In this digital era, SEO needs no introduction – it’s a crucial driver of website traffic. Today, with the internet teeming with hundreds of thousands of websites, attracting organic traffic is nearly impossible without SEO. To illustrate this point, our team conducted a comparative study. The study showcases the differences in organic traffic between SEO-optimized websites and those that are not optimized.
Why Did We Conduct This Study?
As a top-rated digital marketing agency in Dubai, we frequently present SEO proposals to prospective clients. During one such presentation, a client asked us, ‘What is the traffic of a website that doesn’t implement SEO?’ At the time, we didn’t have the data to provide an immediate answer. Later, we scoured the web to find an answer but to no avail. This led us to conduct our own comparative study to answer the client’s question. The results of this study are presented below.
Web Traffic Analysis of SEO-Optimised Websites
Research Background & Methodology
Country | UAE |
SEO Tools Used for Traffic Analysis | SEMrush |
Number of Websites Analyzed | 12 |
Focus Industry | FMCG |
Years Analyzed | 2022 and 2023 |
Given that a significant portion of web traffic is generated by websites in the FMCG industry in the UAE, we selected 12 websites from this industry for our study. We used the SEMRush tool to collect data on their annual organic traffic for two years, 2022 and 2023. Seasonal traffic surges were not included in our analysis. As we don’t have access to their specific SEO strategies, we’ve made an assumption that they have implemented basic-level SEO.
Annual Traffic Growth Rate of SEO-Optimized Websites
In 2022, the combined annual organic traffic for the 12 websites that implemented SEO was 118,638. This figure rose to 153,024 in 2023, indicating a growth rate of 28.98%. This shows that SEO has helped them improve their organic traffic considerably.
Web Traffic Analysis of Non-SEO Websites
Research Background & Methodology
Country | UAE |
SEO Tools Used for Traffic Analysis | SEMrush & Google Analytics (Internal data) |
Number of Websites Analyzed | 12 |
Focus Industry | Miscellaneous |
Years Analyzed | 2022 and 2023 |
As a premier web development company based in Dubai, we create hundreds of websites annually. Some of these websites invest in SEO, while others opt not to for various reasons. We have access to the Google Analytics accounts of all these websites, as we embed analytics codes to track website traffic.
For this study, we randomly selected 12 websites from our own database that did not implement SEO. We gathered their annual organic traffic data for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023) using both Google Analytics and SEMRush to ensure accuracy. However, due to contractual obligations, we cannot disclose their traffic data here.
Annual Growth Rate of Non-SEO Websites
When comparing the traffic data from 2023 to that of 2022, the combined annual organic growth rate for these 12 non-SEO websites was a mere 2.25%. This data suggests that their organic traffic significantly lagged behind that of SEO-optimized websites.
Conclusion
Annual Traffic Growth of | Growth Percentage |
Websites doing SEO | 28.98% |
Websites not doing SEO | 2.25% |
This comparative study clearly illustrates the impact of SEO on organic traffic. Websites that invested in SEO saw a substantial increase in their organic traffic, with a growth rate of 28.98%. In contrast, websites that did not invest in SEO experienced a significantly lower growth rate of just 2.25%. This stark difference underscores the importance of SEO in enhancing a website’s visibility and attracting more visitors. Therefore, regardless of the industry or region, investing in SEO is not merely an option, but a necessity for any business aiming to improve its online presence and reach a wider audience.
Global Media Insight is a leading web design and digital marketing agency based in Dubai. Since our establishment in 2001, we have been committed to providing innovative digital solutions to businesses. With a strong focus on SEO services, we strive to help our clients enhance their online presence, improve their business performance, and achieve their specific goals.
GMI’s Research Team is a panel of knowledgeable experts from various fields such as digital marketing, social media, and web development, all united by a common goal—to educate. We enjoy exploring everything from the latest industry trends and emerging technologies to people and demographics, both in the UAE and beyond. Through our blog posts, we share valuable insights that help businesses and marketers stay informed and prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
