Frequently asked questions.

Maverick Marketing is a Johannesburg-based Shopify Expert agency that designs, builds and grows online stores and websites for established South African businesses. We're led by founder and managing director Melissa Rowlston. We offer custom Shopify and Shopify Plus builds, Webflow websites, store migrations, AI Live Store Agents, our Data & Insights platform, and modular monthly retainers for support, SEO, email, social and advertising.

Yes. Maverick Marketing is a Shopify Partner listed in the official Shopify Partner Directory, and Melissa Rowlston has been a certified Shopify Expert since 2015. Our team builds in Shopify Liquid, develops custom apps and integrations, and handles complex UX logic. Every project is delivered by our in-house specialists – not outsourced and not handed to juniors.

Maverick Marketing was founded by Melissa Rowlston, who remains our managing director and lead ecommerce strategist. Melissa has been building ecommerce in South Africa since 2009, has been a Shopify Expert since 2015, and became South Africa's first female Shopify Expert. She has built and scaled stores across fashion, homeware, hardware, beauty, automotive, sport and more, and is personally involved in guiding client strategy.

Our founder Melissa Rowlston received the SA First Female Shopify Expert Award in 2018 and was named SA Top E-Commerce Entrepreneur 2018. Several of our client projects have been Bookmarks-nominated. We also hold a 5.0-star rating on Google and a 4.9-star rating from verified reviews on the Shopify Partner Directory, which we're very proud of.

We're based in Highlands North, Johannesburg, South Africa. Most of our collaboration happens online through video calls and email, so we work comfortably with clients across Gauteng, the rest of South Africa and beyond.

Yes. While our team is in Johannesburg, we build and support Shopify stores and websites for clients throughout South Africa and internationally, including brands in other African countries and Europe. Because our process is structured and remote-friendly, distance is never a barrier – discovery, feedback rounds, training and support all work smoothly online.

We work best with established, owner- or director-led businesses that are ready to invest in getting their ecommerce engine right. Our clients range from household-name retailers to growing brands in homeware, hardware, beauty, footwear, toys, sport, supplements and hospitality. For newer businesses, our Small Build packages are a great starting point.

Maverick Marketing has built stores across fashion and apparel, footwear, homeware, hardware and spares, beauty and health, electronics, automotive, sport and supplements, toys, pet products, lifestyle, agriculture and hospitality. That breadth means we understand very different product catalogues, customer journeys and logistics – from wholesale and B2B channels to personalised products and subscription-style models.

You'll work with the Maverick Marketing team, led by a senior strategist, with work allocated to the specialist best suited to it. Our team includes founder Melissa Rowlston, Centeine Christison (Head of Operations & eCommerce Engineering), Daniella Levenberg (Brand Marketing Manager) and Zanele Mbhele (E-Commerce Implementation Specialist). Every project is delivered by specialists – not generalists, not juniors, not outsourced.

We build websites that sell. Every engagement starts with understanding your operations, data and commercial goals before design begins. We build ecommerce only on Shopify, so our Shopify knowledge runs deep, and we act as a partner rather than a vendor: guiding decisions, not just executing tasks. And we don't disappear at launch – training and ongoing support are built in.

Yes. Our portfolio page showcases more than 100 stores we've built, from homeware to hardware, with in-depth case studies covering full Shopify rebuilds, custom product configurators and international brand localisations. Our work includes stores for well-known names such as Sodastream, Kingsley Heath, Hinterland and Communica, alongside many growing South African brands.

Our clients consistently mention our support, communication and ecommerce expertise. We're rated 4.9 stars from verified reviews on the Shopify Partner Directory and 5.0 stars on Google. Clients highlight how we guide business decisions, deliver on time with attention to detail, keep them in the loop without them having to chase, and remain available long after launch.

For ecommerce, yes – Maverick Marketing builds online stores exclusively on Shopify and Shopify Plus, so our skills are deep rather than spread thin. For standard, non-ecommerce websites we build on Webflow. If your store is currently on WooCommerce, Magento or another platform, we can migrate it to Shopify while protecting your products, customers, orders and search rankings.

A custom Shopify build is our flagship service: we rebuild your store around your operations, data model, customer journey and commercial goals. Where appropriate, we start from a proven, well-supported Shopify theme and reshape it, so you get stability without being boxed in. It suits businesses with complexity – multiple product types, wholesale and retail channels, custom logic, integrations or international markets.

Yes. Maverick Marketing builds and supports Shopify Plus stores for larger brands, including custom frontend design, multiple API integrations, checkout extensibility, click-and-collect and advanced filtering. We also continue to service several Shopify Plus stores on a retainer basis long after launch, including iStore Zambia and NWK, so we understand the day-to-day demands of running Plus at scale.

Our Small Build packages are for businesses that need a professional, conversion-ready Shopify store without the scope of a full custom build. Built on a proven Shopify theme, the three tiers – Entry, Basic and Standard – cover payment gateway setup, product and collection templates, product uploads (from 100 up to 1,000 enriched products), shipping rules, domain redirect and more. Each is built by our certified team – not outsourced or rushed.

Entry includes a landing page, navigation, payment gateway setup, one collection and one product template, up to 100 enriched products, policies, social links, domain redirect, basic shipping and a free theme. Basic adds up to 500 products, up to 10 collections, courier integration, extra graphics and a paid theme. Standard adds up to 1,000 products, newsletter integration, About, Contact and FAQ pages, custom notifications and a premium theme.

It depends on your complexity and what success looks like in 90 days. A small build uses a proven Shopify theme, configures rather than custom-codes, and gets you live quickly so you can learn from real traffic. A custom build is right when complexity is non-negotiable – custom pricing logic, B2B workflows, ERP integrations or a business model no theme can support. We'll recommend the right option during discovery.

We build on proven Shopify themes – but never out of the box. Every store starts from a well-supported theme that we customise heavily, reshaping layouts, templates and functionality around how your customers buy. You get the stability, speed and update support of a maintained theme, with a store that looks and works like your brand rather than a template. Where you need something a theme can't do, we extend it with custom Liquid sections and functionality your team can still manage.

Yes. Rebuilds and redesigns are a big part of our work. We start with a theme and app audit to establish what can be kept, what needs adapting and what should go. Sometimes a full rebuild is needed; sometimes targeted conversion improvements deliver more value for less spend. Either way, we protect your SEO, data and day-to-day operations throughout.

Yes. Maverick Marketing regularly steps in when a previous developer or agency isn't delivering at the pace or technical standard a brand needs – including on projects with tight launch deadlines. We audit your theme, apps and integrations, stabilise what's there, and then recommend whether to optimise, rebuild or move onto a support retainer so your store is in safe hands.

Yes – every store we build is fully responsive and designed with mobile in mind first. Most ecommerce stores see well over half their traffic on mobile, so we design product pages, navigation and checkout with thumbs in mind and test on real devices, not just browser previews. Lightweight, performance-conscious design keeps mobile load speeds fast.

Yes. UX and conversion design is a core stage of every Maverick Marketing build. Every screen is shaped around how your customers actually buy rather than left as the theme shipped it. We focus on product page clarity, trust signals, reviews placement, navigation, filtering and a friction-free checkout, so your store is built to convert – not just to look impressive.

Yes. Our team is fluent in Shopify Liquid, custom app development and complex UX logic. We build things like gated pre-order access, conditional post-purchase messaging, location-aware delivery checks, product registration pages, owners' clubs and custom configurators. If your business needs functionality that off-the-shelf apps can't deliver, we'll scope and build it properly.

Yes. We set up Shopify for B2B and wholesale, including wholesale portals and stores that serve both trade and retail customers. Businesses with wholesale and retail channels often need custom logic, pricing rules and integrations, which is exactly where our custom build approach and discovery process add value. Tell us how your trade customers buy and we'll map the right solution.

Yes. We build international stores using Shopify Markets, geolocation, multiple languages and multiple currencies as standard when a brand sells across borders. We also handle localisation – adapting an international store for South Africa with local payment gateways, localised copy and an SEO and redirect audit, so each market's store indexes correctly and doesn't leak visibility.

Yes. For one client we built a photo-to-print customisation experience: customers upload artwork, preview it on the product, choose options and approve before checkout, with every choice flowing into the Shopify order as structured production data. We evaluate configurator apps against your requirements – data output, mobile quality, ease of use – and integrate or extend the best fit.

Yes – we set up bundles, multi-buys and subscriptions as standard on our builds when needed. Simple offers can run on native Shopify discounts, while more complex bundles or recurring orders use a suitable app. Bundles and offers are also part of our CRO & Website Optimisation retainer. We'll recommend native features or the right app based on how your products actually sell.

Yes. While we're Shopify Experts, Maverick Marketing also designs and builds standard, non-ecommerce websites – for service businesses, corporate brands, professional firms and more. We build these websites on Webflow. If you need to sell products online, we'll build your store on Shopify, because that's the platform we trust for ecommerce.

Maverick Marketing builds non-ecommerce websites on Webflow because it gives you a fast, secure, professionally designed site without the plugin headaches of older platforms. Webflow offers clean code, flexible design, a built-in CMS, managed hosting and strong SEO controls. It's also easy for your team to update content without breaking the design – our own website runs on Webflow.

No. We build standard websites on Webflow and online stores on Shopify, and we don't build or maintain WordPress or WooCommerce sites. If you're currently on WordPress and struggling with plugin updates, security issues or slow speeds, we'll move everything across to Webflow – or migrate your WooCommerce store to Shopify.

Yes. We redesign and rebuild existing websites on Webflow, whatever platform they're on today. We start by understanding your business, audience and goals, review what's working on your current site, then design a cleaner, faster, conversion-focused website. We also plan redirects so your existing search rankings are protected when the new site goes live.

Yes. Webflow sites are built on clean, fast code and give full control over page titles, meta descriptions, URLs, redirects, alt text, sitemaps and structured data. Maverick Marketing builds every Webflow site with SEO and AI search in mind – clear structure, specific content and fast load times – so search engines and AI assistants can understand your business.

Yes. Where necessary, we set up Webflow CMS for blogs, news, team pages, case studies and other repeatable content, so your team can add and edit content without touching the design. We'll train you on the Editor during handover, and our Expert Support retainer is available if you'd rather we handle updates for you.

Yes – Maverick Marketing moves everything across to Webflow, whether your current site is on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace or another platform. We carry over your content, pages, blog posts and images, set up Webflow CMS where necessary, and map old URLs to new ones with redirects to protect your search rankings. The result is a faster, more secure website that's easier to manage, without ongoing plugin and security maintenance.

Yes. Maverick Marketing migrates stores from WooCommerce, Magento and other platforms to Shopify without losing what works. Products, customers and orders are migrated, we run a full redirect and SEO audit to protect your rankings, and we set up payment gateways, shipping rules and policies for South Africa. Your team is trained before go-live.

Not if the migration is handled properly. Ranking losses usually come from missing redirects, changed URLs and lost page content. As part of every Maverick Marketing migration we run a full redirect and SEO audit, map old URLs to new ones, carry across page titles and descriptions, and check indexing after launch – so search engines understand your new store and your visibility is protected.

Shopify is a fully hosted, secure ecommerce platform, so you don't manage servers, plugin conflicts or security patches yourself. It offers a reliable checkout, a strong app ecosystem, built-in analytics and support for South African payment gateways and couriers. For established businesses, that means more time selling and less time firefighting. We'll give you an honest view of whether Shopify suits your business.

Yes. We regularly move stores onto new or updated Shopify themes, whether that's a free theme like Dawn or a premium paid theme. We audit your current theme, apps and customisations, rebuild what matters on the new theme, and carry across your content and settings. Theme updates are also included in our Expert Support retainer.

Yes. We set up Shopify POS for brands with physical stores or pop-ups, so stock, pricing, customers and orders sit in one place across in-store and online sales. That includes POS configuration, hardware guidance, staff permissions and connecting locations to your online store.

Payment gateway setup is included in every Maverick Marketing build. We set up Stitch, Paystack, Peach Payments, Ozow and PayFast. Paystack and Stitch are our main gateway partners – we use them comprehensively because they offer great fees and excellent relationship management. We configure your chosen gateways, test checkout end to end and make sure recognisable payment options build trust at checkout.

Paystack and Stitch are Maverick Marketing's main payment gateway partners. We use them comprehensively across our Shopify builds because they offer competitive fees, reliable checkout experiences and strong relationship management, which means faster help when you need it. We'll recommend the best fit for your business, customers and payout requirements.

Yes. Alongside our main partners Paystack and Stitch, we set up PayFast, Ozow and Peach Payments on Shopify stores. The right mix depends on your customers, fees and payout needs – for example, offering instant EFT alongside card payments. We'll recommend options and test everything thoroughly before launch.

Yes. We integrate Buy Now Pay Later options, such as Stitch's BNPL offering, giving customers flexible payment on higher-value items. Offering BNPL can reduce price objections and support conversion when it's displayed clearly on product pages and at checkout. We'll help you choose an option that works with your Shopify setup and margins.

Yes. Courier integration is included from our Basic package upwards. We integrate couriers such as The Courier Guy via Shiprazor for live shipping rates and label generation, and we set up shipping rules, zones and delivery messaging so customers know what to expect. We can also integrate other South African couriers and shipping platforms – let us know who you use.

Yes. We build click-and-collect, store-locator geolocation and location-aware delivery as needed. For one client, the site tells customers at every touchpoint whether delivery and exchange services are available at their address. If your delivery depends on location, stock or store availability, we can build that logic into your Shopify store.

Yes. We set up and configure product review apps, including Judge.me and Reviews.io, as standard on our builds when needed – including importing existing reviews. We place reviews where they matter most: on product pages near the add-to-cart button. Automated review request emails can also be set up through our Email Marketing module.

Yes. We build ERP and third-party integrations so stock, pricing and order data stay in sync with your store. A single source of truth for price and stock is essential, especially if you sell online, on marketplaces and in store. We map your systems during discovery and recommend a connector or custom integration.

Yes. We integrate Shopify with 3PLs, warehouses and fulfilment partners as standard when needed – linking SKUs, mapping barcodes and routing order data so fulfilment stays consistent. For one client, we also routed post-purchase notifications through a WhatsApp-first system with SMS fallback. Whatever your dispatch setup, we'll make sure customers stay informed.

Yes. App installations and setups are included in our Expert Support retainer, and we recommend and configure apps during every build. We evaluate apps against your real requirements – functionality, data output, mobile performance and cost – rather than piling on plugins. Too many apps slow your store and cause conflicts, so we keep your stack lean and fix conflicts when they arise.

Yes. We add WhatsApp click-to-chat and can set up WhatsApp order notifications as standard when needed. WhatsApp is how many South Africans prefer to communicate, so making it easy to reach you – or receive order updates – can reduce support queries and build trust. For always-on answers, see our AI Live Store Agents.

Yes. We add social links and Instagram feeds to stores as standard, and our Social Marketing module includes platform setup. Linking your social presence to your store helps customers do their quick credibility check and makes it easier to move from discovery to purchase.

A Live Store Agent is an AI agent built by Maverick Marketing that handles customer conversations on your website 24/7. It's trained on your products, policies and store, answers customer questions as they come up and points every query to the right product – helping more visitors find what they need and buy.

Yes. Maverick Marketing builds AI chatbots – our Live Store Agents – for Shopify stores and websites. Unlike basic FAQ bots, they're fully enriched with your product catalogue, collections, policies and brand voice, so they can hold useful conversations, recommend products and guide shoppers to checkout. We set them up, train them and keep them improving.

Yes. Product recommendation is one of the most valuable things a Live Store Agent does. Customers can describe what they need in their own words – a size, budget, use case or problem – and the agent suggests the most relevant products, explains the differences and links straight to the right product page.

Yes. Live Store Agents are trained on your shipping zones, delivery timelines, returns policy and other store information, so they can answer common questions instantly – any time of day. Depending on your setup, the agent can also help with order-related queries, reducing repetitive support emails and freeing your team for higher-value work.

Yes. Your Live Store Agent works around the clock, including after hours, weekends and public holidays, when many South Africans do their online shopping. That means customers get immediate answers instead of waiting until the next business day – and fewer sales are lost simply because no one was available to help.

Yes – that's what makes our agents fully enriched. We train each Live Store Agent on your product data, collections, store policies, FAQs and brand tone of voice, so its answers are accurate, specific and sound like your business. As your catalogue and policies change, the agent's knowledge is updated so it stays reliable.

Your Live Store Agent handles customer queries itself, 24/7, so the vast majority of questions are answered instantly without anyone waiting. Where a query needs your team – for example, a complaint or a specific account issue – the agent points the customer to your contact details or support email, so they always know exactly how to reach you. It doesn't transfer chats to a live person.

That's exactly what Maverick Marketing designs them to do. By answering questions instantly, removing doubt and directing shoppers to the right products – including relevant add-ons and alternatives – a Live Store Agent helps turn browsers into buyers and can encourage larger baskets. Results depend on your products, traffic and setup, and we monitor performance to keep improving the agent.

Yes. SEO & AI Optimisation is one of our core retainer modules. Maverick Marketing reviews and improves site structure, optimises product and collection pages, improves page titles and meta descriptions, structures product and business information, fixes technical search issues, supports content improvements, runs keyword analysis and monitors performance. It's designed specifically for ecommerce stores.

AI search optimisation – sometimes called GEO (generative engine optimisation) or AEO (answer engine optimisation) – is the work of making your brand easy for AI assistants like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google's AI Overviews to find, understand, trust and recommend. It relies on clear positioning, specific and structured product data, complete policies and third-party corroboration such as reviews. It's built into Maverick Marketing's SEO & AI Optimisation module.

AI assistants read your catalogue, not your campaigns – titles, descriptions, variants, prices, stock, shipping rules and policies. To be recommended, write product data that answers real questions (materials, sizing, compatibility, who it suits), keep price and stock consistent across every channel, make policies complete and specific, and build reviews and mentions beyond your own site. Our SEO & AI Optimisation module helps you do exactly this.

Yes – Maverick Marketing's SEO work is focused on helping South African businesses get found by South African customers. That includes localised product content, clear shipping and delivery information, correct indexing for South African domains, and making sure local stores don't leak search visibility to an international parent site. We're based in Johannesburg and understand how local shoppers search and buy.

Google Business Profile isn't a standalone service, but it matters for local visibility, reviews and brand trust – especially for businesses with physical stores. If it's relevant to your business, chat to us and we'll advise on how it fits into your SEO & AI Optimisation retainer.

Yes. Our SEO & AI Optimisation module includes reviewing site structure and fixing search engine impediments, and we run full SEO and redirect audits during migrations and localisations. Typical technical work includes redirects, duplicate content, indexing issues, structured data, collection structure and page titles. Shopify handles much of the infrastructure, but how your store is configured still makes a big difference.

Our SEO & AI Optimisation module comes in three tiers: SAO1 (about 6 hours a month) provides a baseline, SAO2 (about 12 hours) is our recommended minimum for meaningful impact, and SAO3 (about 18 hours) suits larger catalogues or more competitive markets. Fees include SEO analysis tools. We'll recommend a level after understanding your store and goals.

SEO is a long-term investment, and most businesses see meaningful movement over several months rather than weeks. Results depend on your competition, current site health, content and how consistently the work is done. That's why we recommend our SAO2 tier or higher for most businesses, and why our retainers have a minimum three-month commitment, with six months recommended.

Our SEO & AI Optimisation module focuses on structure, optimisation and guidance – such as improving titles, descriptions and product information – rather than ongoing content production. We support content improvements and give AI prompt suggestions so your team can create better content. If you need dedicated copywriting for product descriptions or blogs, let us know and we'll scope it.

Yes. We set up Google Search Console as standard alongside Google Analytics 4 and Meta Pixel. Search Console shows how your store appears in Google, which queries bring visitors, and any indexing or technical issues. We use it to monitor performance in our SEO & AI Optimisation work.

Yes. Maverick Marketing manages paid social advertising within our Social Marketing module at the SM2 and SM3 tiers. We manage campaigns on Meta (Facebook and Instagram), with budget allocation and performance tracking aligned to your store's goals. Ad spend is always paid separately and excluded from our retainer fees.

Yes. Alongside Meta (Facebook and Instagram), our Social Marketing module can include paid advertising on TikTok, LinkedIn and Pinterest at the SM2 and SM3 tiers. We'll recommend the platforms that best match your audience and products rather than spreading your budget too thin. Ad spend is excluded from our fees.

Yes. Our Google Ads module covers Search, Shopping and Performance Max campaigns, connecting your store to customers who are actively searching to buy. It includes campaign strategy, bid and budget management, Merchant Center feed health, conversion tracking, ad copy and monthly reporting. A well-structured product feed, accurate pricing and a store that converts are essential for Google Shopping success – which is why we often pair Google Ads with CRO & Website Optimisation. Ad spend is excluded from our fees.

Yes. Maverick Marketing offers ChatGPT advertising – we're one of the first South African agencies to do so. As more shoppers start their product research by asking AI assistants, advertising inside ChatGPT puts your brand in front of customers at the moment they're asking for recommendations. We pair it with our SEO & AI Optimisation work so your store is ready to convert that traffic. Contact us to find out more.

No. Advertising spend is always excluded from Maverick Marketing's retainer fees and is paid directly to the ad platform. Our fees cover strategy, setup, creative, management and optimisation. This keeps things transparent – you can see exactly what you're spending on media versus management – and lets you scale budgets up or down as results justify.

Usually not. When ads send traffic to a store that isn't ready to receive it, you pay more to acquire customers who don't convert. We often recommend fixing the foundation first – product pages, trust signals, checkout friction and tracking – so every rand of ad spend works harder. Our Launch and Growth retainers combine paid social with website optimisation for exactly this reason.

Yes. Maverick Marketing's Email Marketing module builds and manages automated flows and campaigns that turn intent into revenue. It covers email design, ESP setup, abandoned cart and browse abandonment flows, post-purchase sequences, review requests, replenishment reminders, win-back campaigns, promotional campaigns tied to stock or seasonality, and B2C and B2B campaigns.

Yes – we set up and manage email service providers (ESPs) as part of our Email Marketing module. Klaviyo is the platform we use most for Shopify stores, including subscriber data mapping, sign-up forms, flows and branded transactional emails. We also work with platforms such as Omnisend and Mailchimp, and we'll advise on the best fit for your store and list size.

Every Shopify store should run at least five core flows: abandoned cart, welcome series, post-purchase sequence, browse abandonment and win-back. Together they recover lost sales, build brand affinity and increase repeat purchases. Our Email Marketing module sets these up, then adds replenishment reminders, review requests and campaigns – reviewing performance regularly so the flows keep improving.

Yes. Abandoned cart flows are a standard part of our Email Marketing module. We recommend a three-email sequence: a friendly reminder after about an hour, a product-focused email with social proof after a day, and – if margin allows – a time-limited incentive after three days. The sequence stops as soon as the customer converts, so you recover sales without annoying buyers.

Yes. When we connect a new ESP like Klaviyo, we map and import your existing subscriber data as standard, respecting consent status so you stay compliant. We'll also set up sign-up forms and newsletter integration on your Shopify store so your list keeps growing from day one.

Yes. We design branded transactional emails – order confirmations, shipping updates and other notifications – so every touchpoint feels on-brand. Custom notifications are included in our Standard Small Build package, basic notifications are covered under Expert Support, and we can build fully branded transactional emails in your email platform.

No. Our Email Marketing fees cover strategy, design, setup and management, but third-party app and ESP subscription costs (such as your Klaviyo or Mailchimp plan) are paid separately by you. This keeps your account and data in your name and means you only pay for the platform tier your list size needs.

Yes. Maverick Marketing's Social Marketing module builds and manages your social channels as discovery and demand surfaces – the place customers check before they buy. It includes monthly content strategy, design of static and video assets, copywriting, resizing for each platform, posting on your behalf, a monthly content calendar, light analytics and platform setup. SM1 is organic only; SM2 and SM3 can include paid advertising.

We manage Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram), as well as TikTok, LinkedIn and Pinterest. We'll recommend which channels deserve your focus based on where your customers research and compare products, rather than trying to be everywhere. Our approach prioritises credibility – real product in context, visible reviews and clear answers – over posting volume.

Yes. Our Graphic Design module produces on-brand visual assets for your marketing, including social media posts, emailers, website graphics, banners, brochures and resizing for different platforms. Packages are based on a set number of assets per month, each with three revisions, and ad-hoc design work is also available at our standard rate of R950 per hour.

Yes. Logo design is included in the scope of our Graphic Design module, alongside brand collateral and visual assets. Note that for our Small Build store packages, your corporate identity (CI) – logo, colours and fonts – needs to be supplied by you, so if you need a logo first, we can quote for that separately before your store build begins.

Copywriting is included in our Social Marketing module (post copy) and Email Marketing module (email content). For Small Build packages, all content, copy, product data and images must be supplied by you. If you need website copy or product descriptions written, chat to us and we'll recommend the best way to scope it.

We produce static and video social assets within our Social Marketing and Graphic Design modules. Strong lifestyle imagery is one of the highest-leverage conversion improvements for any store. If you need dedicated product photography or video shoots, get in touch and we'll discuss your requirements.

No. Content creation is included in specific modules only. Email Marketing and Social Marketing include content creation, and Graphic Design produces visual assets. SEO & AI Optimisation focuses on structure, optimisation and guidance rather than ongoing content production. We'll make sure your retainer stack covers the content you actually need.

Data & Insights is Maverick Marketing's featured product – the service we're most proud of. It integrates every source of data in your business into one central dashboard: revenue, traffic, conversion, marketing channels, customer behaviour and more. It gives you a clear, reliable view of performance so you can make confident decisions across marketing, conversion and operations.

Because most businesses have their data scattered across Shopify, ad platforms, email tools, analytics and spreadsheets – and nobody has the full picture. Without it, decisions are made on instinct. Maverick Marketing's Data & Insights platform brings everything together so you can see which channels actually convert, which products drive repeat purchases, and where money is being won or lost.

Our Data & Insights platform is built to integrate every source of data your business relies on – typically your Shopify store, Google Analytics, advertising platforms, email marketing tools and other operational systems. We map your data sources during setup and connect them into a single view, so you're no longer jumping between tools or reconciling spreadsheets.

Data & Insights is built in levels. At its simplest it answers 'Is the business healthy?' with a reliable snapshot of revenue, traffic and conversion. The next level shows where performance is being won or lost across channels, from visit to purchase. The most advanced level reveals customer behaviour, margin, retention, lifetime value and cohort trends to guide forecasting and strategy.

Pricing depends on the level of complexity you need – from a clear business-health dashboard to a full strategic decision-making platform with deep customer and margin insight. Each level includes the build plus ongoing maintenance, AI usage and analysis software. Contact us to discuss your data sources and goals, and we'll recommend the right level for your business.

Reporting depends on your modules. Google Ads includes monthly performance reporting, and Social Marketing includes light analytics. For a full picture of your business, our Data & Insights platform replaces static PDF reports with live dashboards covering revenue, traffic, conversion and channel performance, so you can see results whenever you need them and we can measure the impact of every change we make.

Yes – it pairs with every module. Data & Insights is the measurement layer behind Maverick Marketing's SEO, CRO, email, social and advertising work, showing exactly what each activity contributes. It's included in our Launch and Growth retainer stacks for this reason: when every change is measured, every month of work builds on the last.

Yes. Maverick Marketing's CRO & Website Optimisation module improves how your store converts without a full rebuild. It covers campaign landing pages, product bundles and offers, product page layout and calls to action, checkout flow, trust signals and payment options, and the customer journey from landing to checkout – all driven by data and coordinated with your active marketing campaigns.

Most underperforming stores lose customers in four places: weak product pages, a missing trust layer, friction in the path to purchase, and unclear price-to-value. Better lifestyle photography, visible reviews near add-to-cart, a simpler mobile checkout and upfront shipping and returns information usually move the needle most. We audit your store, find the biggest leaks and fix them in order of impact.

Yes. Our audits check technical performance, your conversion path (product pages, trust signals, checkout friction and price-to-value), your data layer and your integrations, then rank the fixes that matter most – so you can fix in order of impact rather than starting from scratch. Get in touch to discuss what your store needs, and we'll send you a quote for the audit before any work begins.

Yes. We set up Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console and Meta Pixel as standard so you can measure traffic, conversions and ad performance accurately. Clean tracking is essential: without it, decisions are made on instinct. Tracking setup can be included in a build or handled through our retainer modules, and it feeds directly into our Data & Insights platform.

Yes. Site performance and speed is part of our Shopify expertise. Slow stores are usually caused by too many apps, heavy images, bloated theme code or unnecessary scripts. We audit what's loading, remove or replace problem apps, optimise media and theme code, and keep animations performance-conscious – especially on mobile, where most of your customers shop.

Your Shopify store is hosted securely by Shopify as part of your subscription, and Webflow websites run on Webflow's managed hosting, so there are no servers for you to maintain. For clients who need it, we also provide domain and email hosting as an xneelo reseller, so you can have your own professional domain and branded business email (for example, you@yourbrand.co.za) connected properly to your store or website and managed by our team. Your domain is always registered in your name and owned by you – it simply sits within our xneelo account for management.

Yes. Expert Support is our foundational retainer for Shopify maintenance and support. It keeps your store updated, configured and running properly, with expert advice when you need it. Many clients have stayed with us for years after launch.

Expert Support includes advice, Shopify and theme updates, app setups, error and conflict fixes, troubleshooting, configuration and collection updates, inventory and variant changes, minor integrations, navigation improvements and basic notifications. Custom development, feature builds and large-scale changes are excluded and quoted separately. It comes in three tiers: ES1 (about 3 hours a month), ES2 (about 6 hours) and ES3 (about 10 hours).

All support requests are logged through our Support Dashboard. This keeps everything transparent and tracked, so you can see what's been requested, what's in progress and what's done, and we can report accurately on your retainer. For general queries you can also reach our support team at support@maverickmarketing.co.za.

Launch is a milestone, not an endpoint. After go-live we provide team training so your staff can confidently run the store or website, and we offer ongoing support options – from an Expert Support retainer to a full growth stack. Our goal is that what we've built keeps performing, and that you're never left without help.

Yes. Ad-hoc support covers work outside an agreed retainer scope or hours – such as urgent fixes, unexpected issues or one-off improvements – and is billed at our standard rate of R950 per hour. For ongoing needs, a retainer usually offers better value and dedicated monthly capacity.

Yes. Your Shopify store, domain, content and customer data belong to you. Shopify subscriptions, paid themes and app subscriptions are charged directly to your own Shopify account, and email platforms are set up in your name. We provide training so your team can operate everything confidently.

Yes. Training is part of every Maverick Marketing build. We make sure your team knows how to manage products, collections, orders, content and day-to-day settings, so you can operate the store or website independently. Ongoing advice is also available through our Expert Support retainer.

It depends on scope. Maverick Marketing's Small Build packages (Entry, Basic and Standard) offer a fixed-scope route for businesses launching on Shopify, while custom builds are quoted based on your requirements after discovery. All prices are quoted in ZAR. Shopify subscriptions, paid themes and app subscriptions are separate. Contact us for a detailed quote tailored to your business.

Yes, a few third-party costs are paid directly by you: your Shopify subscription, paid theme licences (typically $150–$400 once-off, depending on the theme, charged in USD to your Shopify account), app subscriptions, email platform costs and advertising spend. Custom development and large-scale changes outside an agreed scope are quoted separately.

Maverick Marketing's retainers are built in modules, from R3 000 a month depending on your requirements. We recommend Expert Support as the foundation of your stack, with modules such as SEO & AI Optimisation, CRO, Email Marketing, Social Marketing, Graphic Design, Google Ads or Data & Insights added as your goals demand. Download our rate card or contact us for a recommended stack.

Every Maverick Marketing retainer is built by stacking modules around your goals. We recommend Expert Support as the foundation, with options like SEO & AI Optimisation, CRO & Website Optimisation, Email Marketing, Social Marketing, Graphic Design, Data & Insights and Google Ads on top. Our recommended stacks – Foundation, Launch and Growth – are starting points that we tailor to your stage, budget and priorities.

Foundation (stability and discoverability) combines Expert Support, SEO & AI Optimisation and Website Optimisation. Launch, our most popular stack, combines Expert Support, Social Marketing with paid ads, Website Optimisation and a Data & Insights dashboard. Growth (performance and scale) combines Social Marketing with paid ads, Website Optimisation, SEO & AI Optimisation, Email Marketing and a more advanced Data & Insights dashboard. Each can be customised.

Most clients don't choose a stack on their own. We recommend a retainer after a short discussion about your business, goals, constraints and budget, focusing on what will have the greatest impact right now. The stack can then be adjusted as your priorities change – modules can be added, removed or scaled up or down.

Yes. Most retainers require a minimum three-month commitment to build meaningful momentum and continuity, and we typically recommend six months for best results. After the initial commitment, retainers run month to month unless otherwise agreed, and you can cancel with 30 days' notice.

You can upgrade at any time. Downgrades require 30 days' notice so we can plan resourcing. Retainers can't be paused because of capacity planning, but you may cancel with 30 days' notice after your minimum commitment period. We'll always help you adjust your stack if your priorities shift.

No. Retainers operate in monthly cycles with defined deliverables, and unused time doesn't roll over. This allows us to plan capacity and maintain consistent quality for every client. If you need more work in a particular month, additional hours can be added as ad-hoc work at our standard rate of R950 per hour.

Our standard hourly rate for ad-hoc work is R950 per hour. This applies to work outside a retainer's scope or hours – such as urgent fixes, one-off improvements or ad-hoc graphic design. Larger pieces of work, such as custom development or feature builds, are scoped and quoted separately so you know the cost upfront.

For our Small Build packages, a 50% deposit is required to begin, with the balance due on completion and before handover. Custom builds follow a payment schedule agreed in writing during scoping, alongside the project specification, timeline and milestones. All prices are quoted in South African rand (ZAR).

We accept EFT and credit card payments. For retainers, monthly billing or recurring subscriptions can be set up for the duration of your agreement, which keeps admin simple. Third-party costs like your Shopify plan, themes and apps are billed directly to your own accounts.

No – and you should be wary of any agency that does. Maverick Marketing focuses on building the systems, structure and execution required for sustainable growth, and we measure everything we do. But outcomes depend on many factors outside any agency's control, including your product, market, pricing and competition.

Every Maverick Marketing engagement follows four steps. Discovery: we learn your business, operations, goals and systems. Scoping: we agree a detailed specification, tech stack, timeline and payment terms in writing. Build: design, development, integrations and testing, with structured feedback rounds. Launch & Support: QA, go-live, domain setup, team training and an ongoing support option.

Standard builds take between two and eight weeks from receipt of all content and your deposit. Some builds can take longer depending on their level of complexity and customisation, such as custom builds with integrations. We agree a timeline and milestone plan in writing during scoping. Delays most often come from content, so having it ready speeds things up.

For our Small Build packages, you'll need to supply your corporate identity (logo, colours and fonts), all content and copy, product data, product images, store policies and social links. Having these ready means we can start building straight away and keep to the agreed timeline. For custom builds and websites, we'll provide a clear checklist during scoping.

The Entry package includes one set of revisions, and the Basic and Standard packages include three sets. Custom builds use structured feedback rounds agreed during scoping rather than endless revision cycles, which keeps projects on time and on budget. Graphic Design module assets include three revisions each.

Yes. Before any design or development begins, scope, timeline, deliverables and payment terms are agreed in writing, and a signed agreement and deposit kick off the project. This protects both of us, avoids surprises and ensures everyone is clear on exactly what's being delivered.

Yes – we plan around critical dates where the scope allows. For one client, we delivered a full store build against a hard launch date tied to new retail locations and a launch event. Tell us about any deadlines early, and we'll build a realistic milestone plan to hit them, including what content and decisions we'll need from you and when.

Yes. You're kept in the loop throughout the build with structured feedback rounds and progress updates. Clients regularly mention our communication – often noting that, for once, they weren't the ones chasing progress. You'll always know what's been done, what's next and what we need from you.

Shopify provides a secure platform, but POPIA compliance also depends on how your store collects and uses personal information – consent for marketing emails, cookie notices, privacy policies and how data is shared with apps. We help implement consent-based sign-ups, cookie banners and policy pages. Your policy content should be provided by you or your legal adviser, as we don't give legal advice.

Maverick Marketing processes personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). We don't sell your data, we retain enquiry data only as long as necessary, and you can request access, correction or deletion at any time by emailing support@maverickmarketing.co.za. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Yes. Shopify is a hosted, PCI DSS-compliant platform with SSL included on every store, and payments are processed through secure, certified payment gateways. This means you don't handle card data directly. We configure your gateways properly, test checkout end to end and display recognisable payment options to build trust with your customers.

Complete the 'Let's talk' form on the Maverick Marketing website, telling us about your business, what you're looking for and your current website URL, or email maverick@maverickmarketing.co.za. We'll come back to you within one business day. Before we quote, we listen – a short discovery conversation helps us recommend the right build or retainer.

We aim to respond to new enquiries within one business day. Fill in the contact form on our website, email maverick@maverickmarketing.co.za or call +27 68 398 7241, and a member of the Maverick Marketing team will be in touch to set up an initial conversation.

For new projects, email maverick@maverickmarketing.co.za or call +27 68 398 7241. Existing clients can reach our support team at support@maverickmarketing.co.za or log requests through our Support Dashboard. You can also use the contact form on our website or connect with us on LinkedIn. We're based in Highlands North, Johannesburg.

It helps to have a sense of what you sell, how your operation runs (inventory, fulfilment, couriers and systems), what's not working, your goals, constraints and budget, and examples of sites you like. Don't worry if you don't have all the answers – our discovery process is designed to uncover them.

Absolutely. Many clients come to us knowing something isn't working but not sure whether it's the site, the marketing or the systems behind them. Choose 'Not sure – let's talk' on our contact form, and we'll help you diagnose the real problem and recommend the right next step – whether that's an audit, a build or a retainer.

Yes. The Maverick Marketing newsletter shares the fixes, findings and platform changes every established online store should know about – in plain language, with no sales pitches. You can sign up at the bottom of any page on our website and unsubscribe at any time. We also publish articles on Shopify, ecommerce strategy, SEO and AI, and email marketing on our blog.