About

Hi, I'm Tristan Arendse

I run Arker Growth from Cape Town. I help local service businesses get found first: on Google Maps, in Google search, and in AI answers.

What I do

I help local businesses get found, and get the call

When someone nearby needs what you do, they search. The business they find first usually gets the call. My job is to make sure that's you.

I work on:

  • Local SEO: getting you onto the Google map in your area
  • SEO: getting your website ranking in Google
  • AI SEO: helping AI tools like ChatGPT recommend you
  • Google Ads and Meta Ads: bringing in customers quickly while your rankings grow

When you work with me, you deal with me. No account managers, no hand-offs.

My story

I didn't want the usual path

After matric, I was pushed to choose something to study. Nothing grabbed me, and I didn't want to pay for years of studying something I wasn't interested in, then feel locked into it. So I left college and took a job at Superseed, a design and branding agency, to learn by doing.

That's where it clicked. I loved how the agency worked: small teams, each making their part a success. The marketing team caught my attention most. I'd corner them at the coffee station and on breaks with questions about paid ads, SEO and how it all fits together.

I knew marketing alone wasn't enough. I needed real sales experience, with real skin in the game. So I walked into a car dealership and asked for a job. In my first three months, I sold over R1.23 million worth of cars.

Since then I've built businesses of my own: a shuttle business with a friend, and my first marketing agency, which ran well for almost a year. After that I took a few regular jobs, and none of them felt right. Arker Growth is me coming back to what I actually want to do.

Why local businesses?

Lots of people starting online businesses skip local clients and chase international ones. I think that's a mistake. Local businesses need help, and many don't know what good marketing can do for them. When they grow, everyone around them benefits. That's where I want to do my best work.

Who I learn from

I'm part of a global community of marketers who talk every day. We share what's working, help each other solve problems, and test new ideas. I also learn directly fromArno Wingen, an SEO expert in Amsterdam, whose approach Arker Growth follows.

How I work

What you can expect from me

I take this seriously, because you take your business seriously. Every piece of work is done by me: no hand-offs, no outsourcing. I review everything I do, keep what works, and improve what doesn't.

  1. Straight talk

    I'll tell you what's realistic, even when it's not what you want to hear.

  2. Plain English

    No jargon, no 40-page reports. A short monthly update you can read in two minutes.

  3. No lock-in

    Month-to-month. If it's not working for you, you can leave.

  4. Honest timelines

    SEO takes months. I won't pretend otherwise.

Want to be the one they find first?

Start with a free review of your Google Business Profile and website. Written report within 2 business days. No obligation.

Get my free audit

Or email me: tristan@arkergrowth.com