SEO Case Study: How a FinTech Startup Increased App Registrations by 320%
On June 9, 2025, a Menlo Park based FinTech startup partnered with Goforaeo because their product was growing through referrals and paid campaigns, but organic signups were not scaling. They were getting some branded traffic, yet most high intent searches were going to larger finance apps. The team wanted a steady channel that could deliver registrations without paying for every click.
This case study explains the strategy we implemented from June 2025 through November 2025, with monthly reporting and clear before and after proof. The core result was a 320% increase in app registrations from organic search, measured through analytics events and product registration tracking.
- Location: Menlo Park, California.
- Start date: June 9, 2025.
- Measurement window: June 2025 to November 2025.
- Primary conversion tracked: completed app registrations from organic search.
- Secondary signals tracked: organic sessions, registration conversion rate, onboarding completion, and assisted conversions.
Startup background and what was blocking growth
The client offers a mobile first finance app that helps users manage spending, automate saving, and see real time insights. Their product experience was strong, and paid campaigns were generating users, but the cost per registration kept rising. They needed search traffic that could convert, especially from users actively looking for a finance tool.
Before partnering with Goforaeo, the website was thin. It had a homepage, a few product pages, and some blog content that was not connected to a clear strategy. Many pages were not targeting specific search intent, and the site did not explain features in a way that matched what users search for.
Their biggest problem was intent mismatch. People searching for budgeting app comparisons, automated savings, or cash flow tracking were landing on pages that did not answer their questions quickly. That created drop offs, which limited registrations even when traffic came in.
Project scope and tracking rules
We kept the project tight so progress could be measured without confusion. We tracked app registrations only when the user completed the full registration step, not just a click to download. This prevented inflated numbers and made results easier to trust.
The campaign focused on SEO work that could move acquisition directly. That included technical fixes, feature pages, comparison pages, and content that supports decision making. We also tracked onboarding completion as a quality signal, because registrations mean more when users actually start using the app.
What we counted as an app registration
We counted an app registration only when a user completed the account creation step and reached the confirmation screen. This event was tracked inside analytics and verified using product registration logs.
- Registration complete event in analytics, attributed to organic search.
- Matching count in product registration tracking for the same period.
Baseline snapshot and measurement setup
During June 9, 2025 to June 16, 2025, we validated GA4 events, attribution rules, and Google Search Console coverage. We also reviewed the app store landing flow to ensure we were not losing users between the website and the app.
Baseline month used for comparison was May 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025. In that month, organic sessions were 9,800, and app registrations from organic search were 50. The registration conversion rate from organic sessions was 0.51%.
We also recorded early quality signals. Onboarding completion rate for organic registrations was 41%, which showed there was room to improve the match between search intent and product expectations.
- Baseline organic sessions: 9,800.
- Baseline app registrations from organic: 50.
- Baseline onboarding completion for organic registrations: 41%.
Strategy overview: why this SEO approach worked in FinTech
We did not try to rank for every finance keyword, because that usually brings low intent traffic and compliance headaches. Instead, we focused on searches that show the user is actively looking for a tool, like budgeting app for students, automated savings app, expense tracker with insights, and best app to track subscriptions.
The strategy followed a clear order to build momentum. We fixed technical issues first so pages could rank and load fast on mobile. Then we built feature pages and comparison pages that matched what users search. After that, we expanded content that supports decision making and strengthened trust signals, which is critical in FinTech.
What we built and why it converted
In finance, people do not register unless they trust the brand. So we focused on clarity and proof. Each core page explained the feature, who it is for, how data is handled, and what the user gets right away after signing up.
We also tightened the path from page to registration. Instead of sending users to generic app store pages, we guided them to the most relevant signup flow based on their intent, and we improved messaging around the registration step.
Phase 1: Technical SEO and performance fixes
In June 2025, we began with a crawl and indexation audit to identify technical and content issues impacting organic performance. The review surfaced duplicate metadata, weak internal linking, and slow mobile load times. We also found that a portion of the blog was being indexed despite offering limited value to users, contributing to crawl waste.
Based on these findings, we implemented a focused set of improvements:
- Core Web Vitals upgrades on key landing pages, with additional mobile page speed improvements across signup and feature pages.
- Redirect cleanup to remove inefficiencies and ensure a clean, reliable crawl path.
- Duplicate title and thin content cleanup, including pruning or de-indexing pages that did not merit indexation.
- Internal linking rebuild to strengthen the site hierarchy and concentrate authority on high-intent, registration-driving conversion pages.
- Structured data enhancements where appropriate, to improve clarity for search engines and support eligible rich results.
Phase 2: Feature pages and intent based landing pages
From late June through July 2025, we built focused landing pages for the features users actually search for. Each page was written in simple language with clear sections. We avoided heavy finance jargon and focused on the real outcome, like save automatically, track spending, or reduce subscription waste.
These pages were designed to rank and convert. They included comparisons, FAQs, and short proof points like reviews and security notes. They also included a direct next step to register, with messaging matched to the page intent.
- Automated savings and rules based saving pages.
- Budgeting and spending insights pages.
- Subscription tracking pages.
- Student and family budgeting pages.
Phase 3: Comparison and alternative pages
In FinTech, comparison searches are high intent. People type things like best budgeting app, app like Mint, or alternatives to other platforms. These searches often convert well because the user is close to choosing.
We created fair comparison pages that explained differences clearly. We focused on who the app is best for, what it does better, and what the trial or onboarding looks like. These pages also improved trust because they felt honest.
- Best budgeting app pages with clear criteria.
- Alternatives pages for common comparison searches.
- Pricing and feature comparison sections written in plain words.
Phase 4: Trust and conversion improvements
In August 2025, we saw traffic rising, but we wanted more registrations per visit. We improved trust elements like security notes, data handling explanations, and clearer onboarding expectations.
We also improved the registration funnel by reducing friction between landing pages and registration. For example, we used intent matched CTAs like start tracking subscriptions or start budgeting in minutes, based on the page the user was reading.
- Clear security and privacy messaging in simple words.
- Stronger proof near CTAs like user quotes and review highlights.
- Cleaner signup path from landing pages to registration.
Month by month implementation and results
Below is the month by month view from June 2025 to November 2025. All registration numbers are organic only, tracked through analytics events and verified with product registration logs.
June 2025: Foundation and tracking validation
June was the first month of work, starting June 9, 2025. We focused on tracking cleanup, technical fixes, and quick wins on high traffic pages. This month set the base for ranking improvements.
- June results: Organic sessions 10,400. App registrations 62.
July 2025: Launch feature pages and strengthen internal links
In July, we launched feature pages and improved internal linking between blog content, feature pages, and registration pages. We also improved titles and meta descriptions to lift click quality.
- July results: Organic sessions 12,100. App registrations 85.
August 2025: Comparison pages and trust upgrades
In August, we launched comparison pages and strengthened trust signals. These pages captured high intent users who were ready to choose an app. We also improved conversion elements around registration.
- August results: Organic sessions 14,600. App registrations 112.
September 2025: Scale content clusters and improve CTR
In September, we expanded content clusters around budgeting, saving, and subscription control. We also used Search Console data to improve CTR on pages with high impressions but low clicks.
- September results: Organic sessions 16,900. App registrations 138.
October 2025: Authority building and onboarding alignment
In October, we focused on authority signals and onboarding alignment. We improved content that explained what happens after signup so new users were not surprised. This improved onboarding completion and reduced low fit registrations.
- October results: Organic sessions 18,700. App registrations 168.
November 2025: Strongest month and clean before vs after proof
In November, rankings stabilized across feature and comparison pages. We focused on content refreshes, internal link reinforcement, and continued trust updates. This created the strongest registration month in the measurement window.
- November results: Organic sessions 21,300. App registrations 210.
Before vs after proof: app registrations increased by 320%
Baseline month was May 1, 2025 to May 31, 2025, with 50 app registrations from organic search. The comparison month was November 1, 2025 to November 30, 2025, with 210 app registrations from organic search.
That increase from 50 to 210 is a 320% increase in organic app registrations. Organic sessions also increased from 9,800 to 21,300, and the registration conversion rate improved because landing pages matched user intent better.
- Organic sessions: 9,800 in May 2025 to 21,300 in November 2025.
- Registrations: 50 in May 2025 to 210 in November 2025.
- Onboarding completion for organic registrations: 41% in May 2025 to 55% in November 2025.
What drove the growth in simple terms
The biggest driver was building pages around what users actually search. Feature pages captured people looking for a specific outcome, like automated savings or subscription tracking. Comparison pages captured decision stage users who were ready to pick a tool.
The second driver was trust. Finance users will not register without confidence, so we made security and onboarding expectations clear in simple words. This improved both conversion rate and user quality.
The third driver was funnel clarity. We reduced friction between landing pages and registration, and we used messaging that matched the page intent. This turned more organic visits into real registrations.
Tools used by Goforaeo during this campaign
We used tools that kept reporting clean and decisions simple. The goal was to measure registrations accurately, identify ranking opportunities, and improve conversion behavior.
- GA4: organic sessions, registration events, landing page performance.
- Google Search Console: impressions, clicks, queries, CTR, indexing checks.
- Product registration logs: confirmation of true registrations.
- Screaming Frog: technical audits, crawl and index review, metadata cleanup.
- PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse: performance and Core Web Vitals checks.
- Ahrefs or Semrush: keyword research, competitor gaps, link monitoring.
- Microsoft Clarity: user behavior insights on landing pages and CTAs.
- Looker Studio: monthly reporting dashboards.
Closing summary
By the end of November 2025, the Menlo Park FinTech startup increased organic app registrations from 50 to 210 per month, which is a 320% increase. The growth came from intent based landing pages, comparison content, improved site performance, and stronger trust signals that removed hesitation. The results were tied to verified registrations, making the improvement real and measurable.