Non-Profit Case Study SEO: Old Mission San Luis Rey

 

More visibility. More visitors. More support for a historic mission.

We helped Old Mission San Luis Rey increase organic traffic, improve rankings and generate more event bookings and service inquiries through SEO, website redesign and paid campaigns.

Top Results

About the Client

Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside California is one of the 21 California missions located in Oceanside, CA. It operates as a nonprofit organization.

The mission offers:

  • Retreat programs (individual and group)
  • Cemetery and burial services
  • Cultural and historical experiences

Their goal was to increase visibility, attract visitors and generate more inquiries and bookings online through phone calls and form submissions.

Before vs After SEO

Before SEO:

  • Declining organic traffic month after month
  • Limited keyword visibility
  • Most traffic from direct and referrals
  • No structured SEO or content strategy
  • Custom-built website limiting scalability

After SEO & redesign:

  • Strong organic traffic growth
  • Significant increase in rankings
  • Expanded keyword coverage
  • Improved conversions and online engagement

The Challenge

The website faced several issues that limited growth:

organic traffic
Declining organic traffic
database
Outdated custom-built website
Limited SEO structure
No content targeting search intent
Weak conversion tracking

The site was not positioned to attract search traffic or convert visitors.

What We Did

We rebuilt the entire digital foundation and implemented a full SEO and conversion strategy.

page

Website Redesign

We migrated the site from a custom platform to WordPress.

  • Modern, mobile-friendly design
  • Improved structure and navigation
  • SEO-friendly architecture

This created a scalable foundation for growth.

wordpress

WooCommerce Integration

We added ecommerce functionality for events.

  • Custom event setup
  • Online ticket sales
  • Streamlined booking experience

This allowed the client to generate revenue directly from the website.

strategy

Content Strategy

We built content around search demand and user intent.

  • Landing pages for retreats and cemetery services
  • Educational guides
  • Pages about California missions
  • Top and middle of the funnel content

This increased visibility across multiple search types.

On-Page SEO

On-Page SEO

We optimized all key pages.

  • Titles, headings and structure
  • Internal linking
  • Keyword targeting

Local SEO

Local SEO

We improved local visibility.

  • Google Business Profile optimization
  • Regular posts
  • Local relevance improvements

PPC Campaigns

PPC Campaigns

We launched search campaigns for:

  • Retreat Center
  • Cemetery services
  • California missions

These campaigns generated additional traffic and inquiries.

conversion

Conversion Optimization & Tracking

We improved how users interact with the site.

  • Clear CTAs
  • Better forms
  • Conversion tracking setup

This allowed accurate measurement of results.

Results Breakdown

Traffic Growth

  • Clicks increased from 16.6K → 30.3K (+82%)
  • Impressions increased from 599K → 1.8M (+200%)
  • Average position improved from 16.6 → 7.1

Organic Growth

  • Traffic shifted from decline to consistent growth
  • Traffic value increased significantly
  • Keyword rankings expanded across all positions

This indicates improved visibility for relevant search terms.

Keyword Rankings

  • Growth in Top 3, Top 10 and Top 20 positions
  • Increased visibility for:
    • Mission-related searches
    • Retreat programs
    • Cemetery services

Technical Performance

  • Ahrefs Health Score: 92/100 (Excellent)
  • Clean and optimized site structure

Why This Worked

Strong Foundation

Moving to WordPress allowed better SEO and scalability.

Search Intent Coverage

We targeted:

  • Informational searches (history, guides)
  • Service-based searches (retreats, cemetery)

Content Expansion

More pages = more opportunities to rank.

Conversion Improvements

Visitors can now:

  • Book events
  • Submit inquiries
  • Take action easily

SEO + Paid Strategy

SEO builds long-term traffic. PPC adds immediate visibility.

What This Means for Nonprofits

Many nonprofit websites struggle with:

  • Low search visibility
  • Outdated platforms
  • Limited content
  • No conversion tracking

With the right structure and strategy, nonprofits can:

  • Increase traffic
  • Reach more people
  • Generate more support and inquiries

Learn more about our nonprofit SEO services.

Get Similar Results

OrganikSoft helps local businesses and nonprofits grow through SEO, web design and paid Google Ads campaigns.
  • No long-term contracts
  • Focus on measurable results
  • Clear reporting