Guides: SEO, websites, AI search and cold emailing

SEO

SEO guides for small businesses

SEO for small businesses, explained by someone who does it: keyword research, Google Search Console, local SEO and the fixes that bring calls, step by step.

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Complete guide15 min read Small business SEO: the complete guide to doing it yourself Small business SEO explained: what it brings, how long it takes, and how to do it yourself, from service pages and content to Google Business Profile.

A search bar above a list of results with the first one highlighted, and the letters SEO with an upward arrow

Opinion7 min read Is SEO dead? No. Is SEO dead? No. Google still brings most of the calls, and AI assistants read the same web. Here is the beginner's checklist to get your site onto page one.

A rising line chart behind fluted glass, next to a cup of coffee and a laptop, with the letters LCP, INP and CLS

Guide11 min read Core Web Vitals explained: how to speed up a small business website Core Web Vitals explained simply: what LCP, INP and CLS measure, how to test your pages in PageSpeed Insights and Search Console, and the fixes that matter.

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Guide12 min read How to write SEO blog posts that bring in enquiries How to write SEO blog posts that rank and bring in enquiries: topics from customer problems, the answer first, facts only you have, links to your services.

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Websites

Websites and web design

How to get a business website that looks premium and brings in clients: process, platforms (Squarespace, WordPress, Wix, Webflow), costs and maintenance.

A browser window with www in its address bar

Complete guide16 min read Small business websites: the complete guide for 2026 Small business website guide: which type of site you need, the platform that suits whoever will edit it, what it costs, a launch checklist and upkeep.

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Guide11 min read Website not getting enquiries? Where visitors drop off and how to fix it Website not getting enquiries? Find where visitors drop off with free tools, then fix the usual leaks: a vague offer, a hidden phone number, a long form.

Terminal window labelled Squarespace </> with lines of code

Tutorial12 min read Squarespace code injection: how to add custom code without breaking your site Squarespace code injection, step by step: where to find it, what goes in the header, footer or one page, which plans include it and how to undo a mistake.

A browser window with a page wireframe and a blue button over ribbed glass, titled Squarespace

Tutorial12 min read Squarespace tutorial: build a business website step by step Squarespace tutorial for beginners: build a business website in 10 steps, from template, pages and mobile layout to forms, SEO, domain and going live.

See all 12 articles

AI search

AI search: AIO and GEO for businesses

How ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews choose the businesses they recommend, and what to change on your site so they cite you.

The letters AIO / GEO under an orbit of dots circling a star, on ribbed glass

Complete guide15 min read Generative engine optimisation (GEO): the complete guide for small businesses Generative engine optimisation (GEO) for small businesses: how ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity choose sources, what to fix first and what to ignore.

Hand holding a phone above a laptop, an orbit around a star and the words ChatGPT and Perplexity

Tutorial12 min read AI visibility: check if ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity mention your business Check your AI visibility for free: ten prompts, a spreadsheet and a monthly test in ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, then the paid trackers and what to fix.

Rising traffic chart with the words GA4 and Clarity over a blurred office

Tutorial11 min read How to track AI traffic in GA4, Search Console and Microsoft Clarity How to track AI traffic in GA4 step by step: the AI Assistant channel, a channel group for older data, Search Console's AI report and Clarity's AI channel.

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Tutorial12 min read Robots.txt for AI crawlers: which bots to allow and which to block Robots.txt for AI crawlers: the bots to allow so ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity can cite you, how to refuse AI training, and three files to copy.

See all 10 articles

Cold emailing

Cold emailing for B2B

Cold emailing that gets replies and phone calls: legal basics in the UK and France, domains and mailboxes, Instantly set-up, lists, copy and follow-ups.

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Complete guide15 min read B2B cold emailing: the complete guide for small businesses B2B cold emailing from start to finish: what UK and French law allows, sending domains, a verified list, three plain-text emails and the calls that follow.

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Tutorial11 min read Google Maps scraper for B2B leads: how I build a list with Outscraper Google Maps scraper tutorial: build a B2B lead list with Outscraper in six steps, from the emails and filters to what a lead costs and the final checks.

A hand writing on a printed list, beside a shield with a tick and the words Reoon 100k

Tutorial10 min read Email list verification before a cold email campaign: how I use Reoon Email list verification before a cold email campaign, step by step in Reoon: upload, read each status, keep the safe addresses, drop those that would bounce.

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Comparison11 min read Cold calling vs cold emailing: why my prospects prefer to call Cold calling vs cold emailing for B2B: strengths, limits, UK and French rules, and why the prospects in my email campaigns call instead of replying.

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Domains & hosting

Domains, hosting and business email

Domain names, DNS, hosting and professional email explained, with step-by-step tutorials for Spaceship, Namecheap, OVH, Hostinger, Infomaniak and Squarespace.

A domain name linked by DNS records to a web host and an email provider

Complete guide15 min read Domain vs hosting vs email: what each one does and how they connect Domain vs hosting vs email: what each one does, why they can sit with three companies, how DNS links them, and which accounts your business must own.

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Comparison10 min read Best domain registrar in the UK: six I have used, compared on renewal price The best domain registrar in the UK, judged on the price you pay from year two: six registrars I have used, compared on .co.uk and .com renewals.

The words Hostinger vs OVH beside two compared panels with a vs badge, behind ribbed glass

Comparison10 min read Hostinger vs OVH vs Infomaniak: which web host suits a small business? Hostinger vs OVH vs Infomaniak for a UK small business: first-year and renewal prices, ease of use, support, data location and email, compared honestly.

A shield standing for SPF, DKIM and DMARC, the records that prove a business's emails are genuine

Tutorial12 min read Emails going to spam? How to set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC, step by step Emails going to spam? Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC step by step: check Gmail's Show original, add records at Spaceship, Namecheap or OVH, then tighten DMARC.

See all 15 articles

AI & automation

AI and automation for small businesses

Practical AI for small businesses: Claude and ChatGPT for real work, AI APIs explained, and automations that stop leads from falling through the cracks.

The words Claude, ChatGPT and n8n beside a star in orbit, behind ribbed glass

Complete guide14 min read AI for small business: the uses and automations that really save time AI for small business, from someone who uses it every day: the tasks worth handing to Claude or ChatGPT, the automations that save hours and what they cost.

A shield with a tick above the words GDPR and RGPD, behind ribbed glass

Guide11 min read ChatGPT and GDPR: what client data can you put into an AI assistant? ChatGPT GDPR guide for small businesses: which client data you can paste into an AI assistant, which plan and settings to use, and how to anonymise it first.

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Guide11 min read How to make AI writing sound human: my method for website copy How to make AI writing sound human on your website: real facts, 3 to 5 examples of your voice, a clear brief, a hard edit. My method, with a prompt to copy.

The words Zapier vs Make vs n8n beside two compared panels and a vs badge, behind ribbed glass

Comparison12 min read Zapier vs Make vs n8n: which automation tool suits a small business? Zapier vs Make vs n8n for a small business: October 2026 prices, what tasks, credits and executions really cost, AI steps, GDPR and which one to pick.

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Tools

Tools and comparisons

Honest reviews and comparisons of the tools a small business really uses: Canva, Metricool, YouCanBookMe, Calendly, Semrush, Microsoft Clarity, Reoon.

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Complete guide14 min read Small business marketing tools: the ones I actually use, and what they cost Small business marketing tools I use, job by job: design, social posts, bookings, SEO, analytics, prospecting and AI, with free plans and October 2026 prices.

A monthly calendar of scheduled social media posts, titled Metricool vs Postly

Comparison10 min read Social media scheduling tools for a small business: Metricool, Postly or Buffer Social media scheduling tools compared for a small business: Metricool, Postly and Buffer prices (October 2026), free plans and the networks' own schedulers.

A man working on a spreadsheet at a desktop computer, beside a file flow diagram titled SwissTransfer

Comparison9 min read WeTransfer alternative: why I recommend SwissTransfer for large files The WeTransfer alternative I recommend: SwissTransfer sends up to 50 GB free, with no account, and keeps files in Switzerland. Limits and privacy compared.

Microsoft Clarity heatmap of a web page in a browser window

Tutorial11 min read How to use Microsoft Clarity: install it and see why visitors leave How to use Microsoft Clarity step by step: install the free tag, connect it to your cookie banner, then read heatmaps and recordings to see why people leave.

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Marketing

Marketing and client acquisition

Choosing the channels that bring clients: PPC vs cold emailing, SEO vs Google Ads, LinkedIn and Meta ads, PR, and how to avoid the shiny-object trap.

A business owner working on a laptop beside a meeting seen through ribbed glass, with a megaphone outline and the word Leads

Complete guide15 min read How to get more clients: choosing marketing channels for a small business How to get more clients as a small business: referrals, cold emailing, SEO, ads, press and social media compared on cost, speed and the quality of leads.

A bright star at the centre of orbit rings with small dots circling it, over ribbed glass, titled Focus

Opinion9 min read Shiny object syndrome: master one marketing channel before the next Shiny object syndrome keeps small businesses chasing every new tool and platform. Why focus wins, and a simple method to master one channel before the next.

Megaphone outline over fluted glass, with the words Magazine > 10k

Guide11 min read How to get press coverage without followers: PR for small businesses How to get press coverage without followers: find the right journalist, write a short pitch, start with your local paper and know when Prowly is worth it.

A hand noting figures on a printed table, beside two compared panels and the words Google vs Meta Ads

Comparison11 min read Google Ads vs Facebook Ads (and LinkedIn, TikTok): which platform for your goal? Google Ads vs Facebook Ads, plus LinkedIn and TikTok: which platform fits which goal, the minimum budget on each, and how to test one without wasting money.

See all 9 articles

Social media

Social media updates for small businesses

The social media changes that matter for small businesses, dated and explained: Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads and Bluesky.

A laptop and a notebook beside a grid of post tiles with a heart and a play icon, titled Social media 2026

Complete guide16 min read Best social media for small business in 2026: where your time pays off The best social media for small business in 2026 is the one where a post keeps working. My verdict, platform by platform, with every recent change dated.

A woman reviewing a document on her laptop beside a feed grid with a heart and a play icon, titled LinkedIn 2026

News9 min read LinkedIn algorithm 2026: what changed, and the AI data setting to check LinkedIn algorithm 2026: the March feed rebuild, the crackdown on engagement bait, what a B2B small business should post, and the AI data setting to check.

A grid of video tiles with a heart and a play button beside the words TikTok 2026

News9 min read TikTok for small business in 2026: what changed and when it is worth your time TikTok for small business in 2026: what changed (TikTok Shop, a €530m fine, the UK's planned under-16 ban, the US deal) and who should still use it.

A woman working on a laptop beside a feed grid with a heart and a play icon, titled Instagram 2026

News9 min read Instagram algorithm 2026: what changed for small businesses, update by update Instagram algorithm 2026: every change that matters to a small business, from Your Algorithm and the five-hashtag cap to the stricter originality rule.

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Rescue & security

Website rescue and security

What to do when your website is hacked, down or locked by a former provider: first steps, getting your access back, backups and the security basics.

Blue shield with a tick behind fluted glass, with the words HTTPS and 2FA

Complete guide16 min read Website security for small businesses: prevent a hack and recover fast Website security for small business: what to do first after a hack, outage or lockout, then the 2FA, updates, backups and domain checks that prevent it.

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Tutorial12 min read WordPress to Squarespace: how to move without losing your Google rankings Move from WordPress to Squarespace without losing your Google rankings: import your content, redirect every old URL with a 301, then connect your domain.

Laptop and binders on a desk beside a shield with a tick and the words Admin, FTP, DNS

Guide12 min read How to regain access to your website when a former provider holds the keys Regain access to your website when a former web designer holds the keys: the accounts to reclaim, a request email template, and what to do if they refuse.

Laptop and binders on a desk beside a panel of DNS records and the word WHOIS

Guide11 min read How to get your domain name back from a former web designer How to get your domain back from a former web designer: find out who the registrant is, ask in writing, and what to do for a .com or .co.uk if they refuse.

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Case studies

Real projects and what they taught: an HVAC installer ranking first on Google, architects who called instead of replying, and why a too-broad site failed.

A woman points at figures on a laptop while a couple listens behind ribbed glass, with the title Pilotech

Complete guide13 min read SEO case study: how an HVAC installer near Paris reached the top of Google SEO case study: how an air conditioning installer near Paris went from a hacked WordPress site to first or second on Google. What I did, in order, and when.

A person pointing at a balance sheet on a laptop, beside a flow diagram and the words B2C → B2B

Case study10 min read Running two businesses: why Eden Flats made way for Eden Corporate Mobility Running two businesses alone: why the founder of Eden Flats, an Airbnb concierge in the Paris region, focused on a B2B sister company, and how to choose.

A person at a laptop next to a browser wireframe and the words 1 site vs 4 sites

Case study9 min read Multiple websites for one business: what Pilotech and Ginov taught me Multiple websites for one business can win you more searches or split your effort. What I learnt from Pilotech's four sites, Ginov and Google's doorway rules.

A person at a laptop beside stacked envelopes with one new message and the words 15 clients

Case study8 min read Cold email case study: why architects called instead of replying A cold email case study from Paris: three plain-text emails, no links, a phone number, 15 clients in a year, and why architects called instead of replying.

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GDPR

GDPR and privacy

GDPR for small teams in and outside the EU: cookie banners, privacy policy, legal notice, US tools, data breaches, access requests and what is changing.

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Complete guide16 min read GDPR for small-team businesses: the complete guide, inside and outside the EU GDPR for small business, step by step: does it apply outside the EU, data map, cookie banner, contracts, people's rights, breaches, fines and 2026 changes.

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News8 min read The EU’s Digital Omnibus: what could change for GDPR and cookies Digital Omnibus GDPR changes explained: personal data, one-click cookie refusal, AI, 96-hour breach reports, and where the EU proposal stands in October 2026.

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News8 min read UK GDPR after the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025: what changed The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025’s UK GDPR and PECR changes now apply: cookie exemptions, access requests, a complaints duty, higher fines. What to update.

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Guide9 min read GDPR fines: what a small-team business really risks (real cases) GDPR fines for small businesses: what the CNIL and the ICO really impose, real cases (€3,000, €20,000, £92,000), what starts a case and how to cut your risk.

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Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity for small teams

Cybersecurity for small teams without an IT department: passwords and 2FA, payment fraud, backups, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, incidents and NIS2.

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Complete guide15 min read Cybersecurity for small-team businesses: the complete guide Cyber security for small business, in order: accounts and 2FA, payment fraud, backups, devices, leavers, the first hour of an attack, the rules and free help.

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Guide9 min read Free cybersecurity help in the UK and France: Cyber Essentials, NCSC, 17Cyber, MonAideCyber Free cyber security help for small business in the UK and France: NCSC tools, Report Fraud, 17Cyber, MonAideCyber, and why Cyber Essentials is not free.

The title “NIS2: does it apply to your company, and what will your clients ask?” in white on a ribbed-glass panel over a photo, with a map marked with location pins

Guide9 min read NIS2: does it apply to your company, and what will your clients ask? NIS2 and small businesses: the size and sector tests, where France and the UK stand in October 2026, and the security questions your clients will send.

The title ‘A big client sent you a security questionnaire? How a small team answers it’ in white on a ribbed-glass panel over a photo, with a blueprint grid and a target

Guide9 min read A big client sent you a security questionnaire? How a small team answers it Got a vendor security questionnaire from a large client? The questions small teams always face, how to answer no honestly, and a trust pack to reuse.

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Mobile apps

Mobile apps: app-store SEO, ads and security

Launching a mobile app: App Store and Google Play optimisation, Apple Ads and Google App campaigns, privacy labels, security and the EU Cyber Resilience Act.

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Complete guide14 min read Launching a mobile app: get found, advertise and stay secure (the complete guide) How to launch a mobile app as a small business: developer accounts, privacy forms, security checks, store SEO, Apple and Google ads, and your first reviews.

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News9 min read The EU Cyber Resilience Act and your app: what has applied since September 2026, and what comes in 2027 Since 11 September 2026, the Cyber Resilience Act has made app makers report exploited flaws within 24 hours. What applies to your app and what comes in 2027.

Tutorial11 min read App privacy: GDPR consent, Apple’s privacy labels and Google Play’s Data safety section How to fill in App Store privacy labels and Google Play's Data safety form step by step, and get GDPR consent right for the SDKs inside your app.

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Guide9 min read API keys in a mobile app: why you should never ship them, and what to do instead API key security in a mobile app: why OpenAI, Claude or Stripe secret keys must never ship inside your app, and the small server setup to use instead.

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Funnels

Funnels and newsletters

Sales funnels and newsletters for service businesses: from first visit to booked call, lead magnets, tools, consent, deliverability, metrics and tracking.