Project Overview

Mangrove Studio was appointed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the ICONE Program to deliver structured Search Engine Optimization (SEO) consulting support to 10 Cambodian SMEs across Siem Reap, Battambang, and Banteay Meanchey.

The engagement focused on improving SME competitiveness by strengthening organic visibility, enhancing website performance, and building long-term internal SEO capability. The project combined strategic consulting, technical implementation support, and structured knowledge transfer to ensure sustainable digital growth.

The assignment was delivered through a hybrid model integrating on-site consultations and remote coordination.

Objective

The program was designed to:

• Conduct comprehensive SEO audits for 10 selected SMEs
• Develop tailored SEO strategies aligned with business objectives
• Implement on-page, technical, and off-page improvements
• Improve organic traffic, keyword rankings, and online discoverability
• Equip SMEs with the tools and knowledge to manage SEO independently

The focus extended beyond optimization to long-term digital sustainability.

Our Approach

Mangrove Studio applied a structured, data-driven SEO methodology customized to each SME’s digital maturity level.

1. SEO Audit & Needs Assessment

Each SME received a one-on-one consultation and technical audit covering:

• Website architecture and performance
• Keyword positioning and search opportunities
• Content structure and search intent alignment
• Technical SEO health and indexing status

A detailed diagnostic report was delivered outlining priority actions and growth opportunities.

2. Customized SEO Strategy Development

Based on the audit findings, Mangrove Studio developed a tailored SEO roadmap for each SME, including:

• Keyword research and content mapping
• On-page optimization framework
• Technical SEO enhancement plan
• Off-page and backlink recommendations
• KPI alignment and milestone planning

Each strategy was designed to deliver measurable and sustainable growth.

3. Implementation Support

Hands-on support ensured that strategies were translated into action.

On-Page Optimization

• Meta title and description optimization
• Header structure refinement
• Keyword-aligned content adjustments
• Image alt-tag and internal linking improvements

Technical SEO Enhancements

• HTTPS and security compliance review
• Sitemap and robots.txt validation
• Canonical tag and indexing corrections
• Mobile responsiveness and site performance recommendations

Off-Page SEO Strategy

• Backlink-building guidance
• Local SEO enhancements where applicable
• Brand citation and digital presence strengthening

4. Monitoring & Reporting

Monthly performance reports were delivered to each SME tracking:

• Organic traffic trends
• Keyword ranking performance
• Technical improvements
• Content optimization progress
• Strategic recommendations

Continuous monitoring ensured measurable results and informed optimization decisions.

5. Knowledge Transfer & Sustainability

Capacity building was integrated throughout the project. Participating SMEs received:

• Practical SEO checklists and implementation guides
• Training on Google Search Console and analytics tools
• Simplified reporting templates
• A final consolidated report with forward-looking recommendations

This ensured SMEs could sustain and enhance their SEO efforts beyond the program timeline.

Key Deliverables

• 10 individual SEO audit and assessment reports
• 10 customized SEO strategy documents
• Technical and on-page implementation support
• Monthly performance monitoring and reports
• Capacity-building materials and guidance
• Final consolidated project report

Impact

The project delivered structured and measurable improvements:

• Strengthened website technical health and crawlability
• Improved keyword alignment and content structure
• Enhanced organic search visibility
• Increased internal digital capability within SME teams
• Established standardized SEO processes for sustainable growth

Conclusion

Through a structured and results-oriented consulting approach, Mangrove Studio successfully delivered comprehensive SEO support for 10 SMEs under the GIZ ICONE Program.

By combining strategic analysis, technical optimization, and knowledge transfer, the project strengthened SME digital competitiveness and established a sustainable foundation for long-term organic growth.