Increasing Traffic 1800% in 6 Months for The Remote Traveller

1. Conducting Keyword Research

We began by conducting thorough keyword research using tools like Ahrefs, SurferSEO, SEMRush, and Google Keyword Planner. Our focus was on finding keywords with a balance of high search volume, low to moderate difficulty, and strong relevance to our site’s goals. Understanding search intent was crucial—whether users were in the discovery phase or ready to make a purchase helped us prioritize keywords that would drive valuable traffic.

Living in Lebanon at the time, we identified an opportunity to cover the region’s travel topics, which had lower keyword difficulties compared to saturated destinations like Italy or Greece. This strategic focus helped us quickly gain traction.

2. Creating a Content Calendar

Once we had our initial batch of keywords, we created a detailed content calendar. Our calendar included:

• Core keyword

• Headline

• Content brief link

• Final draft link

• Author

• Uploader

• Software used

• Results/rankings

• Rationale for each article

This structured approach ensured we stayed organized and consistent, which is essential for building momentum and maintaining quality.

3. Developing Content Briefs and Structure

Content briefs are essential for guiding writers and ensuring SEO best practices. Our briefs included:

• H1 headline

• Introduction with engaging stats or quotes

• H2 subheaders

• Calls to action (CTAs)

• Conclusion

• FAQs or additional value elements

This structure helped writers focus on content execution without worrying about layout and hierarchy, improving efficiency and consistency.

4. Writing and Optimizing Content

Initially, we wrote all the content manually. As AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper became more mainstream, we adopted a hybrid approach, using AI for efficiency while maintaining a human touch for quality and authenticity. AI helped with listicles and non-YMYL content, while human writers handled more nuanced topics. We used Clearscope for keyword optimization, ensuring our articles met SEO standards and provided valuable information to readers.

5. Publishing and On-Page SEO

Uploading and publishing content involves more than hitting the publish button. We focused on:

• Crafting compelling meta-tags

• Internal linking for better site navigation

• Incorporating high-quality visuals

• Creating interactive elements like polls and quizzes

These steps improved user experience and search engine visibility. We used Canva, Shutterstock, and MidJourney for original visuals, enhancing engagement and comprehension.