Journal
Small business marketing tips, without the jargon
Plain answers to the questions owners ask us most, written for people who run a business rather than a marketing department.
Why we publish this
Most advice aimed at small business owners is written to sell something. Consequently it is vague where it should be specific, and confident where it should admit doubt.
These notes go the other way. For example, when we say what something should cost, we give real numbers and explain what moves them. Similarly, when a business does not need what it is asking for, we say that too.
If you would rather ask directly, that is what the contact page is for. Everything below is free and there is nothing to sign up to.
Local Citation Building Checklist: How to Get Your Business Listed Everywhere That Matters
Local citations are one of the strongest trust signals for Google, yet most small businesses stop after claiming three directories. Here is the full checklist, including the sources you already pay for and the ones competitors ignore.
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What Should a Small Business Website Cost in 2026?
Ask three agencies what a small business website cost should be and you will get three numbers an order of magnitude apart. Here is what actually moves it.
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Why Your Website Is Not Showing Up on Google
"We have a website but nobody finds it" is the most common sentence we hear. If your business is not showing up on Google, it is almost always one of these five.
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Seven Signs of an Outdated Website Costing You Work
An outdated website rarely looks outdated to its owner — you see it every day, so it looks normal. Your customers see it once, and decide. If you count three or more, the site is not neutral. It is actively costing you.
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