Timeline
May - JULY 2023 (12 WEEKS)
Role
UX/UI DESIGNER, RESEARCHEr, Digital marketer, SEO Strategist
Tools
Elementor, WordPress, photoshop, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Search EngEngine, Keyword Everywhere
Overview
Afrocurlsandcuts.com, a niche hair care blog, faced a significant drop in traffic and income in recent months. To address this setback, an in-depth research methodology was applied to identify opportunities and strategize a turnaround.
Objective
Turning the Tide: Objectives for Afrocurlsandcuts.com's Resurgence
To bolster Afrocurlsandcuts.com's presence and profitability, we're laser-focused on the following objectives:
Research-Driven Traffic Boost: Combat declining traffic by harnessing keyword research, competitive analysis, and A/B testing to lay down a robust growth roadmap for Afrocurlsandcuts.com.
Engage via Social Media: Identify and engage with media platforms that resonate with our audience, directing more visitors to our website and, consequently, enhancing revenue streams.
Safeguard Monetization: Ensure sustained traffic exceeding 10,000 visits to continuously benefit from:
Google Adsense
Ezoic ad network
Amazon Associates
Strengthen Partnerships: Meet and surpass quarterly traffic benchmarks. This not only preserves existing 3rd party brand relationships but also becomes a magnet for new collaborations.
Diversify Revenue Streams: Innovate with alternative income sources like a "merch store", exclusive guest posts, and premium ad space offerings.
This strategy, rooted in thorough research and real-world insights, aims to turn the tide for Afrocurlsandcuts.com.
Problem
Affected by Googleβs latest algorithm update
After a Google algorithm update in late May, Afrocurlsandcuts.com experienced a significant decline in traffic and subsequent revenue, threatening its niche presence and profitability.
In the attached screenshot, the 30-day span from 5-12-2023 to 6-12-2023 shows a marked decrease in traffic, impressions, and average position.
Results of the update
Solution
Strategic Solutions & Impact
In addressing our challenges, we adopted a comprehensive yet agile strategy. By diving deep into competitive analysis, leveraging demographic insights, and honing in on targeted keyword research, we reshaped our content approach.
Updates to existing articles.
Refreshed outdated content.
Explored various media and social platforms.
Utilized alternative monetization options to boost income.
The outcome? A substantial boost in user engagement, a surge in organic traffic, and, ultimately, an improvement in revenue.
Research
Understanding the Landscape
To better comprehend the challenges facing Afrocurlsandcuts.com, I posed several critical questions that would provide insights into our audience, content, and competitive ecosystem.
Fundamental questions:
Audience Insights: Who is our core audience, and how have their engagement patterns changed on the site?
Content Performance: How do historical top-performing articles compare to recent posts, especially those affected by algorithm updates?
Competitive Tactics: What strategies or content formats are industry competitors leveraging to their advantage?
Monetization Channels: Which revenue streams (e.g., Google Adsense, Ezoic, partnerships) have seen the most substantial changes in performance?
Keyword Research & Topic Generation
Leveraging tools and platforms, I refined our content strategy:
Google Ads Analysis: Using Google Ads, I pinpointed keywords our competitors prioritized, highlighting potential content gaps.
Alphabet keyword research method: Leveraged Google's autocomplete, extracting keyword suggestions for a deeper dive into audience preferences.
Forum Exploration: Sourced topic ideas from platforms like Quora, Facebook groups, and Google's "People also ask" section, ensuring we address genuine user queries.
This approach ensured we stayed attuned to our audience's evolving interests and needs.
Competitive Analysis & Strategic Positioning
Analyzing the keyword "messed up hairline" as of 5-12-2023, Afrocurlsandcuts.com ranked third, showcasing a comprehensive 3,500-word article. A look at the top competitors:
Wimpoleclinic.com (DA42) with a 1,200-word article.
Hairstylecamp.com (DA66) with a 1,000-word piece.
Despite offering richer content, our site's lower Domain Authority (DA20) may contribute to the rank. Recognizing this, there's an opportunity to enhance our DA and leverage our depth of content to climb higher in search results, signaling a clear area for strategic SEO improvement.
Demographics & Psychographics Overview
A focused analysis of Afrocurlsandcuts.com's user demographics offers illuminating insights into our primary audience segments:
Age Distribution (Based on 15.88% of total users):
Young Adults (18-24): 29.64%
Adults (25-34): 28.06%
Middle-Aged (35-44): 17.72%
Older Adults (45-54): 12.85%
Seniors (55-64): 7.97%
Elderly (65+): 3.75%
Gender Breakdown (Based on 17.47% of total users):
Male: 59.2%
Female: 40.8%
Google Analytics Age and Gender Snapshot
Google Analytics Geographical Snapshot
Targeted Audience Insights & Strategy
Afrocurlsandcuts.com's demographics reveal a young to middle-aged audience, predominantly male, from the US, UK, and Canada. To optimize engagement, our strategy will integrate multimedia that appeals to younger users, cater to both male and female interests, and align with regional hair care trends. This approach is designed to boost overall engagement and achieve a more balanced male-to-female viewership.
Geographical Concentration: A significant majority, over 90%, of site traffic originates from three primary regions: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
STRATEGY
Strategic Improvements & Impact
To revitalize Afrocurlsandcuts.com, I updated old content, diversified with gender-neutral articles, and enhanced affiliate product reviews. We also ventured into new digital terrains with a YouTube channel and strengthened social media presence, both funneling increased traffic to our site. Google Search Console and Google Analytics data affirm these pivotal enhancements, signaling a trajectory towards sustained growth.
In just 3 months, our channel produced 92 videos, including shorts and in-depth tutorials linked to our website. Several videos have surpassed the 1,000-view mark, with our top performer reaching 47k views. This rapid growth showcases our content's resonance with viewers.
In just 2.5 months, our Pinterest page has garnered an impressive 3.7k followers, highlighting our rapidly growing presence on the platform.
Our Pinterest board showcases a mix of infographics, banners, and short videos all directing viewers to our website. Several posts have already achieved over 1,000 views, with our standout video hitting a remarkable 147k views, indicating our content's high engagement rate.
Diversifying Revenue Streams
To further capitalize on Afrocurlsandcuts.com's growing audience, we explored alternative monetization strategies:
Advertising Space: We've allocated designated areas on the site for advertisers, providing them prime visibility while ensuring a seamless user experience.
Guest Posts: We now offer opportunities for beauty and hair care experts to share their insights through guest posts, generating income while enriching our content offerings.
Product Promotion: Brands can now collaborate with us for featured product placements, allowing our audience to discover new products in alignment with our niche.
These initiatives not only enhance our revenue but also provide value to our users and partners.
Merch Store Initiative
Given our primary audience falls within the 18-44 age range β Young Adults (18-24): 29.64%, Adults (25-34): 28.06%, and Middle-Aged (35-44): 17.72% β launching a merch store aligned perfectly with their online shopping behavior. This strategy was validated by data from delighted.com, which revealed that 21- to 44-year-olds, especially millennials, predominantly drive online retail through apps and websites.
The gif provides a dynamic showcase of Afrocurlsandcuts.com's merchandise collection, featuring trendy apparel, accessories, and unique phone cases, among other items.
Results
Results & Future Outlook
Our efforts culminated in achieving the top spot on Google search results, and significant progress in Google Search Console and Google Analytics. The strategies we employed did more than just boost traffic β they opened doors to promising opportunities for the future.
We're Ranked #1 πͺπΎπ
We're Ranked #1 πͺπΎπ
We've successfully moved from the 3rd position to the top spot on Google Search for the key term 'messed up hairline'.
In the Google Console screenshot, there's a marked increase in both clicks and impressions. We are still working on improving CTR and overall positioning.
In the Google Analytics snapshot, there's a noticeable upswing across all metrics except for the bounce rate. This slight increase in bounce rate can be attributed to our enhanced product promotions and affiliate posts linking out to external sites.
Monetization Metrics & Performance
Afrocurlsandcuts.com earns its revenue from distinguished sources, including Amazon Associates, Ezoic, Google AdSense, and select partnerships.
Key Metrics:
Amazon Associates: We primarily target the "Premium Beauty" category, which offers a 12% commission. Although there was a downturn after the May update, our shift to more product-focused blog posts has set us back on a growth trajectory.
Ezoic: Our current ePMV stands at $15.82. Confronted with a 34% decline following Google's update, we pivoted our content strategy to enhance our ePMV.
Google AdSense: Our earnings range from $0.05 to $1 per click. While there was a slip, ongoing efforts are in place to boost this metric, even though substantial improvement remains to be seen.
Partnerships: The specifics of our revenue from partnerships remain confidential. However, we've observed a commendable recovery since the post-update decline.
Insight:
The changes introduced in the May algorithm caused a significant 25%-34% dip across our monetization channels. Yet, our nimble strategic shifts have set the foundation for an optimistic trajectory.
CONCLUSION + LESSONS LEARNED
Reflective Insights & Key Takeaways
Afrocurlsandcuts.com's trajectory wasnβt simply a sequence of events; it represented continuous learning and growth. Here are the prime lessons:
Data as a Compass: The decision to refresh content, making it gender-neutral, stemmed from deep demographic insights, resulting in improved user interactions.
Income Diversification: By integrating sources like Amazon Associates and Ezoic and recalibrating after algorithm shifts, we fortified our financial stability.
Harnessing Multimedia: Our YouTube channel and social platforms have showcased the significance of diversifying content mediums, driving more visitors to our website.
Navigating Challenges: While the post-May dip was daunting, our strategic and agile pivots demonstrated that downturns can be turned into growth opportunities.
Perpetual Evolution: With the ever-changing digital terrain, we're committed to ensuring Afrocurlsandcuts.com stays relevant, engaging, and user-centric.
The Bottom Line: In the digital world, enduring success requires adaptability, data-informed choices, and an unwavering dedication to the user journey.
Future Horizons: Looking ahead, our plans are multifaceted. We aim to rejuvenate the website's design, intensify our affiliate content for the Q4 holiday season, and recruit skilled writers to enrich our content. Additionally, we're considering the introduction of interactive user forums or communities. This will allow readers to share their beauty and hair stories, further enhancing user engagement and fostering a tighter community around our brand.
For more work inquiries, or if you'd like to grab a coffee and chat, feel free to email me at wnoelux@gmail.com βοΈβ¨
Thank you for reading! π§