SEO
SEO that actually moves rankings
We help South African businesses show up on Google, with the technical fixes, better pages, helpful content and quality links that move rankings.
In short
WeMakeSites offers SEO services for South African businesses that want to show up on Google. We start with a free check of your site and the search terms worth targeting. Position matters more than most owners realise: Backlinko's analysis of millions of searches found the first organic result attracts roughly 27% of all clicks, and the drop-off below it is steep. Ongoing work covers the technical side (making sure Google can find and read your site, and that it passes Google's Core Web Vitals thresholds), improving your existing pages, creating content that answers what your customers are searching for, and earning quality links from reputable places. We also structure pages so AI search tools, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews, can read and cite them. Every plan includes a monthly report on rankings, traffic and enquiries, and local plans include your local business listing so you show up on the map.
Why it matters
SEO is the most overpromised, underdelivered service in digital marketing. Most agencies sell "SEO" that is really just automated reports, generic blog posts and links from dodgy directories, none of which moves the needle today. Google has spent years cracking down on thin content, AI-written filler and unnatural links. A lot of agency SEO is either useless or actively harmful.
We do it differently. Every engagement starts with a real check of your site, how fast it loads, whether Google can find all your pages, and how your pages link together. We fix the foundation first, because no amount of content helps if Google can't read your site properly or it loads too slowly.
Then we improve your pages and create content. We work out the actual questions your prospects are typing into Google, not what a tool guesses, and build content around them. We group related topics together so Google sees you as an authority, and write clear answers designed to be picked up by Google and AI search results. This second channel is growing fast: AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews answer questions by citing a handful of sources rather than listing ten blue links, and pages structured as direct, well-evidenced answers are the ones that get cited. We build that structure, sometimes called generative engine optimisation or GEO, into every page we touch.
For links, we stick to methods that are safe and above-board: listings in trusted local directories, genuine guest articles on relevant sites, coverage around real stories or data, and partnerships that make business sense. We never buy links or use any trick that could get your site penalised.
We are honest about results. Local campaigns usually show movement in 60-90 days, with meaningful traffic gains at 4-6 months. National campaigns take 6-12 months. We tell you this up front so you can decide whether SEO or paid advertising is the right fit for your situation.
What's included
Everything in the box.
- A free check of your site to start
- Speed and technical fixes so Google can read your site
- Improving your pages so they rank better
- Setting your pages up to stand out in search results
- Finding the search terms worth targeting
- Content built around what your customers search for
- Setting up and improving your local business listing
- Listings in trusted local directories
- Earning quality links the safe, above-board way
- Monthly reports on rankings, traffic and enquiries
How we work
Audit
A free check of your site, how it performs, what Google can see, where content is missing, and how you compare to competitors. We share findings before quoting.
Strategy
A clear plan each quarter: which search terms to target, what content to create, and which fixes to tackle first.
Technical fixes
We fix the foundations, loading speed, how your pages link together, and making sure Google can find everything. Usually in the first 30 days.
Content & on-page
We create content grouped around your core topics, improve your existing pages, and add new ones for the specific things people search for.
Off-page & reporting
Directory listings, quality links and your local business listing. Monthly reports showing your rankings, traffic gains and enquiries.
Best for
FAQs
SEO, questions we get.
How long does SEO take to work?
Local campaigns usually show movement in 60-90 days, with meaningful traffic and enquiry gains at 4-6 months. National campaigns take 6-12 months to show real returns. Anyone promising top rankings in 30 days is either misleading you or using tricks that will get your site penalised.
Do you guarantee #1 rankings?
No, and any agency that does is lying. Google can't be paid for rankings, and where you land depends on your competitors, your site's history and the search term. We commit to doing the work that reliably improves rankings, and we report honestly on the movement.
What's the difference between local SEO and national SEO?
Local SEO helps you show up for "near me" and town-based searches, like "plumber Pretoria", where your local business listing and local directories matter most. National SEO targets country-wide searches, like "e-commerce platform South Africa", where content, technical strength and quality links do the heavy lifting. They are different kinds of work.
Will you build links to my site?
Yes, but only safe, above-board links: trusted local listings, genuine guest articles, coverage around real stories or data, and partnerships that make business sense. We never buy links or use any trick that could get your site penalised.
Can you optimise my local business listing?
Yes, this is central to local SEO. We handle your categories, service areas, listed services, photos, weekly posts, review campaigns and answering customer questions.
Do you offer one-off SEO audits?
Yes. A one-off check is priced per project. You get a written report with prioritised findings, clear recommendations, and, if you want, a quote to put them in place.
Can you get my business mentioned by ChatGPT and other AI search tools?
We optimise for it, this is often called generative engine optimisation (GEO). AI tools answer questions by citing a small number of sources, and research shows pages with clear structure, direct answers, specific statistics and named sources are cited far more often. We build those elements into your pages, keep your business information consistent across the web, and make sure AI crawlers can access your site. No one can guarantee a mention, but the overlap with good SEO is large, the same work improves both.
Related
Website Design
Quick-loading websites built around your brand and your customers, designed to turn visitors into enquiries. Live in 3-4 weeks.
→Care Plans
Three care plans, Essential, Growth and Pro. Hosting, security, backups and ongoing support, all taken care of.
→E-Commerce
Custom online stores for South African businesses. Local payment methods, local couriers, built to grow with you.
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