Straw Hat Digital Agency

09/08/2025

“𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg 🚺

In the digital marketing world, diverse voices create stronger campaigns, better ideas, and more inclusive strategies.

We need more women leading in strategy rooms, creative meetings, and boardrooms, shaping the future of our industry.

When women lead, digital marketing becomes more innovative, representative, and impactful for every audience. ⌨

How can we ensure more women take up leadership roles in digital marketing?

📢 Share this post to celebrate women making a difference in the digital space.
➕
💬 Tag a woman in marketing who inspires you to break barriers.

14/05/2025

𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮?

You don’t need a big agency to grow online.

I’m Gareth Roocroft - the founder and digital marketing strategist behind 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗛𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, a one-man marketing agency based in Bedfordview, South Africa. 🇿🇦

I work with 𝗦𝗠𝗘𝘀 across the country, building custom marketing strategies that actually work. From launching startups to refining established brands, I focus on real results.

Here’s what I do:

💻 WordPress websites (Divi)
🔍 Local SEO + Google Business optimisation
📱 Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest Ads
📸 Content creation (photo, video, blogs, newsletters)
🧠 Full branding + CI development
🎯 CRM setup, landing pages, lead capture & reporting

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀:

✔️ SEO + lead gen for a plumbing business
✔️ Solar campaigns for a Western Cape energy company
✔️ Safari lodge trade exchange strategy
✔️ High-performance site for a top construction brand
✔️ Full branding for a wellness startup
✔️ Fundraising site for a conservation nonprofit
✔️ B2B marketing tools for a military-tech company

If you’re a founder 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁, let’s connect.

📎 strawhatdigital.co.za

👒 🔨 🤝

06/02/2025

Digital marketing in South Africa is no longer about casting the widest net; it’s about precision, relevance, and targeting the right audience with the right message. Niche digital marketing has emerged as a powerful strategy for brands looking to stand out in a crowded and competitive digital landscape.

This post will explore what niche digital marketing means, its importance in South Africa, and how brands can develop effective niche strategies tailored to this unique and diverse market. 👋

Digital marketing in South Africa is no longer about casting the widest net; it’s about precision, relevance, and targeting the right

05/02/2025

✍️ The Art of Editing: Polish Your Copy Like a Pro ✍️

Great writing isn’t written—it’s rewritten. Whether you’re crafting an ad, blog post, or social media caption, editing and revising your copy is essential for making it shine. Here are some tried-and-true tips to help you refine your words to perfection:

1️⃣ Step Away Before Editing
Once your first draft is complete, take a break. Returning with fresh eyes will help you spot mistakes and areas for improvement more easily.

2️⃣ Cut the Fluff
Does every word serve a purpose? Remove filler words, redundant phrases, and anything that doesn’t add value to your message. Brevity is power.

3️⃣ Focus on Clarity
Your audience should understand your message instantly. Simplify complex sentences and choose words that convey your point clearly and directly.

4️⃣ Read It Out Loud
Hearing your copy spoken aloud reveals awkward phrasing, typos, or overly complex ideas. If it sounds off, it probably needs tweaking.

5️⃣ Be Consistent
Consistency builds trust. Ensure your tone, style, and terminology match your brand voice across all your content.

6️⃣ Check for Grammar & Spelling
Even the best ideas lose credibility with sloppy grammar. Use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid to catch errors.

7️⃣ Get a Second Opinion
A fresh perspective can be invaluable. Ask a colleague, friend, or professional editor to review your work and offer feedback.

🌟 How Straw Hat Digital Can Help

From writing to revising, we craft copy that resonates with your audience and drives action. Whether it’s web content, Google Ads, or social media posts, our team ensures every word aligns with your goals.

📧 Email us: [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp us: 083 680 4467

💬 What’s your go-to editing tip? Share it with us below!

04/02/2025

📝 Tuesday Trivia: Power Words in Copywriting! 🌟

In the world of copywriting, certain words have the unique ability to grab attention and persuade readers to take action. These are often referred to as power words! Here are five powerful words that can enhance the persuasiveness of your copy:

+ You: Directly addresses the reader, making the message personal and engaging.
+ Free: Who doesn’t love a good deal? This word creates excitement and a sense of value.
+ Guaranteed: Instills confidence in the reader, reducing perceived risk in taking action.
+ Now: Creates urgency and encourages immediate action, prompting quicker decisions.
+ Proven: Builds trust by suggesting that the information or product has been validated.

At Straw Hat Digital, we understand the power of language in digital marketing and copywriting. What power words do you find most effective? Share your thoughts! 💬👇

03/02/2025

🌟 Crush the Competition with Google Ads 🌟

In today’s competitive markets, standing out can feel like a challenge: but it doesn’t have to be. Google Ads is the ultimate tool for South African businesses looking to cut through the noise and make a lasting impression.

Here’s how Straw Hat Digital helps businesses thrive with Google Ads:

✅ Precise Targeting: We connect your ads to the right audience based on location, interests, and search intent.
✅ Campaign Optimisation: We constantly refine your campaigns to maximise clicks and minimise costs.
✅ Measurable ROI: Track every cent spent and see how it directly contributes to your growth.

💡 Client Success Story:

A local fashion retailer came to us struggling to gain traction in a saturated market. With our Google Ads expertise, we:
✨ Boosted their site traffic by 300% in 3 and a half months.
✨ Achieved a 20% reduction in cost per click through strategic bidding.
✨ Increased online sales by 50% year over year, turning ad spend into real, measurable revenue.

Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, Google Ads levels the playing field. Let’s help your brand shine in a crowded space!

📧 Email Us: [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp Straw Hat Digital On: 083 680 4467

Your success starts with a click. Are you ready to grow? 🌍💼

31/01/2025

🎉 Friday Fun: The First Ever Google Search – What Was It? 🎉

We all know Google as the search engine that powers our daily online activities, from finding answers to complex questions to discovering new products and services. But do you know what the very first search on Google was? Well, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane to uncover a bit of Google history! 🌍

The First Google Search

In 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Ph.D. students at Stanford University, created a revolutionary search engine that would eventually become Google. The very first search performed on the Google search engine was rather simple but profound. It wasn’t a highly complicated query, but more of a test of the engine itself.

Drumroll, please! 🥁

The very first search entered into Google was:
"Gerhard Casper"

Who is Gerhard Casper, you ask? He was the President of Stanford University at the time. It’s not quite the famous question "What is the meaning of life?" but it certainly paved the way for the search giant we use today. 🔍

The concept behind Google was simple but groundbreaking: it aimed to make information universally accessible and useful. What started as a research project in a Stanford dorm room quickly evolved into one of the most successful companies in the world.

Fun Facts about Google:

Google was initially called Backrub (not quite as catchy, right?).
The company’s first major funding came from a $100,000 cheque from Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun Microsystems.

Google officially became a verb in 2006 when it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Now, we "Google" everything!

Fast forward to today, and Google handles over 3.5 billion searches every day. From the first search on “Gerhard Casper” to billions of queries across the globe, Google has come a long way in revolutionising the way we access information.

Straw Hat Digital can help you leverage Google to grow your online presence with Google Ads, SEO, and Digital Marketing strategies that work. If you want to drive traffic to your site or enhance your brand’s visibility on Google, get in touch with us today! 🚀

📧 [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp: 083 680 4467

Happy Friday! We hope this fun little fact about Google made you smile. 😄

30/01/2025

South Africa’s online marketing landscape is undergoing rapid transformation as technology, consumer behaviour, and market dynamics shift. With 2025 upon us, digital marketers must adapt to emerging trends to remain competitive and resonate with audiences in a diverse and tech savvy nation. 👋

South Africa’s online marketing landscape is undergoing rapid transformation as technology, consumer behaviour, and market dynamics shift.

29/01/2025

🚨 Common Google Ads Mistakes (and How to Fix Them!) 🚨

Running Google Ads can supercharge your business, but even the smallest missteps can derail your campaigns and waste your budget. Here are some common pitfalls we see time and again—and how to fix them:

1️⃣ Neglecting Keyword Research
Not all keywords are created equal! Focusing on the wrong ones can drain your budget. Fix this by using tools like Google’s Keyword Planner to find relevant, high-converting terms.

2️⃣ Ignoring Negative Keywords
Don’t pay for irrelevant clicks. Add negative keywords to filter out searches that don’t match your target audience.

3️⃣ Skipping Ad Testing
If you’re running only one version of an ad, you’re missing out on opportunities to optimise performance. Always A/B test different headlines, descriptions, and CTAs.

4️⃣ Not Tracking Conversions
What’s the point of clicks without results? Set up conversion tracking to measure the real ROI of your campaigns.

5️⃣ Overlooking Mobile Optimisation
Most searches happen on mobile devices. If your ads (and landing pages) aren’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing potential customers.

💡 At Straw Hat Digital, we help businesses avoid these common mistakes by creating targeted, data-driven Google Ads strategies. From keyword research to campaign optimisation, we’ve got your back!

📧 Email us: [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp us: 083 680 4467

💬 What’s been your biggest challenge with Google Ads? Share in the comments—we’d love to help!

28/01/2025

💡 Tuesday Trivia: How Do SEO and Copywriting Work Together? 💡

Did you know that SEO and copywriting are a dynamic duo when it comes to improving organic search visibility? 🚀 Here’s how they work hand-in-hand:

✅ SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) ensures your content is structured and optimised for search engines, helping it rank higher.
✅ Copywriting focuses on crafting compelling, engaging content that resonates with readers, encouraging them to stay longer and take action.

Together, they:
🔍 Boost Keyword Relevance: Well-researched keywords strategically placed in high-quality content improve search rankings.
🖋️ Enhance User Experience: Engaging content keeps users on your site longer, signalling search engines that your page is valuable.
📈 Increase Backlinks: Great content naturally attracts backlinks, which are essential for SEO success.

At Straw Hat Digital, we combine expert SEO techniques with powerful copywriting to help your website rank higher and convert visitors into customers.

📧 Email Us: [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp: 083 680 4467