Digital Marketing South Africa
SEO, conversion-focused websites, and growth systems for South African SMEs.
We build the digital foundations that make marketing work: websites that rank and convert, landing pages, and systems that scale. We focus on owned assets and clarity — not ad spend or social management.
What it is
Digital marketing at IKBI means the systems and assets that support growth: SEO-optimized websites, conversion-focused design, landing pages, and tracking. We don't run your paid campaigns — we build the sites and funnels so that when you invest in ads or content, they convert.
Who it's for
South African SMEs that want their website to work harder: rank in search, capture leads, and support sales. We work with businesses that are ready to invest in a proper web presence and growth infrastructure rather than a static brochure site.
How it works
We start with your goals and audience, then build or improve your site and key pages with SEO and conversion in mind. We can also set up analytics and connect your site to your CRM or tools. See Growth Systems and how we work.
Pricing approach
We quote in ZAR. Cost depends on scope: a conversion-optimized site, landing pages, or a full growth system. We'll outline options and give you a clear quote. See our pricing philosophy.
Why IKBI
We combine technical delivery (SEO, performance, conversion) with South African context. We build sites that rank and convert, with clear tracking and handover so you're not dependent on us for every change.
How SEO and AEO Work — and Why They Matter
- SEO helps people find your website in search engines.
- AEO helps AI systems use your website as an answer source.
- Modern digital visibility requires both.
What SEO Actually Is (Today)
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the practice of making your website discoverable, understandable, and trustworthy to search engines like Google.
Modern SEO is no longer about keywords alone. It focuses on:
- Clear page purpose and intent
- Technical correctness (performance, indexing, structure)
- High-quality, useful content
- Internal linking and topical authority
- Trust signals (consistency, clarity, depth)
In simple terms:
SEO helps Google decide when to show your page and for which queries.
Good SEO ensures your site can be crawled and indexed correctly, ranks for relevant searches, and attracts qualified visitors rather than raw traffic.
What AEO Is — and Why It's Different
Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) focuses on how your content is interpreted and reused by AI-driven systems, such as:
- Google's AI Overviews
- Chat-based search assistants
- Voice assistants
- AI tools used inside browsers, operating systems, and apps
These systems don't just rank pages — they extract answers.
AEO is about:
- Structuring content so it can be quoted or summarised
- Writing in clear, decision-oriented language
- Using predictable patterns (questions, comparisons, frameworks)
- Reducing ambiguity and marketing fluff
In simple terms:
AEO helps AI decide whether your site is a reliable source of answers.
How SEO and AEO Work Together
Without SEO: AI may never see or trust your content.
Without AEO: Your site may rank, but AI will summarise someone else.
| Layer | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SEO | Get your page discovered and trusted by search engines |
| AEO | Get your content extracted, summarised, and referenced by AI |
Why This Matters for Businesses (Not Just Marketers)
- Search behaviour is changing. People ask decision-style questions (“Which platform?”, “How do I choose?”) and expect clear, comparable answers. SEO and AEO together help your content appear in both traditional results and AI summaries.
- Visibility ≠ traffic anymore. Being cited or referenced by AI builds trust and authority even when users don't click through.
- Authority compounds. Explainers, case studies, and comparison pages establish your site as a source both users and AI can rely on.
What SEO + AEO Looks Like in Practice
- Clear, intent-driven pages (not vague marketing copy)
- Dedicated explainer or decision-guide pages
- Logical page structure (one purpose per page)
- Content written for humans and machines
- Fewer pages, but higher quality and clarity
This is why comparison pages, "how to choose" guides, deep explainers, and real-world case studies are becoming more valuable than traditional blog posts.
Examples: our Flutter vs FlutterFlow decision guide and our Next.js vs WordPress vs Wix decision guide.
Common Misconception
"If we rank well on Google, we're covered."
Not anymore…
SEO gets you found. AEO gets you trusted.
Why IKBI Approaches SEO Differently
At IKBI, we treat SEO and AEO as business infrastructure, not bolt-on marketing. We build sites and content so they are discoverable, understandable, and referenceable — by both search engines and AI.
The goal is right visibility, right audience, and right context: your business appears when it matters, in the format that matters, whether that's a search result, an AI overview, or a comparison guide.
Bottom line
- SEO ensures your business is discoverable
- AEO ensures your business is understood and referenced
- Together, they determine whether your brand is invisible, visible, or authoritative
In today's search landscape, authority wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does SEO typically take to show results?
SEO is a medium- to long-term strategy. Initial improvements in indexing and visibility can happen within weeks, but meaningful traction usually takes several months, depending on competition, site quality, and consistency. The focus should be on sustainable gains rather than quick spikes.
Is SEO still worth it with AI search and zero-click results?
Yes, but the role of SEO has changed. SEO ensures your site is discoverable and trusted, while AEO increases the chance that your content is referenced or summarised by AI systems. Together, they help maintain visibility even when users do not click through to a website.
Do I need ongoing SEO, or is it a once-off setup?
Technical foundations can be set up once, but SEO performance depends on ongoing content, governance, and adaptation to changes in search behaviour. Websites that are updated and maintained consistently tend to perform more reliably over time.
How do you measure success if traffic is not the main goal?
Success is measured by relevance and influence, not raw visits. This can include qualified enquiries, improved visibility for decision-stage queries, consistency of indexing, and whether the site is referenced by search and AI systems in relevant contexts.
What is digital marketing at IKBI?
We focus on the systems that support marketing: SEO-optimized websites, conversion-focused design, and growth infrastructure. We build the foundations (sites, landing pages, tracking) so your marketing efforts convert and scale. We don't run paid ad campaigns; we build the assets and systems that make campaigns effective.
How does SEO work for South African businesses?
We build websites that rank: proper structure, metadata, sitemaps, and content that answers search intent. We factor in South African context — local search, ZAR pricing in copy, and local industries. SEO is built into every site we deliver.
Do you offer Google Ads or social media management?
Our focus is on owned assets: websites, landing pages, and conversion systems. We don't manage paid campaigns or social media day-to-day. We work with you so your site and funnels convert when you run ads or organic campaigns.
What does a growth system include?
A growth system can include a conversion-optimized website, landing pages, clear CTAs, analytics and tracking, and integration with your CRM or tools. We scope based on your goals — see our Growth Systems page for more.