A WordPress eCommerce plugin client came to us with almost no organic visibility. They had a strong product built for store owners looking to set up fast, flexible online shops, but despite their efforts, they weren’t ranking for any of their major keywords.
After 36 months of focused link-building efforts, we helped them grow from zero organic traffic to 7,900 monthly visits, secured placements on high-authority websites, and boosted their Domain Rating (DR) from 6 to 76.
Client Background
The client offers a powerful WordPress-based eCommerce solution that allows users to sell digital and physical products, manage payments, and create custom checkout experiences, all without relying on traditional, bulky eCommerce setups.
Even though their platform delivered performance and flexibility that could rival leading players, they struggled to stand out in a space dominated by established names like WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, and BigCommerce for WordPress.
Their product worked beautifully, but their biggest challenge was visibility. Paid ads offered only temporary traction, so they sought a long-term strategy to build organic presence and authority in the WordPress eCommerce ecosystem.
The Challenge
When they approached us, their website had:
- Zero organic traffic
- Domain Rating of just 6
- No backlinks from recognized sources
The market they wanted to compete in was one of the toughest: WordPress eCommerce solutions. Major competitors had years of SEO momentum, deep backlink profiles, and strong community recognition.
The main challenge was earning high-quality backlinks from authoritative domains in the WordPress and eCommerce niche.
Despite having a clear direction, we faced multiple hurdles along the way:
High DR Targets:
The goal was to secure backlinks from authoritative websites within the WordPress and eCommerce space. However, these sites were editorially selective and rarely linked to new or emerging tools without clear value.
Niche-Specific Relevance:
We couldn’t just chase general backlinks. We needed placements that aligned with e-commerce, WordPress development, and payment solutions requiring highly personalized outreach and relevant content.
Slow Initial Traction:
Building credibility in a space with established giants meant results would take time. The client understood this, and we built our strategy around sustainable, compounding growth.
Project Goals
Together, we defined two clear goals:
- Drive consistent organic traffic to key product and blog pages targeting competitive search terms like “WooCommerce alternatives” and “best eCommerce plugins for WordPress.”
- Strengthen domain authority to achieve long-term ranking power and outperform other plugins in the WordPress eCommerce niche.
These goals were aligned with the client’s long-term marketing objectives of attracting high-intent visitors and building brand trust organically.
What We Set Out to Do
Primary Goal: Build 10–15 high-quality backlinks from niche-relevant, authoritative websites.
Success Metrics: Organic traffic growth and Domain Rating improvement.
Timeline: 36 months.
Target Keywords:
- WooCommerce alternatives
- eCommerce platform
- WordPress eCommerce plugin
- eCommerce plugin for WordPress
- Best eCommerce plugins
- Best WordPress payment plugins
- WordPress eCommerce solutions
- eCommerce WordPress plugin
Our Approach
We focused on a combination of Niche Edit Links and Brand Mentions in eCommerce Listicles, with a strategy tailored to both traffic and authority building.
1. Niche Edit Links
We identified existing high-traffic pages within the WordPress and eCommerce ecosystem and secured contextual backlinks within them.
This approach allowed us to:
- Leverage aged, high-ranking content for faster SEO value.
- Gain referral traffic from already trusted sources.
- Keep the backlink profile natural and consistent with topical authority.
2. Brand Mentions in eCommerce Listicles
We built relationships with content publishers who regularly updated lists such as “Best WordPress eCommerce Plugins” and “Top WooCommerce Alternatives.”
By positioning the client’s plugin as a valuable addition to these articles, we achieved:
- Contextual brand mentions that matched the target audience’s search intent.
- Sustained referral traffic from comparison-based content.
- Improved credibility through inclusion alongside major brands.
Both methods focused on relevance, trust, and longevity rather than quick wins.
From Rejection to Results
The early phase wasn’t easy. Many high-domain websites were hesitant to link to a relatively new eCommerce plugin.
Our outreach strategy centered on value-first communication.
Instead of cold pitching, we contributed educational content around:
- Building scalable eCommerce stores with WordPress
- Payment integration best practices
- Simplifying checkout flows for digital products
This approach opened doors to placements on several recognized websites, creating steady momentum for our link-building campaign.
High-Authority Backlinks Secured
After 3 years of continuous outreach and content partnerships, we earned backlinks from several reputable and niche-relevant sources, including:
| Domain | DR |
| themegrill.com | 91 |
| colorlib.com | 92 |
| aThemes.com | 90 |
| TemplateMonster.com | 90 |
| WPDeveloper.com | 74 |
Each backlink was secured through genuine editorial approval no paid links or automated submissions.
Results: 7,900% Growth in 36 Months
The results exceeded expectations across every measurable metric.
Traffic Growth: From 0 to 7.9K Monthly Visits
- Starting Point: 0 organic visits
- Final Result: 7,900 monthly organic visitors
The traffic wasn’t just increasing in volume it became highly targeted, with users actively searching for WordPress eCommerce and payment solutions.
Domain Rating Boost: 6 → 76
This 70-point DR increase over three years dramatically transformed the site’s SEO performance.
As the DR climbed, the client began ranking for hundreds of new keywords without additional on-page changes thanks to the authority ripple effect.
Keyword Rankings Growth
The keyword growth was one of the most impactful outcomes of this campaign.
Starting Point: 0 ranking keywords
Final Result: Over 6,000 ranking keywords
This massive jump reflected not only the rise in visibility for the client’s core terms like “WooCommerce alternatives” and “best eCommerce plugins for WordPress” but also strong traction across hundreds of long-tail and transactional keywords.
As the website’s authority increased, it began ranking for high-intent search terms the client had never targeted, directly driving steady, qualified traffic and consistent lead growth.
This keyword expansion proved the compounding power of strategic link building, where each backlink strengthened the site’s overall topical relevance and helped unlock new ranking opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Long-Term Focus Wins: Consistency over three years created compounding visibility and authority.
- Relevance > Volume: A few strong backlinks from WordPress and eCommerce-focused sites drove more results than hundreds of generic links.
- Content Collaboration is Key: Working with editors and contributing real value built lasting relationships and trust.
- Strategic Listicle Mentions Matter: Inclusion in comparison-based blogs directly influenced referral traffic and conversions.
The Real Impact
The keyword and traffic growth not only improved visibility but also reshaped the brand’s perception in the market.
They went from being “just another plugin” to a trusted WordPress eCommerce solution mentioned alongside industry leaders.
This consistent organic exposure also fueled new signups, trial users, and brand searches, showing that SEO growth translated directly into business impact.
The Bottom Line
7,900% organic traffic growth
This wasn’t just about the numbers. The quality of traffic improved significantly. Visitors arriving through organic search were actively looking for WordPress eCommerce and payment solutions, which led to higher engagement and stronger conversion potential.
The website’s Domain Rating jumped from 6 to 76, establishing lasting authority in the WordPress eCommerce space.
What once was an under-the-radar plugin now ranks on page one for competitive keywords like “WooCommerce alternatives” and “best WordPress eCommerce plugins.”
This project proved that with the right mix of strategic link building, relevant placements, and consistent execution, even a new entrant can rise to compete with the top players in a crowded market.
