Executive Summary
Firmus Advisory, a leader in business regulatory compliance, research, and trade development services in Ghana and West Africa, faced a major digital setback when their website was compromised by malware. The malware caused their homepage to redirect to ad websites, severely affecting their online visibility and customer trust. To address this challenge, Firmus Advisory partnered with Digital Reach Consult to rebuild their website, enhance its security, and improve its SEO performance. Within six months, Firmus Advisory saw a 200% increase in organic traffic, achieved a 95% visibility score for targeted keywords, and attained a 100% security rating, demonstrating the effectiveness of Digital Reach Consult’s intervention.
Introduction
Firmus Advisory, established to assist investors entering the Ghanaian and West African markets, provides comprehensive services in regulatory compliance, research, and trade development. Despite their success, Firmus Advisory faced a crisis: their website was attacked by malware, leading to frequent redirections to unrelated ad websites. This not only damaged their reputation but also caused a significant drop in their search engine rankings, reducing their visibility and accessibility to potential clients.
To combat these challenges, Firmus Advisory turned to Digital Reach Consult. The goal was clear: eliminate the malware, rebuild the website, and enhance its SEO performance to regain and strengthen their online presence.
Challenges Faced by Firmus Advisory
Firmus Advisory’s website had become a gateway for malicious activity. Malware attacks resulted in the homepage frequently redirecting to ad sites, causing several negative effects:
- Loss of User Trust
The malware compromised the user experience, leading to a 60% drop in site traffic within just two weeks. Existing and potential clients encountered suspicious ads, raising concerns about the credibility and security of Firmus Advisory’s digital platform. - Decline in Search Engine Rankings
Google and other search engines penalised the site due to its compromised state, resulting in a 70% decrease in keyword rankings. Critical keywords like “business advisory Ghana” and “regulatory compliance services West Africa” plummeted from the first page to the third or fourth, drastically reducing the firm’s visibility. - Negative Impact on Business Growth
As a result of these digital setbacks, Firmus Advisory estimated a 40% decline in new business leads. The malware had not only damaged their online reputation but also affected the company’s bottom line. - Urgent Need for a Robust Digital Strategy
The malware attack exposed the vulnerabilities in the website’s structure and highlighted the lack of a comprehensive SEO strategy. Firmus Advisory needed a digital partner who could provide an effective, long-term solution.
Intervention by Digital Reach Consult
Digital Reach Consult began with a thorough assessment of Firmus Advisory’s website, identifying both the extent of the malware infection and the weaknesses in their SEO strategy. A three-phase approach was adopted: Rebuilding, Optimisation, and Ongoing Maintenance.
1. Rebuilding the Website
To address the malware issue, Digital Reach Consult decided to rebuild the website from the ground up. The team employed a secure content management system (CMS) and applied best practices in web development to create a robust, scalable platform. Key steps included:
- Clean Slate Development: All website files were deleted, and the site was rebuilt using a secure CMS, implementing advanced security protocols to prevent future attacks.
- Enhanced Security Measures: Multi-layered security features were integrated, including a web application firewall (WAF), regular malware scans, and automatic updates to protect against vulnerabilities.
- Improved User Experience (UX): The new site was designed with a modern, user-friendly interface that improved navigation, reduced bounce rates by 35%, and encouraged longer visitor engagement.
2. SEO Strategy and Optimisation
With the website secured, the focus shifted to restoring and enhancing its SEO performance. Digital Reach Consult employed a multifaceted SEO strategy:
- Keyword Research and Targeting: A deep dive into market research identified high-impact keywords relevant to Firmus Advisory’s services. New keywords like “investment facilitation Ghana” and “trade development West Africa” were introduced to broaden the target audience.
- Content Restructuring: Existing content was revised to align with SEO best practices, and new content was created to address user intent more effectively. Blog articles, case studies, and white papers were developed, leading to a 150% increase in on-page time.
- Backlink Strategy: A focused outreach campaign resulted in acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative sites, which increased the domain authority score by 30 points within four months.
- Local SEO Enhancements: Optimisation for local search included setting up and optimising Google My Business, securing local directory listings, and encouraging client reviews, which boosted local traffic by 45%.
3. Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring
Digital Reach Consult implemented a comprehensive monitoring and maintenance plan to ensure the website’s continued performance and security:
- Regular Security Scans: Monthly security audits and malware scans were conducted to maintain a 100% clean status, ensuring no future breaches.
- Continuous SEO Optimisation: Regular analysis and updates were made based on SEO performance data, adjusting strategies to keep pace with algorithm changes.
- Performance Monitoring: Tools like Google Analytics and Search Console were used to monitor traffic, user behaviour, and keyword rankings, ensuring constant alignment with business goals.
Results and Outcomes
The collaboration between Firmus Advisory and Digital Reach Consult yielded outstanding results within six months:
- Significant SEO Improvement
Firmus Advisory experienced a 200% increase in organic traffic and a 95% improvement in visibility for their targeted keywords. Keywords such as “business advisory Ghana” and “regulatory compliance services West Africa” moved back to the first page of search results, regaining lost ground and surpassing competitors. - Enhanced Website Security
The website achieved a 100% security rating, with no breaches or malware incidents reported since the rebuild. The robust security measures implemented ensured the protection of both the site and its users. - Increased Client Engagement and Leads
With an improved online presence, Firmus Advisory saw a 40% increase in new client inquiries and a 25% boost in conversion rates. The new content strategy not only engaged visitors but also positioned Firmus Advisory as a thought leader in their industry.
Lessons Learned
The experience with Firmus Advisory provided several key insights:
- Proactive Digital Security: A proactive approach to website security is crucial in maintaining trust and preventing costly breaches.
- Integrated SEO Strategy: A comprehensive SEO strategy that combines technical optimisation, content creation, and link building can significantly improve online visibility.
- Continuous Improvement: Ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and adaptability are essential for sustaining long-term success in the digital landscape.
Conclusion
The partnership between Firmus Advisory and Digital Reach Consult has been a success, with significant improvements in website security, SEO performance, and business outcomes. Firmus Advisory is now well-positioned to continue its growth in Ghana and West Africa, supported by a secure and optimised digital presence.
Moving forward, Digital Reach Consult remains committed to supporting Firmus Advisory’s digital journey, providing continuous optimisation and strategic guidance to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.
