SEO Case Study: Ranked Top 3 for “Industrial Automation Integrator” in 5 Months for a B2B Automation Firm in Detroit
In March 2025, MotorCity Industrial Automation, a B2B automation firm in Detroit, partnered with Goforaeo to improve search visibility for high intent integrator searches. Within five months, the site moved from being almost invisible for its core integrator keyword set to showing consistently in the top results during Detroit based Google searches.
This write up shares the dates, monthly actions, and real before vs after numbers so you can see how the work was planned and why it worked.
Project snapshot and timeframe:
This SEO campaign ran for five months from March 2025 to July 2025, with February 2025 used as the baseline month before changes started. The location focus was Detroit, Michigan, with additional reach across nearby manufacturing cities where the firm already served clients.
The outcome was not just higher rankings, but more qualified quotes from plant managers, operations teams, and engineering leads who were ready to talk.
Quick facts:
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Business type: B2B industrial automation and controls integrator
- Timeframe: March 2025 to July 2025
- Primary milestone achieved: Top 3 visibility for the head term in Detroit localized checks, plus strong gains across related integrator terms
About the client and what was happening before SEO:
MotorCity Industrial Automation builds and supports systems like PLC programming, robotics integration, SCADA, HMI development, panel builds, and troubleshooting for factories. The team had strong offline reputation, but the website did not reflect that expertise in a way Google could understand.
They had a basic services page, a short homepage, and a contact form. There were almost no case studies, and the site did not clearly explain industries served or project outcomes.
Baseline numbers in February 2025:
Before Goforaeo started the campaign, February 2025 performance looked like this:
- Organic sessions: 620 for the month
- Organic leads: 9 total inquiries from forms and tracked calls
- Conversion rate from organic traffic: about 1.45 percent
- Average position for the main integrator keyword cluster: around 29 to 41 depending on the query
- Visibility for “industrial automation integrator” in Detroit localized checks: not in top 20
What was holding them back:
The early audit showed problems that are common in B2B technical services:
- The site had thin pages that did not answer buyer questions like process, timeline, industries, and proof
- Most pages targeted broad terms like “automation” without clear integrator intent
- Internal linking was weak, so Google could not see a clear topic structure
- Technical basics were messy, including duplicate titles and unoptimized page speed
- No strong proof pages such as case studies, project photos, or measurable outcomes
How we defined success and tracked proof:
Goforaeo and the client agreed to measure success using ranking movement, qualified leads, and sales pipeline signals. Rankings alone were not enough, because the wrong traffic would waste time for a B2B sales team.
We focused on:
- Top visibility in Detroit for the core integrator keyword set
- Growth in organic inquiries from the right job titles and industries
- Better conversion rate from service pages and proof pages
Tracking setup in early March 2025:
In the first two weeks of March 2025, we set up clean measurement so month to month reporting would be reliable:
- Google Analytics 4: events for form submits, phone clicks, and key page visits
- Google Search Console: query tracking and page performance
- Call tracking: source and landing page attribution for inbound calls
- Looker Studio dashboard: one view for leadership, one view for the marketing point of contact
Strategy used by Goforaeo:
The plan had a simple structure. We did not try to do everything at once. Each month had focused outputs that stacked together.
The strategy pillars were:
- Technical cleanup so the site could be crawled and trusted
- Service and industry pages built for real buyer intent
- Proof content that shows results, not just claims
- Authority building with links, mentions, and local trust signals
- Conversion improvements so traffic turned into inquiries
Technical foundation and site structure:
The first part was removing barriers. The site needed to load faster, have clean indexing, and clearly show which pages mattered.
Key fixes included:
- Page speed improvements on mobile
- Title tags and meta descriptions rewritten for key pages
- Cleanup of duplicate pages and redirect issues
- Better internal linking so services connected to industries and proof pages
Content built for integrator searches:
For B2B automation, the buyer is often searching with clear intent. They want an integrator who can handle specific systems and reduce downtime risk. So the content had to match how they think.
We built and expanded pages around:
- Industrial automation integration
- PLC programming and troubleshooting
- Robotics integration and safety
- SCADA and HMI development
- Control panel design and panel builds
- Preventive support and emergency response
We also created industry pages to connect services to real environments, such as:
- Automotive manufacturing
- Food and beverage plants
- Warehousing and material handling
- General manufacturing and assembly
Proof content that supports high value deals:
A buyer can like your services page, but still hesitate without proof. So we focused on building proof pages early, not as an afterthought.
We created SEO Case Study style pages that included:
- The problem in simple words
- The approach and timeline
- The measurable outcome, like downtime reduced or throughput improved
- Photos where possible, with safe details that did not expose client secrets
Authority and trust building:
To help the site move into stronger ranking positions, we also worked on authority signals. For an integrator, this is a mix of industry credibility and local credibility.
We focused on:
- Quality backlinks from relevant industry and manufacturing sources
- Local citations and business profiles for Detroit and nearby markets
- Partner and vendor mentions where the client already had relationships
Month by month plan and results:
Below is the monthly breakdown from March 2025 through July 2025. Each month includes what we shipped and what changed in the numbers.
March 2025: audit, fixes, and the first content rebuild:
March 2025 was about getting control of the foundation and shipping the first set of pages that clearly matched integrator intent. We did not chase links yet, because the site itself needed to be stronger first.
Main work completed in March 2025:
- Full technical audit and priority fix list
- Analytics, Search Console, and call tracking setup
- Rebuilt the main “Industrial Automation Integration” page with deeper content
- Added clear calls to action on service pages with short forms
Key metrics for March 2025:
- Organic sessions: 780
- Organic leads: 13
- Conversion rate: about 1.66 percent
- Average position for the integrator keyword cluster: around 24
- “Industrial automation integrator” Detroit localized checks: around position 16 to 19
April 2025: service clusters and internal linking:
April 2025 focused on building supporting pages so Google could understand the full scope of expertise. We also improved internal linking so every page helped another page rank.
Main work completed in April 2025:
- Published 4 service pages: PLC, SCADA, robotics, control panels
- Added 2 industry pages: automotive and food manufacturing
- Built a clean internal linking map between services, industries, and contact pages
- Improved on page copy for buyer clarity, including process steps and response time expectations
Key metrics for April 2025:
- Organic sessions: 1,050
- Organic leads: 18
- Conversion rate: about 1.71 percent
- Average position for the integrator keyword cluster: around 18
- “Industrial automation integrator” Detroit localized checks: around position 9 to 12
May 2025: proof pages and stronger trust signals:
May 2025 is where the site started to feel credible to a new visitor. This month we pushed proof content and started a careful authority plan.
Main work completed in May 2025:
- Published 3 proof pages based on real projects with outcomes
- Added a short “How we work” page to explain discovery, design, build, and support
- Launched a review and testimonial collection process for the website and business profiles
- Started outreach to earn mentions and links from relevant sources
Key metrics for May 2025:
- Organic sessions: 1,420
- Organic leads: 25
- Conversion rate: about 1.76 percent
- Average position for the integrator keyword cluster: around 12
- “Industrial automation integrator” Detroit localized checks: around position 5 to 7
- New referring domains earned in May: 4
June 2025: authority building and conversion improvements:
In June 2025, we leaned into authority work while also tightening conversion paths. This is important because many B2B visitors will not fill a long form. They want a quick path to a call or a short request.
Main work completed in June 2025:
- Continued link outreach and partner mentions
- Published 2 new industry pages: warehousing and general manufacturing
- Improved conversion elements: clearer CTAs, shorter forms, more trust badges
- Added FAQ sections based on real sales calls, focusing on timeline, safety, and support
Key metrics for June 2025:
- Organic sessions: 1,820
- Organic leads: 33
- Conversion rate: about 1.81 percent
- Average position for the integrator keyword cluster: around 7
- “Industrial automation integrator” Detroit localized checks: around position 3 to 4
- New referring domains earned in June: 6
July 2025: top 3 stability and scaling what worked:
July 2025 was about stabilizing top results and improving the breadth of rankings. Getting to the top is one thing, holding it while building more entry points is what keeps leads steady.
Main work completed in July 2025:
- Published 3 supporting articles built around high intent questions from engineers
- Expanded the main integrator page with more examples and clearer Detroit relevance
- Added a “Projects” hub to connect proof pages and help internal linking
- Continued steady authority work with quality link placements
Key metrics for July 2025:
- Organic sessions: 2,260
- Organic leads: 41
- Conversion rate: about 1.81 percent
- Average position for the integrator keyword cluster: around 4
- “Industrial automation integrator” Detroit localized checks: position 2 to 3 most weeks
- Total new referring domains added during the campaign: 17
Before vs after proof:
Here is the clean comparison between February 2025 and July 2025. This is the simplest way to see the impact without any fluff.
Rankings movement:
- February 2025: “industrial automation integrator” not in top 20 in Detroit localized checks
- July 2025: consistent top 3 visibility in Detroit localized checks
Related keyword movement also improved, including terms for PLC programming, robotics integration, SCADA, and control panels.
Lead growth:
- February 2025: 9 organic leads in the month
- July 2025: 41 organic leads in the month
That is more than 4 times more organic inquiries in five months, with better quality because the pages were built for integrator intent and proof.
Traffic growth:
- February 2025: 620 organic sessions
- July 2025: 2,260 organic sessions
The traffic increase came from better rankings, but also from more pages ranking for long tail searches that happen before a buyer reaches out.
Sales quality notes:
The client reported noticeable changes in the type of inquiries by June and July 2025:
- More requests included details like plant location, line type, timeline, and current pain points
- More leads asked directly about integration support, PLC upgrades, and downtime reduction
- Calls were more focused because visitors already read proof pages and FAQs
What made the campaign work:
There was no single magic trick. The results came from stacking clear improvements in the right order.
We matched how B2B buyers search:
The content focused on integrator intent, not generic automation terms. That helped the site attract people who needed an integrator now, not students, job seekers, or general research traffic.
We built proof early:
Case pages and project outcomes increased trust fast. When Google sees a page that users stay on and interact with, it tends to reward that. At the same time, humans trust it more, which lifts conversions.
We made the site easy to understand:
The internal linking and structure helped Google connect the dots. Service pages supported the main integrator page. Industry pages supported both. Proof pages supported everything.
We improved conversions while rankings improved:
Even a small conversion rate improvement matters when traffic grows. By keeping forms short and CTAs clear, we captured more leads without needing more traffic.
Tools used during the campaign:
We kept the tool stack practical and focused on clarity.
Core tools:
- Google Analytics 4: traffic and conversion tracking
- Google Search Console: queries, indexing, and page performance
- Looker Studio: monthly reporting dashboards
- Call tracking software: attributed calls back to organic landing pages
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider: technical crawls, redirects, metadata audits
- Ahrefs: backlink review, competitor link research, and content gap checks
Workflow and content support tools:
- Google Drive: content drafts and approvals
- Page speed tools: speed checks and mobile performance fixes
- Google Business Profile: supporting local trust, especially for Detroit visibility
Key takeaways for other B2B automation firms:
If you are an automation company and you want more integrator leads from search, this SEO Case Study points to a few simple truths.
What matters most:
- Build one strong main service page, then support it with related service pages and industry pages
- Create proof pages that show outcomes in plain language
- Fix technical issues early so content has a fair chance to rank
- Earn authority slowly with real industry links and mentions, not spam
- Track leads properly so you know what pages create revenue conversations
MotorCity Industrial Automation partnered with Goforaeo because they wanted a real plan, not random SEO tasks. From March 2025 to July 2025, that plan turned into stable top results in Detroit checks and a steady flow of qualified B2B inquiries that the sales team could actually use.