notes from the notebook
Lead generation, SEO and web design insights.
Straight answers on cold email, search and websites that book calls. Each one leaves you with something you can fix this week.
Latest posts
- How Much Does a Website Cost in South Africa? A Plain GuideWebsite prices in South Africa run from pocket money to a new car. Here’s what you’re actually paying for, what it costs to keep running, and how to compare quotes.
- How Long Does SEO Take to Work? An Honest TimelineEarly movement within a few months, stronger results after six, faster for local search. Here’s why, what changes the timeline, and how to know it’s working.
- Is Cold Email Legal in South Africa? POPIA Section 69Under POPIA, cold email to South African inboxes is far more restricted than most people think. Here’s what section 69 says, in plain English, and what to do instead.
- Why Is My Website Not Getting Leads? 7 Fixable ReasonsEither not enough of the right people visit, or they visit and can’t see why or how to get in touch. Here’s how to tell which, and how to fix it.
- How to Rank Higher on Google Maps: A Practical GuideGoogle says local results come down to relevance, distance and prominence. You can’t move your office, so here’s how to work on the other two.
- What Is a Good Cold Email Reply Rate? Real Campaign DataAcross 17 real campaign dashboards, reply rates ran from 0.64% to 4.84%. The number that decides whether a campaign works is a different one.
- SEO vs Google Ads: Which Is Better for a Small Business?Google Ads rents you visibility from day one. SEO builds visibility you keep. Here’s how to choose, and when to use both.
- How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking the Rules)Ask at the right moment, make it one tap, reply to every review, and never pay for them. The whole system fits on a sticky note.
- How Fast Should You Respond to a Lead? Speed to LeadWithin minutes. Contacting a lead within 5 minutes increases conversion dramatically, and most businesses take hours or days. Here’s how to close the gap.
- How to Get Clients in the USA From South Africa (B2B)Pick one narrow US buyer, reach them with outbound that follows US email law, and make your website look like it was built for them. The time zone is on your side.