Quick outline
- Why I even tried this
- What worked best, with real posts
- What flopped, and why
- A few ready-to-use titles
- Simple ways I tracked wins
- Final call: should you try it?
Hey, I’m Kayla. I build sites for small, local shops. Think bakeries, salons, plumbers, gyms. I also write their blog posts. This piece is the quick-hit version; the full deep dive lives over here. I tested a stack of blog ideas over the past year. Some crushed. Some just sat there. Here’s my straight-up review, with real posts I shipped and what happened.
By the way, I write fast. I shoot photos on my phone. I use WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix. I track stuff in Google Analytics and Search Console. Nothing fancy. It’s scrappy, but it works. Last quarter, I tested three small business web design packages to see which tools saved me the most time, so fast execution matters to me.
Makeovers That Show, Not Tell
I thought words would sell the work. Nope. Pictures did.
-
Example: “Before-and-After: Sunny Lane Bakery’s Homepage Glow-Up”
We rebuilt a very yellow homepage. We added white space, real cake photos, and a clear “Order Now” button. Posted the before-and-after shots.
Result: 32% more online orders over 6 weeks. Two cake catering leads. The owner cried happy tears. I cried too, a little. -
Example: “Blue Oak Plumbing: From Phone Maze to One-Click Booking”
Old site had three menus. New site had one simple top bar and a big “Book Service” button.
Result: Calls went up on Mondays by a lot. The techs said they got fewer “Are you open?” calls. That’s a win.
Verdict: A+ for local folks. People want proof, not fluff. Photos beat paragraphs.
I saw the same “show, don’t tell” payoff when I hired a Norfolk web design crew and later when I worked with a team out in Albany—both projects proved that screenshots speak louder than taglines.
How-To Posts That Guide, Not Push
Plain tips worked fast. No fluff, just steps.
-
Example: “How We Pick Colors for Pet Groomers” for Mesa Pet Grooming
I wrote a short guide: match brand colors to the actual shop gear (leashes, aprons), test on phones outside in daylight, and avoid neon on neon.
Result: 1,800 views in 3 months, plus 12 grooming quote requests. One lady said, “Your site looks calm. Can you make mine feel calm too?” Done. -
Example: “Menu Fonts That Don’t Smudge Your Eyes” for Bean Shed Coffee
Two fonts. Big prices. Good contrast. I added a printable PDF.
Result: Folks printed it. The owner showed me a stack. That felt wild.
Verdict: A for helpful, human, step-by-step posts. Keep it short. Show pics.
When I compared two Marietta designers head-to-head, the winning shop leaned heavily on snack-size how-to articles just like these; you can peek at the full breakdown right here.
Price and Timeline Posts That Save Time
Scary to write. Useful to read.
-
Example: “What a Small Salon Website Costs in Asheville (2025)” for Rivercurl Salon
I listed three clear tiers. I showed what’s in, what’s out, and how long it takes.
Result: Fewer tire-kickers. Better emails. People came ready. Also, fewer DMs at 11 p.m. Bless. -
Example: “How Long a Dentist Site Redesign Takes, Week by Week” for Oak & Ivy Dental
I showed a 6-week plan, with who does what.
Result: No more “Are we there yet?” emails. Well, almost none. Close enough.
Verdict: A- for filtering and trust. Hard part? You must stick to your own plan.
(For an even wider-angle view on what goes into an effective small-business site and how design impacts sales, Forbes has a solid overview of the essentials in their small business website design guide.)
My price-transparency stance came straight from a recent Naperville build; if you want to see how laying out costs upfront changed our close rate, the receipts are in my Naperville web design review.
Local SEO Walk-Throughs With Screenshots
I kept it basic. Screen grabs, arrows, and my notes.
-
Example: “Fixing Our Google Business Profile in 20 Minutes” for Mesa Pet Grooming
We cleaned categories, added hours, and posted new photos with alt text.
Result: They showed up in the map pack for “cat grooming Mesa” a week later. We saw it. We cheered. The cat was not impressed. -
Example: “Five Photos Your HVAC Listing Needs Right Now” for Northstar Heating
I shot a clean truck photo, a face shot, and the thermostat close-up.
Result: More calls from folks within 5 miles. Less spam. That’s rare.
Side note: the profile-tuning mindset works everywhere. If you’ve ever seen how swapping one photo or headline can transform first impressions, spend three minutes with this breakdown on how to optimize a dating profile—you’ll see exactly which images, words, and calls to action trigger more right-swipes, and the same psychology maps perfectly to boosting clicks and calls from a Google Business Profile or any service page.
For a more adult-oriented example of those same trust-building UX rules, look at how a local companionship agency applies them in Menomonee Falls—the listing at Menomonee Falls escorts demonstrates concise copy, tasteful imagery, and a friction-free contact route that any service business can borrow to calm nerves and drive conversions.
Verdict: B+ for quick wins. Photos matter more than people think.
A quick 20-minute GBP cleanup turned into a lead faucet for a New Braunfels contractor too—full play-by-play is in my New Braunfels web design case study.
Tool Face-Offs That Stay Honest
People love gear talk. Keep it calm.
-
Example: “WordPress vs. Squarespace for a Yoga Studio” for Glow Yoga
I showed how WordPress handled class packs better, but Squarespace was easier for staff. I shared two real screens.
Result: Three studios booked consults. One picked WordPress. Two stuck with Squarespace. I still did the work. That’s the point. -
Example: “Wix Booking vs. Calendly for Tutors” for Bright Owl Tutoring
We tested both for a week. I wrote what broke and what didn’t.
Result: They chose Wix Booking. It saved time. I slept great.
Verdict: B+ for clarity. Don’t bash. Don’t hype. Just show.
I tripled down on that “just show the data” rule when I hired three Central Coast web designers and published every win and fail—tool debates included.
Seasonal Posts That Actually Sell
Tiny moments can move money.
-
Example: “Holiday Pre-Order Page, Built in a Day” for Sunny Lane Bakery
I shared the layout and how we tested it on an iPhone in the parking lot.
Result: Sold out of pies by December 18. Sticky notes all over my desk. Worth it. -
Example: “Back-to-School Site Cleanup Checklist” for Bright Owl Tutoring
We fixed broken links and old dates. We added one new hero photo.
Result: Bookings rose 19% that month. It felt like magic, but it was just clarity.
Verdict: A. Time them right. Keep it simple.
If seasonal promos are your jam, the pie-ordering frenzy felt a lot like the Mother's Day boom we triggered for a Cape Coral retailer.
FAQ Roundups From Real Emails
I pulled questions from client inboxes. Then I answered them like I talk.
- Example: “Do White Backgrounds Look ‘Bare’?” for Rivercurl Salon
Short answer: No. White space helps your photos breathe. I showed before-and-after.
Result: Less