Blog

Plain-English advice.

Plain-English advice on websites and Google for local businesses. Written by me, from Barmouth, with no jargon.

Watercolour of Barmouth quay, with boats in the harbour below the hills
Latest · Running a site · 3 min read

Who owns my website domain?

Read the post
Watercolour of two armchairs at a bay window looking out over the Mawddach estuary to Barmouth Bridge
Websites · 3 min read

Do holiday lets need their own website?

Whether a holiday cottage, lodge or B&B needs its own website alongside Airbnb and Booking.com, what commission really costs, and what a direct booking site needs.

Watercolour of a green shield with a tick beside a padlock marked SSL
Running a site · 3 min read

Why does my website say ”not secure”?

What the "not secure" warning next to your website address means, the four usual causes, how to fix each, and why it quietly costs you enquiries.

Hands typing on a laptop showing lines of website code
Running a site · 3 min read

How to optimise images for your website

How to resize, compress and name images for the web so your site loads quickly on phones, with free tools and the right sizes for common spots on a page.

Watercolour of the Wix logo in white inside a circle of blue and purple wash
Websites · 3 min read

Wix or WordPress?

Wix or WordPress for a small business website: cost, ease, speed, Google and who really owns your site, compared honestly so you can pick the right one.

Watercolour of the WordPress logo and wordmark over a soft wash of blue, green and peach
Websites · 3 min read

Is WordPress still worth it in 2026?

An honest look at WordPress for small business websites in 2026: what it's still good at, where it causes problems, and what the alternatives are.

Watercolour of hands holding a tablet showing a website loading speed gauge, beside a laptop and a cup of coffee
Running a site · 3 min read

How to speed up your website

Why small business websites load slowly, how to test yours properly, and the fixes that make the biggest difference, including for WordPress and Wix sites.

Watercolour of the Google logo on soft washes of colour
Getting found · 3 min read

How to get your website on page 1 of Google

What actually gets a small business website onto the first page of Google, which searches are realistic to win, and how long it takes. No tricks, no guarantees.

Watercolour of a laptop, a plant and a stack of books on a wooden table by a window
Getting found · 4 min read

4 reasons your website isn’t generating leads

The four most common reasons a small business website gets visitors but no enquiries, how to check each one yourself in a minute, and what fixing them is worth.

Watercolour of two people at a desk working through figures with a calculator, notebook and laptop
Websites · 7 min read

How much does a website cost in the UK?

What a small business website costs in the UK in 2026, from DIY builders to freelancers and agencies, plus the monthly and yearly costs people forget.

Watercolour of the Google G on textured paper
Getting found · 4 min read

Why is my website not showing up on Google?

The common reasons a website doesn't show up on Google, how to check which one applies to yours in five minutes, and what to do about each.

Watercolour of a hand holding a phone, with a Google Maps pin over a street map
Getting found · 4 min read

How to get your business on Google Maps

A step-by-step guide to adding your business to Google Maps with a free Google Business Profile, verifying it, and making it show up when people nearby search.

Watercolour of a street sign reading Business among tall office buildings
Websites · 3 min read

Do I need a website for my business?

An honest answer for small businesses: when a website is worth it, when a Facebook page or Google listing is enough, and what the simplest useful website needs.