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Case Study

Hertfordshire Zoo

Hertfordshire Zoo partnered with us to win experience-led searches, capture AI-driven attention, and funnel visitors from curiosity to ticket purchase.

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Hertfordshire Zoo: Turning Curiosity into Bookings with Experience-Led SEO

4.45M

Increase in Non-Branded Impressions
Green Highlight Arrow

100%

ChatGPT presences for tracked terms
Green Highlight Arrow

70%

Increase in keyword Ranking

Completed on:
2025-11-27

SEO

The Objective

Project Objectives

Hertfordshire Zoo is a thriving, family-run attraction just north of London. Footfall was healthy, but search was shifting. AI Overviews were cutting clicks, while rivals chased the same “experience” terms. The brief: defend branded demand, grow non-branded discovery around animal encounters and dinosaurs, and make the route from interest to checkout unmistakably clear.

1 Approach Step 1

Win experience-led intent

Own high-intent queries for animal encounters and dinosaur days. Build clusters that answer visitor questions (timings, ages, what’s included) then surface concise FAQs that remove doubt before checkout. Link strategically from news and blogs to the pages that sell.

2 Approach Step 1

Be present where AI answers

Measure ChatGPT and AI Overviews as core KPIs. Engineer entities, schema and snippet formats so Hertfordshire Zoo is cited and clicked inside AI results, outpacing London, Chester and Whipsnade Zoos on AI Share of Voice.

3 Approach Step 1

Turn discovery into bookings

Tighten internal linking, sharpen above-the-fold CTAs, and optimise the booking path for “tickets” demand. Use CRO to make the next step obvious on every experience page, especially hero animals.

The Results

The Results

4.45M

Increase in Non-Branded Impressions

100%

ChatGPT presences for tracked terms

70%

Increase in keyword Ranking

The Challenge

Hertfordshire Zoo is a thriving, family-run attraction just north of London. Footfall was healthy, but search was shifting. AI Overviews were cutting clicks, while rivals chased the same “experience” terms. The brief: defend branded demand, grow non-branded discovery around animal encounters and dinosaurs, and make the route from interest to checkout unmistakably clear.

The Strategy

We worked backwards from the family day-out. First, long-tail research around animal FAQs and dinosaurs, then audits of experience pages against top competitors. We added targeted FAQs, consolidated overlaps, and routed authority via internal links from high-traffic posts. Alongside this, we introduced ChatGPT/AI Overview tracking, reviewed the booking domain for “tickets” access, and shipped a lightweight CRO/UX pass to strengthen CTAs and social proof. Technical SEO, link building and reporting continued throughout the sprint.

Execution

Families don’t search for “content,” they search for answers. By structuring pages around real visitor questions, earning visibility in AI and classic SERPs, and funnelling authority to booking paths, Hertfordshire Zoo now wins discovery and conversion. If you need SEO that performs when SERPs get crowded, and turns curiosity into paid experiences, we’re the team to call.

Before working with InkDigital:

  • Search behaviour was fragmenting. Where an AI Overview appeared, average CTR fell 34.5%. Some experience pages ranked, but content depth and internal pathways left value on the table, especially near the booking step.

After working with InkDigital:

  • We published experience-first content and FAQs, refreshed priority pages, and tightened internal links and CTAs. Mobile keyword visibility reached 88% across 299 terms (+9% in-sprint), with desktop visibility up +4.5%. The keyword set expanded +70% YoY, with +46% more top-3 rankings.

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Meet The Team Behind The Work

No outsourcers. No middlemen. Our UK-based team leads every project, start to finish.
  • Ink Team Member
    Founder & CEO

    Michael Ryan

    Mike has been in SEO since he left school! Starting off as an apprentice and then moving into management. He now heads up the agency here at Ink.
  • Ink Team Member
    Head of Digital

    John Hutson

    John started in Digital Marketing in 2003, with the majority of that time focusing on SEO, working across many sectors and geographies. He is now Head of Digital Operations at Ink Digital – overseeing all departments, agency processes, and leading the HubSpot Partner offering.
  • Ink Team Member
    Head of People

    Kasey Wilkinson

    Kasey has over four years of SEO experience, progressing from apprentice to SEO Manager and now SEO & People Lead. She develops in-depth strategies for clients across diverse industries, with a particular passion for travel. In addition to leading client performance, she manages the SEO team’s career development and internal processes.
  • Ink Team Member
    Head of SEO

    Charlie Clayton

    Charlie joined the company as their first hire almost 4 years ago. He has since moved from apprentice to executive to SEO Manager, learning SEO and team management skills on the job.

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