Field notes & essays.
Working notes, lessons, and the occasional opinion — from building websites, software, and AI systems for real businesses.
The full archive.
Every post, in chronological order.
When to Rebuild vs Redesign vs Leave It Alone
A practical framework for deciding when to rebuild a website from scratch, when to redesign on the existing platform, and when doing nothing is the right call.
Why Your Website Is Slow (and the Real Cost of Doing Nothing)
Why most small business websites are slow — render-blocking resources, third-party tags, hydration, server response — and what slowness actually costs in conversions.
Website Integrations That Actually Save Time: Zapier, Make, and When to Go Custom
The real limits of no-code automation, when API integration costs less long-term, and ROI examples from service businesses doing both well.
Website Accessibility (WCAG 2.2): A Practical Guide for Business Owners
A practical WCAG 2.2 accessibility guide for small business owners: legal landscape, color contrast, keyboard nav, alt text, and what cheap fixes really buy you.
On-Page SEO Checklist 2026: What Still Actually Matters
An on-page SEO checklist for 2026. Title tags, meta descriptions, headings, internal links, entity coverage, and helpful content updates — what still moves rankings.
Website RFP Template and Checklist for Non-Technical Business Owners
A plain-English website RFP template and checklist covering scope, integrations, payment terms, IP ownership, and the red flags that separate good agencies from bad.
Website Security Basics Every Business Owner Should Actually Do
The website security basics that actually matter for small businesses — HTTPS, security headers, MFA, secrets, backups, and a usable incident response plan.
Automating Quotes and Estimates for Trade Businesses
Structured pricing data, configurator UX, PDF generation, e-signature, and CRM/Stripe integration — how trade businesses turn quotes into closed jobs faster.
Above the Fold: What Actually Belongs on a Service Business Homepage
What belongs above the fold on a service business homepage: a clarity-first headline, one CTA, the right proof, and a hero that survives the 5-second test.