Case Study:
SEO
Trek in Sikkim

Overview

Trek in Sikkim is a premier trekking and adventure travel agency specializing in guided trekking expeditions, eco-tourism, and adventure travel packages in the stunning Sikkim region. Despite offering unique and highly sought-after trekking experiences, the company faced challenges with low online visibility and limited engagement from potential travelers.

Challenges

When Trek in Sikkim approached BeBran Digital, the website had several critical issues:

• Organic Traffic: The site was receiving only about 65 visitors per month.
• Keyword Rankings: Many of their targeted keywords were not ranking within the top 50 positions.
• User Engagement: High bounce rates (around 70%) and short session durations (less than 1 minute on average) indicated poor user engagement and a lack of effective content.
• Lead Generation: Despite having appealing trekking packages, the website generated few inquiries and bookings.

The key objectives were to increase organic traffic, improve keyword rankings for Sikkim-based trekking and adventure tourism, enhance user engagement, and ultimately drive more conversions and bookings for the trekking tours.

Initial Audit Insights (0-Day Report)

A detailed SEO audit revealed several core areas that required immediate improvement:

• On-Page SEO Issues: Title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and service pages lacked optimization for high-search-volume trekking-related keywords.
• Content Gaps: The website lacked detailed content around trekking packages, guides, customer testimonials, and tips for trekkers.
• Technical SEO Issues: Page load times were slower than desired, and mobile responsiveness was lacking.
• Backlink Profile: A weak backlink profile hindered the website’s domain authority and search engine visibility.

Local SEO Deficiencies: The website was not optimized for local search terms related to trekking in Sikkim, which was essential for driving region-specific traffic.

Strategy

To address these challenges, BeBran Digital implemented a customized, data-driven SEO strategy focused on improving both the technical aspects of the website and its content to target the right audience.

1. Month 1-2: Technical Optimization & On-Page SEO
   
   
   • Keyword Research: We conducted in-depth keyword research and identified high-volume, travel-specific terms like “trekking tours Sikkim,” “best treks in Sikkim,” and “Sikkim adventure travel.”
   • On-Page Optimization: Optimized title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and content across key service pages to target these keywords. Added alt text to images and optimized internal linking to improve crawlability.
   • Technical SEO Fixes: Enhanced page load speeds, resolved mobile optimization issues, and fixed URL structure for better search engine indexing.
2. Month 3-4: Content Development & User Experience (UX)
   
   
   • Content Strategy: Developed detailed service pages for each trekking package, including itineraries, what’s included, customer reviews, and FAQs to answer potential customers’ questions and address their pain points.
   • Blog Strategy: Created informative blog posts targeting specific questions like “Best time to trek in Sikkim,” “Trekking safety tips in Sikkim,” and “Top trekking routes in Sikkim.”
   • UX Enhancements: Improved site navigation, made CTAs (calls-to-action) more prominent, and simplified the booking process to encourage visitors to inquire and convert.
3. Month 5-6: Backlink Building & Local SEO Optimization
   
   
   • Backlink Strategy: Focused on acquiring authoritative backlinks from travel blogs, Sikkim tourism websites, and adventure trekking forums to build domain authority.
   • Local SEO: Optimized the Google My Business (GMB) profile with updated business details, encouraged local reviews, and targeted region-specific keywords such as “Sikkim trekking packages” and “Sikkim trekking tours from Delhi.”
4. Competitor Benchmarking: Analyzed competitors’ strategies and fine-tuned keyword targeting and content to stay ahead in the local search rankings.

Results Achieved

After six months of SEO efforts, Trek in Sikkim experienced significant improvements across multiple KPIs:

• Organic Traffic: Increased from 65 visitors per month to 1.6K visitors per month, an almost 100% increase in organic traffic.
• Keyword Rankings:
  • Top 3 Positions: Achieved for 20 high-intent keywords such as “trekking tours Sikkim,” “best trekking in Sikkim,” and “Sikkim adventure tours.”
  • Top 10 Positions: More than 85 secondary keywords ranked on the first page, increasing visibility for niche trekking terms.
• User Engagement:
  • Bounce Rate: Reduced from 70% to 47%, reflecting a 23% improvement in user retention.
  • Session Duration: Increased by 55%, indicating that users were more engaged with the site’s content and packages.
• Conversions: The number of inquiries and bookings increased by 230%, leading to a higher number of customers booking trekking tours directly from the website.
• Local SEO Impact: GMB profile views increased by 380%, enhancing visibility in local searches for Sikkim-based trekking tours and attracting more regional customers.

Client Testimonial

"BeBran Digital’s expertise has significantly transformed our online visibility. Their team not only improved our rankings but also helped us connect with more potential trekkers. We are now receiving far more inquiries and bookings. We're thrilled with the results and look forward to continued success!"
— Founder, Trek in Sikkim

Summary

This case study showcases how a well-rounded SEO strategy can significantly enhance the online visibility of a niche travel agency. Through on-page optimization, targeted content creation, technical improvements, and local SEO strategies, BeBran Digital helped Trek in Sikkim achieve a 100% increase in organic traffic, improve keyword rankings, and boost 230% more bookings, ultimately driving business growth and establishing a stronger market position in the competitive adventure tourism sector.