Insights
Notes from a studio that builds.
Practical writing on websites, paid media, automation and AI, from the work we actually do.
The library
Notes, guides and honest opinions.
No filler and no recycled advice. Just what we learn building real systems for real businesses.
The best paid media channels for SMEs
Google, Meta, LinkedIn or Bing? The best paid media channel for a small business is the one where your buyers already are. Here is how each performs, and how to choose.
5 min read
Website features that actually generate leads
The website features that actually produce enquiries are the unglamorous ones. Here is what to build to generate leads, and the popular features that do nothing.
6 min read
How long does it take to build a website?
Realistic timelines for a small business website in 2026, stage by stage, what slows projects down, and how to launch weeks sooner without cutting corners.
4 min read
How much does a website cost in the UK in 2026?
Real 2026 UK prices for a business website, from DIY builders to bespoke builds, what actually moves the number, and the questions to ask before you pay anyone.
5 min read
How we scope a project so there are no surprises
Fixed price, no surprise invoices. Here is how we scope a web or software project before any work starts, so you know exactly what you are getting and what it costs.
5 min read
SEO vs paid ads: which drives better leads?
SEO or paid ads for better leads? They do different jobs on different timelines. Here is how we decide which to use, when, and why the honest answer is usually both.
5 min read
Automation that pays for itself
How to work out whether automating a task is worth it, the jobs where automation reliably pays, and the ones where honestly it never will.
5 min read
The website review, and what we look for
What actually happens in our free website review: the five checks we run, what the report looks like, and why sometimes the honest verdict is "keep your site".
5 min read
How we built a 100/100 PageSpeed website, and what we removed to get there
Our site scores 100/100 for performance on Google's PageSpeed test, on a simulated phone, repeatedly. What we built, what we deleted, and what a perfect score does and does not mean.
6 min read
Why is my website not converting?
Traffic but no enquiries? Here are the six reasons websites fail to convert, in the order we actually find them, and how to diagnose yours before spending a penny.
5 min read
Keeping a serverless site secure: what we actually check
Serverless sites have less to attack, but less is not nothing. Here is the actual checklist we run on every site we manage, and what still needs a human.
5 min read
WordPress or serverless
We moved from WordPress to serverless. Here is the honest comparison: where serverless wins, the trade-offs it brings, and when WordPress is still the right call.
6 min read
Measuring to the enquiry, not the click
Most ad reporting stops at the click. Here is why that hides the truth, and how to measure paid media all the way to the enquiry and the sale.
4 min read
The spreadsheet that became a system
A shared spreadsheet is fine until it isn't. Here is how to spot the moment it starts costing you, and what to build instead.
2 min read
AI tools that earn their keep
AI is easy to demo and hard to make useful. Here is how to tell the difference, and where it genuinely earns its place in a business.
6 min read
Owning your platform
Renting your core software by the seat is convenient until it isn't. Here is when it makes sense to own the platform your business runs on.
2 min read
Speed is a feature
A slow website quietly costs you enquiries and rankings. Here is what site speed actually measures, and why it is a feature, not a nice-to-have.
4 min read
What a discovery call actually covers
Booking a call with a studio can feel like committing to a sales pitch. Here is exactly what a Smarter Sites discovery call is, and what it is not.
2 min read
Portals that customers actually use
A client portal only helps if customers actually log in and use it. Here is what makes the difference between a portal that earns its place and one that gathers dust.
2 min read
Stop reporting in a spreadsheet
Building the monthly report by hand is slow, and it is out of date the moment you finish. Here is why live dashboards beat the spreadsheet.
2 min read
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