SEO Case Study: Traffic Growth with SEO for an Online Photo Editor

In February 2025, a U.S.-based client operating a website in the online photo editing niche contacted us. Their traffic had plummeted to 40,000 monthly visitors and stagnated at that level. To break through this plateau, they needed SEO experts.

The goal was to improve the website’s visibility and increase organic search traffic. The client was referred to us by market partners, which added a layer of responsibility to deliver outstanding results.

Strategy

Our strategy combined high-volume link-building for rapid growth with targeted acquisition of premium links to bolster authority. We gradually shifted from broad, high-reach tactics to more focused, high-quality methods.

How We Built Links

• Month 1: Broad outreach and preparation. We focused on forums, prioritizing dofollow links, and laid the groundwork for outreach campaigns. Results: 40+ outreach links and 400+ forum links.
• Month 2: Elevating quality and authority. We implemented HARO for PR links and incorporated niche inserts. Results: 40+ outreach links and 10+ HARO links.
• Month 3: Focus on relevance and traffic. We targeted websites with a DR of 35+ and organic traffic exceeding 50,000. We also added registrations in business directories. Results: 40+ outreach links and 300+ directory listings.
• Month 4: Solidifying results with premium placements. We invested in high-value, top-tier outreach links. Results: The site reached 70,000 organic monthly visitors.

Results

Our comprehensive efforts delivered impressive metrics that surpassed the client’s initial expectations:

• 🚀 Organic traffic grew by 75% (from 40,000 to 70,000 monthly visitors).
• 💲 Improved rankings for 200+ target keywords.
• 🔗 Built 900+ backlinks (via outreach, forums, directories, and HARO).
• 🏆 Established leadership in the U.S. online photo editing niche.

Here’s how key metrics have evolved:

Explosive Organic Traffic Growth with Steady Authority

Back in February, the site was pulling in around 40,000 visitors from search. By mid-September, that number skyrocketed past 80,000 – more than doubling in just a few months. This surge clearly shows the site is hitting the mark with users’ search intent.

Meanwhile, the domain’s authority has held strong at a consistently high level, proving that this traffic boost is driven by quality, not just random spikes.

Significant SEO Performance Gains

The traffic boom is a direct result of stronger search engine rankings. The number of keywords the site ranks for in organic search has jumped by 2,200. Even more impressive, the site now holds around 800 top-3 positions – five times more than in February.

Strengthened Backlink Profile and Trust

The site’s link profile has seen major growth. Over the reporting period, referring domains increased by 704, with total backlinks surpassing 4,700.

Rising Visibility in the AI Era

SEO today is inseparable from AI-powered tools, and this site is capitalizing on that shift. The domain has earned hundreds of mentions in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and other AI services, establishing its content as a trusted, relevant source for neural networks and unlocking new ways to attract audiences.

Dominating Top Search Results

The site’s progress shines through in its organic search visibility. Since February, the number of ranking positions has surged over tenfold, reaching 36,500.

More importantly, it’s not just about quantity – it’s about quality. By September, the site landed in the top 10 for over 11,500 keywords, with 2,200 in the top 3. This has fueled both traffic growth and brand recognition.

Expanding Global Reach

The growth isn’t limited to one region. The site now consistently draws traffic from multiple countries.

India and the Philippines account for over 40% of organic traffic, while the U.S., though a smaller share, leads in keyword volume, signaling huge potential for further growth in that market.

The $80,000 investment over four months paid off, elevating the project to a new level. Our next goal is to expand the backlink profile through Reddit, Quora, and Digital PR, aiming for 120,000+ monthly visitors within 12 months.

Key Takeaways

In just four months, we achieved a dramatic increase: organic search traffic nearly doubled, and the website solidified its position as a leader in its niche in the U.S. market.

This project’s success demonstrates that even in a highly competitive market, a well-crafted link-building strategy can drive breakthroughs. We continue to collaborate with the client, now working toward an ambitious new target of 120,000 monthly visitors by leveraging additional growth channels.