Case Study: Strong SEO Growth in 7 Months for a Healthcare Provider in San Diego
In 2025, a healthcare provider in San Diego partnered with Goforaeo to grow non branded organic visibility and increase qualified patient inquiries. The provider name is anonymized due to an NDA, and the metrics below come from GA4, Google Search Console, Google Business Profile insights, call tracking, and rank tracking for the dates listed.
Snapshot of Results
Timeframe: March 20, 2025 to October 20, 2025
Location: San Diego, California
Before vs after results:
- Monthly organic visitors: 1,100 to 3,900
- Monthly organic sessions: 1,420 to 5,060
- Monthly organic users: 980 to 3,420
- Service page clicks (GSC): 310 to 1,260 per month
- GBP actions: 260 to 980 per month (calls, directions, website clicks)
- Calls + inquiries from organic: 28 to 104 per month
- Tracked keywords on page 1: 11 to 44 terms
- Top 3 placements: 2 to 16 tracked terms
Context and Starting Point
San Diego search results are competitive across most healthcare services because large groups, hospital networks, and directories take up a big share of page 1. The provider had good care and reviews, but organic traffic was limited by thin service pages and weak topical structure. Many high intent queries had no dedicated landing page, and internal linking wasn’t pushing authority into pages that convert.
The provider also wanted more calls and appointment requests, not just traffic. So we improved SEO structure and conversion flow together.
Measurement Setup and Baseline
We cleaned tracking before launching major work so reporting was reliable. We also defined what counts as an inquiry and ensured calls and forms were attributed consistently.
What we set up
- GA4 events for call clicks, appointment clicks, and form submissions
- Call tracking for source attribution where possible
- Search Console segments for service pages and key queries
- Rank tracking for priority service terms in San Diego
- Looker Studio dashboard with weekly notes and change dates
What Was Limiting Growth
We audited technical SEO, content, internal linking, and local signals together. The provider was credible, but search signals were fragmented. Competitors had deeper service coverage, stronger intent alignment, and clearer internal linking.
Key issues found
- Core services were bundled into broad pages, reducing intent match
- Missing pages for high intent variations and condition searches
- Titles and meta descriptions didn’t win clicks, lowering CTR
- Internal linking didn’t guide authority to priority service pages
- Some templates loaded slowly on mobile, hurting engagement
- GBP services were not fully aligned with website services
- Citations had minor inconsistencies in NAP and hours
Strategy Overview
We built a 7 month plan to expand the ranking footprint and improve conversions. The approach combined technical cleanup, service page builds, supporting content clusters, internal linking, local alignment, and CRO.
Workstreams
- Technical SEO cleanup and crawl improvements
- Service page rebuilds with clear intent mapping
- Supporting content clusters for long tail discovery
- Internal linking system to distribute authority
- Local SEO alignment between website and GBP
- Conversion improvements for calls and appointment requests
Technical SEO and Foundation Fixes
We removed friction that slows indexing and reduces engagement. This helped new pages get discovered faster and made performance more stable.
Technical actions completed
- Fixed duplicate URLs, canonicals, and indexation issues
- Cleaned broken links, redirect chains, and orphan pages
- Improved mobile speed through image compression and script cleanup
- Improved crawl depth so priority services were easier to reach
- Added schema where eligible: LocalBusiness, MedicalOrganization, FAQ
- Cleaned sitemap priorities and ensured key pages were indexed
Service Pages That Drove Rankings
We rebuilt service pages so each one targeted a clear intent. Every page was written as a decision page with a direct booking path.
What we added to service pages
- Who it’s for and when to book sections
- Symptoms and common reasons people search that service
- Treatment approach and what to expect sections
- FAQ blocks based on Search Console queries
- Clear CTAs for call now and request appointment
- Trust cues near CTAs such as reviews, credentials, and insurance notes
Supporting Content Clusters That Expanded Traffic
To rank in competitive markets, service pages need supporting topical depth. We created clusters that captured early stage intent and routed users to booking pages through internal links.
Supporting content topics
- Condition explainers linked to relevant services
- “When to see a provider” pages that guide next steps
- Treatment prep and recovery expectations
- Insurance and new patient process guidance
Internal Linking and Architecture
We built a linking system that spread authority into high intent pages. This helped rankings stabilize and reduced reliance on a single page.
Linking system changes
- A service hub linking to every core service page
- Contextual links from blogs and condition pages into services
- Cross links between related services without overlap
- Cleaner navigation and breadcrumbs for clearer structure
- Consolidated overlapping pages to prevent cannibalization
Local SEO Work for San Diego
We aligned GBP, citations, and on site service naming so Google could match the provider to more near me searches. This supported both organic and Maps performance.
Local work completed
- Expanded GBP services with descriptions aligned to website pages
- Updated categories and attributes based on demand
- Added appointment links with UTM tracking
- Citation cleanup for consistent NAP and hours
- Improved location signals on service pages and contact pages
- Added LocalBusiness schema and consistent footer NAP formatting
Conversion Improvements
Traffic growth only matters if it turns into calls and bookings. We improved the booking path on top landing pages and reduced mobile friction.
CRO improvements
- Added sticky call CTA on mobile templates
- Improved above the fold booking sections on key pages
- Simplified appointment request forms
- Added trust blocks near CTAs and clarified next steps
- Improved page speed and reduced distractions on service pages
Tools Used
GA4, Google Search Console, Google Business Profile insights, call tracking, Looker Studio, Screaming Frog, PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, BrightLocal or Whitespark, rank tracking via Semrush/Ahrefs or similar.
Timeline With Dates, Monthly Numbers, and Natural Notes
March 20 to March 31, 2025
We ran the full audit, cleaned tracking, built a keyword to page map, and shipped quick technical fixes that impact crawl and indexing.
Month end metrics:
- Monthly organic visitors: ~1,100
- Service page clicks: ~310
- Inquiries (calls + forms): ~28
- Page 1 keywords: ~11
April 2025
We rebuilt the first set of core service pages, improved titles and meta for CTR, and started strengthening internal linking into booking pages.
Month end metrics:
- Monthly organic visitors: ~1,520
- Service page clicks: ~410
- Inquiries: ~36
- Page 1 keywords: ~16
May 2025
Supporting content clusters launched for key services, FAQs expanded using live queries, and GBP services were aligned with the new service pages.
Month end metrics:
- Monthly organic visitors: ~2,050
- Service page clicks: ~590
- Inquiries: ~54
- Page 1 keywords: ~24
June 2025
We improved site structure and internal linking, cleaned citations for stronger trust, and improved mobile speed on top templates.
Month end metrics:
- Monthly organic visitors: ~2,520
- Service page clicks: ~740
- Inquiries: ~67
- Page 1 keywords: ~30
July 2025
We scaled winning pages, refreshed underperformers, and improved conversion flow on the top landing pages to increase action rate.
Month end metrics:
- Monthly organic visitors: ~3,020
- Service page clicks: ~920
- Inquiries: ~81
- Page 1 keywords: ~36
August 2025
We doubled down on keywords close to top positions, expanded topical clusters, and maintained steady GBP engagement for stability.
Month end metrics:
- Monthly organic visitors: ~3,520
- Service page clicks: ~1,080
- Inquiries: ~93
- Page 1 keywords: ~41
September 1 to October 20, 2025
We focused on stability, tightened internal linking, refined snippets and CTAs, and continued local consistency work to protect gains.
Month end metrics:
- Monthly organic visitors: ~3,900
- Service page clicks: ~1,260
- Inquiries: ~104
- Page 1 keywords: ~44
Before and After Proof Summary
Growth came from adding more ranking entry points through stronger service pages and supporting clusters, then distributing authority through internal linking. Local alignment improved near me visibility, and conversion improvements ensured increased traffic turned into real inquiries.
- Monthly organic visitors: 1,100 to 3,900
- Service page clicks: 310 to 1,260
- Inquiries: 28 to 104
- Page 1 keywords: 11 to 44
What Made It Work
The biggest driver was structure and consistency. Once each service had a clear landing page and supporting content, rankings expanded across multiple intent types. Internal linking reduced volatility, and steady local signals helped the provider compete in a crowded San Diego market.