Case Study: Ranked “Pain Clinic Near Me” from Page 4 to Top 3 in 5 Months in San Antonio
In 2025, a pain management clinic in San Antonio partnered with Goforaeo to move “pain clinic near me” and related high intent terms from page 4 to the top 3 positions, while increasing calls and appointment requests from organic search and Google Maps. The clinic name is anonymized due to an NDA, and the metrics below come from Google Search Console, GA4, local rank tracking, Google Business Profile insights, and call tracking for the dates listed.
Snapshot of Results
Timeframe: April 10, 2025 to September 10, 2025
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Before vs after results:
- Primary keyword movement: average position ~36 to ~2.8 (page 4 to top 3)
- Top 3 keywords (tracked): 0 to 8
- Page 1 keywords (tracked): 3 to 22
- Clicks to pain pages (GSC): 90 to 410 per month
- Impressions to pain pages (GSC): 2,900 to 14,200 per month
- Organic inquiries (calls + forms): 12 to 54 per month
- GBP actions: 240 to 980 per month
- Map pack placements (tracked): 2 to 10 service keywords
Context and Starting Point
“Near me” pain searches in San Antonio are competitive because large hospitals, ortho groups, and established pain clinics fight for the same map pack spots. The clinic had strong care, but Google wasn’t confident enough to show it for broad near me terms. The site had a general pain page, but it didn’t match intent well, and GBP service depth plus trust signals were not strong enough to win top positions.
We focused on making the clinic the best match for near me intent by improving three things together: service relevance, local trust, and engagement signals.
Measurement Setup
We cleaned tracking first so progress was measurable and consistent across channels. We also tracked both organic rankings and map pack rankings because near me terms often show local results first.
What we set up
- Rank tracking for “pain clinic near me” and service variations in San Antonio
- Map pack grid tracking across key zip areas to capture proximity shifts
- Search Console segments for pain pages and related queries
- GA4 events for call clicks, appointment clicks, and form submissions
- GBP insights tracking for discovery searches and actions
- Call tracking for website vs GBP calls (where possible)
- Looker Studio dashboard with weekly notes and change dates
Diagnosis: Why the Keyword Was Stuck on Page 4
We compared the clinic’s pages and listing to the top ranking competitors. The biggest gap was not “more content,” it was “clear intent matching plus local trust consistency.”
Key issues found
- The main pain page tried to cover too many treatments without clear sections
- Missing pages for common pain problems people search (back pain, neck pain, sciatica, joint pain)
- Weak “near me” support: San Antonio signals weren’t reinforced consistently
- GBP services were incomplete and lacked descriptions
- Citations had small NAP differences and a duplicate listing existed
- Reviews were present but review velocity and response cadence were inconsistent
- CTAs were not strong above the fold on mobile
- Titles and meta descriptions were generic, lowering CTR
Strategy Overview
We used a five month sprint system designed for competitive local terms. The core idea was to make Google and users see the clinic as the most relevant pain clinic for San Antonio searches, then maintain engagement signals so the ranking stuck.
Workstreams
- Rebuild the main “pain clinic” page for near me intent
- Build supporting condition and treatment pages
- Strengthen internal linking into the main page
- Optimize GBP services, posts, photos, and Q&A
- Clean citations and remove duplicates to strengthen trust
- Improve snippets and CTR for faster ranking movement
- Improve conversion flow so higher rankings created more calls
Core Page Rebuild: “Pain Clinic” Landing Page
We rebuilt the main page as a decision page that matches what people want when they search “pain clinic near me.”
What we added and improved
- Clear above the fold service confirmation and San Antonio context
- “Conditions we treat” sections written in simple patient language
- “Treatments offered” sections without over promising outcomes
- “Who it’s for” and “when to book” blocks to match urgent intent
- Insurance and referral notes if applicable
- FAQs built from Search Console and People Also Ask questions
- Strong mobile CTAs for call now, request appointment, and directions
- Trust signals near CTAs: provider credentials, reviews, clinic process
Supporting Pages That Helped Move Rankings Faster
To move from page 4 to top 3, we built pages that matched the most common pain searches and linked them back to the main pain clinic page. This built topical authority and improved relevance.
Pages built or expanded
- Back pain clinic in San Antonio
- Neck pain and headache related pain support
- Sciatica pain treatment support
- Knee and joint pain evaluation
- Pain injections information page (if offered)
- Sports injury pain support (if offered)
- Post injury and post surgery pain support (if applicable)
Each page included symptoms, when to seek care, what to expect, and strong booking CTAs.
Internal Linking and Site Structure
Internal linking was one of the highest leverage actions. We ensured authority flowed into the main page and users could find the right topic quickly.
Linking changes
- Main pain clinic page linked to every condition page
- Condition pages linked back to the main pain clinic page
- Added related services blocks across key templates
- Updated navigation to include the pain clinic hub
- Linked from blogs and FAQs into high intent pages
- Fixed orphan pages and cleaned broken links
Local SEO and Google Business Profile Improvements
Near me rankings rely heavily on local pack performance. We treated GBP as a conversion channel and improved its completeness and activity.
GBP improvements
- Updated categories and expanded services with descriptions
- Added appointment link with UTM tracking
- Weekly posts on availability, common pain conditions, and treatment education
- New photo plan: exterior, clinic interior, staff, equipment, patient friendly visuals
- Improved Q&A with the most common booking questions
- Review workflow improvements and consistent response cadence
Citation Cleanup and Trust Consistency
Small NAP inconsistencies can block map pack gains. We cleaned major directories first, then healthcare specific platforms.
What we fixed
- Standardized name, address, phone, and hours across major platforms
- Removed duplicate listings and merged profiles where possible
- Updated website URL and appointment links consistently
- Added a few niche citations relevant to pain management where competitors were listed
Snippet and CTR Improvements
We rewrote titles and meta descriptions to match “near me” intent while staying natural. Better CTR helped ranking movement once impressions increased.
Snippet changes
- Titles emphasized pain clinic in San Antonio and same day care intent where accurate
- Meta descriptions explained booking steps, location, and trust cues
- Headings aligned to the language shown in Search Console queries
- FAQ formatting improved rich results eligibility
Conversion Improvements That Increased Calls
We improved conversion flow so top rankings turned into inquiries.
CRO updates
- Sticky call button on mobile
- CTAs above the fold and after key sections
- Simplified appointment request form
- Clear “what happens next” after booking
- Improved contact blocks with hours and directions
Tools Used
GA4, Google Search Console, Google Business Profile insights, call tracking, Looker Studio, BrightLocal or Whitespark, Screaming Frog, PageSpeed Insights, Lighthouse, Semrush/Ahrefs, Microsoft Clarity or Hotjar.
Timeline With Dates, Monthly Numbers, and Natural Notes
April 10 to April 30, 2025
We audited San Antonio SERPs, cleaned tracking, rebuilt the main pain clinic page, and started internal linking from existing pages into the new hub. GBP services were expanded to improve discovery coverage.
Month end metrics:
- Avg position (primary term): ~36
- Pain page impressions: ~2,900
- Pain page clicks: ~90
- Organic inquiries: ~12
- GBP actions: ~240
May 2025
We launched the first set of condition pages, improved titles and meta descriptions for CTR, and started citation cleanup for trust consistency. GBP posts and photos were made consistent to improve engagement.
Month end metrics:
- Avg position: ~18
- Impressions: ~6,500
- Clicks: ~170
- Organic inquiries: ~22
- GBP actions: ~420
June 2025
We expanded content depth, added FAQs based on real queries, strengthened internal linking into pages sitting near positions 8 to 20, and improved mobile CTAs for calls and booking.
Month end metrics:
- Avg position: ~9.4
- Impressions: ~9,800
- Clicks: ~260
- Organic inquiries: ~34
- GBP actions: ~610
July 2025
We tightened local trust signals by cleaning more citations and improving review workflow and responses. We also refined the main page and condition pages based on query movement and user engagement.
Month end metrics:
- Avg position: ~5.6
- Impressions: ~12,400
- Clicks: ~340
- Organic inquiries: ~45
- GBP actions: ~780
August 10 to September 10, 2025
We doubled down on the terms closest to top 3, improved snippets, maintained GBP activity, and strengthened conversion flow. Rankings stabilized in top positions as engagement stayed consistent.
Month end metrics:
- Avg position: ~2.8
- Impressions: ~14,200
- Clicks: ~410
- Organic inquiries: ~54
- GBP actions: ~980
Before and After Proof Summary
The keyword moved from page 4 to top 3 because the clinic became a stronger match for near me intent. The main page was rebuilt for decision intent, supporting pages increased topical authority, internal linking pushed relevance, and local trust signals became consistent. GBP completeness and activity improved engagement, which helped positions hold.
- Avg position: ~36 to ~2.8
- Clicks: 90 to 410 per month
- Impressions: 2,900 to 14,200 per month
- Organic inquiries: 12 to 54 per month
- GBP actions: 240 to 980 per month
What Made It Work
The biggest driver was alignment. Once the website pages, GBP services, and citations all matched the same San Antonio pain intent, Google had more confidence to rank the clinic for broad near me searches. Consistent engagement signals and better conversion flow helped keep the top 3 spot stable.