Reversing a Multi-Year Traffic Decline with High-Intent Local SEO
How focused local page optimization drove +47% YoY session growth and deeper engagement in under 90 days
The Challenge

A Multi-Year Organic Traffic Decline Driven by Shifting Search Behavior

For this client, site traffic has been down year-over-year for several years in a row. With no signs of natural recovery. Historically, blog-led SEO had driven growth. But AI-generated search results were increasingly answering top-funnel questions directly in SERPs, cutting clicks off at the source. Informational content was no longer pulling its weight. But local traffic was still working. Local visitors were engaged, more qualified, and more likely to convert. The key local pages that served them, however, were under-optimized, thin on content, and leaving demand on the table. Without a pivot, organic would continue to decline, even as high-intent local searches remained strong.
The Solution

Refocusing SEO on High-Intent Local Pages to Drive Conversions

We shifted focus away from broad, informational SEO queries and doubled down on local, high-intent pages where real patients were actively searching for this client’s services. Our approach was targeted and practical: Re-optimized priority local pages Strengthened local keyword targeting across titles, headers, and on-page copy Introduced Q&A-style content blocks using refined header formatting to capture intent-driven queries Filled major content gaps, including expanding a page that previously had little-to-no substantive copy Added conversion-supporting local signals: Direct link to the client’s Google Business Profile Embedded interactive Google Map Reinforced topical authority with intentional internal linking between service and location pages The goal was better traffic from more engaged visitors. That’s what converts.
The Results

Local Optimizations Deliver +47% YoY Session Growth and Deeper Engagement

The results were both fast and decisive. After implementation in February 2025, the optimized local pages: Returned to positive YoY performance by May 2025 Sessions saw +32% YoY growth in May and +47% YoY growth in June Average engagement time saw +91% YoY growth in May and +53% YoY growth in June Search behavior is shifting. Click-through rates are shrinking. But this healthcare client reversed a multi-year decline with a precise SEO shift that focused on local intent that AI just can’t replace.

Explore More Results

Expore Insights
Blog Posts

Mat Ingham

January 29, 2026

Modern SEO Measurement Playbook

The search landscape is evolving, yet most marketers use an outdated SEO measurement playbook. With the emergence of AI search, measuring visibility through brand mentions and citations has become a critical part of the equation. The brands that win won’t be the ones chasing rankings and traffic. They’ll be the ones measuring what truly drives business growth.

read more
Blog Posts

Jordan Crawford

February 12, 2026

AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Personalization. Are You Ready?

Google is expanding Personal Intelligence into AI Mode, allowing users to connect their Gmail and Google Photos to drive personalized results. When connected, this means search results are no longer based just on what you type — they’re shaped by what’s in your inbox, what you’ve purchased, and how you live online. That’s a massive shift. And it plays right into Google’s hands.

read more