SEO Case Study: Ranked Top 3 for “Managed SOC Provider” in 5 Months for a B2B Cybersecurity MSP in Austin
In February 2025, an Austin, Texas based B2B cybersecurity MSP partnered with Goforaeo to strengthen their search presence for high intent SOC and managed detection services. The work ran for 5 months, from February 3, 2025 to June 30, 2025, with weekly fixes and monthly performance reviews.
This write up shows the real work that happened behind the scenes, plus the monthly numbers we tracked so the results feel clear and believable.
Snapshot: what changed in 5 months
We measured success with two lenses: search visibility for core SOC terms and the volume of qualified conversations that came from organic search.
Here is the clean before vs after:
- Primary location: Austin, Texas
- Timeframe: February 3, 2025 to June 30, 2025
- Target keyword highlighted in this SEO Case Study: “managed SOC provider”
- Starting average position (February 2025): 18.4
- Ending average position (June 2025): 2.6
- Organic sessions: 420 to 2,080
- Organic demo requests and consult calls: 4 to 19
- Google Search Console clicks (non brand): 39 to 462
- Keywords in top 10 (non brand): 14 to 61
The ranking win mattered, but the bigger win was that the traffic became more sales ready. We were not chasing broad cybersecurity traffic that never converts.
Starting point: February 2025 baseline and what was holding them back
We captured baseline data during February 3 to February 9, 2025 using Google Search Console, GA4, call tracking, CRM tagging, and a daily rank tracker.
The site was not new, and it had some authority. But it was not organized around how security buyers actually search.
Baseline metrics (February 2025):
- Organic sessions: 420
- Google Search Console impressions (non brand): 3,100
- Google Search Console clicks (non brand): 39
- Average CTR (non brand): 1.26%
- Demo requests and consult calls from organic: 4
- Qualified leads accepted by sales from organic: 2
- Keywords in top 10 (non brand): 14
- “Managed SOC provider” average position: 18.4
What we found in the first two weeks
The problem was not one single issue. It was a stack of small things that added up.
Main gaps we identified:
- The Managed SOC service page was too generic and looked like many other MSP pages
- Content talked about features but not outcomes, so buyers could not self qualify quickly
- Several pages were competing for similar keywords, which diluted rankings
- Internal linking did not guide Google toward the main SOC page
- Titles and descriptions were written for branding, not click through
- There were not enough credible proof signals near key conversion points
This is common for cybersecurity sites. The offer is strong, but the site does not explain it in a way that search engines and humans both understand.
What we focused on: business impact without chasing vanity traffic
We framed the project around qualified interest, not just rankings. Security buyers do not book demos because a blog is long. They book when the page answers their question, lowers risk, and makes the next step feel safe.
Our focus areas:
- Build a clear SOC service hub that Google can trust and users can understand fast
- Expand supporting content around detection, response, and SOC operations questions
- Improve credibility signals with real proof elements and third party mentions
- Tighten the conversion path so search visits turn into demo requests
This approach also helped protect lead quality. We did not want a spike in tiny business IT support leads that waste sales time.
Strategy: how we earned a top 3 spot the right way
We used a simple structure that is reliable for B2B services in competitive SERPs. We did foundation work first, then scaled content and authority, then tuned conversion.
Technical foundation: make it easy for Google to understand the site
The site had some hidden technical drag. Nothing dramatic, but enough to slow momentum.
Actions we took early:
- Fixed duplicate title tags and thin meta descriptions across key service URLs
- Cleaned index bloat from old tag pages and legacy “solution” pages
- Improved Core Web Vitals on main landing pages by reducing script load
- Added structured data for Organization and key service pages
- Standardized canonical tags to stop keyword cannibalization
Service page rebuild: make one main page the clear winner
Ranking top 3 for a commercial term usually requires one page to clearly deserve it.
We rebuilt the Managed SOC page with a layout that matched buyer intent:
- Clear definition of what “Managed SOC” means in their delivery model
- Who it is for and who it is not for, written in simple words
- A short process section showing onboarding and daily operations
- Proof blocks: SLAs, response times where appropriate, team coverage, tooling stack
- Strong internal links to supporting pages that answer deeper questions
- A clean CTA flow: book a discovery call, request a SOC assessment, or talk to an engineer
Supporting content: build topical depth, not random blogs
To support the main page, we built a small cluster around real buyer questions. These pages helped rankings and helped the sales process.
Content themes we published and improved:
- MDR vs Managed SOC comparisons
- What a SOC does for mid market companies
- Incident response readiness and playbooks
- SIEM tuning, alert fatigue, and escalation
- 24 7 monitoring expectations and staffing realities
- Compliance driven SOC needs for specific industries
We kept the writing practical. No hype, no fear language, no fluff.
Authority signals: earn trust in a space full of big players
Cybersecurity SERPs often include giant vendors, directories, and review sites. You do not beat them with content alone.
We built authority through:
- Targeted link earning from local tech communities and security publications
- Partner and integration listing visibility where appropriate
- Thoughtful digital PR angles focused on operational security, not buzzwords
- Updated brand mentions and consistent NAP for local trust signals
Conversion improvements: turn rankings into demos
A top 3 ranking is great, but if the page does not convert, the business impact stays small.
We improved conversions by:
- Tightening the page message to reduce confusion
- Adding a “What happens on the first call” section near CTAs
- Reducing form friction and moving technical questions to step two
- Adding proof elements near CTAs, not hidden in the footer
- Improving mobile CTA visibility without being annoying
Month by month work and results: February 2025 to June 2025
Below is the full monthly view with actions and numbers. The keyword ranking positions are based on Google Search Console average position for the query and a daily tracker used for consistency checks.
February 2025: foundation fixes and SOC page planning
February was about cleaning the site signals and making the SOC page the clear priority.
Work completed in February:
- Full technical audit and crawl review
- Fixed indexation issues and removed low value pages from competing for SOC terms
- Mapped keyword intent across SOC, MDR, SIEM, and incident response pages
- Planned the new Managed SOC page structure and copy sections
- Rewrote titles and descriptions on 10 high impact URLs for better CTR
February results:
- Organic sessions: 420
- Non brand impressions: 3,100
- Non brand clicks: 39
- Demo requests and consult calls from organic: 4
- Keywords in top 10: 14
- “Managed SOC provider” average position: 18.4
March 2025: Managed SOC page rebuild and internal linking upgrades
March was the turning point. We launched the rebuilt SOC page and reworked the site structure to support it.
Work completed in March:
- Published the new Managed SOC page with improved intent matching sections
- Created 2 supporting pages that linked back to the main SOC page
- Added internal links from relevant blog posts and service pages to the SOC hub
- Improved page speed on the SOC page and top entry pages
- Added FAQ sections based on real Search Console queries
March results:
- Organic sessions: 710
- Non brand impressions: 4,450
- Non brand clicks: 96
- Demo requests and consult calls from organic: 7
- Keywords in top 10: 23
- “Managed SOC provider” average position: 11.2
What changed: the main SOC page started to climb because Google finally saw one strong destination, not multiple weak ones.
April 2025: topical cluster expansion and first authority push
April was about depth and trust. We expanded the SOC content cluster and started earning stronger off page signals.
Work completed in April:
- Published 4 cluster pages supporting SOC and detection intent
- Added comparison content that buyers search during vendor shortlisting
- Built integration and partner mentions into the site naturally
- Started link outreach with a focus on relevance, not volume
- Earned 4 new links from tech communities, security blogs, and partner pages
April results:
- Organic sessions: 1,180
- Non brand impressions: 6,200
- Non brand clicks: 182
- Demo requests and consult calls from organic: 11
- Keywords in top 10: 39
- “Managed SOC provider” average position: 6.1
What we saw: once the supporting pages started ranking, the main page gained lift too. That is the cluster effect working as expected.
May 2025: CTR improvements and conversion tuning
May was where we improved click through and conversions. The ranking was already strong, but we wanted more business value from every impression.
Work completed in May:
- Rewrote titles and descriptions for the SOC page and top cluster pages to match intent
- Added clearer trust blocks near CTAs, including process and coverage details
- Reduced form friction and improved confirmation messaging
- Launched a small CRO test: CTA copy changes and CTA placement changes
- Earned 5 more links through targeted outreach and partner placements
May results:
- Organic sessions: 1,640
- Non brand impressions: 7,050
- Non brand clicks: 312
- Demo requests and consult calls from organic: 15
- Keywords in top 10: 52
- “Managed SOC provider” average position: 3.4
What changed: CTR improved because the snippets finally spoke the same language as the searcher. Conversions improved because the page made the next step feel simpler.
June 2025: stabilization, refreshes, and securing top 3
June was about locking the win. We refreshed pages that were close to the top, strengthened internal linking again, and kept authority momentum going.
Work completed in June:
- Refreshed 6 pages that were ranking in positions 4 to 12 for SOC related queries
- Added short answer blocks to improve snippet and “quick answer” visibility
- Expanded proof content: use cases, industries served, and response workflow clarity
- Earned 3 additional high relevance links and 6 quality citations
- Improved the local trust layer: clearer Austin references and service area language
June results:
- Organic sessions: 2,080
- Non brand impressions: 8,400
- Non brand clicks: 462
- Demo requests and consult calls from organic: 19
- Keywords in top 10: 61
- “Managed SOC provider” average position: 2.6
This is where the “top 3” result was sustained, not just a one day spike.
Ranking proof: the journey for “managed SOC provider”
We tracked the keyword weekly, then validated progress monthly using Google Search Console query data.
Progress by month:
- February 2025 average position: 18.4
- March 2025 average position: 11.2
- April 2025 average position: 6.1
- May 2025 average position: 3.4
- June 2025 average position: 2.6
Why this climb was realistic:
- The main page improved in relevance and structure first
- Supporting pages gave Google more context around SOC expertise
- Authority work reduced the gap against larger competitors
- CTR improvements helped because more clicks can reinforce a page’s usefulness over time
Before vs after: clear comparison that shows real business impact
Here is the same comparison, using February 2025 vs June 2025.
- Organic sessions: 420 to 2,080
- Non brand impressions: 3,100 to 8,400
- Non brand clicks: 39 to 462
- Demo requests and consult calls from organic: 4 to 19
- Sales accepted leads from organic: 2 to 9
- Keywords in top 10 (non brand): 14 to 61
- “Managed SOC provider” position: 18.4 to 2.6
The ranking win was the headline, but the qualified conversation growth is what made the engagement feel like a true win for the MSP.
Tools used: what we actually relied on
We kept the tool stack practical. The goal was clarity and speed, not fancy dashboards.
Core tools we used:
- Google Search Console: query tracking, indexing checks, CTR analysis, page level performance
- Google Analytics 4: landing page performance, engagement, conversion paths
- Screaming Frog: crawl analysis, internal linking, duplication checks, redirect mapping
- Ahrefs or Semrush: keyword research, SERP review, content gap, link tracking
- PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse: speed checks and Core Web Vitals improvements
- Rank tracker: daily snapshots for priority keywords to confirm trends
- Call tracking and CRM tagging: to verify which leads became real demos and qualified conversations
- Looker Studio: monthly reporting with consistent metrics and notes
What made this project challenging: the honest part
Cybersecurity SERPs can be unforgiving. Many results are dominated by big brands, review sites, and directories.
Three real challenges we worked through:
- Competitive SERPs: we had to build authority while also improving on page relevance fast
- Buyer skepticism: security buyers want proof, not marketing talk, so we rewrote content to sound like engineers and operators
- Lead quality control: we had to filter out small one off IT support leads without hurting conversion rate
We solved this by writing more clearly, showing process, and making the offer easy to understand without overpromising.
What we would do next: how to keep growth going after June 2025
By June 2025, the site had a strong SOC foundation. The next stage would be about expanding into related commercial terms and scaling lead flow.
Next actions we recommended:
- Build industry specific SOC pages for their best converting verticals
- Add more proof content: short case examples, response timelines, onboarding steps
- Expand comparison pages that help buyers shortlist vendors
- Continue link earning with security community partnerships and credible publications
- Ongoing content refresh every month for pages ranking positions 3 to 8 to push more top 3 placements
Closing summary: why this worked
This project worked because the MSP stopped trying to rank with generic service copy and started building a clear SOC content and authority system. The site became easier for Google to trust and easier for buyers to choose.
From February 3, 2025 to June 30, 2025, the MSP moved from position 18.4 to position 2.6 for “managed SOC provider” and increased organic demo style conversations from 4 to 19 per month. That is the kind of SEO win that feels real because it shows up in the calendar, not just in a ranking report.