Small business marketing questions, answered first.

You’re busy running the thing, so we put the answer up top. 31 articles, sorted by topic, each one opening with a straight answer, real numbers, and the sources behind them. Stick around for the why only if you want it.

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The 3 questions we hear most across the table.

Websites

How much does a small business website cost in 2026?

Next to nothing up front on a DIY builder, about $300–$6,000 hired out, and under $10,000 at most agencies. Plus the ongoing costs, and when to skip it.

8 min read →Local search & Google

How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT (2026)

Nobody can guarantee it. What raises your odds: a complete Google profile, recent reviews, matching listings, Bing indexing, and pages that answer first.

8 min read →Strategy & budget

How much should a small business spend on marketing?

The SBA guideline is 7–8% of gross revenue under $5M. What that means in dollars at $300K, $500K, and $1M, and where your first marketing dollars should go.

6 min read →

Local search & Google

Getting found on Google, in Maps, and in AI answers when someone nearby needs what you sell.

How we help: Local SEO

Local search & Google

Why isn’t my business showing up on Google? 5 free fixes

Usually one of five fixable things: an empty Business Profile, too few recent reviews, mismatched name-address-phone, a slow site, or no local words on it.

8 min read →Local search & Google

Google Business Profile optimization checklist (2026)

A Google Business Profile optimization checklist for local owners: category, name, hours, description, services, photos, and posts. Free, and about an hour.

8 min read →Local search & Google

How to get more Google reviews, within Google’s rules

Text every customer your direct review link the day the job wraps. Ask everyone, offer nothing, never screen. The routine, a copy-ready text, and the rules.

8 min read →Local search & Google

Local SEO in Indianapolis: what Indy businesses should do

Local SEO in Indianapolis comes down to relevance, distance, and prominence. What to fix first, how Carmel, Fishers, and Greenwood differ, and what it costs.

7 min read →Local search & Google

How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT (2026)

Nobody can guarantee it. What raises your odds: a complete Google profile, recent reviews, matching listings, Bing indexing, and pages that answer first.

8 min read →

Websites

What a site should cost, when to rebuild it, and why a pretty one still might not make the phone ring.

How we help: Web design & development

Websites

How much does a small business website cost in 2026?

Next to nothing up front on a DIY builder, about $300–$6,000 hired out, and under $10,000 at most agencies. Plus the ongoing costs, and when to skip it.

8 min read →Websites

Why isn’t my website getting leads? 5 fixable causes

Either too few people arrive or the ones who do don’t act. Five fixable causes, each with a quick self-check, starting with how to tell which problem you have.

7 min read →Websites

Website redesign vs. refresh: which does your site need?

Refresh if the site still says what you do and works on a phone. Redesign only when the foundation blocks you. A decision table, costs, and what to fix first.

7 min read →

Ads & analytics

Paid search, social ads, and knowing which dollars actually came back to you.

How we help: Google Ads

Ads & analytics

How much do Google Ads cost a small business? (2026)

Most local businesses pay $2 to $10 a click and $27 to $132 a lead. What $1,000 a month buys, how to set a budget from job value, and who should wait.

8 min read →Ads & analytics

Google Ads vs Facebook Ads for a local business (2026)

Google catches people already searching; Facebook interrupts people scrolling. 2026 cost-per-lead benchmarks, which fits your business, and when to skip both.

6 min read →Ads & analytics

GA4 setup for small business: what to turn on and read

Set up GA4 in an afternoon: mark key events, read Traffic acquisition and Landing page, and avoid the setup mistakes that skew small-business numbers.

7 min read →Ads & analytics

How to measure marketing ROI for a small business

One formula, two numbers to track, and an honest look at attribution. How to count calls and booked jobs, and when tracking isn't worth the trouble.

8 min read →

Content, email & social

How often to post, what to send, and whether writing articles still earns its keep.

How we help: Content marketing

Content, email & social

Email marketing for small business: how often to send

Send at least once a month, twice if you have news worth sharing. What to write, how to build a list, and the Gmail and Yahoo rules to follow. Real data.

8 min read →Content, email & social

How often should a small business post on social media?

Plan 3 to 5 posts a week on Instagram and 2 to 5 on LinkedIn. Per-platform numbers from Buffer and Sprout, and why steady beats busy for a small shop.

7 min read →Content, email & social

Is blogging still worth it for small business in 2026?

Sometimes. AI Overviews cut clicks, but business websites are still the biggest source AI tools cite. When a small-business blog pays off and when to skip it.

7 min read →

CRM, AI & automation

The systems behind the marketing: where leads live, who follows up, and what a machine can safely handle.

How we help: AI & automation

CRM, AI & automation

Best CRM for small business: picks by business type

Pick a CRM by the job it does, not the feature list. Honest picks for service, sales, and solo owners with verified October 2026 prices and who should skip one.

8 min read →CRM, AI & automation

GoHighLevel vs HubSpot: real costs and who each fits

GoHighLevel is $97 a month flat; HubSpot Professional starts at $890. The head-to-head, costs at 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 contacts, and who should pick each.

7 min read →CRM, AI & automation

Is GoHighLevel worth it? What it really costs to run

Yes for service businesses replacing five or more tools, no for most solos. Plans run $97–$497 a month plus usage fees. The full math, and who should skip it.

7 min read →CRM, AI & automation

How to automate lead follow-up (and keep a human in it)

Automate the first reply and reminders, keep a person on the conversation. A six-touch, 7-day sequence, sourced speed-to-lead stats, and texting rules.

8 min read →CRM, AI & automation

How to use AI agents in a small business (one task first)

Start with one task you do the same way every day, and keep a person approving what goes out. Five jobs AI agents handle well, and what each takes to set up.

8 min read →CRM, AI & automation

Is an AI chatbot worth it for a small business website?

Sometimes. It pays off when visitors repeat the same questions and a person can take over fast. Costs, real failures, handoff rules, and who should skip it.

8 min read →

Strategy & budget

What to spend, what to do first, and how to build a plan when you’re the whole marketing department.

How we help: Strategy & planning

Strategy & budget

How much should a small business spend on marketing?

The SBA guideline is 7–8% of gross revenue under $5M. What that means in dollars at $300K, $500K, and $1M, and where your first marketing dollars should go.

6 min read →Strategy & budget

How to write a one-page marketing plan (free template)

Write it on one page with six boxes: a goal with a number and date, your best customer, your offer, two channels, a weekly rhythm, and a check. Template inside.

7 min read →Strategy & budget

Do your own marketing or hire someone? A simple test

Do it yourself with 5 steady hours a week and a clear customer. Hire when hours run out or the work needs a skill you lack. A test by time, skill, and stakes.

7 min read →Strategy & budget

How to market a startup with no budget (2026 guide)

Talk to 10 people with the problem, write one sentence on who it’s for, then win your first customers by hand. What to skip, what’s free, and when to get help.

7 min read →

Hiring marketing help

Fractional CMOs, consultants, and agencies: what each one costs, and how to tell when you’re ready.

How we help: Coaching & growth

Hiring marketing help

What does a fractional CMO cost? Real 2026 numbers

Market rates run $3,000–$15,000 a month for 10–20 hours a week. Ours are $1,200–$4,800, published. Where the money goes, and when it's not worth it.

5 min read →Hiring marketing help

When to hire a fractional CMO (and when to wait)

Hire a fractional CMO when customers buy, revenue is real, and nobody owns marketing. Wait if people aren't buying yet. Signs by stage, and when to skip.

7 min read →Hiring marketing help

Fractional CMO vs. marketing agency: which one?

A fractional CMO buys senior judgment. An agency buys production capacity. Sourced costs for both, when an agency is the better call, and which to hire first.

8 min read →Hiring marketing help

How much does a marketing consultant cost in 2026?

Marketing consultants charge about $75 to $300 an hour, $5,000 to $50,000 a project, or $1,500 to $15,000 a month. Here's what drives it, and our prices.

7 min read →

Nonprofits

Donors, volunteers, and the free money most small nonprofits leave on the table.

How we help: For nonprofits

Nonprofits

Nonprofit marketing on a small budget: 5 moves that work

Start with what’s free: Google’s Ad Grant, free Workspace and Canva, a monthly donor email, fast thank-yous, volunteers, and one local partner. Costs and time.

9 min read →Nonprofits

Google Ad Grants: the $10,000 your nonprofit isn’t spending

Google gives verified nonprofits up to $10,000 a month in free search ads. Most self-managed accounts use a few hundred dollars of it. How to qualify and keep it.

7 min read →

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