Last updated: 2 September 2026. This policy explains what personal information Searchly collects through searchly.co.za, why we collect it, and the choices you have. It is written to meet the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA).
Who we are
Searchly is a South African digital marketing agency specialising in Google Ads, SEO and conversion rate optimisation. We are the responsible party for the personal information described here. Contact: info@searchly.co.za.
What we collect
- Details you give us: your name, phone number, email address, business website and the information you enter in our enquiry, trial and booking forms, plus anything you tell us on a call or by email or WhatsApp.
- Details collected automatically: your IP address, device and browser type, the pages you visit, how you arrived at the site (including campaign and click identifiers such as gclid and fbclid), and cookies set by the tools listed below.
- Details about your advertising accounts: if you become a client and grant us access, we work inside your Google Ads, Analytics and related accounts. That data stays in your accounts and we act on it only to deliver the service.
Why we collect it
- To respond to your enquiry, call you back and book and hold the appointment you requested.
- To assess whether our services fit your business and to send you a proposal.
- To deliver, measure and improve our services and this website.
- To measure and improve our own advertising, including Google Ads and Meta campaigns that bring people to this site.
- To meet legal and accounting obligations.
Our lawful bases under POPIA are your consent (which you give when you submit a form and can withdraw at any time), the performance of a contract or the steps leading to one, and our legitimate interest in running and marketing our business.
Cookies and tracking
This site uses Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics 4, Google Ads conversion tracking and the Meta Pixel with the Meta Conversions API. These tools set cookies and may receive hashed versions of details you submit (for example a hashed email address) so that we can measure which advertising produced an enquiry and improve targeting. You can block cookies in your browser settings; the site will still work.
Who we share it with
- Service providers that process data for us: Google (Workspace, Analytics, Ads, Calendar), Meta, HubSpot, Klaviyo and our website hosting and CRM providers. They may store data outside South Africa; where they do, they are bound by contractual safeguards.
- Professional advisers and authorities where the law requires it.
- We never sell your personal information.
How long we keep it
Enquiry and lead details are kept for up to 24 months from your last contact with us, unless you become a client, in which case they are kept for the duration of the engagement and for five years afterwards for tax and record-keeping purposes. Analytics data is retained according to the settings of each tool, typically 14 months.
Your rights
You may ask us what personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct or delete it, object to direct marketing at any time, and withdraw consent. Email info@searchly.co.za and we will respond within a reasonable time. You may also lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa at inforegulator.org.za.
Security
We protect personal information with access controls, encrypted connections and reputable providers. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take reasonable steps to prevent loss, misuse and unauthorised access.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it last changed. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.