Blog
Plain notes on automation, software, and small-business tech decisions.
Holiday Red Flags: Why 'Free Gift Card' Emails from Your 'Boss' Are This Year's Top Scam
Got an email from your boss asking you to buy gift cards for the office holiday party? That's not your boss. Here's how to spot the scam before you lose hundreds—or thousands.
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ChatGPT Canvas is Like Google Docs Meets AI – And It's Actually Useful
OpenAI's new Canvas feature lets you edit documents and code side-by-side with ChatGPT. Think Google Docs, but your co-author is an AI that actually listens when you say 'make this shorter.'
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Custom Receipts in Sheets: A 10-Line Script to Stop Manually Typing Thank You Emails
You're spending hours typing the same thank-you emails over and over. Here's a simple Google Apps Script that sends personalized receipts automatically from your spreadsheet.
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Looker Studio Now Has AI That Writes Your Formulas - Here's How It Works
Google added AI to Looker Studio Pro that writes formulas for you. Type 'show me sales by month' and it builds the chart. Here's the practical breakdown for small businesses.
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NotebookLM for Research: How to Upload 50 PDF Manuals and Ask Questions Like a Human
Google's NotebookLM lets you upload 50 documents and ask questions like you're talking to someone who actually read them all. Here's how a contractor in SLO uses it to answer permit questions in seconds.
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Local SEO in 2024: What Actually Moves the Needle for SLO County Businesses
Proximity matters more than keywords. Here's why the contractor two miles away keeps outranking you, and the three things you can actually control.
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AI is Writing 40% of Phishing Emails Now – Here's How to Spot the 'CEO Request' Scam
Scammers are using AI to write convincing phishing emails at scale. The 'CEO asking for gift cards' scam is exploding. Here's how to spot it before you get burned.
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Why Your Website 'Designer' Charges $250/Month to Host a 5-Page Site (It's a Markup)
Hosting a 5-page small business site costs about $10-40/month. If you're paying more, someone's pocketing the difference. Here's what hosting actually costs.
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Google Business Messages is Ending – Set Up a Direct Line Customers Can Actually Use
Google's chat feature in Maps and Search is shutting down July 31st. Here's how to make sure customers can still reach you without hunting for your phone number.
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Universal Analytics is Finally Dead – What to Do If You're Still Confused by GA4
Universal Analytics 360 shut down July 1st. If you're still confused about GA4, here's the 30-minute fix. No panic required.
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