DA Academy of NC SEO Case Study (July–September 2025)

0) TL;DR (What changed and why it matters)

• Audience scale:
  Active users grew from 865 → 1,700 across the quarter. Growth was search-led in July/August and broadened via social in September.

• Program & certifications as growth levers:
  The Dental Assistant Program page surged +62.4% in September; certification pages (Coronal Polishing, Radiology, Nitrous Oxide) repeatedly led clicks and growth.

• Local demand quality:
  Google Business Profile (GBP) calls rose to 61 in September despite a −15.5% pullback in overall GBP views—fewer impressions but more intentful users.

1) Objectives & Strategy

Business goals for Q3 2025

1. Acquire more non-brand discovery to fill the top of the funnel (TOFU).
2. Activate prospective students on high-intent surfaces (Program, Tuition, Lead Capture).
3. Convert more local searchers into inquiries (calls, direction requests, site clicks via GBP).

SEO strategy (high level)

• Content led:
  Strengthen certification guides; clarify Program value; interlink to reduce cannibalization and improve crawl paths to “money” pages.

• SERP led:
  Own intent-aligned titles/meta, earn featured placements (FAQ, etc.), and preserve top-3 positions on brand + high-intent education terms.

• Local led:
  Tighten GBP assets to nudge calls and appointments; measure via UTM.

2) Data Sources & Method Notes

• Google Analytics (GA/GA4) for audience, channels, engagement, and pageviews (monthly MoM comparisons).

• Google Business Profile (GBP) for views by surface and key actions (calls, directions, website clicks).

• Google Search Console (GSC) for query/page clicks, average positions, and growth trends.
  All specific values are from your July, August, and September 2025 report pages.

3) Performance Narrative (Month by Month)

July 2025 — Search primes the pump

• Acquisition:
  Organic sessions +30.5% (843→1,100) while active users rose +15.6% (865→1,000). Direct traffic dipped, but search offset it.

• Consumption:
  Among top pages, Dental Assistant Program was the only gainer MoM (+15.7%); other evergreen pages dipped slightly.

• Local:
  GBP views +9.7%; direction requests +22.9%; website clicks +25.8%; calls −28.6% (more research, fewer immediate dials).

• GSC:
  Brand + education intent drove clicks (e.g., “da academy of nc”, “dental assistant school”). Certification pages featured heavily in top content by clicks.

Interpretation: Search momentum returned; top-funnel interest concentrated on brand and certification information, with Program demand starting to perk up.

August 2025 — Wider reach and channel mix

• Acquisition:
  Active users +40% (1,000→1,400); Organic sessions +9%; Organic Social +104%; Paid Social scaled 1→172 sessions (awareness). Avg engagement time softened (1:24 → 1:12).

• Consumption:
  Continuing Education +136%, Tuition & Financing +48%, Coronal Polishing +51% → broader page-level interest.

• Local:
  GBP views +58.5%; however website clicks −14.8% and calls −6.7% (many lighter-intent searchers).

• GSC:
  Homepage and certification content dominated clicks; non-brand education terms remained healthy.

Interpretation: DA Academy reached many more people. The task ahead: convert this expanded attention into deeper engagement and inquiries.

September 2025 — Concentration on high-intent pages; calls tick up

• Acquisition:
  Active users +21% (1,400→1,700); new users +25%; Organic Search new users ~flat at 1,200, while Organic Social new users +353% (94→426). Avg engagement time per user slid to 0:54.

• Consumption: P
  rogram +62.4% (287→466) → the quarter’s biggest mover. Radiology Certification (149) rebounded; Coronal Polishing +6.9%; Tuition & Financing −21.5%.

• Local:
  GBP views −15.5% MoM to 6,504 (mostly from mobile search), but calls increased to 61 (+5.2%)—fewer, more serious searchers. Website clicks & direction requests eased.

• GSC:
  Rising interest in certification-adjacent terms (e.g., coronal polishing certification nc, dental radiology certification). Homepage and certification pages remained top click earners.

Interpretation: Attention consolidated on the pages closest to enrollment decisions. Local demand quality improved (calls).

4) Cohort & Intent Analysis

4.1 Channel cohort shifts (Aug→Sep)

• Stable Organic Search new users alongside a surge in Organic Social suggests DA Academy captured new early-stage researchers in September while maintaining search throughput. Expect lower time-on-page for these cohorts until routing improves.
  
  

4.2 Page-intent mapping

• Money pages:
  Program; Tuition & Financing; Lead Capture.

• Magnet pages:
  Certification guides (Coronal Polishing, Radiology, Nitrous Oxide), evergreen student-life content.

• Observed behavior:
  Magnets consistently earn clicks; when Program visibility increases (September), downstream conversion opportunities should rise—provided Tuition and Lead Capture are easy to reach.
  
  

4.3 Local intent quality

• September’s calls up / views down indicates stronger intent among those who found the profile. Prioritize on-profile CTAs and keep GBP fresh to reclaim lost website clicks without hurting calls.

5) KPI Roll-Up (MoM)

5.1 Audience & Acquisition

• Active users: 865 → 1,000 (Jul) → 1,400 (Aug) → 1,700 (Sep).
• Organic sessions: 843 → 1,100 (Jul) → 1,200 (Aug); Sep Organic new users ~1,200 (flat).
• Organic Social sessions/new users: +104% in Aug; +353% new users in Sep.

5.2 Local actions (GBP)

• Views: 4,509 → 7,149 → 6,504 (Jul → Aug → Sep)
• Calls: 60 → 56 → 61
• Website clicks: 581 → 495 → 402
• Directions: 102 → 105 → 86.

5.3 Key Pages (Pageviews)

• Program: +15.7% (Jul); +62.4% (Sep).

• Certifications:
  Coronal Polishing (Jul top; +51% in Aug; +6.9% in Sep); Radiology (resumed in Sep, 149); Nitrous Oxide (saw swings; 57 Sep clicks via GSC).

6) What Drove Results

1. Topic–intent fit on certifications:
   These pages keep winning queries that sit close to enrollment and CE decisions. Their consistency explains steady non-brand throughput despite traffic mix changes.

1. Program page visibility:
   A September spike in Program pageviews implies improved internal routing and/or stronger SERP presence for program queries—crucial for conversions.

1. Local conversion posture: Even with fewer GBP impressions, calls rose, signaling that message clarity and on-profile details are resonating with higher-intent users.

7) Risks, Gaps, and “Why Not Higher?”

• Engagement depth trending down:
  Avg engagement time per user fell across Aug→Sep. Cause: larger TOFU from social + skimming behavior. Risk: micro-conversion drop-off unless page frameworks adapt.

• Tuition & Financing drop in Sep (−21.5%):
  If cost/aid info is harder to reach, conversion friction rises; this can also depress form submissions.

• GBP website clicks sliding:
  Awareness spikes (Aug) didn’t translate into site visits from GBP; in Sep, clicks fell further while calls rose—optimize for both.

8) Action Plan (Experiments with Clear Success Metrics)

Implement in 3 sprints; each experiment includes hypothesis, change, KPI, and success threshold.

Sprint A (Weeks 1–3): Convert certification visitors

1. Inline “Program Path” modules on certification pages
   
   • Hypothesis: Showing “Next Step: Full Program” modules after first scroll increases Program page entrances.
     
     
   • Change: Insert contextual modules (outcomes bullets + Apply/Book Call); add first-paragraph and conclusion links.
     
     
   • KPI: Program entrances from certification pages +20%; Program page CVR +10%.
     
     
   • Data:  Page-path analysis; Program form submits; call clicks.
     
     
2. FAQ schema on top certification guides
   • Hypothesis: Earning rich results improves CTR for non-brand queries.
     
     
   • KPI: GSC CTR on affected queries +0.8–1.2pp vs. control pages.
     
     
3. Sticky CTA on Program page (Apply/Call)
   
   • Hypothesis: Persistent CTA boosts micro-conversions without harming engagement.
     
     
   • KPI: Form Start rate +15%; Call clicks on Program +10%.
     
     
   • Data: GA events (Form Start/Submit), click tracking.
     
     

Sprint B (Weeks 4–6): Re-energize Tuition & Financing

1. Cost & aid “estimator” + scholarship FAQs
   • Hypothesis: Reduces friction; increases depth and submit rate.
     
     
   • KPI: Tuition pageviews +25%; Time on page +20%; downstream Form Submit +10–15%.
     
     
2. Program → Tuition Autolinks
   • Hypothesis: Users evaluating the program seek price early; easier access reduces drop-offs.
     
     
   • KPI: Click-through from Program to Tuition +30%; exits from Program −10%.
     
     

Sprint C (Weeks 7–9): Local & Attribution improvements

1. GBP optimization + UTM
   • Changes: Primary action = Call/Book; add cohort-specific updates (next start date); refresh Q&A; apply UTM to website URL.
     
     
   • KPI: Calls +10–15%; Website clicks +15% MoM; tracked sessions via utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp.
     
     
2. Social→Site routing
   • Hypothesis: Social cohorts skim; “deep-link” them to bite-size landing sections (Program highlights, costs, next cohort).
     
     
   • KPI: Social session engagement time +15%; Social-sourced Form Starts +20%.
     
     

9) Governance & Operating Cadence

• Weekly:
  • GSC query & position watchlist (program + certification terms).
  • GBP actions (calls, directions, website clicks) vs. posts and Q&A updates.
    
    
• Bi-weekly:
  • Content refresh queue (top 15% pages by clicks).
  • Internal linking diffs (ensure new posts point to Program & Tuition).
    
    
• Monthly:
  • Outcomes readout: Users, Program/Tuition/Lead Capture pageflows, Form Start→Submit ratio, Calls via GBP.
  • Keep/kill/iterate decisions on experiments; move winners to production templates.
    
    

10) Appendix — Detailed Source Extracts

July 2025 Highlights

• Organic sessions: 843 → 1,100 (+30.5%)
• Active users: 865 → 1,000 (+15.6%)
• Program page: +15.7% pageviews
• GBP: Views 4,111 → 4,509; Website Clicks +25.8%; Directions +22.9%; Calls −28.6%
• GSC: Brand + education queries; homepage & certifications led clicks.
  
  

August 2025 Highlights

• Active users: +40% (1,000→1,400); Organic +9%; Organic Social +104%; Paid Social scaled
• Pageviews: CE +136%; Tuition +48%; Coronal Polishing +51%
• GBP: Views +58.5% to 7,149; Website Clicks −14.8%; Calls −6.7%
• GSC: Homepage + certifications dominate clicks.
  
  

September 2025 Highlights

• Active users: +21% (1,400→1,700); New users +25%
• Organic Search new users: ~1,200 (flat vs Aug); Organic Social new users +353%
• Program page: +62.4%; Radiology pageviews 149; Coronal Polishing +6.9%; Tuition −21.5%
• GBP: Views −15.5% to 6,504; Calls +5.2% to 61; Website Clicks/Direction Requests down
• GSC: Certification terms trending up; homepage + certification pages top by clicks.
  
  

11) What to Watch Next (Q4 2025 KPIs & Targets)

• Program entrances from certification pages: target +20–30% by Sprint A changes.
• Form Start → Submit rate: +10–15% via Program CTA + Tuition enhancements.
• GBP actions: calls +10–15%, website clicks +15–20% with UTM and on-profile refinements.

Social cohort depth: engagement time +15%, social-sourced Form Starts +20% via deep-link landing sections.