Project Overview
Challenge: Queer Athena's LGBTQ+ events platform had critical technical SEO issues blocking search engine crawlability and preventing organic growth.
My Role: SEO Specialist
Objective: Diagnose and resolve technical barriers to establish a solid SEO foundation for future organic growth.
The Technical Challenges
Initial Site Audit Revealed Critical Issues:
I identified several technical problems hampering search visibility:
- Site health score of only 57%
- 25+ orphaned pages with no internal linking structure
- Multiple 5XX server errors
- 60+ pages with missing or broken meta descriptions
These issues prevented proper indexing and ranking of event content.
Technical Audit & Recovery Process
Phase 1: Comprehensive Site Health Analysis
- Conducted a thorough technical audit using Ahrefs and Google Search Console
- Identified crawl errors, server issues, orphaned pages, and broken internal linking
- Analyzed site speed and performance bottlenecks
Phase 2: Critical Infrastructure Fixes
- Resolved server errors: Eliminated 5XX errors preventing crawling
- Improved internal linking: Integrated 25+ orphaned pages strategically
- Meta description optimization: Enhanced 60+ meta descriptions for consistency and SEO alignment
Phase 3: Search Engine Optimization Setup
- Established URL structures optimized for search visibility
- Implemented keyword targeting framework tailored to LGBTQ event searches
- Set up continuous monitoring with Google Search Console and GA4
Tools & Implementation
Technical Analysis:
- Ahrefs: Comprehensive site health audit and ongoing monitoring
- Google Search Console: Real-time crawl error tracking
- GA4: Baseline tracking of user traffic and behavior
Results & Infrastructure Improvements
Technical Foundation Established (3-month timeline):
- Site Health Recovery: 57% → 99% health score (Ahrefs)
- Crawlability Enhancement: Eliminated orphaned pages and server errors
- SEO-Ready Infrastructure: Optimized meta descriptions, structured URLs, robust internal linking
Monitoring Systems Implemented:
- Google Search Console tracking for ongoing crawl health
- Ahrefs monitoring for keyword visibility improvements
- GA4 setup for traffic and conversion tracking
Strategic Foundation for Growth
Infrastructure Impact:
- Technical barriers removed: All content fully crawlable and indexable
- Scalable SEO framework: Automatic optimization for new event pages
- Monitoring systems: Proactive identification and resolution of issues
- Team training: Development team trained in SEO best practices
Business Impact:
This technical foundation significantly improved Queer Athena’s organic competitiveness, enabling effective ranking and visibility as their content strategy evolves.
Why Technical Foundation Matters:
Previously, strong content couldn't rank due to technical obstacles. The new infrastructure now ensures ongoing SEO effectiveness and measurable results from future content initiatives.
Key Learnings
Critical Success Factors:
- Prioritizing technical fixes before content optimization
- Close collaboration with development team for proper implementation
- Establishing monitoring systems for ongoing optimization
- Building scalable SEO processes rather than one-time fixes
This case study demonstrates that solid technical SEO foundation work is essential before any content or ranking strategies can succeed.