On 1 April 2026, Twisted Toast Digital turns 15. It’s hard for me to believe. I’m not sure why but lately both our history and future have been on my mind. We’re lucky to be busy with work from a wide and diverse client roster across many different industries. This made me think about all our various clients with whom we’re sharing our journey, as well as our agency’s ebb and flow.
A recent Forbes article by an agency contributor got me thinking again about something we encounter daily at Twisted Toast. The real differentiator for modern brands isn’t better tech, slicker automation or even access to more data. It’s creative energy. Not the abstract kind, but strategic, intentional creativity that connects emotionally and builds long-term brand value.
A new search era dawns As of July 2025, 43% of consumers now use AI search tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini daily. Trust in these tools is substantial. Yext’s global survey (March / April 2025) reveals that 62 % of users trust AI to help them discover and evaluate brands. This marks a monumental shift from traditional search.
A lifelong friend of mine is a devout vinyl record enthusiast, listener, collector and a sometimes-trader of high-quality old-school records. Pieter’s Groovy Records side hustle has become a known brand amongst like-minded aficionados of the emotion-rich qualities of a distinctive vinyl record sound. He and his ilk are not alone.
At Twisted Toast Digital, we believe a website should be your most reliable employee, always on, always working. But too often, websites are neglected or underperforming. We change that by following seven wise steps: from smart strategy and brand-first design to UX-driven layouts, sharp GEO and SEO plus ongoing optimisation. Our approach combines thoughtful content, technical excellence and continuous refinement. The result? A high-performing site that tells your story, converts visitors and evolves with your business. Because a good-looking website isn’t enough... it must deliver results.
At Twisted Toast Digital, we’ve learnt that content without strategy is just noise. Many brands chase likes or pageviews, but overlook what matters most: Sales. The biggest pitfalls? No clear goals, inconsistent output, poor GEO and SEO and content that talks at customers instead of connecting with them. Our approach is different. We build smart, results-driven strategies aligned with your business goals, optimised for human impact and AI visibility. The result? Content that doesn’t just exist. It performs. Let’s make yours count.
ChatGPT becomes a search super power A fast developing digital battleground is shaping into an internet search war certain to alter everything from pay-per-click advertising to the way in which website and related digital content is finessed. Perhaps it’s a bit early to announce an eventual demise of traditional keyword search results from Google, but judging from my own personal experience, large language model generative AI search expressed in natural language in a chatbot conversation format results in more fluid, nuanced and useful feedback.
Barney Tabasco lives on in our memories Barry McIlheney was one of the all-time greats of magazine publishing. Not just because of the titles he edited or the successes he racked up, there were many, but because of the way he made people feel. Warm, funny, generous and endlessly creative, Barry brought something rare and human to everything he did.
April presented an extraordinary opportunity for a heady mix of leisure mixed with work, not just marked by a series of significant public holidays, but also for me, by unforgettable experiences in the waters around Cape Town. Freedom Day weekend specifically, provided a powerful backdrop for reflection, as I had the privilege of participating in a series of remarkable surfski paddling events.
Twisted Toast Digital: Pioneering Generative Search Optimisation (GSO) in South Africa. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, marketing agencies face an exciting challenge: adapting to the revolutionary changes brought about by generative AI search technology.
