Christine Da Silva - Founder & Online Marketing Strategist
AlterSage is led by Christine da Silva (nee Stander), a well respected Search Engine Optimisation and Online Marketing Strategist. She has an enviable depth of experience and knowledge of the Online Marketing industry gained over eight years together with her reputation has secured AlterSage clients from around the globe.

Having in her career headed the Online Marketing division of South Africa’s most successful online travel company, Search Divisions for the two leading Search Engine Marketing companies in South Africa, as well as consulted to a well respected international search leader, Christine set out to fine tune and provide more robust, result oriented Online Marketing services.

In her opinion it was not enough to purely enable websites to rank better online, but rather a two-fold process that increases the website exposure online and simultaneously improves the usability and conversion performance of the website as well. This means that after the site is found online, visitors move through it with ease to perform the required goal – whether that is to buy a product, call a consultant, sign up for a newsletter or submit an enquiry.

In 2006, determined to offer clients a solution which would be custom created for their specific goals, industry and audience, she launched AlterSage Online Marketing.

Since opening the AlterSage doors she has tutored and grown her in-house team in the fields of web copywriting, SEO, PPC and strategy. Her team is as passionate about gaining sustainable results as she is. The team is well experienced in the USA, UK and SA markets for a very wide range of industries as can be seen by AlterSage's Online Marketing Portfolio.

AlterSage now consults to UK Search Marketing and Digital Agencies clients’ as well as maintaining key relationships with a number of international and South African clients directly.

Other skill sets acquired over the years are: Business, project and account management; all facets of online and offline marketing, graphic design, web design, web development and copy writing, web analytics and online behavioural trends which go hand in hand with her SEO style.

Which ever project or industry she has previously consulted for she has rapidly acquired a reputation for strategizing, execution and delivery on competitive niches gaining her clients measurable and sustainable results.

Christine is passionate about everything she does and inspires both her team and clients through striving uncompromisingly for the best results proven by AlterSage's Online Marketing Case Studies .


Carla Fourie - Marketing Co-ordinator
Carla has not even completed her studies in marketing management and already she’s taking the bull by the horns! It’s safe to say she knows what she wants. The constant development of the online world and keeping up to date with these changes is the challenge she thrives on.

Making sure she keeps ahead of the times, she spends her time on sites such as DieBurger.com for world news and events, and BizCommunity.com, emarketingblog.co.za and Marketingweb.co.za to stay current with the larger marketing world. Carla is not all work and no play; when she’s not reading about current events you’ll find her on the dance floor or spending some quality time with her boyfriend.

Within the AlterSage team, Carla thrives on networking, trying to learn as much as possible and coping with the occasional information overload since, as she would say: “A sponge can only absorb so much!”


Nicola Neutt - Project Co-ordinator
Nicola is an all-rounder, both serious and dedicated, but with a wicked sense of humour. By means of her diploma in multimedia technologies, she has ventured into both sides of the IT world - as designer as well as providing technical support for clients.

The same balance is obvious in her private life. Her time is spent mostly with friends and expanding her mind through excessive reading, but the one thing that keeps her more occupied than most is her very busy and playful Husky puppy, Koda.

Some of Nicola’s favourite sites include News24, BBC, PostSecret and of course, considering she was a designer, PhotoshopDisasters.Blogspot. On her role at AlterSage she can almost be described as “the mother” (even though she hates this description), because she takes care of us all! Her role within the team is critica: making sure that the relationships between clients and the Sages are on good terms, that deadlines are met and that she is always in the know of every aspect of the company.


Jonathan Andrews – eMarketing Strategist
After finishing a Bachelors Degree and a subsequent post-graduate qualification in Journalism and Media Studies, Jono set out to conquer the world. Regrettably, it wound up conquering him: What he thought would turn into a budding career in journalism in Canada turned into a job as a short order cook and call-centre racketeer. Nine months later, he found himself in the UK and two eventful years followed. In addition to the extra weight he gained in London, he also picked up a fair amount of what he likes to call “life experience”.

Fortunately, this lead him back to South Africa in 2005 and into online, where he got a good grounding in copywriting and an introduction to SEO at one of the country’s top inbound travel operators. He has been involved in online marketing in one way or another ever since.

Jono’s strong point? He thinks his dashing good looks, but we reckon it must be his sense of humour.

At AlterSage he hopes to both contribute and learn in his role as eMarketing Strategist. His passion for the internet and keeping abreast of the latest trends keep him motivated in this ever-evolving industry. Jono is a results driven person. He finds it satisfying to be learning and trying new things all the time, and being able to measure and assess the success of these efforts.


Lulie Swanepoel - SEO Copywriter
Lulie tried out a few things before studying film, but this wasn't enough for her. She wanted something that would be challenging, that would teach her new things everyday and of course include writing. This all added up to one thing: copywriting.

Even after all this time in the SEO world, Lulie states that she'll never be an IT geek, even though she spends most of her time online (after hours included!). She lives by Wikipedia.com, News24 and enjoys her daily dose of comic relief from sites such as Calvin & Hobbs and Cyanide & Happiness. When she eventually takes time away from her PC, you’ll probably find Lulie visiting a friend or at home with her two naughty cats, Sushi and Eddie.

Even if she doesn't want to admit it, everybody in the AlterSage team knows Lulie loves working in the online industry and thrives on the daily challenges it brings. She's not shy about asking lots of questions. All the better to get a good understanding of your needs and to develop her knowledge of online marketing more deeply.


Graeme Coyne - SEO Copywriter
While wandering through the streets of New York, Graeme became fascinated by the study of society (not surprising when in the Big Apple). On his return to South Africa, his path soon lead him to a different form of social study when he became a copywriter.

Graeme defines success by seeing results over a period of time - and by how his work affects the online marketing world. When he is not conceptualizing new, creative ways of getting his clients' message across, he keeps busy by monitoring world news on his favourite site Reuters.com, skateboarding or furthering his social studies from within a DJ box.

Graeme is pretty humble about his role as one of the Sages. His philosophy is that everyone is unique and has something special to offer. He certainly does.


Rosie Brooks - SEO Copywriter
Although Rosie always wanted to be a rock star, it was through writing that she eventually found a way to express herself. She completed her BA in English Language and Literature from UCT and so began her path towards SEO.

She’s not all sweet and innocent, oh no, not this one! Name a serial killer and she’ll properly be able to give you his profile and history. Apart from spending time on sites such as CrimeLibrary.com, Rosie also forms part of the cult following of icanhascheezburger.com and lolcatbible.com - and in more serious moments she can be found reading the latest news on iol.co.za.

When asked how she sees herself fitting into the AlterSage team, her response was one simple word: “snugly”. No truer word could have been uttered. Just don’t ever give her badly-written copy to proofread, because the kid-gloves will come off!


Tara McGovern - Campaign Manager
Tara was well on her way to becoming a fashion designer, but one day mysteriously found herself changing her course and working her way up in the SEM world by starting as a Junior SEO instead. Yes, quite a tree swing.

A fanatic of anything to do with horses; she rides and teaches horse-riding classes as a hobby. A quick learner, she keeps up to date on sites such as BizCommunity.com, News24, SEOChat.com, but most importantly, her dose of daily gossip on PerezHilton.com.
Tara, the “loud” member of the Sages, adds fun and humour to the team, which must be said, is quite infectious. Mixed with an all round positive go-getter attitude, her role as part of the Sages will be long.