09/18/2025
My SEO + ROI Cheat Sheet:
SEO isn’t fast. It’s not for the impatient.
But it is one of the highest ROI channels when done right.
Here's how to look at it:
1. Revenue from SEO-Sourced Customers
• Are people finding us on Google and becoming clients?
• Can we trace real revenue back to organic traffic?
• This is the core ROI — don’t stop tracking at sessions.
2. Increase in Qualified Leads from Search
• Are we getting more form fills, demo requests, or signups from organic?
• Are the leads more educated and ready to convert?
3. Higher Rankings for High-Intent Keywords
• Are we ranking for keywords that buyers are searching?
• Especially keywords like “fractional CFO pricing” or “best CFO for ecommerce”?
4. Growing Branded Search Volume
• Are more people Googling our brand or key team members?
• That’s a signal of trust and growing awareness from our content.
5. Increased Visibility in AIOs & LLMs
• Are our answers being used in AI Overviews?
• Is our brand being cited or referenced in LLM outputs?
6. Stronger Domain Authority
• Are we earning backlinks from relevant, reputable sources?
• Is our site becoming a trusted source in the industry?
7. Lower CAC from Organic Channels
• Is SEO driving down the average cost to acquire a customer?
• That’s when you know it’s working at scale.
8. Repurpose Power Across Channels
• Are we using SEO content for LinkedIn, YouTube, email, and ads?
• SEO doesn’t just drive traffic — it drives your entire content engine.
9. Improved Time on Page + Lower Bounce Rate
• Are people actually reading, scrolling, and staying?
• SEO works better when paired with great UX and content depth.
10. Increased Industry Authority
• Are we being invited to podcasts, featured in articles, and seen as thought leaders?
• SEO fuels reputation when paired with personal branding.
