ThinkSEM Case Studies
Our Search Engine Marketing Consultants Focus on Each Client's Objectives.
No two clients are alike. Each has a unique combination of factors — marketing objective, target market, industry, location. At ThinkSEM, it is our job to understand each client's objectives, and then to develop a program that delivers on those objectives.
We present each of these case studies in three parts:
- The challenge: What did the client wish to accomplish? What were the objectives?
- Our approach: How did ThinkSEM go about meeting the client's objectives?
- The results: What were the results?
Close collaboration, clear direction, thorough research, rigorous testing and attention to every detail contributed to the success of these case studies:
The Challenge:
Explore Minnesota presented several challenges to our PPC consultants.
- Promote the "More to Explore" TV commercial featuring Joe Mauer (See the video on our Clients page.)
- Rebuild the entire Google AdWords account for more qualified traffic and to promote Minnesota tourist attractions (The new account structure needed to include mobile device targeting and display network placement.)
- Ensure traffic is reported to Google Analytics (GA) to create advanced segments within the GA dashboard and to ensure quick and easy reporting to the client.
The Approach:
ThinkSEM developed several PPC strategies to meet the challenges.
- Identified keywords and display network placements to drive traffic to the video landing page, and segregated traffic by mobile device, sponsored search and display network.
- Conducted new keyword research (positive and negative terms) that covered more than 130 topics, and identified traffic by mobile device, sponsored search and display network.
- Updated all pay-per-click (PPC) destination URLs with custom tracking identifiers in order to create several advanced segments within the GA platform.
The Results:
Improved research and attention to detail brought significant results.
- We created four campaigns that generated more than 16,000 visits to the TV commercial landing page. (Time span: late March to the end of June 2011)
- Through careful research, we found more than 20,000 keywords and wrote more than 1,000 ads for 24 new campaigns.
- The resulting PPC campaigns showed a 46% improvement in bounce rate, a 137% improvement in time spent on site, and a 78% improvement in pages per visit.
- The new tracking identifiers enabled creation of very granular GA segments for the client.
The Challenge:
Increase non-branded, organic search traffic to the main website.
- Gain more organic exposure for PDR Clinics and its five Twin Cities locations
The Approach:
ThinkSEM audited the existing website to determine what issues required resolution.
- Adjusted the website architecture to bring more attention to the contact page
- Added calls-to-action within the content area of each page to encourage visitors to ask for more information
- Optimized more than 60 pages within the site using industry standard best practices, including keyword research, content changes, HTML tagging, and meta tag optimization
- Updated five Google Places listings, one for each location
- Built relevant links to the site (off-page optimization)
The Results:
SEO (search engine optimization) increased visits and contacts.
- In the first four months after SEO was complete, organic traffic increased 40%.
- The increase was mainly from non-branded keywords, an indication that the website was reaching a new audience previously unfamiliar with PDR Clinics.
- Interaction with the contact page increased 165%.
If you want to discuss how our search marketing and pay-per-click professionals can help you and your business, Contact Us for more information.


