Case Study brief
CBD eCommerce SEO
Our Client – Leanna Organics, a thriving eCommerce brand specializing in organic CBD and wellness products, faced a daunting challenge after Google’s Algorithm Core Update in September 2023. The update severely impacted their search visibility, causing a significant drop in organic traffic and the loss of critical keyword rankings, including “CBD Salve” and “CBD Bath Bomb.”
Read on to learn more about our strategy to bring him back to the top position.
Organic Traffic Growth
Increase in Total Keywords
User Engagement
Client Feedback - Scott Mollenkopf
“I’ve been working with Konrad and the Doctorank team for a few months now and we are already getting results. He helped us get one of our most important keywords back into the top 5, and on of our other important keywords ranking in the top 5 for the first time. Konrad is through, efficient, professional, we can’t say enough good things about him.”
Goals 🎯
• Recover Lost “Money” Keywords
• Increase Online Sales
• Improve SXO & Crawlability
• Boost General Visibility
The Challenge 🛠️
Leanna Organics, a leading eCommerce brand offering organic CBD and wellness products via BigCommerce, faced significant challenges after Google’s Algorithm Core Update in September 2023. The update caused a noticeable drop in organic visibility, which impacted their traffic and sales. Adding to the complexity, stringent FDA restrictions on CBD-related claims limited the ability to use certain phrases, making traditional SEO approaches ineffective.
Key problems included:
- Loss of critical money keywords like “CBD Salve” and “CBD Bath Bomb” from top rankings.
- A massive 49% user drop in monthly traffic after Google’s Core Algorithmic Update.
- Difficulty balancing nationwide SEO goals with local SEO after relocating their brick-and-mortar store.
- Lack of top-of-the-funnel content to help drive organic visibility and support topical authority.
The Solution 💡
Our comprehensive SEO strategy for Leanna Organics tackled challenges on multiple fronts, combining advanced technical expertise, content strategy, and link-building techniques. Here’s how we achieved success.
1. 🔑 Advanced Keyword Recovery and Expansion
a. Comprehensive Keyword Research
- We conducted a thorough analysis using Ahrefs, Google Keyword Planner, and SEMRush to identify opportunities for recovering lost rankings and discovering untapped keywords.
- Focused on low-competition, high-intent keywords like:
- “CBD pet drops”
- “CBD gummies for sleep”
- “CBD tincture for sale”
- “CBD eye cream”
- Used content gap analysis to uncover keywords competitors were ranking for that Leanna Organics was not.

b. Strategic Content Hub Creation
To establish topical authority, we developed a pillar-and-cluster model around the keyword “CBD Salve.”
- Pillar Content: Created a flagship article, “Exploring CBD Salve: What You Need to Know,” designed to act as the main hub for internal linking.
- Cluster Articles: Developed 12+ supporting pieces, including:
- Benefits and Uses of CBD Salve
- CBD Salve for Pain Relief
- CBD Salve for Stress Relief
- Understanding CBD Salve Safety and Regulations
- Internal Linking Strategy: Carefully interlinked all cluster articles to the pillar page using exact match and partial match anchor text, ensuring Google recognized the hierarchy and relevance.

c. Semantic Keyword Optimization
Due to FDA restrictions, direct references to medical claims were prohibited. Instead, we implemented:
- Synonym Substitutions: Replaced phrases like “CBD for pain relief” with compliant alternatives like “CBD for discomfort.”
- Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI): Used related terms like “natural relaxation support” and “soothing properties” to avoid keyword stuffing while maintaining relevance.
2. ⚙️ Technical SEO Improvements
a. Site Structure Optimization
- Conducted a crawl analysis using Screaming Frog to identify orphan pages, duplicate content, and broken internal links.
- Improved the site’s crawlability by:
- Flattening the site hierarchy, reducing the number of clicks from the homepage to key product pages.
- Consolidating fragmented content into cohesive categories to enhance topical relevance.
b. Schema Markup Implementation
- Deployed structured data for products, FAQs, and reviews, enabling rich snippets in Google Search.
- Added schema for price, availability, and reviews for products like CBD salve and bath bombs.
- Manually coded-in FAQ schema on category pages to capture “People Also Ask” questions in search results. This feature was not available within the used BigCommerce theme.

c. Meta Title and Description Overhaul
- Rewrote meta titles and descriptions across the site to balance local and national SEO objectives:
- Local Example: “CBD Salve | Leanna Organics | Denver, CO” for location-specific pages.
- National Example: “CBD Salve for Natural Comfort | Leanna Organics” for broader appeal.
- Ensured titles were under 60 characters and descriptions were compelling, keyword-rich, and under 155 characters.
d. Mobile Optimization
- Conducted a mobile usability audit via Google Search Console, identifying and resolving issues such as:
- Text legibility
- Tap target spacing
- Load times (reduced via image compression and minifying JavaScript)
3. ✍️ Comprehensive Content Strategy
a. Tailored Content Development
- Designed content for three distinct stages of the customer journey:
- Top-of-Funnel (Awareness): Created blog posts addressing user queries like:
- How Long Does CBD Last?
- Hemp Gummies vs. CBD Gummies
- Mid-Funnel (Consideration): Optimized category pages with detailed FAQs to help users make informed decisions.
- Bottom-of-Funnel (Decision): Enhanced product descriptions with persuasive copy and trust signals, such as customer testimonials.
- Top-of-Funnel (Awareness): Created blog posts addressing user queries like:
b. Localized Content for Store Visibility
- Revamped local landing pages (e.g., CBD Denver CO) with:
- Driving directions, estimated travel times, and local promotions.
- Regular updates to Google Business Profile posts linking back to these pages.

c. User-First Formatting
- Incorporated bullet points, headings, and infographics to improve content readability and engagement.
- Answered user questions directly in the first few paragraphs to increase chances of appearing in Featured Snippets.
d. Hub-and-Spoke Model
- Built content hubs around key products (e.g., CBD Salve, CBD Gummies) with spokes addressing related subtopics.
- This structure increased internal link equity and demonstrated to Google that the site was an authoritative resource.
4. 🔗 Precision Link-Building
a. High-Quality Backlink Acquisition
- Sourced premium CBD-friendly domains with high DR and organic traffic.
- Example links secured:
- minimalistfocus.com (DR 65)
- truismfitness.com (DR 50)
- Example focused anchor text:
- “CBD Salve” for the product page.
- “Leanna Organics” for the homepage.
- Example links secured:
b. Strategic Budget Allocation
- Prioritized impactful links within the low $500 budget by:
- Avoiding overspending on low-ROI domains.
- Balancing keyword-specific links with branded anchors.
- Example client communication regarding backlinks below:

c. Guest Post Contributions
- Recommended guest post topics for the client to write, such as:
- CBD and the Science of Wellness (targeting the wellness niche to diversify link sources).
5. 💬 User Engagement and UX Improvements
a. FAQ Sidebar Implementation
- Designed an FAQ sidebar for category pages, addressing popular queries to keep users engaged.
- Example questions:
- “How does CBD Salve differ from CBD Cream?”
- “How should I apply CBD Salve for best results?”
b. Enhanced Product Pages
- Added high-quality product images, ingredient lists, and application guides to build trust and drive conversions.
6. 🔍 Ongoing Performance Tracking and Adjustments
a. Analytics Monitoring
- Set up custom Google Analytics 4 dashboards to track user engagement, traffic sources, and conversions.
- Monitored the impact of changes through Google Search Console to validate gains in keyword rankings.

b. Regular A/B Testing
- Tested variations of meta descriptions and CTAs to optimize click-through rates and conversion rates.
c. Competitive Analysis
- Continuously monitored competitor performance in Ahrefs to refine our strategy and stay ahead.
By integrating these advanced SEO techniques, we not only addressed Leanna Organics’ immediate concerns but also built a scalable framework for sustained growth in the highly competitive CBD eCommerce space.
The Results 🚀
Within a few months, Leanna Organics experienced a dramatic turnaround:
- 📈 +94.46% Increase in Organic Traffic: Monthly traffic doubled from 589 to 1,166 users, per Google Analytics.
- 📝 +90.99% Growth in Total Keywords: Keywords climbed from 1,166 to 2,227 in Ahrefs.
- 👥 +25.57% User Engagement Rate: Enhanced site engagement through optimized content, UX improvements.
Highlights
- Recovered “CBD Salve” and “CBD Bath Bombs” rankings by optimizing content and link-building, solidifying their positions as top performing keywords.
- Improved local SEO rankings, driving more in-store and online traffic through targeted optimizations.
- Laid the foundation for scaling top-of-the-funnel content and long-term organic growth.
Interested in Results Like This? 🌟
At Doctorank, we specialize in personalized SEO strategies tailored to your business goals. Let us help you increase traffic, recover lost rankings, and boost online sales. Contact us today for a free audit and take the first step toward SEO success!