
Scaling Rusty wasn’t about switching on ads and waiting for waves to roll in – it was about building a system that captured, qualified, and converted interest while strengthening the brand for the long haul. In a market where surfboards aren’t just products but high-ticket, high-loyalty investments, the challenge wasn’t generating clicks, it was earning trust and establishing Rusty as the brand of choice for serious riders.
Every interaction needed to work harder: from discovery ads that carried the spirit of the brand, to streamlined lead capture designed for how South African customers actually wanted to buy, to long-form content that cemented Rusty’s reputation as a surf authority. The strategy wasn’t “performance for performance’s sake” – was building a growth engine that delivered revenue today while compounding Rusty’s market position tomorrow.
We mapped the full customer journey and tagged every valuable action on-site, from board customisation to checkout. This wasn’t just about reporting clicks – it gave us a live picture of how users engaged and where friction sat, transforming data into a decision-making engine.
Research showed that WhatsApp was the contact channel of choice in South Africa. Instead of forcing forms and emails, we built a seamless WhatsApp integration directly into the site. The result? Lower friction, faster response times, and more high-intent leads flowing in.
Performance wasn’t a one-channel play. We aligned paid social, search, display, SEO, and content into a single funnel, each role clearly defined: awareness through discovery channels, intent captured on search, and retargeting flows to keep Rusty top of mind until purchase.
Rusty isn’t just another surfboard maker – it’s a lifestyle. Our creative carried that brand story across every channel, from social ads to blog content, balancing inspiration with conversion triggers. Every touchpoint reminded users why Rusty is the name they should trust when investing in their next board.
NOEL RAHME – MANAGING PARTNER
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