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Case Study

Whitewater Voyages Achieves 41% Growth in Keyword Rankings

Whitewater Voyages, based on California's Kern River, came to us with some search visibility but weren’t reaching their full potential. Despite offering of the state’s best rafting adventures, tough competition limited their reach. By targeting high-impact keywords and refining content, we boosted their organic visibility and search rankings.

80% increase in total impressions

A group of people are rafting down a river.

70% increase in clicks

Organic search and keyword chart

Highlights

📈 1,306 organic keywords by November 2024

🚀 Top keyword gains in Kern River rafting and related terms

🌐 Increased visibility for high-traffic terms like “lower Kern River rafting” & “white water rafting in Kernville, CA”

A table with a bunch of keywords on it

The Need

Whitewater Voyages presented us with plenty of opportunities for improvement. The website had a dated, early-2000s look that desperately needed a modern revamp. The content structure was overly basic and not being used to its full potential. Keywords weren’t aligned with the right search intent, the page structure was poorly organized, and there were several other issues holding the site back. It quickly became clear that we had a lot to tackle, but we were ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

A group of people are rafting down a river.

The Plan

To address the challenges, ResmarkWeb developed a comprehensive SEO strategy designed to boost Whitewater Voyages' rankings in the competitive adventure tourism market. Here’s what we focused on:

  • Keyword Research and Competitor Analysis: We conducted in-depth research to identify highly relevant keywords directly tied to Kern River rafting and outdoor activities. This included building a comprehensive topical map as the foundation for the site’s organic growth. Given the minimal SEO work done previously, we had to start from scratch to establish a strong keyword strategy.
  • On-Page SEO: Using our keyword mapping plan, we restructured the site’s content, metadata, and internal linking to align seamlessly with user intent and search behavior. Each page was optimized to reflect the research plan, ensuring the site could rank competitively for priority keywords like "Kern River rafting" and "white water rafting Kern."
  • Content Strategy: We consistently refreshed the site with valuable, keyword-rich content designed to attract the right audience. By following a structured topical map, we strategically built the website’s authority over time. The website already had Historical SEO performance in place we just needed to leverage it.
  • UX, Web Redesign, and Content Rewrite: The website underwent a complete redesign to modernize its look, improving navigation and user experience. All content was rewritten to better convey the excitement and professionalism of Whitewater Voyages while connecting with outdoor enthusiasts. This redesign ensured that visitors were not only drawn to the site but also compelled to explore further and take action.

The Results

By November 2024, Whitewater Voyages achieved substantial SEO gains:


Google Search Console Performance (July 14 - November 15, 2024 vs. July 14 - November 15, 2023)

  • Total Clicks: Increased by +70.23% (1,481 vs. 870), highlighting significant improvement in site visits from search results.
  • Total Impressions: Rose by +80.52% (139,249 vs. 77,136), showcasing a broader reach and visibility in search results.
  • Average CTR: Decreased by -5.70% (1.06% vs. 1.13%), reflecting expanded visibility for a larger pool of keywords, which is typical as impressions grow.
  • Average Position: Improved by -2.78% (from 40 to 39), indicating better rankings across targeted search terms.


ResmarkWeb’s SEO efforts placed Whitewater Voyages in the spotlight for Kern River rafting, transforming their digital presence and driving valuable organic traffic for adventure-seeking customers. 

A graph showing the growth of organic search traffic
A screenshot of a website showing the average position of a website
A group of people are riding a raft down a river.
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