The present invention describes a method to increase the activity of a catalyst by first performing an ion exchange step with a potassium ion, followed by performing an ion-exchange step with an ammonium ion. Specifically, the present invention describes a method to increase the acidity of a zeolite by incorporating a potassium salt ion-exchange prior to an ammonium salt ion-exchange step. Even more specifically, the present invention is drawn to a method of increasing the activity of a zeolite by employing more than one potassium ion exchanges followed by at least one ammonium ion exchange. The present invention also describes a method to reduce the amount of sodium normally found in commercially produced zeolite by employing any of these methods. The present invention is also drawn to the catalysts produced by any of these methods.