How Cracked Agency Drove a 305% Increase in Organic Traffic for a Travel Platform

Explosive Growth: How Cracked Agency Drove a 305% Increase in Organic Traffic for a Travel Platform

Clients:

Travel & Tourism (Explore.com)

Agency:

Cracked Agency

Problem Statement

In the competitive world of online travel platforms, standing out requires a strategic and multifaceted approach. This case study examines how Cracked Agency partnered with a comprehensive travel platform (the Client) to achieve an impressive 305% increase in organic traffic within ten months.

The Challenge: Revamping a Stagnant Travel Platform

The Client, a well-established travel platform, offers a wide range of resources for trip planning, including destination recommendations, travel guides, and packing tips. Despite its long history, the website struggled to gain traction, particularly during its recent phase as a travel and tourism hub. By 2021, the site’s performance was dismal, with minimal organic traffic and visibility.

In November 2022, the platform underwent a significant change in ownership, marking the beginning of its transformation.

Cracked Agency's Approach: A Comprehensive SEO Strategy

Targeting Long-Tail Keywords

One of the primary strategies was to target long-tail keywords to attract highly specific search queries with clear user intent. This approach involved a massive content expansion:

Before Acquisition (October 2022): 239 pages, 72 visits
After Acquisition (November 2022): 2,432 pages, 52K visits

By September 2023, the platform boasted 5,054 pages, significantly enhancing its keyword rankings. Key articles focused on niche topics, such as celebrity spots in Las Vegas and comparisons of alternative airports to LAX, which ranked highly for relevant long-tail keywords.

Implementing Schema Markup

To enhance the visibility of its content on search engine results pages (SERPs), Cracked Agency implemented schema markup across the Client’s website. This structured data helped secure rich snippets, which are enhanced search results displaying additional information directly on the SERP.

Types of schema implemented included:

Article
Author
Brand
Breadcrumb
Image
Organization

Building High-Quality Backlinks

Another critical component of the SEO strategy was acquiring high-quality backlinks. By September 2023, the Client’s platform had gained 291K backlinks, including 19 authoritative links with high domain authority scores. This influx was largely due to strategic interlinking with other brands owned by the new parent company, enhancing the platform’s credibility and trust with search engines.

The Results: A Dramatic Traffic Increase

The implementation of these SEO strategies resulted in substantial organic traffic growth:

Initial Spike (November 2022): From 172 visits to 52K visits
Continued Growth (September 2023): 212,020 organic visits

This remarkable increase was driven by a combination of targeted content, technical SEO enhancements, and strategic backlinking.

Key Takeaways: Strategies for Success

The Client’s success story offers valuable insights for other businesses looking to enhance their online presence:

Target Long-Tail Keywords: Focusing on specific search queries can attract more targeted and convertible traffic.
Implement Schema Markup: Structured data can significantly improve search result visibility and click-through rates.
Build Quality Backlinks: High-authority backlinks are crucial for establishing website credibility and improving search rankings.

Conclusion

By partnering with Cracked Agency, the Client transformed its online presence and achieved unprecedented growth in organic traffic. This case study underscores the power of a well-executed SEO strategy in driving traffic and enhancing visibility in a competitive digital landscape.