Six Months into Herb SEO: Analyzing Performance After Publishing 70 Blog Posts
Embarking on an SEO journey for a niche website can be both exciting and challenging, especially when working within specialized markets such as herbs. Over the past six months, I’ve partnered with a client in the herbal industry, focusing on building organic visibility through consistent content creation and strategic optimization. Here, I’ll share insights into the performance metrics observed after publishing approximately 70 blog posts, alongside reflections and questions about the current state of the website’s SEO health.
Background and Initial Setup
The website in question launched with a relatively modest Domain Rating (DR) of 9 and had minimal organic traffic at inception. Our approach centered on creating a balanced mix of transactional (product/service-oriented) and informational content. The keyword targeting strategy included both low Keyword Difficulty (KD) opportunities to establish early traction and more competitive terms to build topical authority over time.
Performance Metrics Overview
Over the six-month period, Google Search Console data indicates the following aggregated results:
- Total Clicks: 2,170
- Total Impressions: 239,000
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): approximately 0.9%
- Average Position: 52.7
While impressions have shown a steady upward trend, both CTR and average position metrics remain relatively low, suggesting there’s room for improvement in rankings and Engagement.
Key Takeaways and Observations
- Growing Impressions: The increase in organic impressions suggests that the site is beginning to appear more frequently in search results for targeted keywords.
- Low CTR and Average Position: A CTR below 1% and an average position outside the first page indicate that, although visibility is increasing, clickability and rankings are still in the early stages.
Reflective Questions and Strategic Considerations
This experience raises several important questions about the typical SEO journey in niche markets like herbs:
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Is this progression typical for a low-DR domain at this stage?
Generally, yes. Domains with modest authority often face an initial period of slow ranking improvements, especially in competitive niches or when new content is added. -
Are there any key areas I might be overlooking?
Potential factors include the need for stronger internal or external linking, enhanced content depth, comprehensive topical authority, and more targeted on-page optimization. -
Does the herbal niche experience a longer sandbox effect compared to other industries?
Ane