How We Increased SEO Traffic by 156% in 6 Months

When you run a fractional marketing agency that helps clients grow through SEO and AI workflows, you’d think applying those same systems to your own site would be easy.

Spoiler: it wasn’t.

I was focused on growing our clients’ traffic from SEO and implementing GEO (generative engine optimization) strategies. But I had to walk the talk. Plus, I really needed to experiment, so we can better understand what actually works when it comes to GEO. 

Building my own SEO team for IreneChan.co became one of the most insightful experiments I’ve ever done.

Here’s how we grew our traffic by 156%, starting from scratch — and what I learned about using AI and data to scale SEO efficiently.

Step 1: Identify the Right Topics to Write

My first challenge was figuring out what to write about.

For years, SEO strategy revolved around finding keywords with high search volume and low keyword difficulty. But after two years of running experiments for clients, I’ve learned that’s not enough.

I didn’t want to chase empty keywords. I wanted to write about topics people actually cared about. So I turned to Reddit and SEO communities to find real questions at the intersection of AI and SEO.

That’s how I stumbled upon a recurring theme:

“How do you track mentions in ChatGPT?”

This wasn’t just another keyword opportunity. It represented a genuine pain point. Marketers were curious about GEO: how ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools “read” and summarize brands.

So I wrote about it.  My post on how to track your brand’s visibility in ChatGPT started ranking within weeks.

Choosing the right topic means focusing on human curiosity first, keyword data second. I wrote about this topic even though there was no measurable keyword volume in Surfer SEO and Ahrefs.

It was anxiety-including. For years, we’ve been trained to choose high-volume, low difficulty keywords as part of the SEO content plan. But since it was an experiment, I was willing to try new strategies. 

Want to talk about topics for your blog? Let’s chan on LinkedIn.  Happy to provide initial complementary suggestions. Just DM with the word “blog.”

Step 2: Data Analysis 

Once I published my first few articles, I rolled up my sleeves and analyzed the results.

Using Google Search Console (GSC), I reviewed:

• Which queries triggered impressions
• Which pages gained clicks fastest
• What new related terms started appearing

I began with “ChatGPT mention tracker,” but over time, I saw related queries like:

• “ChatGPT brand mentions”
• “is ChatGPT crawling my site”
• “How to Use ChatGPT to update old articles” 

Each query gave me ideas for new content clusters. That’s when I realized. This was more than a blog. It was an evolving topic ecosystem.

I’ve written before about how to use ChatGPT to update old articles. And this process reminded me of that exact principle: SEO is iterative. Every blog gives you data for your next one.

Step 3: Double Down on Topics That Work

While I was writing about GEO and ChatGPT trackers, I tested multiple ideas:

• Fractional marketing team structure
• SEO in the Philippines
• AI content optimization

But the clear winner was ChatGPT mention tracking. It didn’t just bring the most traffic — it led to two new clients within a few weeks.

That insight changed how I planned my content. I stopped spreading myself thin and started doubling down on what worked. Every time a post ranked or performed well, I created a follow-up or a related deep dive.That’s how I built a topic cluster around AI-powered SEO tools and workflows. Here’s what I learned: doubling down on high-performing topics creates authority faster than broad coverage ever could.

And yes — that single decision boosted my site’s traffic by 156% in 6 months. And brought in leads from Google organic search. 

In April 2025, I started the experiment. At that time, we had 126 total users who visited the site. In May, that more than doubled. It has kept growing each month since then. I always made sure that there were at least 4 blog posts per month. There were times that we had 5-6 per month. 

Step 4: Scale with an AI-Powered Workflow

At first, I was doing everything myself. Even though my team handles SEO for clients, I wanted to personally test a full AI + SEO workflow before scaling it internally.

To publish one post per week, I needed structure. So I built my own AI-assisted SEO workflow:

• Claude Projects: I created a specific workflow on Claude Projects to write on-brand and original articles. 
• Defined Voice and Optimization Rules: I provided custom instructions on how SEO and GEO structure should be done. 
• Examples from My Own Work: I trained it using my previous articles, both old and new. Old articles that existed pre-AI. There are new articles created with AI, but with a lot of edits. 
• Feedback Loop: Every article went through my review → GSC analysis → workflow refinement.

This AI workflow became my editorial engine. When I eventually tapped into my existing team to scale, I didn’t need to retrain them; I simply shared the same system.

Step 5: Turning Solo SEO into a Team Effort

After three months, I expanded from being a one-person SEO team to a small internal crew.

I hired writers, editors, and analysts from my own network — the same way I help clients build fractional marketing teams.

If you’re curious how I grew from a solo freelancer to leading a team of 23 remote talents, I shared that story here:

👉 How I Grew from a Solo Freelancer to a Team of 23 Remote Talents

That experience helped me define roles clearly:

• Writers → follow the AI brief and ensure SEO accuracy
• Editors → maintain tone, readability, and brand coherence
• Analysts → monitor keyword performance and adjust the roadmap

I no longer had to “do SEO.” I was finally building SEO as a function — the same thing I help clients do.

My Framework for Building an SEO Team (Even If It’s Just You)

If I could summarize my process into one repeatable system, it would look like this:

1. Identify – Use Reddit, forums, and search data to find questions people actually ask.
2. Publish – Commit to one blog post per week. Don’t wait for perfection.
3. Analyze – Track GSC and engagement to spot patterns.
4. Double Down – Invest in the content clusters that bring traffic and leads.
5. Automate – Build an AI-assisted workflow that keeps your brand voice intact.
6. Expand – Turn your solo process into a team process when ready.

This framework works whether you’re a one-person brand or managing a full team.

Final Thoughts

Building my own SEO team wasn’t just about growing traffic. It was about creating a sustainable system for growth. One that merges human strategy with AI execution.

The results speak for themselves:

• 156% traffic increase
• Higher lead quality
• Faster publishing cycle
• Zero burnout

If you’re managing your own content, start small. Focus on what’s working and eliminate distraction. Most of all, challenge the traditional systems and be brave enough to test new systems.