SEO / AIO services terms and conditions

Updated: 23 September 2025

These SEO terms and conditions ("SEO terms") are an addendum to and must be read with Noiz's website development terms ("development terms"). If there is any conflict, these SEO terms govern for SEO services.

1. definitions

Client: the person or entity purchasing the services.
Noiz / provider: Noiz Cybersecurity (Pty) Ltd t/a Noiz, or the applicable Noiz entity stated in the quotation.
Services: search engine optimisation services described in the quotation/proposal, which may include technical SEO, on-page optimisation, content and page creation, keyword research, rank tracking, reporting, and optimisation of existing pages.
Deliverables: tangible outputs (e.g., reports, content drafts, recommendations, implemented changes).
Term: the duration of this agreement as per clause 3.
POPIA: Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (RSA).

2. relationship to development terms

The development terms (including limitations of liability, confidentiality, IP, and general provisions) apply to these SEO terms. Capitalised terms have the meaning given in the development terms unless defined here.

3. term, minimum commitment and renewal

The client agrees to a minimum commitment of 12 (twelve) calendar months from the commencement date stated in the quotation ("minimum term").
After the minimum term, the agreement continues on a month-to-month basis unless either party gives at least 30 days' written notice to terminate.
If the client terminates before the minimum term ends, the client remains liable for fees for the balance of the minimum term unless otherwise agreed in writing.

4. scope of services

Services will be as set out in the quotation/proposal and may include:

technical SEO: audits, site health, crawl/indexation, site structure, speed, core web vitals, schema/structured data, redirects, canonicals, robots/sitemaps.
on-page optimisation: titles, meta descriptions, headings, internal links, image alt text, URL hygiene, EEAT signals.
content and page creation: creation of new SEO-optimised pages subject to client resources (images, text, approvals). AI-assisted content generation may be provided on request; see clause 11.
optimisation of existing pages: SEO and on-page ("AIO") improvements to existing content.
research & reporting: keyword research/cluster mapping, competitor and SERP analysis, rank tracking, analytics configuration, and agreed reporting cadence.

Work outside the agreed scope requires written approval and may be billed at the prevailing hourly rate.

5. client obligations and dependencies

Provide timely access to CMS, hosting, analytics/search console, tag manager, CDN, and other systems required to perform services.
Supply brand assets, images, text, and legal notices; review and approve content/changes without undue delay.
Maintain the website's technical environment (theme, plugins, server) to a reasonable standard of security and performance.
Implement recommended fixes where access is restricted to the client or third parties (unless Noiz is separately engaged to implement).

Delays or omissions by the client may delay deliverables and can incur additional effort and cost.

6. software and third-party tools

Where specified in the quote, a single-client licence for tools (e.g., SE Ranking) is provided for the project term. Licences are for the stated domain(s) only and are non-transferable.
Third-party platform changes, outages, or pricing/feature changes are outside Noiz's control and may affect deliverables or require scope/fee adjustments.

7. fees, hours and payment

Monthly fees include the retainer hours indicated in the quotation (e.g., 8 hours SEO management + 8 hours content/page creation). Unused hours do not roll over unless agreed in writing.
Additional hours beyond the retainer will be billed at the agreed hourly rate, subject to client approval (email approval suffices).
Invoices are due as stated in the quotation (typically in advance; payable within [7/14] days). Fees are exclusive of VAT and applicable taxes unless otherwise indicated.
Noiz may suspend work for overdue accounts and is not liable for resulting delays or impacts.

8. no guarantees and results disclaimer

SEO outcomes depend on numerous factors outside Noiz's control, including but not limited to search engine algorithms, competitor activity, industry volatility, hosting/CDN performance, website changes by the client or third parties, content quality and frequency, and backlink profiles.

Accordingly, Noiz makes no guarantees, warranties, or representations regarding specific rankings, traffic, leads, conversions, or revenue. Any projections, examples, or case studies are illustrative only.

9. implementation and approvals

Where Noiz has implementation access, Noiz will take reasonable care when deploying changes. Where access is limited, Noiz will provide written instructions for the client or their developers.
The client is responsible for prompt review/approval of content and changes. Silence beyond [5] business days after delivery may be treated as provisional approval for scheduling purposes.
The client is responsible for legal/regulatory compliance of content on their site (claims, disclaimers, pricing, consumer notices, industry-specific requirements).

10. link building and search engine guidelines

Noiz follows reasonable, industry-accepted practices. Noiz does not engage in deceptive practices intended to manipulate search engines.
Backlink acquisition is subject to availability and third-party acceptance. Costs for sponsored placements or directory/listing fees are excluded unless stated in the quotation.
The client accepts the inherent risk that search engines may change guidelines or apply manual/algorithmic actions that can impact visibility.

11. content, AI-assisted content and intellectual property

Content created by Noiz (including AI-assisted drafts) is supplied for client review and editing. The client is responsible for fact-checking, legal review, and regulatory compliance before publication.
Unless otherwise agreed, ownership of approved and fully paid deliverables transfers to the client on receipt of full payment. Until paid in full, all rights remain with Noiz.
The client warrants that all materials it supplies (text, images, trademarks) are licensed and indemnifies Noiz against third-party claims arising from client-supplied materials.

12. data protection and privacy (popia)

Each party will comply with applicable South African data protection laws, including POPIA.
Where Noiz processes personal information as an operator on behalf of the client, Noiz will implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect such information and will process it only on documented instructions from the client, except as required by law.

13. compliance with south african law

These SEO terms are subject to South African law, including the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) where applicable.
If the CPA applies, nothing in these terms is intended to limit rights that cannot lawfully be limited.

14. suspension and termination

Either party may terminate after the minimum term with 30 days' written notice.
Either party may terminate for material breach on 14 days' written notice if the breach is not remedied within that period.
On termination: (i) the client must pay all amounts due up to the termination date; (ii) Noiz will deliver in-progress and completed deliverables as reasonably practicable; and (iii) access to third-party tool accounts provided by Noiz may cease.

15. warranties and liability

Noiz warrants that it will perform services with reasonable skill and care consistent with generally accepted industry practices.
Except as expressly stated, all other warranties are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Limitation: To the extent permitted by law, Noiz's aggregate liability arising out of or in connection with these SEO terms is limited to the total fees paid by the client to Noiz in the 3 months preceding the event giving rise to liability. Noiz is not liable for indirect, special, incidental, or consequential loss (including loss of profits, revenue, or data).

16. confidentiality

Each party must keep the other's confidential information confidential and use it only for purposes of performing or receiving the services, subject to customary exceptions (public domain, already known, independently developed, or legally required disclosure).

17. force majeure

No party is liable for delay or failure to perform due to events beyond its reasonable control (including network/hosting outages, denial-of-service attacks, utility failures, acts of God, war, strikes, or governmental action). Time for performance is extended for the period of delay.

18. notices

Formal notices must be sent to the addresses/emails set out in the quotation or as updated in writing, and are deemed received on proof of delivery (or, for email, on successful transmission without bounce). Operational approvals may be provided by email.

19. changes, severability and entire agreement

Changes to scope, fees, or terms must be in writing and signed/accepted by both parties (email acceptance suffices unless otherwise required).
If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in force.
These SEO terms, together with the development terms and the quotation/proposal, constitute the entire agreement for SEO services.

20. dispute resolution and governing law

The parties will first attempt to resolve disputes through good-faith negotiation between decision-makers.
Failing resolution within 20 business days, the dispute may be referred to mediation in South Africa. If unresolved, either party may proceed to the competent courts of South Africa. The governing law is the law of the Republic of South Africa.

schedule a: commercial details (for convenience)

commencement date: [dd mmm yyyy]
minimum term: 12 months
retainer hours: line 2: 8 hours/month (seo management); line 3: 8 hours/month (content & page creation, incl. seo/aio for existing pages; ai-assisted content on request)
hourly rate for additional work: [amount + vat]
reporting cadence: [monthly/quarterly]
tool licence: SE Ranking (single-client licence tied to project/domain)
payment terms: [in advance / within 7 days]; late payment may pause services

Questions or amendments? Add an addendum referencing the clause numbers above and have both parties approve in writing.

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These terms and conditions apply to all clients of Noiz unless otherwise agreed in writing. No other terms shall apply unless specifically agreed upon between Noiz and the client. In case of any ambiguity between these terms and any written agreements, the terms hereunder shall prevail. Please note that these terms and conditions may be updated periodically, and you will be notified of updates and where to download the latest version.

Estimates
Invoicing & Payment Terms
Project Terms
Ongoing Maintenance and Support
Termination of Service
3rd Party Services
Website Development and Design Terms and Conditions
SEO Terms and Conditions
Email Marketing Terms and Conditions
Content Marketing Terms and Conditions
Hosting Terms and Conditions
General Service Disclaimers
Copyright
Breach
What Can Be Expected of Us
What We Expect of Our Clients
Improving Our Services

1. Estimates

1.1 Noiz may provide clients with initial estimates (quotations) upon request. The final project value may differ if additional requests are made beyond the initial scope.
1.2 Quotations will be provided in writing by email and will include a hyperlink to these terms and conditions. By accepting a quotation, the client agrees to these terms unless explicitly agreed otherwise in writing.

2. Invoicing & Payment Terms

2.1 Standard payment terms are 7 days from the date of the invoice.
2.2 New projects require a 50% upfront payment to commence, 50% upon project completion, and a final payment before the project goes live.
2.3 Monthly or retainer invoices are due by the 7th business day of the month. Late payments will incur interest and a suspension of services.
2.4 Noiz retains ownership of the website until full payment is received for website development as per the original quotation.
2.5 Noiz may adjust pricing annually in line with South Africa’s official Consumer Price Index (CPI).

3. Project Terms

3.1 Noiz is not liable for delays unless explicitly agreed in writing.
3.2 Delays will be communicated promptly in writing via email.
3.3 All required content must be provided within 2 weeks of the deposit payment.
3.4 Graphic design content must be provided within 1 week of deposit payment.
3.5 If content delays occur, Noiz may renegotiate project costs and timelines and request any outstanding payments before resuming work.

4. Ongoing Maintenance and Support

4.1 Fixes must be identified within 14 days of a site’s go-live. After this period, if not under a maintenance agreement, additional charges will apply.
4.2 Maintenance does not include regular updates unless specified.
4.3 Maintenance excludes the responsibility for plugin/theme issues and hosting problems, which fall under the responsibility of third parties.
4.4 External meeting consultations with Noiz account managers are limited to one meeting per month (1-hour max) unless arranged in advance. Additional consultations are charged at the standard rate.

5. Termination of Service

5.1 Cancellation requires a written notice 1 calendar month in advance.
5.2 In case of cancellation before the notice period ends, Noiz may remove company-owned resources, pursue legal action, or revoke access to websites, accounts, or services.

6. 3rd Party Services

6.1 Noiz may offer third-party services to enhance website performance, but is not liable for any disruptions or cancellations by these third parties.

7. Website Development and Design Terms and Conditions

7.1 All website content must be provided by the client within the specified time. Delays may lead to renegotiated costs and timelines.
7.2 Clients are responsible for updates to plugins/themes unless a maintenance plan is in place.
7.3 Additional pages, revisions, or content beyond the original scope will incur extra charges.
7.4 Flat-rate shipping will be implemented for e-commerce sites, with the client responsible for negotiating rates.
7.5 Default payment methods for e-commerce sites are PayFast and EFT; clients are responsible for their accounts and credentials.
7.6 All provided content must be copyright-compliant and owned by the client.
7.7 Landing pages are platform-specific and require the same platform for reactivation.
7.8 Noiz will not be liable for security breaches or outdated websites unless under a paid maintenance agreement.

8. SEO Terms and Conditions

8.1 Noiz is not responsible for search engine rankings or fluctuations due to algorithm changes.

9. Email Marketing Terms and Conditions

9.1 Noiz will set up email services, charging a fixed fee.
9.2 Monthly subscription charges are the client’s responsibility.
9.3 Noiz is not liable for any issues arising from third-party email lists provided by the client.

10. Content Marketing Terms and Conditions

10.1 Content will be tailored to the client’s target audience, with guidelines provided by the client.
10.2 Noiz is not responsible for social media interactions or comments.
10.3 The client is responsible for providing content for newsletters unless otherwise agreed.
10.4 All client-provided content must be free from copyright infringement.

11. Hosting Terms and Conditions

11.1 Noiz will invoice for hosting and domain renewals annually for clients hosted by Noiz.
11.2 Noiz will address hosting disruptions but is not liable for downtime.
11.3 Backup services are available only for clients on monthly maintenance plans.
11.4 Transfer of a website to another host will incur additional fees.

12. General Service Disclaimers

12.1 Noiz is not responsible for third-party resource policies or changes affecting client services.
12.2 Noiz does not guarantee top rankings or specific performance results.
12.3 Search engine and directory submissions may take indefinite timeframes for acceptance.

13. Copyright

13.1 Website code, scripts, and database components remain the intellectual property of Noiz until full payment is made.
13.2 All client-provided content, including logos and written material, remains the client’s property.

14. Breach

14.1 Non-payment may lead to suspension of services until full payment is received.
14.2 Late hosting payments will result in suspension of hosting.
14.3 Insolvency or delays by the client may lead to immediate contract termination.

15. What Can Be Expected of Us

15.1 Noiz commits to friendly, clear, and timely communication.
15.2 We aim to provide services that meet clients’ expectations and respect deadlines.

16. What We Expect of Our Clients

16.1 Clients must provide necessary information on time and settle invoices within the agreed terms.

17. Improving Our Services

17.1 We welcome feedback to continually enhance the service we provide and encourage open communication if expectations are not met.