How I Helped SquadTrip Make Organic Search Their #1 Lead Generation Channel

by B2B MarketingSEOSEO Writing

About the Company

SquadTrip, a B2B SaaS venture-capitalist-backed platform founded by passionate travelers Darrien Watson and Stevon Judd, empowers small travel and tour operators by streamlining group trip management. The platform offers an all-in-one solution for creating trips, managing bookings, collecting payments, and marketing, making it easier for organizers to focus on crafting unforgettable travel experiences.

Challenges

SquadTrip was facing several key challenges that hindered its ability to effectively reach and convert its target audience:

Low Authority and Organic Traffic: Despite having a solid platform, SquadTrip struggled with low domain authority and minimal organic traffic. Their content wasn’t optimized for search engines, leading to poor visibility in search results.

No Data-Driven Decision-Making: Without proper data to back their content and SEO strategies, SquadTrip was essentially flying blind. This lack of insights made it difficult to refine their approach and measure the effectiveness of their efforts.

Unstructured Content Creation Processes: There was a significant gap in content creation processes and workflows. The existing content lacked focus and consistency, and there was no clear strategy guiding the creation and distribution of content.

Diverse User Personas with Unique Needs: SquadTrip’s target audience included various user personas such as tour planners, destination wedding organizers, bachelor party coordinators, and group ski trip planners. Each of these groups had distinct pain points, but the content was too broad and failed to resonate with any specific persona.

Zero Sign-ups from SEO: One of the most pressing issues was that no sign-ups could be directly attributed to their SEO efforts. This was a clear indication that their content was not effectively driving conversions.

Lack of a Strategic Approach: The content was not based on any user journey or strategic planning, making it difficult to engage potential users and guide them through the sales funnel.

These challenges highlighted the need for a more structured, data-driven, and persona-oriented content strategy to enhance SquadTrip’s online presence and drive meaningful results.

Here’s what Darrien has to say about partnering up with me: “GoConvert’s approach to content marketing has opened new opportunities that we hadn’t considered before. With organic sign-ups consistently increasing each month, we are seeing a consistent increase in our bottom line and happy with our SaaS’s growth.”– Darrien Watson

Solution

To tackle the challenges SquadTrip faced, I implemented a comprehensive strategy focused on deep research, strategic content creation, and process optimization.

Here’s how I approached it:

Highlights

Conducted Research Interviews: I started by conducting in-depth interviews with SquadTrip’s best customers, as well as the sales and support teams. This allowed me to gain unique insights into their ideal customer profiles and the key pain points that needed addressing.

Defined the Content Strategy: I identified the critical keywords SquadTrip needed to rank for, scoring these based on opportunity and prioritizing them accordingly. This ensured that the content I created would be highly relevant and impactful.

Created Topic Expert Content: I wrote expert-level content around the targeted keywords. This content was designed to establish SquadTrip as an authority in the group travel space while resonating with their diverse user personas.

Established Efficient Processes: I implemented streamlined content creation processes and workflows that required minimal effort from the SquadTrip team, allowing them to focus on what they do best—creating unforgettable travel experiences.

Crafted Short and Long-Term Strategies: I developed a dual strategy—a short-term plan to boost traffic and authority, and a long-term plan aimed at driving conversions. This approach ensured that SquadTrip could see immediate results while setting the stage for sustained growth.

The Complete Process

I began by clearly defining SquadTrip’s best customers based on several criteria:

  • Who are the customers that pay the most?
  • Who are the customers that stay with you the longest?
  • Who are the customers you love working with?
  • Who are the customers with a high need for the product or service?

By conducting product research interviews with the SquadTrip team, I gained a deep understanding of the platform’s unique value propositions and differentiators. These insights were crucial for crafting content that not only attracted visitors but also converted them into loyal users.

I also conducted pain point research interviews with customer-facing team members to uncover:

  • The biggest pain points SquadTrip solves.
  • The specific features that address these pain points.

Armed with these insights, I conducted a thorough analysis of SquadTrip’s website, SEO performance, and their main competitors in organic search. This informed my 3-month content strategy, which focused on increasing organic traffic and domain authority through top-of-funnel (TOFU) content targeting high-volume, low-competition keywords.

Within the first 3 months, I saw significant improvements in traffic and authority. Building on this momentum, I refined my strategy to focus more on mid- and bottom-funnel content around high-intent keywords, creating a robust lead channel for SquadTrip.

Following our strategy led to a continuous increase in traffic, and I began to see conversions rise rapidly. I then strategically pushed high-performing bottom-funnel content through backlinks to further boost visibility and drive even more conversions.

This comprehensive approach not only resolved the initial challenges but also set SquadTrip on a path of sustained growth and success.

The Results

Above all, we transformed a previously underutilized channel into SquadTrip’s #1 source for customer acquisition. Today, we remain at the forefront, continuously driving growth and helping SquadTrip achieve even greater success.

Impressions compared to when we started in Feb 2024

From 500 impressions to more than 2000 impressions per day.

Clicks compared to when we started in Feb 2024

From 23 clicks to 145 clicks per day.

Increased Sign-ups

  • 0 Sign-ups till February 2024
  • 270 Sign-ups from Feb to August 2024 at an average of 45 sign-ups per month
Screenshot 2024-06-10 at 2.46.32 PM

YouTube Case Study: From 0 to 46 Million Views and 150k Subscribers in 4 months

by with No Comment YouTube Automation

The primary goal of this case study is to illustrate how I played a dual role as both a writer and a strategist, working closely with the channel’s CEO to identify a niche that had significant potential. By showcasing the journey from inception to achieving 150k subscribers and millions of views in just four months, this case study aims to highlight the effectiveness of our collaborative strategies and content creation efforts.

Overview of the Channel

The channel, “It’s a Crazy World,” delves into the fascinating and often gripping world of crime and bodycam footage. Catering to an audience captivated by real-life crime stories and the raw, unfiltered nature of bodycam recordings, the channel quickly carved out a unique space within this niche. Our target audience consists of individuals who are intrigued by the complexities of criminal activities and law enforcement operations, seeking both entertainment and insights into the darker aspects of human behavior.

Strategy Development

Research and Analysis

To ensure the success of “It’s a Crazy World,” a comprehensive research and analysis phase was crucial. Our approach involved several key steps:

  1. Target Audience Analysis: We conducted extensive research to understand the demographics, interests, and viewing habits of our potential audience. This involved analyzing data from existing crime and bodycam footage channels, engaging in social media listening, and conducting surveys and focus groups. We identified that our primary audience consisted of individuals aged 18-45, with a strong interest in true crime documentaries, real-life law enforcement operations, and raw, unedited footage that provided a sense of authenticity.
  2. Content Trends: We examined current content trends within the crime and bodycam footage niche. By analyzing top-performing videos, trending topics, and viewer feedback, we identified key themes and content formats that resonated with our target audience. This included deep dives into specific criminal cases, analysis of bodycam footage from high-profile incidents, and educational content on law enforcement procedures.
  3. Competitor Analysis: A thorough competitor analysis was conducted to understand what successful channels in our niche were doing right and where there were gaps we could fill. We scrutinized their content strategies, video formats, upload schedules, engagement tactics, and audience interactions. This allowed us to identify unique angles and opportunities to differentiate our content and provide added value to viewers.

Goal Setting

With a solid understanding of our target audience, content trends, and competition, we set specific, measurable, and achievable goals to guide our efforts:

  1. Subscriber Count: Our primary goal was to grow the channel from zero to 150k subscribers within four months. This ambitious target required a consistent and strategic approach to content creation and promotion.
  2. View Count: We aimed to achieve millions of views across our videos by creating highly engaging and shareable content. Our goal was to reach at least 5 million total views within the first four months.
  3. Engagement Rate: Increasing viewer engagement was crucial for building a loyal community. We set targets to achieve a high engagement rate, focusing on metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and average watch time. Our goal was to maintain an average watch time of over 50% per video and to foster active discussions in the comments section.
  4. Content Consistency: To keep our audience engaged and returning for more, we committed to a consistent upload schedule. Our goal was to release at least three high-quality videos per week, each meticulously planned and executed to ensure maximum impact.

By setting these clear goals and backing them with in-depth research and analysis, we established a strong foundation for the growth and success of “It’s a Crazy World.” Our strategic approach and collaborative efforts were key to transforming the channel into a thriving platform with a rapidly growing and highly engaged audience.

Implementation

Content Strategy

To ensure the success of “It’s a Crazy World,” we developed a robust content strategy focused on delivering high-quality, engaging content that resonated with our target audience. Our strategy included the following key components:

  1. Content Types:
    • We concentrated exclusively on creating in-depth case analyses featuring real bodycam footage. This approach was based on our research, which showed that these types of videos garnered the most engagement and views. Each video provided a detailed breakdown of criminal cases, supported by authentic bodycam recordings that added a layer of realism and intrigue.
  2. Posting Frequency and Schedule:
    • Consistency was vital to building and retaining our audience. We committed to a frequent posting schedule, releasing new videos five times a week. This regularity ensured that our viewers had a steady stream of fresh content to anticipate and enjoy, helping to maintain high engagement levels and foster viewer loyalty.
  3. Keywords and SEO Tactics:
    • To maximize our reach, we employed effective SEO tactics, including thorough keyword research and optimization. We identified high-performing keywords related to crime, law enforcement, and bodycam footage, integrating them naturally into our video titles, descriptions, and tags. Additionally, we used compelling thumbnails and engaging video descriptions to attract clicks and enhance visibility on YouTube’s search and recommendation algorithms.

Scriptwriting Techniques

Engaging viewers through well-crafted scripts was essential to the success of our content. We implemented several key scriptwriting techniques to captivate our audience:

  1. Storytelling Elements:
    • Each video was structured to tell a compelling story, drawing viewers in from the very beginning. We started with a strong narrative arc, outlining the key events of the case in a way that was both informative and suspenseful. By incorporating elements of drama and tension, we kept viewers hooked throughout the video.
  2. Hooks and Calls to Action:
    • Effective hooks were crucial for capturing viewers’ attention in the first few seconds. We opened each video with a gripping introduction that posed intriguing questions or highlighted shocking details of the case, compelling viewers to continue watching. Throughout the video, we included calls to action, encouraging viewers to like, comment, and subscribe. We also prompted viewers to share their thoughts and opinions on the cases, fostering a sense of community and engagement.
  3. Engagement Tactics:
    • To maintain viewer interest and promote interaction, we employed various engagement tactics. This included asking viewers for their theories and insights on the cases, inviting them to participate in polls or discussions, and responding to comments to create a dialogue. We also incorporated cliffhangers and teasers for upcoming videos, ensuring that viewers stayed invested in the channel and eagerly awaited new content.

By implementing these strategies and techniques, we were able to create a dynamic and engaging viewing experience that resonated with our audience, driving significant growth in subscribers and views for “It’s a Crazy World.”

Results

Subscriber Growth

Our strategic approach and engaging content led to impressive subscriber growth for “It’s a Crazy World.” Starting from zero, we achieved a significant milestone of 150,000 subscribers within just four months. This rapid growth is a testament to the effectiveness of our strategies and the high-quality content we consistently delivered.

View Count

The view count is another indicator of our success. Overall, the channel has accumulated a remarkable 45.6 million views across 126 videos. This demonstrates the strong appeal of our content and its ability to attract a large audience.

  • Lifetime Views: 45.6 million
  • Total Videos: 126

Our performance in the last 30 days has been particularly noteworthy:

  • Views in the Last 30 Days: 7.2 million
  • Videos Uploaded in the Last 30 Days: 40

Several videos stood out as high performers, driving substantial traffic and engagement. For example, a video analyzing a high-profile criminal case with gripping bodycam footage garnered over 32 million views within its first week, showcasing our ability to create viral content that resonates with viewers.