
About our SEO agency South Africa
Our agency was founded in 2011 by Dylan Kohlstadt, who wanted to create the perfect digital marketing agency - a friendly, knowledgeable digital agency that delivers amazing results every time and gives clients the ROI they need.
We love SEO because we've seen it deliver those results for clients across industries worldwide.
At Shift ONE, we use strategies such as keyword optimisation, content creation, technical website fixes, link-building, and local SEO to help your business rank higher in search. The ultimate goal: attract more organic traffic and drive sales or conversions.
What is SEO?
Google's algorithm is a tricky beast, but ultimately, Google wants to give users exactly what they want. If it thinks your content matches a user's search intent better than other websites' content, then it'll reward you by bumping up your website/page.
There's nothing more frustrating than searching for something and not finding what you're looking for. That's why Google makes sure you don't find a camera site when searching for umbrellas.
Why SEO matters in 2025
49%
of marketers report that organic search has the best ROI of any marketing channel
99,000
searches happen on Google every second.
75%
of users never go past the first page of search results.
What are the benefits of SEO?

Services from our SEO agency South Africa
The sooner we get started, the sooner your business can start ranking and attract audiences. Here are the SEO services we recommend:
Audit and analysis
We start with a deep dive into your website. Our audit identifies technical issues, evaluates on-page and off-page performance, analyses your competitors' SEO efforts, and offers prioritised recommendations for improvements.
Keyword research & strategy
We find the keywords your audience is actually searching for —high-value, long-tail, and local terms. We'll examine competition, search volume, search intent, and cluster these keywords by service or topic before recommending next steps.
On-page optimisation
We optimise your website’s content and structure to make it search-engine-friendly. From meta tags and headers to internal links and keyword placement, we make sure every page answers users' queries and supports your business's SEO efforts.
Technical SEO
Behind the scenes, we make sure your site is technically flawless. We fix crawl errors, improve site speed, ensure mobile responsiveness, and implement structured data so search engines can easily navigate, understand, and rank your site.
Link building
We build a strong, trustworthy backlink profile by securing quality links from reputable sources. Through outreach, guest posting, and link monitoring, we boost your site’s authority without risking penalties.
Local SEO
If you want to dominate in your area, we’ve got you covered. We optimise your Google Business Profile, gather reviews, and create location-specific content so you rank in “near me” searches and attract local customers.
E-commerce SEO
For online stores, we optimise product pages, categories, and the user experience. We also implement schema markup to showcase your products in search results, helping you stand out and sell more.
Reporting
We track everything. From traffic and rankings to conversions, we provide regular, detailed reports that show what’s working and where we can refine your strategy.
B2B client testimonials
Happy clients = happy us
Why choose a South African SEO agency?
Local expertise
Whether it’s understanding South African search habits, navigating local languages, or knowing what appeals to Joburg vs. Cape Town audiences, we know how to connect with the right people.
Cost-effective
South African agencies deliver high-quality SEO strategies at competitive prices. You get top-tier expertise without the hefty price tag you’d pay in the UK or USA.
Adaptable
South African agencies are well-versed in navigating local challenges, like spotty internet in certain areas or ensuring fast-loading websites for mobile users. We’re problem-solvers.
FAQs about a SEO agency South Africa
SEO is a long-term strategy, and results typically start to show within 3 to 6 months. However, the timeline can vary depending on your industry, competition, and the current state of your website.
SEO client case study
We recently worked on an SEO project for a leading BPO agency in South Africa. By conducting an in-depth SEO audit, we identified key SEO roadblocks and current rankings for existing pages. This equipped us to develop an SEO strategy going forward.
The result? 86% increase in page 1 rankings within the first 6 months and a 45% increase monthly in new SEO traffic.

We know SEO and we know what works
A lot of SEO agencies will sell you smoke and mirrors; meaning they'll promise great things, but leave you in the dark about the what and how.
That's not us. We're transparent, strategic, and keep you informed every step of the way. That's why our SEO clients rank on page 1 of Google.

Ready to start innovating your brand with us?
Get in touch now.
