CLOCK
WORK
BJJ
Local SEO & Conversion-Focused Website
Built a fast, mobile-optimized website and SEO structure designed to help a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy attract new students through local search and improve signup conversions.
AT A GLANCE
A community-first gym with world-class instruction. A digital presence that needed to match.
THE SCHOOL
Clockwork BJJ is a premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in the heart of NoHo, NYC—with over 310 five-star reviews and a reputation for being the most welcoming, ego-free gym in the city. They don't just teach BJJ. They build a community.
THE CHALLENGE
The gym was already beloved by its members. But online, it was nearly invisible. They weren't ranking for the searches that matter—'BJJ near me', 'Brazilian jiu-jitsu NYC'—and their website wasn't converting the visitors they did get.
MY ROLE
I handled the full website redesign and built an end-to-end local SEO strategy from the ground up. The design was built to convert. The SEO was built to compound. Both were built for the long game.
THE OUTCOME
Organic search became their #1 traffic source. Traffic more than doubled. Their January bootcamp—a 4-week program priced at $310—sold out within weeks. The website was just the beginning. The SEO is what made an insane difference.
THE SEO IMPACT
Web design was just the beginning. What made an insane difference was the SEO.
MORE THAN DOUBLED ORGANIC TRAFFIC
Organic search went from a secondary channel to their #1 traffic source—surpassing paid and direct. The impact was immediate: their January bootcamp sold out within weeks of launching the new SEO structure, and February opened to strong demand.
2×+
ORGANIC TRAFFIC GROWTH
More than doubled in months
#1
TOP TRAFFIC SOURCE
Organic now beats paid & direct
SOLD OUT
BOOTCAMP IMMEDIATELY
January filled within weeks
BUILT FOR COMMUNITY
Every page designed to reflect the culture of Clockwork—welcoming, no ego, all levels. And to convert curious visitors into students. See it live at clockworkbjj.com →
THE CHALLENGE
Clockwork BJJ had everything going for it: an elite head instructor, a devoted community, and over 310 five-star reviews. But online, they were leaving a massive amount of potential students on the table.
TWO THINGS WERE HOLDING THEM BACK:
- →Invisible in local search: When someone in NYC searched for 'BJJ near me' or 'Brazilian jiu-jitsu NoHo', Clockwork wasn't showing up. That meant warm, ready-to-sign-up prospects were landing at competitor gyms instead.
- →A website that wasn't converting: The existing site didn't communicate the warmth and community that makes Clockwork special—and it wasn't built to get visitors to take the next step. The free trial offer was buried. The trust signals were missing.
AN INCREDIBLE SCHOOL. IT JUST NEEDED THE WORLD TO FIND IT.
SCOPE OF WORK
WEBSITE DESIGN
- →Mobile-first, fast-loading design built for conversions
- →Clear CTA hierarchy: free trial → membership signup
- →Community-first aesthetic that reflects the culture of the gym
- →Optimized for local visitors and first-time BJJ students
LOCAL SEO STRUCTURE
- →Location-specific keyword targeting across all pages
- →Google Business Profile optimization and structured data
- →On-page SEO aligned with how NYC students search for BJJ
- →Built to rank for high-intent local queries from day one
CONVERSION OPTIMIZATION
- →Reduced friction in the free trial signup flow
- →Social proof strategically placed to build trust fast
- →Clear, benefit-driven copy that speaks to new students
- →Every page designed with one goal: get them through the door
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION
- →Fast load times across all devices, especially mobile
- →Optimized images and lean code for Core Web Vitals
- →Built to perform well in search—speed is an SEO signal
- →No bloat, no unnecessary plugins, just clean and fast
MY ROLE
I handled everything from design to deployment to ongoing SEO. The website redesign was necessary—but it was the SEO work that changed the trajectory of their business.
Local SEO for a community school like Clockwork isn't just about keywords. It's about making sure that when someone in NoHo or SoHo searches for a BJJ gym, Clockwork is the first name they see—and that when they land on the site, they feel the community before they ever walk through the door.
THE RESULTS
THE OUTCOME
Organic search went from an afterthought to the #1 traffic source for the gym—surpassing both direct traffic and any paid channels. More than just a metric: this is compounding growth that gets better every month without ongoing ad spend.
When their January bootcamp launched—an 8-class beginners program priced at $310, including a uniform—it sold out within weeks. Organic search played a direct role in filling those spots.
“SOLD OUT IN WEEKS” — THAT'S THE KIND OF RESULT SEO DELIVERS WHEN IT'S DONE RIGHT.
Clockwork BJJ is a school that leads with community, respect, and genuine care for every student who walks through the door. The SEO work didn't change what they are—it just made sure the right people could find them.
READY TO BECOME
IMPOSSIBLE
TO IGNORE?
Whether you're a gym, a studio, a school, or a local business—let's build something that brings the right people to your door.