Plain-English guides for small business owners
Websites, Google Maps, reviews and getting found online. No jargon, no hype.
How much does a small business website cost in 2026?
Real ranges for do-it-yourself builders, freelancers and agencies, what you get at each price, and what Kingpin Sites charges.
ArticleDo I need a website for my small business?
An honest answer for contractors, movers, cleaners and other local businesses, including when you probably do not.
ArticleHow to get your business on Google Maps, step by step
How Google Business Profile works, how verification works, and what to fill in so customers can find and call you.
ArticleWhat a contractor website needs (roofers, plumbers, electricians, HVAC)
The five things a homeowner checks on a contractor website before calling, and what to leave out.
ArticleWebsite for a moving company: what customers check before they call
Movers get compared more than almost any local business. Here is what your site needs to win the comparison.
ArticleHow to get more Google reviews without faking them
A simple routine that gets real reviews from real customers, and why fake ones are not worth the risk.
ArticleWebsite vs Facebook page: which does a small business need?
A Facebook page is free and useful, but it is not a website. Here is what each one does for a local business and why you want both.
ArticleLocal SEO checklist for service businesses (plumbers, movers, cleaners)
A plain checklist for showing up in Google and Google Maps when customers search for your service in your city.
ArticleOwn domain vs Wix or Squarespace: what a small business should pick
Website builders are easy to start and cost monthly forever. Here is how an own-domain site compares for a local business.
ArticleHow to choose a domain name for your small business
Six simple rules for picking a .com that customers can spell, remember and trust.
ArticleNew business website checklist: what to do in your first month
You just registered your business. Here is the order to set up your web presence so customers can find you.
ArticleWhat to put on a services page so it brings phone calls
A good services page names the job, the place, the process and the next step. Here is a simple structure for local businesses.
ArticleHow website hosting works (and why it renews every year)
Hosting is the computer that serves your site to visitors. Here is what you pay for and what to check before you sign.
ArticleHow much does Google Business Profile setup cost?
Creating a Google Business Profile is free. Here is what people pay for, and what is worth paying for.
ArticleWebsite for a cleaning or landscaping business: what to include
Recurring-service businesses win on trust and easy booking. Here is what to put on the site.
ArticleHow to add keywords to your Google Business Profile (and rank for them)
Use the search terms Google already shows for your profile, add them as services, then build a matching page on your website.
ArticleHow to find SEO keywords for a local business (free methods)
Four free ways to find the exact words customers type into Google when they need your service.
ArticleHow to get backlinks for a local business (without buying them)
Backlinks are links from other sites to yours. Here are safe ways a small business can earn them, and what to avoid.
ArticleHow to add keywords to your website for Google search
Where to put the words customers search for: page title, first heading, first paragraph, URL, images and links. A plain guide for small business sites.
ArticleWhat does a $500 website get you? What to check first
A $500 small business website can be a good deal or a trap. What it should include, what is often left out, and the questions to ask before you pay.
ArticleService-area business or storefront on Google Maps?
Storefront if customers come to a signed location. Service-area if you go to them. Hybrid if both. Google's rules, the 20-area limit and what to pick.
ArticleHow to verify a Google Business Profile with a video
One live, unedited phone clip of 30+ seconds showing where you work, proof the business exists and proof you run it. Google reviews it in 5 business days.
ArticleWhich local businesses still have no website?
In OpenStreetMap, 4,656 businesses with a phone in 10 US metros had no website tag. Restaurants led with 1,319. Counts by type and city, what they mean.
ArticleWhat does Google check for the Google Verified badge?
Background, registration, state license and insurance checks, often for select advertisers only. Towing needs more. About 3 to 4 weeks after documents.
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