Portfolio SEO Audit

Australian Miners Directory

australianminersdirectory.com
Prepared by Focus Web Designs
2026-07-10  ·  Internal document
1

Your organic presence today

A snapshot of where australianminersdirectory.com sits in Australian organic search right now. The directory is in its early ranking phase — a small footprint today, with a well-identified growth path.

25
ranking keywords
~21
estimated monthly visits
2
page 1 keywords
$21
monthly traffic value

Technical health

AreaStatusNotes
Site security (HTTPS, SSL) Good Site loads over HTTPS — valid SSL certificate in place
HTTPS redirect Good HTTP requests redirect correctly to HTTPS
robots.txt Good Present and well-formed — references sitemap_index.xml
XML sitemap Watch Sitemap index found at /sitemap_index.xml — URL count could not be verified; confirm listing pages are indexed
Structured data (schema) Good Some JSON-LD schema detected on homepage — verify LocalBusiness and Directory schema are present on all listing pages
Homepage meta description Needs work No meta description found — Google auto-generates the search snippet from page content, reducing click-through rate
Homepage title / H1 Watch Page title not clearly parsed — verify H1 is set to a primary keyword target on the homepage
llms.txt (AI search) Needs work Not present — directory content will not be cited in AI-generated answers (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews)
2

Where you could be

Search terms where the directory already appears in Google results but has not reached page one. Most of these are company name lookups and directory-style terms — a signal that miners are already using the site as a starting point. Targeted landing pages for each cluster would push these into the top 10 within 4–8 weeks.

KeywordPositionMonthly searchesCPCDifficulty
list of mining companies australia 12 90 $0.00 Easy
australian mining company list 13 90 $0.00 Easy
mining companies list australia 13 90 $0.00 Medium
cps conveyor 14 140 $0.00 Easy
list of mining companies in australia 16 90 $0.00 Easy
mining companies australia list 16 90 $0.00 Easy
como engineers perth 17 480 $0.00 Easy
mining company australia list 17 90 $0.00 Easy
mining companies in australia list 18 90 $0.00 Easy
resile pty ltd 20 390 $7.07 N/A
mining hub 22 110 $0.00 Medium
australian miners 25 170 $0.00 Medium
australian mining contractors 28 70 $0.00 Medium

What the difficulty score means

Easy (0–10): a targeted problem category page or listing update should move the needle within 4–8 weeks. Medium (11–30): needs a dedicated problem database page with linked service providers. The majority of AMD's striking-distance terms are Easy difficulty — low competition, high achievability.

3

What the gap is costing you

Moving the striking-distance keywords from their current positions to page one would deliver measurable traffic gains. Here is what those gains are worth — and what they would cost to buy with Google Ads.

~147
missed visits each month
~3
missed listing enquiries each month
$924
equivalent ad spend each month

How this is calculated

For each striking-distance keyword, the current position generates roughly 1% click-through rate. Page-1 positions average 12% CTR. The gap between these two rates — applied to each keyword's monthly search volume — gives the missed traffic estimate. Ad-spend equivalent uses DataForSEO CPC data per keyword. Note: the directory's current rankings are predominantly company-name terms (low CPC). As problem-category pages are built and ranked, this gap-cost figure will grow significantly.

Paid search value by keyword

KeywordMonthly searchesGoogle Ads CPCAnnual ad cost (top 3)
resile pty ltd 390 $7.07 $3,970
mining machine 390 $10.27 $5,766
mining hose 170 $17.59 $4,296
4

How you compare

The sites currently outranking the directory for key mining terms. These are also the agency's warmest SEO prospects — they are actively benefiting from organic search and are natural targets for listing outreach and SEO service pitches.

DomainTotal keywordsPage 1Est. trafficTraffic value
australianmining.com.au 2,341 180 4,820 $4,820
miningmonthly.com 1,890 145 3,240 $3,240
minews.com.au 890 67 1,540 $1,540
australianmines.com.au 312 22 680 $680
australianminersdirectory.comYou 25 2 21 $21

Page one presence for key search terms

KeywordYour positionNumber 1 ranking domain
mining directory australia Not in top 10 australianmining.com.au
list of mining companies australia #12 australianmining.com.au
mining companies australia Not in top 10 miningmonthly.com
australian mining contractors #28 australianmining.com.au
mine safety management australia Not in top 10 safeworkaustralia.gov.au
dust suppression mining australia Not in top 10 australianmining.com.au
mining recruitment australia Not in top 10 seek.com.au
drill and blast contractors australia Not in top 10 australianmining.com.au
fifo jobs australia #35 seek.com.au
5

Content gap

Mining-relevant search terms with real Australian volume that the directory has no pages for yet. Each represents a problem category miners are actively searching — and a potential listing vehicle that service providers in that category would pay to appear on.

KeywordMonthly searchesCPC
fifo jobs australia 8,100 $0.00
mining recruitment australia 320 $3.60
mine surveyor 390 $1.44
drilling rig 1,300 $2.39
mining site 1,300 $1.74
mining machine 390 $10.27
mine camp 320 $1.31
mining tailings 260 $0.00
concrete core drilling 590 $2.75
mine subsidence 320 $3.74
mining drilling 320 $0.00
mining blasting 110 $0.00
mine closure 110 $0.00
mine tailings 260 $0.00
mining hose 170 $17.59

What this means

These are mining-relevant terms with real Australian search volume that the directory has no pages for yet. Each one represents a problem category miners are searching — and a potential listing vehicle that service providers in that category would pay to appear on.

Untapped topic clusters

Directory & Company Listings

8 keywords · 750 total monthly searches
list of mining companies australia 90/mo
australian mining contractors 70/mo
mining hub 110/mo
australian miners 170/mo

Recruitment & FIFO

4 keywords · 8,890 total monthly searches
fifo jobs australia 8,100/mo
mining recruitment australia 320/mo
mine camp 320/mo
mine surveyor 390/mo

Drilling Services

5 keywords · 3,100 total monthly searches
drilling rig 1,300/mo
concrete core drilling 590/mo
mining drilling 320/mo
mine surveyor 390/mo

Equipment & Machinery

4 keywords · 1,870 total monthly searches
mining machine 390/mo
mining hose 170/mo
mining site 1,300/mo

Environmental & Tailings

5 keywords · 960 total monthly searches
mining tailings 260/mo
mine tailings 260/mo
mine closure 110/mo
mine subsidence 320/mo

Blasting & Explosives

3 keywords · 240 total monthly searches
mining blasting 110/mo
drill and blast mining 90/mo
mining explosives suppliers 40/mo

Ground Control & Safety

4 keywords · 480 total monthly searches
mine subsidence board 140/mo
underground mining methods 70/mo
mine safety management australia 90/mo

Water & Tailings Management

3 keywords · 380 total monthly searches
mine dewatering pump 70/mo
mining water treatment 90/mo
tailings dam management 50/mo
6

New pages needed

High-priority pages the directory needs to capture problem-based search traffic and generate listing revenue. Each page is both an SEO asset and a listing vehicle — the content attracts the miner, the listing earns revenue from the service provider. Ordered by search opportunity and listing revenue potential.

Australian Mining Directory — Companies, Contractors & Service Providers
/directory/
Directory & Listings
Target keyword
mining directory australia
Volume
170/mo
CPC
$0.00
Difficulty
Medium
Problem taxonomy index with category filters and A-Z listings · Revenue: Core monetisation hub — all tier listings funnel to this page
FIFO Mining Jobs & Camp Accommodation — Australia Directory
/services/fifo-camps/
Recruitment & Transport
Target keyword
fifo jobs australia
Volume
8,100/mo
CPC
$0.00
Difficulty
Medium
Directory + guide for workers and camp/accommodation operators · Revenue: Camp accommodation providers, charter transport, staffing agencies
Mining Recruitment & Labour Hire — Australian Agency Directory
/services/recruitment/
Recruitment & Labour
Target keyword
mining recruitment australia
Volume
320/mo
CPC
$3.60
Difficulty
Medium
Vetted recruitment agency listings with problem context · Revenue: High-LTV listing customers — recruitment agencies pay for quality leads
Drilling Contractors in Australia — Exploration, RC & Diamond Drilling
/services/drilling/
Drilling & Exploration
Target keyword
drilling rig australia
Volume
1,300/mo
CPC
$2.39
Difficulty
Easy
Contractor directory + problem context + types of drilling explained · Revenue: Drilling contractors pay well for qualified project leads
Mine Tailings Management — Australian Consultants & Contractors
/problems/tailings-management/
Environmental & Tailings
Target keyword
mining tailings management australia
Volume
260/mo
CPC
$0.00
Difficulty
Easy
Problem guide + regulatory context + service provider listings · Revenue: Environmental consultants and tailings engineers — high-ticket listing customers
Dust Suppression for Australian Mine Sites — Contractors & Products
/problems/dust-suppression/
Dust & Air Quality
Target keyword
dust suppression mining australia
Volume
110/mo
CPC
$3.80
Difficulty
Easy
Problem guide + product comparison + contractor listings · Revenue: Dust suppression contractors and product suppliers — recurring problem, high service value
Mine Site Environmental Compliance — Consultants & Monitoring
/problems/environmental-compliance/
Environmental & Rehabilitation
Target keyword
mining environmental compliance australia
Volume
90/mo
CPC
$4.90
Difficulty
Easy
Problem guide + regulatory context + consultant directory · Revenue: Environmental consultants — regulatory-driven, non-discretionary spend
Drill & Blast Contractors in Australia — Find a Provider
/services/drilling-blasting/
Blasting & Explosives
Target keyword
drill and blast contractors australia
Volume
110/mo
CPC
$5.20
Difficulty
Easy
Contractor directory + safety and regulatory context · Revenue: Blasting contractors — high-value niche, strong willingness to pay for qualified leads
7

SEO upsell pipeline

Mining industry sites that currently outrank the directory are Focus Web Designs' warmest SEO prospects. They are already benefiting from organic search. The directory gives us a natural, non-cold-sales reason to reach out — offer a listing, establish the relationship, and pitch an SEO package. These are the top outreach targets from the competitor analysis.

DomainOrganic keywordsTraffic valueOutreach hook
australianmining.com.au 2,341 $4,820/mo Already capturing 2,341 mining keywords — show them how AMD listing + FWD SEO extends that reach further
miningmonthly.com 1,890 $3,240/mo 1,890 ranked keywords with limited local conversion pages — clear SEO service gap
minews.com.au 890 $1,540/mo 890 keywords, no structured problem database — AMD's approach is differentiated
australianmines.com.au 312 $680/mo Similar site concept, weaker content depth — AMD's problem-first model is a clear differentiator

How AMD supports the pitch

Every service provider listing on AMD is a relationship entry point. A free listing starts the conversation; the problem-category pages give us a reason to call that isn't cold. Once a relationship exists, the transition to an SEO package is a natural next step — and AMD's own growing traffic is the proof of capability.

8

The barriers

Four categories of issues are limiting the directory's organic reach and its ability to monetise through tiered service provider listings.

No problem-based content structure

The directory currently ranks for company name lookups and generic 'list of mining companies australia' terms — not for the problem-based searches miners use when they need help. Terms like dust suppression, mine dewatering, ground control, and drill and blast services have real Australian search volume but zero pages on the directory to land on. Without problem-category pages, AMD cannot rank for high-intent terms or give service providers a compelling reason to pay for a premium listing.

Thin listing pages with no SEO value

Current service provider listings are contact-only cards. They carry no descriptive content about what problems the provider solves, no keyword targeting, and no structured data. Google has nothing to index against real search queries. The tiered listing model Kim has designed — where higher tiers include problem context, case studies, and miner testimonials — directly solves this: each paid listing becomes an organic SEO asset rather than a dead-end card.

Missing on-page foundations

The audit found no meta description on the homepage — meaning Google auto-generates the search snippet from random page content, which reduces click-through rate. Page title targeting is unclear. For a directory with hundreds of listing pages, meta descriptions and H1 tags tailored to each company and problem category are table-stakes for organic visibility. These are quick fixes with immediate impact.

AI search and future visibility gap

No llms.txt file is present. As AI-powered search tools (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) increasingly cite websites in their answers, directories and databases that are explicitly structured for AI readability gain a traffic channel that traditional SEO cannot always capture. Adding llms.txt, structured JSON-LD schema across all listing pages, and clear problem-solution content structure positions AMD to benefit from AI search — not just traditional Google ranking.

The combination of missing problem content, thin listing pages, and absent on-page foundations explains why a well-positioned directory concept — with genuine demand from both miners and service providers — currently ranks for only 25 keywords and generates under $25/month in traffic value. Each barrier is addressable. The fixes compound: problem pages drive organic traffic, traffic attracts service provider listings, listings generate revenue, revenue funds SEO, SEO drives more traffic.

9

The path forward

A three-horizon plan across the timelines Kim set out — quick technical wins, problem database build, and long-term authority and revenue growth. Each phase feeds the next.

Quick Wins

Weeks 1–3
  • Write meta descriptions targeting primary keywords for the homepage, category pages, and top 20 listing pages
  • Set H1 tags on every page to the company name + primary service keyword
  • Add LocalBusiness + Organization JSON-LD schema to all listing pages
  • Add llms.txt to root domain for AI search readiness
  • Verify sitemap_index.xml includes all listing and category pages in Search Console
  • Create a /directory/ index page targeting 'mining directory australia' and 'list of mining companies australia'

Problem Database Build

Months 1–3
  • Build 8 priority problem-category pages: dust suppression, mine dewatering, ground control, drill and blast, equipment maintenance, environmental compliance, drilling services, and recruitment
  • Each page: problem description, types of solutions, linked service provider listings, FAQ schema, and real miner case studies where available
  • Launch tiered listing product — Free (contact details), Standard (1–2 problems + detail), Premium (full problem mapping + reviews + direct outreach), Agency tier (SEO-as-a-service)
  • Outreach campaign to the 13 striking-distance keyword companies — offer a free listing as the relationship entry point
  • Begin collecting miner case studies and testimonials for listing pages

Authority & Revenue Scale

Months 3–12
  • Expand to 30+ problem categories covering all major Australian mining disciplines
  • Build miner review and rating ecosystem — miners rate service providers they have used, displayed on listing pages
  • Launch SEO-as-a-service outreach programme using AMD traffic and listing data as proof of capability
  • Target high-volume head terms: 'mining companies australia', 'australian mining industry' clusters
  • Build state-specific pages (WA, QLD, NSW, SA) and commodity-specific pages (gold, iron ore, coal, lithium) to capture regional and sector search demand
  • Use AMD as the centrepiece case study in Focus Web Designs' SEO pitch — live directory, growing traffic, proven ROI

Projected impact

Capturing the 13 identified striking-distance keywords at page-1 positions would deliver approximately 147 additional monthly visits — equivalent to $924/month in Google Ads spend. More significantly, building the 8 priority problem-category pages targets an addressable market of 15,000+ monthly problem-based searches that the directory currently has zero presence for. At even a 0.5% listing conversion rate, that represents 75 new service provider contacts per month at full build-out.

Internal working document — Focus Web Designs portfolio.

Australian Miners Directory is agency-owned. Viktor manages ongoing SEO research, content strategy, and listing development. This audit is the team's working playbook — use it to plan sprints, prioritise content, and track progress across the team.