Blog
Plain notes on automation, software, and small-business tech decisions.
The Relentless Local Customer: Why 2025 Commerce in SLO is Shifting Toward 'Hyper-Specific' Demands
People don't want 'a contractor' anymore. They want 'a contractor who specializes in mid-century modern restoration in Cayucos.' Here's how Central Coast businesses can adapt to increasingly specific customer demands.
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How I Audit a Small Business Website in 30 Minutes (Free Checklist)
The same 6-point website audit I run for every client. Check mobile, speed, SSL, contact info, analytics, and broken links. Takes 30 minutes. No tools required.
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GPT-5 Just Launched – Here's What 'Unified AI' Actually Means
OpenAI's GPT-5 is here with a 'unified model' that picks the right AI for you automatically. The benchmarks are impressive. The reality? A little more complicated.
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Two-Factor Authentication Isn't Optional Anymore – Here's How to Set It Up Everywhere
MFA makes you 99% less likely to get hacked. Yet 65% of small businesses don't use it. Here's the 20-minute setup that protects your Google account, bank, social media, and website admin panel.
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The Vishing Surge: Why Your 'Bank Manager' on the Phone Might Be a $0 AI Voice Clone
Voice phishing attacks jumped 442% in 2024, powered by free AI tools that can clone your boss's voice with 3 seconds of audio. Here's how to spot the scam before you wire your savings to a stranger.
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How to Back Up Your Computer Files (My Exact $12/Month Setup)
Here's exactly what I use to back up client websites and my own data. It costs $12/month and could save you thousands in lost data.
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AI Summary Cards in Gmail: How to Catch Up on a 50-Email Thread in 10 Seconds
Gmail’s new Gemini-powered summaries can condense a 50-message thread into a few sentences. Here’s how to use them, who gets access, and whether they’re actually worth changing how you manage email.
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Claude Sonnet 4 and Opus 4: Is $15/Million Tokens Worth It?
Anthropic just dropped their Claude 4 models. Sonnet 4 matches its predecessor's pricing at $3/$15 per million tokens. Opus 4 costs 5x more at $15/$75. Here's when each one actually makes sense for your business – and why I've made Claude my daily driver.
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How to Get Your Business Hours to Actually Show Up Correctly on Google
Your Google hours might be wrong right now and you don't even know it. Here's why that happens, how to fix it, and how to stop random strangers from changing your listing.
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The Real Cost of 'Free' Website Builders (And Why 'Cheap' Hosting Isn't Better)
Free website builders aren't free. But here's the thing nobody tells you: 'cheap' hosting has the exact same bait-and-switch pricing. Let me break down what everything actually costs.
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