Common sense web and marketing notes - things I've learned the hard way.
After years of building WordPress sites, I've evolved my approach. AI tools let me build faster, cleaner semi-static sites that outperform WordPress for most small businesses in the Red River Valley. Here's why, and what it means for you.
Read Full Article →Most designers won't build you a free test site. Here's how AI makes it possible, what you get, and why there's zero risk to trying.
Read more →Blocking AI bots might seem protective, but for local businesses it usually does more harm than good. Learn why AI visibility matters and when blocking actually makes sense.
Read more →AI is now the first impression layer for local businesses. Learn how to give AI systems the clear, concrete information they need to confidently recommend your business to customers.
Read more →Learn how to write website content that AI can understand and recommend without losing your natural voice. Practical tips for small business owners in the age of AI.
Read more →AI is changing how customers find businesses, but your website matters more than ever. Learn why declining traffic doesn't mean declining influence in the age of AI recommendations.
Read more →If Let's Encrypt certificates randomly fail behind Cloudflare, it's usually a security rule blocking ACME validation. Here's the actual fix, not the workarounds.
Read more →Most people visit a towing company website during an emergency. Here's what your site needs to do to actually help stressed customers and bring in business.
Read more →People searching for emergency HVAC service are uncomfortable or panicking. Here's what your emergency HVAC company website needs to do to help them reach you quickly and understand what to expect.
Read more →People looking for a welding or fabrication shop need to know if you can handle the work and how to reach you. Here's what your welding shop website should do to help them decide.
Read more →Most people visit a septic service website when something went wrong. Here's what your septic company website needs to do to help customers solve problems calmly and clearly.
Read more →Most electrician websites are either nonexistent or terrible. Here's what actually gets you service calls in Grand Forks, Devils Lake, and rural North Dakota.
Read more →People looking for a property maintenance company are juggling too many problems at once. Here's what your property maintenance services website should do to help them decide quickly and move forward.
Read more →Rural businesses have different web needs than urban companies. Here's why speed, simplicity, and local focus matter more-and why most designers miss the mark.
Read more →Have a train wreck of an old site? AI tools now make it possible to rebuild and modernize massive outdated sites without the traditional $20k+ price tag.
Read more →Most people looking for an excavation contractor need to know one thing: can you do their job, in their area? Here's what your excavation company website should do to answer that clearly.
Read more →A practical guide to choosing between semi-static sites and WordPress for your small business. Performance comparison, cost analysis, and decision framework.
Read more →People searching for trenching or boring services need to know if you can do the work, in their area. Here's what your utility contractor website should do to answer those questions clearly.
Read more →Most ag service contractors rely on word of mouth until it stops working. Here's what your agricultural services website should do to help new customers find you and understand what you actually do.
Read more →Most fishing guide websites are either overbuilt or embarrassingly outdated. Here's what actually works for guides around Devils Lake, the Red River, and rural ND/MN.
Read more →SEO is changing, but not disappearing. Here's what local businesses in Grand Forks and North Dakota should expect in 2026 and beyond.
Read more →I build fast, effective websites for small businesses throughout the Red River Valley. No fluff, no complexity, just sites that bring in customers.