SEO Case Study: Achieved Top 3 Rankings in 5 Months for a B2B IT Staffing Firm in New York
In January 2025, a New York based B2B IT staffing firm partnered with Goforaeo to fix slow growth from search and build a steady flow of qualified hiring leads. They already had a website and services, but their visibility for high intent staffing searches was low and inconsistent.
This SEO Case Study shares what we did, what changed month by month, and the exact metrics we tracked inside SEO tools. All results below are from January 2025 to May 2025 for searches targeting New York.
Client snapshot: Who they are and what they sell
They are a B2B IT staffing firm serving companies across New York, with most placements in software engineering, infrastructure, cloud, data, and cybersecurity. Their core revenue came from contract staffing and direct hire roles for mid size and enterprise clients.
They had strong delivery and recruiters, but search traffic was not bringing enough hiring managers. Most inbound inquiries were referrals, and the website was not doing much heavy lifting.
Location and market reality: New York
New York is competitive for staffing keywords because you are not only competing with other agencies. You are also competing with large job boards, directories, and big national firms.
So the SEO approach had to be practical: win the right searches, show trust fast, and move visitors into calls and inquiry forms.
Dates, timeframe, and reporting setup
Start date: January 6, 2025
End date: May 31, 2025
Timeframe: 5 months
Primary location focus: New York, NY and nearby business hubs
We reported weekly for actions and fixes, and monthly for performance trends. Rankings were tracked daily and reviewed weekly so we could act quickly.
Tools used: Tracking and execution stack
We used a mix of free and paid tools to keep decisions based on data, not guesses:
- Google Search Console: queries, impressions, clicks, indexing, page performance
- Google Analytics 4: organic sessions, conversions, assisted conversions, engagement
- Semrush: keyword research, rank tracking, competitor gaps
- Ahrefs: backlink checks, link opportunities, content gaps
- Screaming Frog: crawl, technical SEO checks, internal links
- Google PageSpeed Insights: speed and Core Web Vitals checks
- GTmetrix: speed diagnostics and waterfall checks
- Looker Studio: monthly dashboards for the client team
- Hotjar: behavior patterns, scroll depth, click maps for key pages
- Google Business Profile: trust signals and branded visibility for New York
Before vs after: Proof in numbers
Below is the clearest view of what changed when comparing the first month to the fifth month.
Before: January 2025 baseline
In January 2025, organic visibility was low for hiring intent searches, and many pages were not built to match real search needs.
Key baseline metrics for January 2025:
- Organic sessions: 1,120
- Qualified lead actions from organic: 9
- Search Console impressions: 38,400
- Search Console clicks: 350
- Average CTR: 0.9%
- Average position across tracked keywords: 39.2
- Keywords in Top 3 positions: 0
- Keywords in Top 10 positions: 6
- Referring domains: 74
- Core Web Vitals status: many URLs flagged for performance and mobile usability
After: May 2025 results
By May 2025, the website had stronger pages, cleaner technical health, better internal linking, and content aligned to hiring intent.
Key outcome metrics for May 2025:
- Organic sessions: 4,860
- Qualified lead actions from organic: 41
- Search Console impressions: 162,000
- Search Console clicks: 3,900
- Average CTR: 2.4%
- Average position across tracked keywords: 18.6
- Keywords in Top 3 positions: 14
- Keywords in Top 10 positions: 38
- Referring domains: 112
- Core Web Vitals status: major improvement on priority landing pages
Ranking proof: Top 3 examples achieved in May 2025
By May 2025, we saw multiple high intent keywords reach Top 3. Examples include searches connected to hiring, staffing, and contract roles in New York.
- IT staffing New York: Top 3
- contract developers New York: Top 3
- cybersecurity staffing New York: Top 3
- data engineer staffing New York: Top 3
- IT recruiters New York: Top 3 for a closely related variant
These wins did not come from one trick. They came from doing the basics very well, then repeating them with a clean monthly plan.
What was holding the site back
In the first two weeks of January 2025, we audited the site and the search data. The main problem was not “lack of content” only. It was misalignment.
Here are the biggest blockers we found:
- Service pages were thin and too general for New York intent
- Many pages targeted the same broad keywords, causing overlap
- Titles and meta descriptions were not written for clicks
- Internal linking was weak, so Google had no clear page priorities
- Blog topics were generic, not tied to hiring decisions
- Contact paths were not clear, so even interested visitors dropped off
- Speed and mobile performance issues hurt key landing pages
What we decided early
We decided to focus on high intent pages first, not just top of funnel blogs.
That meant building strong service pages for New York hiring needs, then supporting them with content that answered real questions from hiring managers.
Strategy explanation: What we did and why it worked
We used a simple SEO system that stacks results over time. Each part supports the next.
1) Fix technical health so pages can compete
We started with crawl fixes and indexing clarity. If Google struggles to crawl or understand your site, rankings stay stuck.
Actions we took:
- Cleaned up index bloat by removing low value tag like pages
- Fixed broken links, redirect chains, and duplicate title issues
- Improved XML sitemap structure and resubmitted in Search Console
- Tightened canonical tags so the right page ranks for the right query
- Improved page speed on priority service pages and core templates
- Fixed mobile layout issues that were affecting engagement
Result: pages got discovered faster, and the site became easier to understand.
2) Build a clear New York service structure
The site needed a simple structure: one main service page per intent, plus supporting pages that connect naturally.
We created a service map focused on hiring intent:
- IT staffing in New York
- Contract staffing for software roles
- Direct hire tech recruitment
- Role based pages for in demand hiring areas like cloud, cybersecurity, data
Each page had clear sections for:
- Who it is for
- Roles covered
- Process and timeline
- Screening approach
- Industries served in New York
- Proof points and FAQs
- Strong calls to action
Result: Google started treating these pages as the main answers for New York searches.
3) Write content that supports buying decisions
We avoided fluffy content. We published content that hiring managers and procurement teams actually read.
Content angles that worked well:
- Hiring timelines and what slows down recruitment
- Contract vs direct hire comparisons for tech roles
- Rate guides and market signals for New York
- Screening checklists for high risk roles like cybersecurity
- Interview templates and role scorecards
Result: content supported service pages, improved internal linking, and brought in long tail leads.
4) Strengthen on page SEO for rankings and clicks
Rankings are not only about content length. It is also about clarity, relevance, and click appeal.
On each priority page, we improved:
- Page title format for New York intent
- Meta descriptions written like a real offer, not a summary
- Headings that match how people search
- Shorter paragraphs for readability
- FAQ sections based on Search Console queries
- Trust blocks: certifications, process, client types, case proof snippets
Result: CTR improved and pages climbed faster once they entered the top 20.
5) Build authority with clean links and brand mentions
We did not chase random links. We focused on relevant placements that made sense for a New York staffing brand.
Link activities included:
- Outreach to business blogs and tech communities
- Partner and vendor relationship links where appropriate
- PR style mentions for hiring insights content
- Reclaiming unlinked brand mentions
- Fixing broken backlinks pointing to old URLs
Result: authority improved steadily and rankings became more stable.
6) Improve conversion paths so traffic turns into leads
Traffic without actions is not a win. We made it easier for the right visitor to contact the team.
Conversion improvements:
- Added clear CTAs above the fold on service pages
- Added shorter inquiry forms for mobile users
- Improved “request talent” messaging to match B2B language
- Added proof blocks near CTAs to reduce doubt
- Used Hotjar to remove friction points on key pages
Result: lead actions grew faster than traffic because pages converted better.
Monthly plan with actions and performance data
This is the exact monthly rollout from January 2025 to May 2025, including what we shipped and the numbers we tracked. No tables, only clear bullets.
January 2025: Audit, fixes, and first priority pages
We used January to stop leaks and build the base. Without this, content would not stick.
Work completed:
- Full technical crawl and index cleanup plan
- Fixed top priority technical issues across templates
- Rewrote titles and meta descriptions for key pages
- Built and refreshed 2 core service pages for New York intent
- Set up rank tracking and monthly reporting dashboards
January performance:
- Organic sessions: 1,120
- Qualified lead actions: 9
- Impressions: 38,400
- Clicks: 350
- Keywords in Top 10: 6
- New referring domains gained: 3
- Pages improved or launched: 5
February 2025: Service expansion and internal linking push
February was about building enough strong pages so Google can see a clear topic focus.
Work completed:
- Added 3 role focused pages tied to New York hiring needs
- Built a better internal linking structure between service and role pages
- Added FAQ blocks based on real Search Console queries
- Improved speed on 5 highest traffic pages
- Started link outreach with a focus on relevant business and tech sites
February performance:
- Organic sessions: 1,760
- Qualified lead actions: 14
- Impressions: 55,900
- Clicks: 780
- Keywords in Top 10: 11
- Keywords in Top 3: 2
- New referring domains gained: 7
- Pages improved or launched: 6
March 2025: Content that targets hiring manager questions
March is where we started seeing compounding gains. The site had more coverage and better page relationships.
Work completed:
- Published 6 hiring focused content pieces supporting service pages
- Created 2 comparison pages focused on common decision points
- Added stronger trust signals and proof sections on service pages
- Continued outreach and secured placements on relevant sites
- Improved schema basics for organization and FAQs on priority pages
March performance:
- Organic sessions: 2,680
- Qualified lead actions: 22
- Impressions: 92,300
- Clicks: 1,650
- Keywords in Top 10: 21
- Keywords in Top 3: 6
- New referring domains gained: 10
- Pages improved or launched: 9
April 2025: Push winners, update content, and tighten relevance
April was about doubling down on what was already moving. We improved pages already ranking between positions 4 and 15.
Work completed:
- Updated 8 pages with better sections, FAQs, and clearer intent matching
- Built supporting internal links from blogs to money pages
- Added location context naturally for New York without keyword stuffing
- Improved conversion sections and form layout based on Hotjar findings
- Continued link building and reclaimed a set of brand mentions
April performance:
- Organic sessions: 3,740
- Qualified lead actions: 33
- Impressions: 131,500
- Clicks: 2,720
- Keywords in Top 10: 31
- Keywords in Top 3: 10
- New referring domains gained: 8
- Pages improved or launched: 10
May 2025: Top 3 breakthrough month and lead lift
May is when several priority terms entered Top 3 and stayed there. This is also when inbound lead quality improved, not just volume.
Work completed:
- Refreshed main service pages again for clarity and conversion
- Built 4 new pages targeting high intent New York role searches
- Expanded internal linking with a structured hub approach
- Secured additional authority links from relevant sites
- Added stronger snippets for SERP clicks, including FAQ targeting
May performance:
- Organic sessions: 4,860
- Qualified lead actions: 41
- Impressions: 162,000
- Clicks: 3,900
- Keywords in Top 10: 38
- Keywords in Top 3: 14
- New referring domains gained: 10
- Pages improved or launched: 12
What made this work: The simple reasons
This result was not luck. It was the result of doing the right work in the right order.
Key reasons the campaign performed well:
- We fixed crawl and page quality issues first
- We built pages around real New York hiring intent
- We avoided random content and focused on decision support topics
- We improved internal links so Google understood page priorities
- We built trust on page and off page at the same time
- We improved conversion paths so growth showed up in leads, not only traffic
Small details that had a big impact
These are the kinds of changes many teams skip, but they often decide whether you move from page one to Top 3.
- Rewriting page titles to match how B2B buyers search
- Adding proof and process sections close to CTAs
- Updating old pages instead of only publishing new ones
- Building FAQ blocks based on actual query data
- Cleaning up overlapping pages so one clear page can win
Challenges we faced and how we handled them
Every fast ranking campaign hits friction. Here is what we ran into.
- Competitive SERPs: we focused on long tail New York intent first, then moved upward
- Slow trust at the start: we improved proof, links, and relevance together
- Content approval delays: we created a simple approval system so content did not get stuck
- Tracking lead quality: we aligned GA4 events with real lead stages, not just form submits
Final outcomes by May 31, 2025
Here is what the client had by the end of May 2025:
- Multiple high intent New York staffing keywords ranking in Top 3
- Organic sessions up from 1,120 to 4,860
- Qualified lead actions up from 9 to 41
- Clicks up from 350 to 3,900
- Keywords in Top 10 up from 6 to 38
- Stronger site structure that supports future expansion into more roles and industries
How Goforaeo runs SEO case studies like this
We keep it simple and consistent. A strong base, clear intent pages, content that supports decisions, and steady authority work.
If you are an agency, B2B service provider, or staffing firm trying to grow in a competitive city like New York, this approach is repeatable when you stick to the process and measure monthly.
Quick recap of the process used
- Week 1 to Week 2: technical audit, quick fixes, tracking setup
- Month 1 to Month 2: core service pages, internal links, initial authority
- Month 3 to Month 4: supporting content, updates, conversion improvements
- Month 5: push pages close to Top 3, strengthen trust, expand winning topics