We have a R18,000 monthly marketing budget for a commercial business in Stellenbosch. Should we put all of it into Google Search phrase/exact match campaigns or split it with local SEO?
@ross_mckenzie_cpt 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.
@carina_somerset 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'.
Adding to @carina_somerset and @hayley_hilton: 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.
@carina_somerset and @ross_mckenzie_cpt we implemented this exact setup in Stellenbosch last quarter and it cut our monthly admin and reconciliation time in half.
Carina · 08 Sept 2026
@ross_mckenzie_cpt 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.
Hayley · 08 Sept 2026
@carina_somerset 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'.
Hanli S. · 08 Sept 2026
Adding to @carina_somerset and @hayley_hilton: 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.
Jenna · 08 Sept 2026
@carina_somerset and @ross_mckenzie_cpt we implemented this exact setup in Stellenbosch last quarter and it cut our monthly admin and reconciliation time in half.
Ross McKenzie · 08 Sept 2026
Shot @carina_somerset and @hayley_hilton. Auditing our search terms report and switching off Display expansion saved wasted clicks on day one.