How Studio Carney Reached 1.67M Impressions and High-Value Leads with SEO
The studio transforming architectural vision into lasting value
Studio Carney Architecture is a Chicago-based practice led by architect Michael Carney, specializing in custom residential, multi-family, and commercial projects. With over 20 years of experience, Michael brings an artistic yet practical approach to every project, combining design excellence, collaboration, and technical precision.
- Custom homes
- Multi-family residences
- Commercial and office spaces
- Adaptive reuse
- Renovations and additions
A great practice hidden online
When Michael reached out, his studio was nearly invisible on Google. The existing website had a few portfolio pages but no SEO structure, technical optimization, or targeted content.
Before our engagement:
- Averaged 1–2 clicks per day
- Just 20 impressions daily
- Ranked only for the branded term “Studio Carney Architecture”
Michael’s goal was to appear for search terms related to custom home design and commercial architecture in the Chicago area, reaching new, high-value clients.
Built a strong SEO foundation
We rebuilt Studio Carney’s website from the ground up using Wix Studio, implementing best practices in structure, metadata, and on-page optimization. Each page was mapped to specific keywords, creating a clear path for both users and search engines.
Created scalable, optimized content
We built a programmatic SEO system that allowed us to scale quickly and strategically:
- Over 300 new content pages, including service + location pages like “Commercial Architect in Chicago”
- Informational articles and an architecture glossary to boost topical authority
- Targeted long-tail and local keywords to expand organic reach
Built authority through backlinks
After six months of steady growth, we launched a backlink campaign to accelerate domain authority. This included guest posts, architecture directory listings, and niche partnerships that signaled credibility to Google.
Tracked performance and optimized continuously
Using Google Search Console and Analytics, we monitored key metrics weekly. Content and internal links were refined to improve click-through rates, reduce bounce rates, and strengthen ranking momentum.
Elevated the brand and digital presence
We helped Michael refresh his website, strengthen the visuals, and refine storytelling around his projects. Each page now communicates professionalism, confidence, and value, with optimized SEO driving steady, qualified inquiries.
Expanded visibility and partnerships
To reduce dependence on referrals, we introduced new outreach channels such as brokerages, co-hosted webinars, and positioned Michael as a thought leader among developers and business owners. These collaborations opened doors to larger, more profitable projects.
From invisible to discoverable: measurable SEO growth in 12 months
In just one year, Studio Carney saw exponential growth across every major search metric.
Search Console Metrics (12 months)
- 1.67 million total impressions
- 3,180 total clicks
- Average position: 25.4
- Daily clicks: increased from 1 to over 30
- Daily impressions: from 20 to more than 24,000
What our work provided
A strong technical foundation → a rebuilt website with clean structure, proper metadata, and improved performance.
Scalable SEO content → over 300 optimized pages that expanded visibility across key architecture searches.
Authority building → targeted backlinks that strengthened domain trust and improved rankings.
Business impact
- Search visibility → impressions grew from 20 per day to more than 24,000 daily, reaching 1.67 million impressions in 12 months.
- Organic traffic → daily clicks increased from 1 to over 30, resulting in 3,180 total clicks from high-intent users searching for architecture services.
- Qualified leads → consistent inbound inquiries, including a developer exploring a multi-building apartment project and a commercial client who found the firm through ChatGPT before contacting Michael directly.
While we built the SEO strategy and the systems behind it, the real transformation came from Michael’s consistency in supporting it – continuing to publish, refine, and show up online so the results could compound month after month.
Book a call with me
We’ll determine if there’s a fit to work together.
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If you have any problem contact me at estefano@uncommonarchitects.com
