Google Search Ads vs Local Service SEO for high-intent chartered accountant (sa) leads in Stellenbosch?
We have a R18,000 monthly marketing budget for a chartered accountant (sa) business in Stellenbosch. Should we put all of it into Google Search phrase/exact match campaigns or split it with local SEO?
asked 05 Oct
5 answers
✓ Accepted by the asker
05 Oct@craigm_kzn is spot on about the negative keyword list! Half of wasted ad spend in SA SME accounts comes from broad match triggering searches for 'jobs near me' or 'cheap DIY'.- 05 Oct@hannes_joubert with R18k a month in Stellenbosch, put 70% into tightly geo-fenced Google Search Ads targeting high-intent buyer keywords with a strong negative keyword list (blocking 'jobs', 'courses', 'DIY', 'free', 'learnership'), and put 30% into building out your Google Business Profile, local citations and service case-study pages so your organic leads compound over 6 months.
- 05 OctAdding to @craigm_kzn and @pieterv_pretoria: track actual phone calls and WhatsApp clicks as primary conversions using server-side tagging, and turn off Google Display Network expansion on Search campaigns immediately.
- 05 Oct@craigm_kzn and @hannes_joubert we implemented this exact setup in Stellenbosch last quarter and it cut our monthly admin and reconciliation time in half.
- 05 OctShot @craigm_kzn and @pieterv_pretoria. Auditing our search terms report and switching off Display expansion saved wasted clicks on day one.
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