Arrow Left Icon Back To Case Studies

Case Study

IMO Car Wash

We helped IMO Car Wash adapt to AI-driven SERPs by strengthening high-intent search visibility, earning AI citations, and converting discovery into app installs through SEO and CRO.

Background Overlay Client Logo

IMO Car Wash: SEO & AI Search Performance at Scale

+42%

Increase in Total Ranking Keywords (12-Month Growth)
Green Highlight Arrow

+37%

Increase in Top-3 Keyword Positions (12-Month Growth)
Green Highlight Arrow

+79%

Increase in Key GA4 Site Engagement Events (Main Site, YoY)

Completed on:
2025-11-17

IMO Car Wash

The Objective

Project Objectives

IMO Car Wash is the world’s favourite automatic drive-through car wash, operating nationally and internationally. They were visible, but AI search features were depressing click-through rates and masking growth. IMO needed a pragmatic SEO plan that protected demand today while building durable visibility across organic, AI Overviews and LLMs.

1 Approach Step 1

Win high-intent, location and service searches

Own generic and “near me” demand for automatic/drive-through car washing, while strengthening visibility for safety and damage-related queries that dominate People Also Ask. Prioritise terms that convert on mobile, where users choose the nearest site or download the app within minutes.

2 Approach Step 1

Counter AI Overview-driven CTR decline

Adapt content and SERP strategy to rising AI Overviews, where CTR can fall sharply, by earning inclusion/citations, targeting snippet formats, and building entities/schema so IMO is surfaced (and linked) within AI answers.

3 Approach Step 1

Lift on-site engagement and conversion

Use CRO on the app landing journey and internal linking to move users from discovery to QuickPay/app installs, turning increased impressions into actions across iOS and Android while strengthening site architecture for future growth.

The Results

The Results

+42%

Increase in Total Ranking Keywords (12-Month Growth)

+37%

Increase in Top-3 Keyword Positions (12-Month Growth)

+79%

Increase in Key GA4 Site Engagement Events (Main Site, YoY)

The Challenge

IMO Car Wash is the world’s favourite automatic drive-through car wash, operating nationally and internationally. They were visible, but AI search features were depressing click-through rates and masking growth. IMO needed a pragmatic SEO plan that protected demand today while building durable visibility across organic, AI Overviews and LLMs.

The Strategy

Start with customer need; work backwards. We mapped high-intent topics, refreshed priority pages, and optimised for snippets and PAAs. We ran an internal linking audit to route authority to revenue pages, and introduced AI Overview and ChatGPT tracking as standard, then layered CRO on the app journey. In parallel, we maintained technical SEO and link building. The goal was to be present wherever customers search, whether that’s classic SERPs, AI Overviews and LLMs, and make the next action obvious.

Execution

IMO’s growth came from practical SEO tuned for today’s SERPs: content built around real customer questions, assets structured for AI/snippet inclusion, and site architecture that moves users to install and pay fast. If you need an SEO partner who builds measurable visibility across Google and AI systems, and turns it into action, let’s talk.

Before working with InkDigital:

  • Search behaviour was shifting. Where an AI Overview appeared, average CTR dropped by 61%, and AI Overviews were showing on almost 55% of searches, a 115% rise since March 2025. Branded clicks softened; the app page underperformed with fewer new users; internal linking could work harder.

After working with InkDigital:

  • By targeting AI Overviews/snippets, refreshing priority pages and tightening internal links, keyword visibility climbed sharply. Mobile visibility reached 43% in December (up 27% during the sprint), desktop rose to 35% (+18%), and IMO secured multiple top-3 positions for high-intent terms (see page 6). App-journey key events improved, and the brand began appearing more often inside AI answers, including ChatGPT.

Looking For Similar Results?

More leads, better rankings, or a strategy that delivers - just get in touch today and let’s build your success story together.

Book A Discovery Call

Looking For Similar Results?

Book a Discovery Call with Ink

Let’s have a quick chat and see if we can help your business grow more efficiently.