketing – 11 Trends That will Impact Your Business” successfully ranked in the top 3 positions in the SERPs by effectively targeting and answering users’ questions about the future of social media marketing.
Strategy 2: Utilize TF-IDF Formula
- Explanation of TF-IDF and its significance: TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) is a formula used to measure the importance of a term within a document in relation to its occurrence across multiple documents. This strategy utilizes TF-IDF to identify unique terms related to the topic covered in the website’s posts.
- Analyzing top-ranking articles and incorporating unique terms: By analyzing the content of top-ranking articles, the website identifies unique terms and incorporates them naturally into its own content. This helps the website stand out and demonstrate relevance to search engines.
- Achieving remarkable results through TF-IDF optimization: The case study showcases how implementing TF-IDF optimization has resulted in significant improvements in rankings and organic visibility, contributing to the increase in keyword rankings.
Strategy 3: Update Already-Published Content
- Balancing fresh content creation and updating existing content: The strategy involves not only creating new high-quality content but also taking the time to update previously published content. This approach allows the website to maintain a posting frequency while ensuring that existing content remains up-to-date and relevant.
- Benefits of content upgrades and improved indexing: Updating existing content provides an opportunity for better indexing by search engines. It also helps the website gain improved visibility and rankings for older posts that receive updates.
- Example of updated posts ranking on the first page of Google: The case study presents a screenshot demonstrating how the website’s updated posts ranked on the first page of Google search results, highlighting the effectiveness of this strategy.
Strategy 4: Get More Brand Mentions and Backlinks
- Building high-quality backlinks through guest posting and contributions: The website actively engages in guest posting on authoritative websites within its niche, such as Forbes and Social Media Today, to build high-quality backlinks. Contributing valuable content helps reach new audiences and establish credibility.
- Increase in backlinks received between April 2019-September 2019: The case study includes a screenshot showcasing the increase in the number of backlinks received during the six-month period, indicating the success of the strategy.
- Gaining brand mentions through expert roundups and other engagements: Participating in expert roundups, interviews, conferences, webinars, and podcasts allows the website to gain brand mentions and increase its visibility within the industry.
Strategy 5: Distribute Content
- Syndicating content on social media and content curation sites: The website ensures that its content reaches the right audience by syndicating it on social media platforms and content curation sites such as Medium, Quora, and LinkedIn.
- Contributing to other platforms and Medium Publications: In addition to syndication, the website contributes to other platforms and Medium Publications to expand its reach and gain exposure to new audiences.
Strategy 6: Experiment with Content Frequency and Volume
- Emphasizing the importance of consistency: Consistency in content creation is crucial for maintaining audience engagement and search engine visibility. The case study highlights the significance of consistent posting.
- Increasing content frequency and volume with fresh topics and content upgrades: To further boost content production, the website increased its content frequency and volume by incorporating fresh topics and content upgrades. This approach helps attract and retain readers while signaling search engines about the website’s relevance and activity.
- Publishing 13 posts per week with a specific breakdown: The case study mentions that the website published approximately 13 posts per week, which included one educational blog post, nine content upgrades, and three weekly roundups. This diverse content mix allowed for a consistent flow of valuable information for the audience.
Results (September 2019):
Number of keywords ranked on page 1 of Google
The website experienced a substantial increase in keyword rankings on the first page of Google search results, with a total of 3,461 keywords achieving this position.
Keywords ranked in the top 3 positions
Out of the 3,461 keywords ranked on the first page, 1,027 keywords secured a place within the top 3 positions in the SERPs. This indicates a strong performance and high visibility for those keywords.
Visual representation of the keyword growth
Unfortunately, the specific visual representation or chart illustrating the keyword growth was not provided in the given information.
Conclusion
Recap of the strategies and their impact on keyword rankings
Throughout the SEO case study, ShaneBarker.com implemented several effective strategies to boost keyword rankings
Focusing on user intent: By creating content that addressed users’ search intent, they achieved higher rankings and positions in the SERPs.
- Utilizing the TF-IDF formula: Analyzing top-ranking articles and incorporating unique terms related to the topic helped optimize their content for higher search rankings.
- Updating already-published content: By regularly updating existing content, they not only published more frequently but also improved the ranking of their older posts.
- Acquiring more brand mentions and backlinks: Contributing to authoritative websites and participating in various industry-related activities helped build high-quality backlinks and increase brand mentions.
- Distributing content effectively: Syndicating content on social media platforms and contributing to relevant publications helped reach a wider audience.
- Experimenting with content frequency and volume: Increasing the number of fresh topics, content upgrades, and consistent posting helped maintain a high posting frequency.
Overall success achieved in boosting SERP positions
The implemented strategies resulted in a significant boost in SERP positions for ShaneBarker.com. From April 2019 to September 2019, the number of keywords ranked on the first page of Google increased from 1,640 to 3,461. Additionally, the number of keywords ranked in the top 3 positions rose from 495 to 1,027.
Significance of ongoing SEO efforts
The case study highlights the importance of ongoing SEO efforts. While the strategies implemented in the given time period led to significant improvements, it’s crucial to continue optimizing and adapting to search engine algorithms to maintain and further improve keyword rankings. Ongoing SEO efforts help ensure the website remains competitive and visible in the ever-evolving search landscape.
Overall, ShaneBarker.com’s successful boost in keyword rankings demonstrates the effectiveness of the implemented strategies and emphasizes the importance of ongoing SEO efforts for long-term success in search engine rankings.
Resource:https://shanebarker.com/blog/seo-keyword-case-study/