1. Introduction

These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of the website located at https://seolab.co.za (“the Website”) and any services supplied by SEO LAB.

In these Terms:

“SEO LAB”, “we”, “us” or “our” refers to SEO LAB.
“You”, “your” or “client” refers to any visitor, prospective client, customer or organisation using the Website or engaging SEO LAB.
“Services” includes search engine optimisation, local SEO, Google Business Profile services, website design and development, technical SEO, content services, AI search optimisation, application development, consulting, audits, hosting, maintenance and related digital services.

By using the Website, submitting an enquiry, accepting a proposal, paying an invoice or instructing SEO LAB to begin work, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree with these Terms, you must not use the Website or engage our Services.

2. Application of these Terms

These Terms apply to:

your use of the Website;
information, tools and resources provided through the Website;
enquiries and consultation requests;
proposals, quotations and invoices issued by SEO LAB; and
Services performed by SEO LAB.

A signed agreement, accepted proposal, statement of work or quotation may contain additional or project-specific terms. If there is a direct conflict, the project-specific agreement will take precedence for that particular engagement.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any right that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable South African law.

3. Website information

The information published on the Website is provided for general informational and marketing purposes.

We take reasonable care to keep the Website accurate and current, but we do not warrant that every page, service description, price, statistic, result, availability statement or other item will always be complete, current or error-free.

Website content does not constitute legal, financial, tax or other regulated professional advice.

SEO LAB may update, remove or change Website content, service descriptions and availability without prior notice.

4. Service enquiries and proposals

Submitting an enquiry does not create a binding service agreement.

A binding engagement begins when one or more of the following occurs:

you accept a proposal or quotation in writing;
you sign a service agreement;
you pay a required deposit or invoice;
you provide written authority for work to begin; or
SEO LAB begins work at your request and with your knowledge.

Unless otherwise stated, quotations and proposals remain valid for the period shown in the relevant document.

The project scope, deliverables, fees, estimated timeline and payment schedule will be described in the applicable proposal, quotation, invoice or service agreement.

5. Client responsibilities

You agree to provide SEO LAB with accurate, complete and timely information reasonably required to perform the Services.

Depending on the engagement, this may include:

access to websites, hosting accounts and domain settings;
access to analytics, advertising and search-platform accounts;
access to Google Business Profiles and other business listings;
brand assets, content, photographs and business information;
approvals and feedback;
information about your products, services, locations and legal requirements; and
any authorisation required for SEO LAB to work on third-party platforms.

You confirm that you have the authority to provide all information, content, credentials and materials supplied to SEO LAB.

You are responsible for reviewing and approving content and factual business information before publication. You remain responsible for ensuring that your business, claims, advertising, products and services comply with applicable laws and industry requirements.

Delays in providing information, access, feedback, payment or approval may affect project deadlines and delivery dates.

6. Fees and payment

Fees are set out in the relevant proposal, quotation, invoice or service agreement.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing:

invoices must be paid by their stated due date;
deposits are required before project work begins;
recurring services are payable in advance;
fees exclude third-party costs unless expressly included;
additional work outside the agreed scope may be quoted separately; and
SEO LAB may pause work or withhold delivery while an undisputed payment is overdue.

Third-party expenses may include domain registration, hosting, premium software, licences, advertising spend, stock media, platform subscriptions, payment-processing fees and external specialist services.

The client is responsible for third-party expenses approved by the client or identified in the accepted proposal.

Interest, collection charges or legal costs may only be recovered to the extent permitted by law or agreed in the applicable service agreement.

7. Scope changes and additional work

Requests that materially change the approved scope, deliverables, functionality, content volume or timeline may require a revised quotation or written change approval.

SEO LAB is not required to perform out-of-scope work until the additional scope, cost and timeline have been agreed.

Minor refinements included in a proposal do not amount to an unlimited revision service. Revision limits, where applicable, will be stated in the proposal or project agreement.

8. Project timelines

Any completion date or performance timeline is an estimate unless expressly identified as a guaranteed deadline in writing.

Timelines may be affected by:

delayed client feedback or approvals;
missing content or access credentials;
scope changes;
third-party platform delays;
hosting or infrastructure failures;
search-engine updates;
software or API changes;
circumstances beyond SEO LAB’s reasonable control; or
an event of force majeure.

SEO LAB will take reasonable steps to communicate material delays.

9. Search engine and marketing results

SEO LAB applies professional methods intended to improve a client’s digital presence, technical performance, search visibility and business opportunities. However, search engines and third-party platforms are independently controlled and frequently change their algorithms, policies and interfaces.

SEO LAB does not guarantee:

a specific search-engine ranking;
a permanent first-page or number-one position;
a particular volume of traffic, leads or sales;
inclusion in AI-generated answers or search features;
approval or continued availability of a Google Business Profile;
that all pages will be indexed;
uninterrupted access to any third-party platform; or
a particular return on investment.

Forecasts, projections, traffic estimates and keyword opportunities are professional estimates and not guarantees.

Rankings and results may be affected by competition, market conditions, website history, technical limitations, client actions, algorithm changes and third-party policies.

10. Google Business Profiles and third-party platforms

Services may involve Google, Microsoft, Meta, hosting providers, domain registrars, analytics services, AI providers, payment processors and other independent platforms.

Your use of those services remains subject to the third party’s own terms, policies and decisions.

SEO LAB is not responsible for a third party:

suspending, restricting or closing an account;
rejecting a listing, advertisement or submission;
changing its algorithm, pricing, policy or functionality;
experiencing downtime or data loss; or
discontinuing a product, API or service.

SEO LAB will not knowingly create false locations, misleading business information, fabricated reviews or other content intended to circumvent platform policies.

11. Artificial intelligence and automated tools

SEO LAB may use artificial intelligence, automation and software-assisted processes to support research, drafting, analysis, design, development and operational efficiency.

Where appropriate, outputs are reviewed and refined before delivery. However, automated systems can produce incomplete, inaccurate or outdated information.

The client remains responsible for approving customer-facing factual claims, regulated information, pricing, professional advice and other material requiring specialist or business verification.

Confidential or sensitive information should only be supplied when reasonably necessary for the Services.

12. Intellectual property

12.1 SEO LAB materials

SEO LAB retains ownership of its pre-existing intellectual property, including its:

methods and processes;
templates and frameworks;
reusable software components;
internal tools;
technical architecture;
know-how;
research systems; and
generic materials developed independently of a particular client project.

12.2 Client materials

The client retains ownership of materials supplied to SEO LAB.

The client grants SEO LAB a limited licence to use those materials only to perform the Services, manage the engagement and meet legal or recordkeeping obligations.

12.3 Project deliverables

Ownership or licensing of project-specific deliverables will be determined by the applicable proposal or service agreement.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, ownership of final client-specific deliverables transfers only after all amounts due for those deliverables have been paid in full.

Third-party software, fonts, stock media, plugins, open-source components and licensed materials remain subject to their respective licence terms.

Working files, internal prompts, development utilities, preliminary concepts, rejected designs and internal production materials are not included in delivery unless expressly agreed.

13. Portfolio use

Unless the client has requested confidentiality in writing, SEO LAB may identify the client and display publicly released work in its portfolio, proposals, case studies and marketing materials.

SEO LAB will not disclose confidential commercial information merely for portfolio purposes.

A client may request that future portfolio use be discontinued, subject to reasonable time required to update existing materials.

14. Confidentiality

Each party must take reasonable steps to protect confidential information received from the other party.

Confidential information does not include information that:

is already publicly available through no breach of these Terms;
was lawfully known before disclosure;
is received lawfully from another source;
is independently developed; or
must be disclosed by law or a lawful authority.

Confidentiality obligations continue after the engagement ends.

15. Passwords and account access

If you provide SEO LAB with access to an account, you authorise us to access and use that account only as reasonably necessary to perform the agreed Services.

You remain responsible for:

maintaining ownership and control of your primary accounts;
using secure passwords and multi-factor authentication where available;
removing obsolete users;
keeping recovery information current; and
notifying SEO LAB promptly of suspected unauthorised access.

SEO LAB may refuse to receive passwords through insecure channels and may require appropriate account-user access instead.

16. Privacy and personal information

SEO LAB processes personal information in accordance with applicable South African data-protection law and its Privacy Policy.

Personal information may be collected when you:

submit an enquiry;
request a consultation or quotation;
enter into a service agreement;
subscribe to communications;
use Website forms; or
communicate with SEO LAB.

Information may be used to respond to enquiries, provide Services, administer client relationships, issue invoices, maintain security, comply with legal duties and improve business operations.

Please consult the Website’s Privacy Policy for more information about how personal information is handled.

17. Electronic communications

By contacting SEO LAB electronically, you consent to receiving communications relating to your enquiry, account, proposal, project or Services by email or other agreed electronic channels.

Electronic communications satisfy any requirement that communications be in writing, subject to applicable law.

Marketing communications will be managed separately, and you may unsubscribe from them using the method provided.

18. Website security and prohibited conduct

You may not:

attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Website, server or connected accounts;
introduce malware, malicious code or harmful automated requests;
interfere with Website security or availability;
scrape, reproduce or commercially exploit Website content without permission;
impersonate another person or misrepresent your authority;
use the Website for unlawful, fraudulent or abusive purposes; or
infringe the rights of SEO LAB or any third party.

SEO LAB may restrict or block access where reasonably necessary to protect the Website, its systems, its clients or other users.

19. Website availability

SEO LAB does not guarantee that the Website will always be uninterrupted, secure or error-free.

Access may be temporarily unavailable because of maintenance, upgrades, infrastructure problems, security events or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

We may modify, suspend or discontinue any part of the Website without liability, subject to any rights you may have under applicable law.

20. Suspension or termination of Services

Either party may terminate an engagement in accordance with the applicable proposal, service agreement and South African law.

SEO LAB may suspend or terminate Services where:

an undisputed payment is materially overdue;
the client fails to provide necessary cooperation;
the client requests unlawful, deceptive or unethical conduct;
continued work may harm systems, users or third parties;
a material breach is not corrected after reasonable notice; or
the working relationship has become unsafe or legally untenable.

On termination:

fees for work already performed remain payable;
approved third-party costs and non-cancellable commitments remain payable;
each party must return or securely deal with confidential information where reasonably required; and
any transfer or handover assistance beyond the agreed scope may be charged separately.

Any cancellation right granted by the Consumer Protection Act or other applicable law remains unaffected.

21. Warranties

SEO LAB warrants that it will perform agreed Services with reasonable care and skill.

Except for warranties that cannot lawfully be excluded, no additional warranty is given regarding uninterrupted availability, search rankings, platform decisions, commercial results or compatibility with future third-party changes.

If Services fail to meet a legally applicable standard, SEO LAB must be given a reasonable opportunity to investigate and, where appropriate, correct or reperform the affected Services.

22. Limitation of liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be prohibited by law.

Subject to that qualification, SEO LAB will not be liable for indirect, incidental or consequential losses arising from the Website or Services, including loss of profit, revenue, opportunity, goodwill, anticipated savings or data, except to the extent that such limitation is prohibited by law.

SEO LAB is not responsible for loss caused by:

inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by the client;
client actions or unauthorised changes;
third-party platforms, suppliers or service interruptions;
compromised client credentials;
the client’s failure to maintain appropriate backups;
search-engine or algorithm changes; or
use of deliverables contrary to SEO LAB’s instructions.

Where liability may lawfully be limited, SEO LAB’s aggregate liability arising from a particular engagement will not exceed the fees paid to SEO LAB for the specific Services giving rise to the claim during the six months preceding the event.

This limitation does not apply to fraud, wilful misconduct, gross negligence or any liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

23. Indemnity

To the extent permitted by law, you indemnify SEO LAB against third-party claims arising from:

content or materials you supplied without the necessary rights;
false, misleading or unlawful information supplied or approved by you;
your products, services or business operations;
your breach of these Terms; or
your unlawful use of the Website or deliverables.

This provision does not require you to indemnify SEO LAB for loss caused by SEO LAB’s own unlawful conduct, gross negligence or wilful misconduct.

24. Consumer protection

Some clients may qualify as consumers under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008.

If that legislation applies, these Terms must be interpreted consistently with it. No provision is intended to waive, exclude or restrict a consumer right that cannot legally be waived, excluded or restricted.

Any disclaimer, limitation, indemnity or cancellation provision operates only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

25. Complaints and disputes

Please submit a complaint through the contact details or contact form published on the Website.

The complaint should include:

your name and contact details;
the relevant service or project;
a clear description of the issue; and
the resolution you are requesting.

The parties must first attempt in good faith to resolve a dispute through direct discussion.

If a dispute cannot be resolved, either party may pursue any remedy available under South African law, including an appropriate consumer-protection process where applicable.

26. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Subject to applicable consumer law and the jurisdiction of any competent regulatory body, the parties consent to the jurisdiction of the South African courts.

Nothing in this clause prevents either party from approaching a court or other body that has jurisdiction under applicable law.

27. Changes to these Terms

SEO LAB may update these Terms when its Services, Website, business practices or legal obligations change.

The updated version will be published on the Website with a revised “Last updated” date.

Changes will apply prospectively and will not retrospectively alter a signed service agreement unless agreed by the parties or required by law.

28. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, it will be limited or removed only to the minimum extent necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue to apply.

29. No waiver

A failure or delay in enforcing any provision does not waive the right to enforce that provision later.

Any waiver must be clear and in writing.

30. Contact SEO LAB

Questions, complaints or legal notices concerning these Terms may be submitted through the contact details or contact form published at:

Website: https://seolab.co.za

Business: SEO LAB
Country: South Africa
Email: gordon@seolab.co.za