SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. But what is SEO for? It’s all about helping your website show up when people search for things on Google and other search engines. Instead of paying for ads, SEO helps you appear naturally (or “organically”) in search results by making sure your content is clear, relevant, and trustworthy. In South Africa, if someone types “best biltong near me” or “off-campus student digs Cape Town” into Google, SEO is what helps certain businesses show up at the top of that list. It includes everything from using the right keywords and structuring your website properly, to making sure it loads quickly and works well on mobile. If your business wants to get found online without forking out a fortune in paid ads, SEO is the way to go. SEO is not an exact science as Google changes its ranking algorithm a few times a month and does not notify anyone on what the actual changes are – we have to figure them out. The major changes are however released publicly but Google still does not notify us on how to optimize.

FAQs Archive - Fort Hartley

Q: How important is the way my website is built for SEO?

A well-built website is the foundation of good SEO. You can have the best content in the world, but if your website is slow, confusing, or not mobile-friendly, Google won’t rate it highly—and neither will your visitors. In the current internet global trends, where users jump between mobile and desktop all the time (often with patchy signal), your site needs to load fast, work well across devices, and make it easy for people to find what they’re looking for. That’s where proper site engineering comes in. Clean code, fast loading times, secure hosting, and user-friendly navigation all play a role in whether or not you get found online. So yes, design matters—but how that design is built under the bonnet is just as important, if not more so.

Is mobile responsiveness important for SEO?
Is mobile responsiveness important for SEO?

Is mobile responsiveness important for SEO?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-23T08:29:43+02:00May 18th, 2025|Internet Search, SEO|

Mobile responsiveness is a major part of SEO. Google looks at the mobile version of your site first, so if it does not work well on phones, your rankings will suffer.

How long does SEO take to work?
How long does SEO take to work?

How long does SEO take to work?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-23T08:28:32+02:00May 18th, 2025|Internet Search, SEO|

SEO takes time—results start within a month, but real rankings can take 6 to 12 months. Learn why SEO is a long game and what factors impact your success.

What’s the difference between SEO meta tagging and technical website structure?
What’s the difference between SEO meta tagging and technical website structure?

What’s the difference between SEO meta tagging and technical website structure?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-23T08:28:01+02:00May 18th, 2025|Internet Search, SEO|

What’s the difference between SEO meta tagging and technical structure? Learn why meta data and proper website architecture both play vital roles in helping your site rank well on Google.

How important is the way my website is built for SEO?
How important is the way my website is built for SEO?

How important is the way my website is built for SEO?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-23T08:29:02+02:00May 18th, 2025|Internet Search, SEO|

How important is website structure for SEO? In South Africa, your site’s speed, mobile-friendliness and user experience all impact how well you rank on Google. Find out why proper website build matters.

What is SEO?
What is SEO?

What is SEO?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-23T08:27:49+02:00May 17th, 2025|Internet Search|

SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is how businesses make their websites more visible on Google without paying for ads. Learn how it works and why it's key to online success.

What is included in your brand strategy workshops?
What is included in your brand strategy workshops?

What is included in your brand strategy workshops?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-16T09:22:11+02:00May 16th, 2025|Branding|

Our brand strategy workshops define your voice, values, audience, and positioning. Fort Hartley builds strong brands from the ground up.

Will I be able to manage my website after it’s built?
Will I be able to manage my website after it’s built?

Will I be able to manage my website after it’s built?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-16T09:22:05+02:00May 16th, 2025|Web Design|

You won’t be left on your own. We offer monthly maintenance plans and on-call support if you need a hand down the line. Whether it’s a small update or a bigger feature you want to add, we’re here when you need us.

Can you redesign my existing website?
Can you redesign my existing website?

Can you redesign my existing website?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-16T09:20:52+02:00May 16th, 2025|Web Design|

Yes, we absolutely can—and we’ve done it for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Whether your current site is outdated, slow, hard to update, or just not hitting the mark with your audience, we can give it the full Fort Hartley refresh.

What’s the difference between AIO, AEO and GEO?
What’s the difference between AIO, AEO and GEO?

What’s the difference between AIO, AEO and GEO?

By Jay Clark|2025-05-15T11:40:11+02:00May 15th, 2025|AEO, Internet Search|

Learn the difference between AIO, AEO and GEO and how each strategy helps your content succeed in AI, voice search, and generative tools like ChatGPT.