Marketing
Are Lead Sites Like Angi and Thumbtack Worth It for Contractors?
Are lead sites like Angi, Thumbtack, Checkatrade and hipages worth it for contractors? How they work, pros and cons, and how to tell if they pay off.
6 min read
33 guides and counting
All guides
Practical, step-by-step help for getting more customers online.
Google Business Profile
Why Is My Business Not Showing Up on Google Maps? 10 Fixes
Can't find your business on Google Maps? The 10 most common reasons, from unverified profiles to suspensions, and exactly how to fix each one.
6 min read
Websites
What Should Be on a Contractor Website? 15 Things That Win Jobs
The 15 things every contractor website needs to turn visitors into quote requests, from a tappable phone number to project photos, reviews and service pages.
5 min read
Marketing
Facebook Ads vs Google Ads: Which Is Better for a Small Business?
Facebook ads or Google ads? A plain English comparison for small businesses: how each works, which suits your business, and how to test without wasting money.
6 min read
Tools
The Best Free SEO Tools for Small Businesses
The free SEO tools small business owners actually need, starting with Google's own, plus what each one is for and a simple monthly routine to use them.
5 min read
Google Business Profile
Google Business Profile Suspended? How to Get It Back
Your Google Business Profile was suspended or disabled. Here's why it usually happens, how to fix the cause, and how to file an appeal Google will accept.
6 min read
Google Business Profile
How to Verify Your Google Business Profile (Including Video Verification)
Every way to verify a Google Business Profile, with a step-by-step guide to video verification: what to film, how long it takes and what to do if it fails.
6 min read
Google Business Profile
How to Set Up a Google Business Profile Without a Storefront (and Hide Your Home Address)
Run your business from home or work at customers' properties? How to set up a Google Business Profile as a service-area business and keep your address private.
5 min read
Marketing
Google Local Services Ads: How They Work and Are They Worth It?
How Google Local Services Ads work, what counts as a paid lead, how they compare with Google Ads, and how to decide if they're worth it for your business.
6 min read
SEO
How Long Does SEO Take to Work for a Small Business?
An honest answer to how long SEO takes for a small business, what affects the timeline, and what results you should expect in the first 3, 6 and 12 months.
5 min read
Websites
How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost?
What a small business website really costs: DIY builders, freelancers and agencies compared, the ongoing costs people forget, and how to get a fair quote.
6 min read
SEO
How Much Does SEO Cost for a Small Business?
What small businesses really pay for SEO, the common pricing models, what you should get for the money, and how to spot a bad deal before you sign.
5 min read
Tools
How to Check Where Your Website Ranks on Google (Free Methods)
Free, accurate ways to check where your website and Google Business Profile rank, why your own searches mislead you, and which numbers to track instead.
5 min read
Marketing
How to Get More Leads for Your Contracting Business
Practical ways for contractors to get more leads: Google, reviews, referrals, partners, lead sites and ads, plus how to win more of the leads you get.
6 min read
Marketing
How to Get More Customers for Your Small Business: 15 Ideas That Work
Fifteen practical, low-cost ways to get more customers for a local small business, from Google and reviews to referrals, partnerships and following up.
5 min read
Google Business Profile
How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking Google's Rules)
Simple, policy-safe ways to get more Google reviews for your small business, including copy-and-paste text and email templates and the mistakes to avoid.
5 min read
SEO
How to Get Your Business on the First Page of Google (Without Paying for Ads)
A plain English plan to get your small business onto page one of Google: the map results, your website and the free fixes that matter most.
6 min read
SEO
How to Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT and Google AI
Customers now ask ChatGPT and Google's AI for local recommendations. Here's what actually influences which businesses get mentioned, and what you can do today.
6 min read
Websites
How to Make a Website for Your Small Business: A Beginner's Guide
A beginner's guide to making a website for your small business: choosing a domain and platform, what to write, which pages to build and how to launch.
6 min read
Websites
Why Is My Website So Slow? How to Speed It Up (Plain English Guide)
Find out why your small business website is slow and how to fix it: test with free Google tools, understand Core Web Vitals and fix the most common causes.
5 min read
Google Business Profile
How to Rank Higher on Google Maps: 12 Proven Steps
Want to show up in the top three on Google Maps? Twelve practical steps based on how Google says it ranks local results, with what to do first.
5 min read
Google Business Profile
How to Respond to Negative Google Reviews (With Examples)
How to reply to a bad Google review without making it worse, with copy-and-paste example responses, plus what to do about fake reviews and how to report them.
6 min read
Google Business Profile
How to Set Up a Google Business Profile: A Step-by-Step Guide
Get your business on Google Maps the right way. A plain English walkthrough of creating, verifying and completing your Google Business Profile.
5 min read
Tools
How to Set Up Google Search Console: A Beginner's Guide
Set up Google Search Console in about 15 minutes: add and verify your site, submit a sitemap, and learn the three reports small business owners should check.
5 min read
SEO
Local SEO for Small Businesses: A Step-by-Step Guide You Can Do Yourself
What local SEO is, why it matters for businesses that serve one area, and a step-by-step plan you can follow yourself without hiring an agency.
6 min read
SEO
Roofing SEO: How Roofers Can Get More Leads From Google
Roofing SEO explained for roofers: how to rank for roof repair and replacement searches, handle storm season, and turn Google traffic into booked inspections.
5 min read
SEO
SEO for Contractors: How to Get More Jobs From Google
A practical SEO guide for contractors: how to show up when homeowners search for your trade, with steps for your Google profile, website and reviews.
6 min read
SEO
SEO for Plumbers: How to Rank When Someone Searches 'Plumber Near Me'
A plumber's guide to SEO: show up for 'plumber near me' and emergency searches, win more calls from Google Maps and stop relying on paid leads.
5 min read
Websites
What Pages Should a Small Business Website Have?
The essential pages every small business website needs, what to put on each one, and the optional pages worth adding once the basics are done.
5 min read
Websites
Why Is My Website Not Showing Up on Google? How to Find and Fix It
Website not showing up on Google? How to check if it's indexed, the most common reasons it's missing or buried, and step-by-step fixes using free Google tools.
5 min read
Tools
Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress: Which Is Best for a Small Business?
An honest comparison of Wix, Squarespace and WordPress for small business websites: ease of use, design, SEO, costs, maintenance and who each suits.
5 min read
Websites
The October 2026 PHP Security Flaw: What Small Business Owners on WordPress Should Do
A critical PHP flaw, called php2shell, put millions of WordPress sites at risk. Here's what happened, in plain English, and a simple checklist to make sure your site is safe.
3 min read
Websites
Does a Small Business Still Need a Website in 2026?
Social media and Google Maps can bring in customers, so is a website still worth it? An honest answer for owners, with what a good small business site actually needs.
3 min read