Articles & guides

Writing on growth, AI and technology decisions

Plain-English guides for owner-run businesses, written for the person who has to live with the decision rather than the vendor selling it.

Everything published so far

  • An editorial illustration of a broken link in an otherwise unbroken chain, value fading downward

    09/10/2026

    The SEO Problem That Costs You Silently

    A page can rank, look fine, and still bleed search value every day over one broken link nobody's checked in years. Why URL integrity should jump the queue.

  • A parking-meter-style timer display showing 0:15 rounding up to 1:00

    09/10/2026

    Every Job Bills Rounded Up to a Whole Minute

    A CI billing quirk most people never read the fine print on -- and the broader lesson it teaches about reading the meter before you scale any tool up.

  • High school student operating a broadcast video camera on a sports sideline

    08/31/2026

    Why Sponsor a High School Media Program?

    School broadcast and livestream programs are looking for sponsors, and they are an unusually good deal for a local business — visible to exactly the households you want, cheap by advertising standards, and genuinely useful to the students. What to ask before you commit.

  • Q-Day Might Arrive Faster Than We Think

    05/31/2026

    Q-Day: Quantum Computing May Arrive Sooner

    “Q-Day” isn’t just another scary apocalyptic term. Always looking ahead, quantum computer advancements will accelerate all tech innovations.

  • AI Search Is Already Answering Your Customers’ Questions — Is It Answering With You?

    03/16/2026

    AI Search Is Answering Your Customers Already

    Short answer: Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is the practice of structuring your website’s content so AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews can find, trust, and cite it when answering a customer’s…

  • AI Crushes Tech Stack of Pancakes

    01/21/2026

    How AI Is Erasing Small Business Software Costs

    Because of the exponential trajectory of AI, we are witnessing the fast demise of software and systems as we know them. The traditional “tech stack” is becoming invisible.

  • Teachers in the Rain at Student Dismissal Parent Pickup

    09/13/2025

    Business Idea: Automating School Pickup Lines

    Automating the school pickup process addresses key challenges like congestion, inefficient manual systems, and resource limitations.

  • Brandager AI Image

    08/29/2025

    10 Free Ways Small Businesses Can Use AI Now

    If you’re a small business just starting up and you’re looking for not just a competitive advantage, but any advantage at all, you need to look into how you can use AI to help you run, execute and analyze any aspects…

  • Is Jira Suitable for Small Businesses?

    08/29/2025

    Is Jira Good for Small Businesses?

    How is Jira different than typical Project Management Systems (PMSs)? Would Jira be considered a PMS?

  • Small business team collaborating around a digital Kanban project management board

    08/25/2025

    Top 4 Project Management Tools for Small Teams

    For small business owners, the top Project Management Systems (PMS) include Basecamp, Asana, Trello, and Zoho Projects. How to evaluate strengths, weaknesses, and pricing.

  • The 5 Phases of a Small Business Lifecycle Schematic

    08/24/2025

    The 5 Phases of the Small Business Lifecycle

    You have to know where you are now to understand where you are heading. Every small business evolves through 5 distinct phases with unique challenges and defining moments.

  • Brandager - Veteran Owned Business Challenges

    08/16/2025

    Challenges Veterans Face Starting a Business

    U.S. veterans bring strong leadership, discipline, and resilience to entrepreneurship, but face unique challenges. Finding and accessing specialized programs and resources will support their journey but resilience and…

  • Brandager - AI Seems to Be Everywhere Right Now

    08/06/2025

    How to Test If a Business Idea Is Viable

    Assessing the financial viability of your idea in a fast-moving market like tech or non-profit requires a structured and practical approach. Here are the essential steps and considerations for both types of ventures:

  • Top Ten Most Important Questions You Need To Answer for Your Business Plan

    08/03/2025

    Ten Questions Your Business Plan Must Answer

    Starting a new business is an exciting but complex journey, and crafting a realistic business plan is pivotal. Here are the top 10 most important questions new founders should answer, each illustrated with a real-life…

  • AI is Transforming Your Tech Department, that’s Good News for Businesses AND Software Engineers

    07/20/2025

    How AI Is Changing Small Business Tech Teams

    Thanks to AI, ALL Software Developers and Engineers are now Technical and System Architects. Sure, it means having to write less code but it also means being able to accomplish more things faster — more optimizing,…

  • Small Business Owners Can Use NotebookLM for Free to Explore How AI Will Help Them Thrive

    04/20/2025

    Using NotebookLM Free as a Small Business Owner

    In today’s fast-paced business world, gaining a competitive edge often comes down to how efficiently and effectively you use information.

  • Brandager - AI Seems to Be Everywhere Right Now

    03/20/2025

    Free AI Tools That Give Small Businesses an Edge

    As a business owner you’re very busy, so you may not have a lot of time to research tools and Technologies outside of what you are used to.

  • Ten reasons to use a business growth consultant

    01/13/2025

    Ten Reasons to Use a Business Growth Consultant

    Ten honest reasons to bring in an outside advisor — and what each one is actually worth. No borrowed statistics: every reason here stands on whether it describes your business, not on a number somebody selling consulting quoted.