How Surfshark Grew Their Traffic from 518 to 402,995 Monthly Visitors in 20 Months with Blue Tree’s Digital PR
In 2018, Surfshark, a rising star in the cybersecurity domain, sought to establish a digital presence that would last. Of course, as with any emerging software company, they started operating in a highly competitive market which requires a well-thought-of approach. Surfshark recognized that building a strong digital presence goes beyond mere existence – it hinges on the ability to attract and engage a substantial audience. Blue Tree Digital was tasked with not only increasing traffic but also securing relevant referring domains. In SEO, both traffic and referring domains serve as tools that propel a website toward better visibility and sustained success. While traffic quantifies the influx of visitors, indicating the overall reach and engagement, referring domains dictate the site’s credibility and authority within the digital landscape. Together, they form a symbiotic relationship, with increased traffic fostering prominence and relevant referring domains cementing the website’s position as a trustworthy and influential player in its respective industry. Blue Tree Digital was presented with the opportunity to prove their digital PR excellence with a personalized approach to attract the attention of potential customers and raise traffic levels for Surfshark long term. Our Approach Using our proven 4-step strategy, Blue Tree addressed Surfshark’s specific needs by continuously improving the campaign to achieve the best results. Step 1: Building a List of Eligible Websites To start, we curated a list of high-quality cybersecurity sites to engage with, including those with which we were already collaborating. Step 2: Pitching Our team initiated outreach by presenting a cold pitch to each identified site, proposing article topics. Site editors agreed to our collaborative approach, allowing us to suggest topics or contribute to ideation, making each article topic tailored to each site’s focus. Step 3: Content Upon formal approval of the selected topic, our team of professional writers started working on high-quality content, submitting the pieces to each designated site. To seamlessly integrate links to Surfshark’s website, our writers and editors ensured: Our team of 10+ US-based cybersecurity writers strategically targeted the same keywords, ensuring the articles fulfilled their intended purpose. Step 4: Analyze, Improve, Repeat Our continuous improvement approach throughout the months of our cooperation included not only ensuring the relevance of each link but also making sure that: Using this personalized approach, we successfully pitched over 1000 cybersecurity publications. During the 20 months of our collaboration, we conducted tests on 13 different campaigns, each revolving around unique cold pitches. This iterative approach allowed us to identify and settle on the pitches that yielded the highest reply rates from site editors. Results The success of Blue Tree’s Digital PR campaign to establish Surfshark’s digital presence is vividly reflected in the remarkable growth witnessed throughout the campaign. In September 2018, when Surfshark emerged in the market, the website recorded a modest traffic of 518 with 108 referring domains (RD), representing its initial standing. Fast forward to May 2020, and the transformation is nothing short of extraordinary, with traffic skyrocketing to an impressive 402,994, accompanied by a substantial increase in referring domains to 3136. These numbers underscore the efficacy of our strategic approach, resulting in an exponential rise in online visibility and engagement. How We Can Help You Get Similar Results The partnership between Surfshark and Blue Tree Digital shows how an effective digital PR campaign can address SEO challenges even in highly competitive niches. With an extensive network of over 500 editorial connections to secure authentic and high-quality backlinks, we are confident in providing attainable and measurable results for our clients long term. With are proud of the quality standards that we employ in our Digital PR initiatives, including: Our pricing starts at $1000 per carefully evaluated and chosen link, providing adaptable solutions to accommodate various requirements, and we extend discounted rates for monthly bulk orders ranging from 5 to 10 links. The substantial success we delivered for Surfshark, highlighted by a significant surge of over 400,000 new, unique monthly visitors, exemplifies our capability to enhance your standing in any niche.
How Freshbooks Increased Organic Traffic by 257% with Blue Tree’s Digital PR Strategy
With the rapid growth of consumer fintech applications in recent years, businesses are turning to digital marketing to find and attract new customers. Like many other companies in the invoicing and accounting software industry, Freshbooks was struggling with problems that affected companies of all sizes. Three overriding concerns frequently showed up as they developed their digital marketing strategy, leading them to seek the assistance of experienced digital PR firm Blue Tree Digital. Freshbooks was facing a continuous battle with organic competitors fighting for the same digital space. It turned out that their market segment was one where rivals were always trying to go higher in the rankings – Freshbooks was always up against the clock to maintain its Google rankings. With a regular influx of new startups and well-funded competitors, Freshbooks also had trouble obtaining regular, quality mentions. Freshbooks’s efforts to develop and strengthen its digital footprint were impeded by the lack of consistent authoritative references as visibility depended on the strength of online mentions and backlinks. Freshbooks realized that increasing their user base, finding new possibilities, and eventually boosting income all depended on having a stream of quality visitors. Freshbooks recognized they needed a seasoned partner to help them manage the intricacies of the digital world and turned to Blue Tree Digital in response to these concerns. Blue Tree Digital was given the chance to demonstrate their mastery of digital PR by using a tailored strategy to draw in prospective clients and increase Freshbooks traffic. Our Approach To redefine Freshbooks’ online presence, enhance visibility, and drive growth in website traffic and referring domains, we focused on four key steps in our digital PR strategy. Step 1: Building an Extensive Site List The foundation of our strategy lies in creating an extensive site list. Recognizing the challenges Freshbooks faced, we set out to identify and prioritize websites with high DR and traffic.Our goal was to establish a network of websites with a DR of 70 or higher. We also leveraged our network of over 500 editorial contacts to pinpoint websites aligning with our criteria. This process allowed us to create a site list fit for an impactful link-building strategy. Step 2: Pitch Campaign Execution Our outreach team came up with a tailored strategy that emphasized the unique value Freshbooks brought to the industry. The outreach included a cold pitch to each identified site, proposing article topics. This involved transparent communication, emphasizing the genuine benefits and relevance of Freshbooks and our collaborative approach. Step 3: Content and Editing Coordination We collaborated closely with both Freshbooks and the selected websites to ensure that each link was organically placed in the content. Our team of 10+ writers and editors prioritized “Do-Follow” backlinks to maximize SEO benefits, strategically inserting them into websites boasting 20K+ organic monthly visitors and an average DR of 70+. The result was a blend of content and links that both enhanced Freshbooks’ online visibility and contributed to quality backlink acquisition. Step 4: Analyze, Improve, Repeat Throughout our collaborative process, we tested 8 different campaigns to settle on the best strategy for Freshbooks. By doing so, we could work on continuous improvement, refining our approach, and adapting to the changes in the market for the best possible outcome. Results Throughout the process, Blue Tree’s digital PR efforts brought great results, showcasing growth in both website traffic and the number of referring domains (RD). The following key metrics highlight the outcomes of our strategic approach: Traffic Increase: Freshbooks’ website’s traffic increase by 257% shows how Blue Tree Digital can increase online visibility and attract a significantly larger audience. Increase in the Number of Referring Domains: The number of referring domains doubled throughout our Digital PR campaigns. This increase shows our success in securing high-quality backlinks and building a network of connections within the area of invoicing and finance. How We Can Help You Get Similar Results The collaboration between Blue Tree Digital and Freshbooks demonstrates how difficulties with SEO can be handled with a successful digital PR strategy, even in very competitive markets. With a vast network of more than 500 editorial contacts to obtain real, high-quality backlinks, we are certain that we can give our clients long-term, measurable outcomes. We take great pride in the high standards of excellence we apply to our digital PR campaigns, which include: Our prices begin at $1000 for each thoroughly considered and selected link. We provide flexible options to meet different needs, and we offer special prices for monthly bulk orders of five to ten links. Our notable achievement d for Freshbooks, demonstrated by a traffic increase of 257% in monthly visitors, demonstrates our capacity to elevate your position in any industry.
Why Link Equity Should Be Your Top Priority in 2025
Link building typically involves chasing high metrics and domains in your niche. This approach, while reliable, does not consider what backlinks mean in the wider context of the SEO system. In particular, traditional strategies and campaigns aren’t as focused on link equity as much as they should be. The result is a plethora of irrelevant links and, inevitably, tip-toeing around Google penalties. However, if you take backlink equity into account, you’ll not only avoid your SEO efforts being blown to smithereens, but you’ll also build links holistically. That’s a much more effective outlook compared to caring solely about link juice. But what’s the difference between link equity and link juice? How can you capitalize on it? Let’s start from the basics before we get into the nitty-gritty and answer these questions. What is Link Equity At its core, link equity refers to the value or authority that a backlink passes from one page to another. Think of it like a recommendation. People wouldn’t bat an eye if Bob from accounting vouched for you (sorry, Bob), but if you got the same approval from Bill Gates, that would mean something. Whether it’s due to content quality, traffic, or backlinks, Google considers certain domains as authorities on their respective topics. As a result, when they link to your site, the algorithm considers this as a positive signal, impacting your ranking. This isn’t solely limited to external links. If you have a particularly well-performing blog post, and you update it with a link to your main product page, that will have an impact on your SEO equity. Key Factors Influencing Link Equity The notion of a high-authority site passing its value onto a less authoritative one is relatively simple, but how is this value manifested? Despite recent leaks, Google’s algorithm is still proprietary and kept under wraps, so no one can say for sure. Nevertheless, both our team and numerous other experts have determined that the following have a direct impact on backlink equity: Link Equity vs. Link Juice: What’s the Difference? While link equity and link juice are often used interchangeably, they represent different concepts in SEO. Link juice traditionally refers to the basic flow of ranking power from one page to another through hyperlinks. It’s a more simplified view, often focusing on the quantity of links. Think of it as your run-of-the-mill chasing placements on big sites, without much care for other factors. Link equity, on the other hand, is a more holistic concept that considers not only the quantity but also the quality, relevance, and contextuality of the links. While metrics like DR and monthly traffic play a big role in determining link equity, they’re just a small piece of the puzzle. Aspect Link Equity Link Juice Definition Overall link value (quantity, quality, relevance) Ranking power from link quantity Focus Quantity of links Quality and relevance of links Impact Long-term, sustainable SEO benefits Short-term ranking boost from link volume Strategy Prioritizes high-quality, relevant links Acquires many links Hence, if you prioritize backlink equity and pay attention to all the determining factors, you’ll effectively create a positive feedback loop. Conversely, if you only focus on link juice, there will still be an impact, but one that’s not as nearly as effective or as long-term-oriented as that of a link equity-first approach. Link Equity Mistakes to Avoid Link equity is built brick-by-brick, with the goal of ending up with a sturdy structure in the end. Unfortunately, this also means it’s easier to see everything crumble because of a couple of misplaced bricks. Most of the time, this is due to SEOs and blog outreach experts committing one or several of these mistakes: Over-optimization Overloading your site with too many internal links or using exact-match anchor text excessively can lead to penalties from search engines. The main goal is to make your backlinks seem natural and organic. Think about it—would 20 different sites all use the same anchor texts if they linked to the same blog post? Absolutely not. Likewise, stuffing as many internal links as possible isn’t the solution either. This affects the user experience negatively and makes the content off-putting altogether. Make sure you have a mix of product pages, informative blogs, and, of course, pillar content. Ignoring Link Diversity Oftentimes, brands are hesitant to build links anywhere beyond their very narrow niche. It’s mostly due to a fear of losing out on SEO equity due to too many irrelevant links. At the same time, it’s pretty peculiar for a site only to be linked back to by domains all pertaining to the same topic, right? Let’s say you’re dabbling in AI-powered data visualization software, as an example. You might be inclined to look for links on adjacent sites and in competitor blogs, but that’s just restricting yourself. Data visualization and AI can be mentioned in the context of: See how none of these niches are initially aligned but ended up with proper context? Contrary to outdated SEO techniques, links not being 100% aligned with the topic and niche is completely natural. Even Forbes links to articles about cybersecurity sometimes, right? Focusing on Quantity Over Quality In the quest for more backlinks, it’s easy to forget that not all links are created equal. Even though this has been discussed numerous times, we still see new sites falling for this trap. Many link builders and agencies prey on first-time founders and SEOs, offering guaranteed placements for $10 each. At first glance, this seems enticing and like a bargain, but these links provide next to no link equity. On the contrary, they are often irrelevant, non-contextual and can even incur penalties for link spamming. Thus, you must be patient and realize that high-quality links take time and effort to build. Likewise, it’s essential that your backlink profile features many different types of links, and not just one or two. It can be a hard pill to swallow, especially when your startup is still growing, but it’s for the sake of your backlink profile
How Admiral Markets Increased Their Traffic by 100,000 in 8 Months with Blue Tree’s Link-Building Strategy
Standing out in the online forex trading and financial services industry is challenging as is, and increasingly more so as the world becomes more financialized. Getting an edge on the competition requires both a robust digital marketing strategy and specifically one that relies on consumer-facing channels – like SEO – to capture new generations of retail traders and investors. Admiral Markets, a prominent platform in the forex industry, recognized the need to capitalize on these trends and reached out to Blue Tree Digital for help. One of the primary obstacles Admiral Markets faced was gaining an edge over its organic competitors vying for the same keywords. The financial sector is inherently competitive, and the sheer number of websites and businesses vying for top Google rankings posed a significant threat to Admiral Markets’ visibility. In an environment where every click matters, losing ground in search engine rankings can translate to missed opportunities and lost revenue. Winning requires a proactive approach to keyword targeting as well. Admiral Markets identified the need to expand its reach by targeting new and competitive keywords relevant to its products and services. To succeed, they needed authoritative, highly relevant links to key pages on AdmiralMarkets.com. Blue Tree Digital built a customized link-building strategy to address this need head-on, transforming Admiral Markets’ digital presence and catapulting its organic growth. Our Approach Link building today requires a long-term outlook, one that lays strong foundations on which results compound over time. One strategy doesn’t fit all, so Blue Tree Digital built a custom campaign for Admiral Markets as follows: Step 1: Building a List of Eligible Websites Blue Tree Digital started the link-building campaign with an approach to identify and curate a list of eligible websites not just in the forex industry, but in creatively-adjacent verticals as well. The challenge was to identify that not only had authority but also aligned with Admiral Markets’ brand. All of the chosen websites needed to fit strict criteria: Our research team evaluated the credibility of potential collaborators, ensuring they were well-positioned to elevate Admiral Markets’ visibility in competitive online trading and forex markets. Step 2: Strategic Pitching for Maximum Impact With a list of 500+ eligible websites, Blue Tree Digital deployed a tailored outreach strategy, engaging with potential collaborators to secure high-impact mentions and backlinks. Our team leveraged its copywriting and outreach expertise to write compelling, creative pitches that resonated with the target websites and editors, emphasizing the unique value propositions of Admiral Markets and our team of expert writers. This personalized approach was crucial in fostering positive relationships and securing valuable placements. Step 3: Optimized Content for Increased Visibility As “content is king”, we needed to create high-quality content that not only showcased Admiral Markets’ expertise but also seamlessly integrated targeted keywords. Our team tailored each piece to align with the brand’s objectives and the respected website where the article was featured. Our team of 10+ editorial writers crafted articles that seamlessly integrated organic keywords for a natural link placement. Step 4: Ensuring Relevancy and Continuous Improvement Blue Tree Digital didn’t merely secure placements and rest – instead, we implemented a system to continually monitor and enhance the relevance of Admiral Markets’ digital footprint. This involved regular audits, performance assessments, and a commitment to staying on top of industry trends. Our team tried and tested 10 different campaigns throughout the collaboration to decide on the best one. This meant reviewing and revising our strategy as needed to maximize our link-building impact and the outcome of the entire campaign. Results Over the course of 8 months, our team worked hard to maximize the results of the campaign and opt for the strategy that went best with Admiral Market’s specific requirements. From January 2019 to September 2019, their traffic grew from 66,024 to 165,685 organic monthly visitors, highlighting an increase of almost 100,000 new monthly visitors. Such a significant increase in organic traffic is a crucial metric, representing not only heightened visibility but also a surge in potential leads, conversions, and, ultimately, revenue. The growth in organic traffic reflects the successful execution of 3 key elements: targeted link-building, strategic pitching, and optimized content creation. How We Can Help You Get Similar Results The collaboration’s success over the eight-month period serves as a compelling case study, showcasing the potential for strategic digital initiatives to reshape a brand’s online presence and drive substantial, measurable growth. We have confidence in the impact of digital PR, leveraging our extensive network of over 450 editorial connections to secure organic and high-quality backlink placements. It’s important to note that we strictly follow stringent quality standards, refraining from the purchase or overuse of links. With services starting at $1000 for each carefully integrated link, we have scalable options to suit various needs, as well as discounted rates for bulk orders of 5-10 links monthly. The success we achieved for Admiral Markets, particularly by increasing their traffic by almost 100K visitors, showcases how we can elevate your business, even in competitive sectors such as trading. Secure your SEO success – contact BlueTree now and develop a tailored link-building strategy that will propel your business forward.
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