Case Study: How Apfelpatient.de Achieved 967% Growth in Search Visibility
Project: Apfelpatient.de
Industry: Apple News & Rumors
Website: Apfelpatient.de
Services: Technical SEO, Offpage SEO, On page SEO
Intro: Apfelpatient.de is Germany's largest and most comprehensive Apple news website, serving as the ultimate source for everything related to Apple products, updates, rumors, and industry insights. The platform covers breaking Apple news, product reviews, tips and tricks, and exclusive rumors for German-speaking Apple enthusiasts.
The Challenges We Faced
When Apfelpatient.de approached Salam Experts, their reputation as Germany’s Apple news leader was being held back by multiple barriers. From performance bottlenecks to limited reach, these challenges demanded a complete overhaul.
- Technical inefficiencies are causing crawlability and indexing issues
- Slow speed, poor Core Web Vitals, and unstable site performance
- Weak on-page SEO with inconsistent headings, metadata, and internal linking
- Toxic backlink profile, reducing domain authority, and ranking stability
- Server downtime and high response times are hurting user trust
- Outdated security practices are leaving the site vulnerable
- Old-fashioned, inconsistent web design and irregular maintenance
- Extremely low organic traffic (only 5 visitors monthly) despite being a top Apple news source
Here’s how we tackled each one step by step:
Challenge 1: Technical SEO Audit & Fixes → Our Strategy: Complete Technical Overhaul
- The Problem:
Crawlability issues, indexing gaps, and poor Core Web Vitals were blocking search engines from fully understanding and ranking Apfelpatient’s content. - Site Audit & Fixing:
We began with a full technical audit to uncover broken links, redirect chains, crawl errors, and unoptimized metadata. Each issue was systematically resolved to ensure the site was fully indexable and structurally sound.
From Errors to Efficiency: Site Health Restored
Before & After
Before
After
Speed Optimization & Core Web Vitals
To improve performance, we optimized images, reduced unused scripts, implemented caching, and deployed a CDN. These changes significantly boosted Lighthouse scores and stabilized Core Web Vitals, creating a smoother user experience.
Before & After
Before
After
Google Search Console & Bing Fixes
We addressed indexing errors, coverage issues, and sitemap problems flagged in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. Regular monitoring and structured data enhancements further aligned the site with search engine requirements.
Our Solution
- Conducted a full-site audit to identify crawl errors and indexation problems.
- Fixed broken links, canonical errors, and sitemap issues.
- Tuned Core Web Vitals until all metrics achieved “Good” status.
The Result
- +60% faster page load speed.
- 75% reduction in server response time (TTFB).
- Pages crawled and indexed efficiently, boosting visibility.
Challenge 2: On-Page SEO → Our Strategy: Optimized Content for Users & Search Engines
The Problem
Headings, metadata, and internal linking were inconsistent, limiting visibility and reducing click-through rates.
Our Solution
- Added trust elements and enhanced user experience
- Restructured heading hierarchy for better clarity.
- Enhanced internal linking to distribute authority across content.
- Implemented a proper data structure
The Result
- Improved CTR from organic search.
- Better keyword rankings for Apple-related queries.
- Higher user engagement: longer sessions, fewer bounces.
Challenge 3: Off-Page SEO → Our Strategy: Backlink Cleanup & Authority Building
The Problem
A toxic backlink profile was dragging down Apfelpatient’s domain authority, creating long-term ranking risks.
Our Solution
- Performed a toxic link audit and disavowed harmful backlinks.
- Built new, editorial-quality backlinks from trusted tech sources.
- Monitored backlinks to prevent future toxic exposure.
The Result
- Clean, healthy backlink profile.
- Preserved and strengthened domain authority.
- More stable search rankings.
Challenge 4: Server Management → Our Strategy: Proactive Monitoring & Optimization
The Problem
Slow server response times and downtime reduced site reliability and drove users away.
Our Solution
- Upgraded server infrastructure and caching systems.
- Reduced TTFB with server-side optimizations.
- Implemented proactive server monitoring for uptime consistency.
The Result
- Stable, fast, and reliable server performance.
- 75% improvement in TTFB.
- Zero downtime during optimization and updates.
Challenge 5: Web Security Management → Our Strategy: Protecting Performance & Trust
The Problem
Outdated practices left the site vulnerable to potential threats and performance risks.
Our Solution
- Enforced SSL best practices and HTTPS across all pages.
- Set up firewall protection and malware scanning.
- Introduced continuous security monitoring and patch updates.
The Result
- Stronger protection against attacks.
- Improved user trust and credibility.
- Secure foundation for long-term growth.
Challenge 6: Web Design & Maintenance → Our Strategy: Modernization & Consistency
The Problem
Outdated design and irregular maintenance hurt user experience and made scaling harder.
Our Solution
- Redesigned the site with a mobile-first, modern layout.
- Streamlined navigation for faster content discovery.
- Set up a proactive maintenance cycle for updates and fixes.
The Result
- Cleaner, engaging, and mobile-friendly design.
- Improved user satisfaction and engagement.
- Consistency and reliability through scheduled maintenance.
Traffic Increase:
When Apfel.de first approached us, their website was barely standing with only 5 monthly visitors. Through consistent hard work, in-depth audits, and refined SEO strategies, we transformed their performance. Within just 4 to 5 months, their traffic skyrocketed to 6.7k visitors, marking a massive leap in visibility and audience engagement.
Before & After
Before
After
About Apfelpatient.de
Apfelpatient.de is Germany’s largest Apple-focused news portal, known for its fast reporting on updates, reviews, and industry insights. Despite its reputation, the platform struggled with technical limitations, performance bottlenecks, and limited international reach.
Salam Experts were brought in to address these issues, strengthen technical SEO foundations, improve user experience, and open new growth opportunities by expanding Apfelpatient’s global audience.
Ongoing Partnership & Future Goals
Salam Experts continues to:
- Refine on-page SEO for evergreen optimization.
- Build quality editorial backlinks.
- Monitor server performance and reinforce security.
- Maintain design updates to keep Apfelpatient ahead.
Summary
From struggling with technical inefficiencies to becoming a fast, globally visible, SEO-optimized Apple News platform, Apfelpatient’s journey shows how the right improvements can completely change a reader’s experience. Pages that once loaded slowly and ranked poorly are now quick, accessible, and consistently visible worldwide. This transformation proves that when user needs are prioritized with strategic SEO and technical precision, growth follows naturally.
Salam Experts not only fixed the immediate problems but also built a sustainable framework for long-term growth, visibility, and audience expansion.
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