Notes from the team.
Guides, comparisons and notes from russle. Useful if you are weighing up a brand, website, or growth project for an ambitious business.
Selling through Instagram DMs is costing you orders
Taking orders in the messages works until the week you are busy. Here is what the DM actually costs a small food business, and what replaces it without losing the personal bit.
By Henry Guest
Product photography for an online store
Photography is usually the thing standing between a business and a working shop. Here is what we changed on the Beth Bakes Cakes range, with the before and after shots, and what you can copy on a phone.
By Tilly Anderson
When is a website redesign worth the cost?
A redesign is worth it when the site is losing you work, not when you are bored of it. Here is how to tell the difference, and when the problem is not the website at all.
By Henry Guest
What website maintenance actually involves
Most maintenance plans are vague on purpose. Here is what the work actually consists of, what happens when nobody does it, and what to ask before you sign up to one.
By Tilly Anderson
What does an online store cost to build?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you sell and how much of the work is yours. Here is what actually moves the number, and what it costs to run once it is live.
By Henry Guest
SEO in Cheshire: how local businesses get found
Local search comes down to relevance, distance and prominence. Here is what each one means for a business in Wilmslow, Knutsford or Macclesfield, and which to fix first.
By Tilly Anderson
Signs your business has outgrown its website
A website that was fine at the start can quietly hold a growing business back. Here are the signs it is time to rebuild, and what to do about them.
By Tilly Anderson
How to choose a brand and web agency
Choosing the agency that builds your brand and website is a big decision. Here are the questions to ask and the warning signs to watch for before you commit.
By Henry Guest
Conversion-led web design: turning visitors into customers
A beautiful website that nobody acts on is an expensive brochure. Conversion-led design is about turning visitors into enquiries and sales. Here is how it works.
By Henry Guest
How AI is changing brand and web in 2026
AI has changed how people find businesses and what a website has to do. Here is what actually matters for brand and web in 2026, without the hype.
By Henry Guest
What is a growth retainer, and what should it include?
A growth retainer is a monthly arrangement that keeps your brand, website, and marketing working after launch. Here is what a good one includes and how to judge it.
By Henry Guest
Brand, website, marketing: why one team beats three suppliers
Hiring a brand designer, a web developer, and a marketer separately is how most businesses end up looking like three different companies. Here is why one team works better.
By Tilly Anderson
What does a web design, ecommerce and SEO studio actually do?
A web design, ecommerce and SEO studio builds the website or store, then runs the SEO work that keeps it earning, all under one roof. Here is what that means in real terms.
By Tilly Anderson
Email marketing for small businesses: where to start
Email is the cheapest, most reliable way to bring customers back. Here is how a small business starts email marketing without overcomplicating it.
By Henry Guest
Website launch checklist: get these right before you go live
Launching a website is where avoidable mistakes happen. Here is the checklist to run before you go live, so nothing important gets missed.
By Henry Guest
In-house marketing vs a growth retainer
Should you hire in-house for marketing or use an outside growth retainer? Here is the honest comparison for a small business.
By Tilly Anderson
How to rank in Google’s local Map Pack
The local Map Pack is the three businesses Google shows at the top of local searches. Here is how a small business earns one of those spots.
By Henry Guest
WordPress vs Webflow: which should you choose?
WordPress and Webflow both build serious sites, in very different ways. Here is the honest comparison for a small business choosing between them.
By Henry Guest
How to write website copy that converts
Most website copy talks about the business. Copy that converts talks to the customer. Here is how to write words that turn visitors into enquiries.
By Henry Guest
Squarespace vs Wix: which is better for a small business?
Squarespace and Wix are the two most popular website builders. Here is the honest comparison to help a small business pick between them.
By Henry Guest
Is SEO worth it for a small business? An honest answer
SEO takes time and money, so is it actually worth it for a small business? An honest answer, including when it is not.
By Henry Guest
Do you need a rebrand or a refresh?
Not every tired brand needs a full rebrand. Here is how to tell whether you need a deep rebrand or just a refresh, and what each involves.
By Henry Guest
Best website platform for cafés and food businesses
Cafés and food businesses have specific website needs: locations, menus, ordering, and a brand that looks as good as the food. Here is what works best.
By Tilly Anderson
Cheap website vs investment website: the honest difference
A cheap website and an investment website both cost money. Only one tends to pay it back. Here is the honest difference.
By Tilly Anderson
What makes a good small business website in 2026
A good small business website is clear, fast, trustworthy, and built to turn visitors into enquiries. Here is the checklist that actually matters.
By Henry Guest
GoDaddy builder vs hiring a designer
GoDaddy’s builder is quick and cheap. A designer costs more and delivers more. Here is honestly which one your business needs.
By Henry Guest
How to choose a web designer: questions to ask first
Choosing a web designer is mostly about asking the right questions first. Here are the ones that save you from a disappointing, expensive mistake.
By Tilly Anderson
Freelancer vs agency vs studio: who should build your website?
Freelancer, agency, or studio? Each builds websites differently, at different prices and risks. Here is who suits which kind of business.
By Henry Guest
How to get more Google reviews (and why they matter)
Google reviews are one of the strongest, cheapest ways to win local customers. Here is how to get more of them, the right way.
By Tilly Anderson
Canva websites vs a real website build
Canva can throw up a website in minutes. Here is honestly where that helps, where it falls short, and when you need a real build.
By Henry Guest
Why website speed matters (and how to tell if yours is too slow)
A slow website loses customers and rankings before anyone reads a word. Here is why speed matters and how to check yours in minutes.
By Tilly Anderson
Framer vs Webflow vs a custom website
Framer and Webflow are the two leading design-led website tools. Here is how they compare with each other and with a custom build.
By Henry Guest
Best website builders for small businesses in 2026
An honest roundup of the main website builders for small businesses, what each is best at, and when a custom build beats all of them.
By Henry Guest
How much does branding cost for a small business?
Branding costs anywhere from nothing to many thousands. Here is what changes the price, what you actually get, and where the value sits.
By Henry Guest
How to get found in AI search (ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews)
Search is shifting from blue links to AI answers. Here is how a small business gets mentioned by ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and the rest.
By Tilly Anderson
Wix alternatives worth considering in 2026
If Wix feels limiting or you want something more distinctive, here are the realistic alternatives for a small business, and who each one suits.
By Tilly Anderson
What is a brand-led website, and why does it convert better?
Most websites are built page by page. A brand-led website starts from who you are and works outward, and that difference is why it converts better.
By Tilly Anderson
Template vs custom website: the real difference
A template gets you online fast and cheap. A custom site is built around your business. Here is what the difference actually means for results.
By Henry Guest
Webflow vs WordPress for a small business
Webflow and WordPress both build serious websites in very different ways. Here is the honest comparison for a small business deciding between them.
By Henry Guest
Wix vs WordPress vs a custom website: which should you choose?
Three common ways to build a small business website, and the honest trade-offs of each, so you can pick the one that fits where your business is heading.
By Henry Guest
Squarespace alternatives for a growing business
Outgrown Squarespace, or want more control from the start? Here are the realistic alternatives, from other builders to a custom build, and who each suits.
By Henry Guest
Shopify vs a custom storefront: which is right for your shop?
Shopify is the fastest way to start selling online. A custom storefront gives you control and a brand that stands out. Here is how to choose.
By Tilly Anderson
Why your website isn't getting enquiries (and how to fix it)
A good-looking website that brings in nothing is more common than you would think. Here are the usual reasons, and how to turn visits into enquiries.
By Henry Guest
Squarespace vs a custom website: which is right for your business?
Squarespace is a brilliant starting point, and the wrong tool for some businesses. An honest look at when to use it and when a custom build pays for itself.
By Tilly Anderson
Brand or logo: what small businesses actually need
A logo is one small part of a brand. Here is what the difference means in real terms, and what to invest in first.
By Tilly Anderson
How much does a small business website cost in 2026?
A clear, honest breakdown of what a small business website costs in 2026, what moves the price, and where the money actually goes.
By Tilly Anderson