Web Design, SEO, and Social Media Tips for Local Businesses

A small business owner waiting on a phone while a slow website loads to a blank screen
web design

Core Web Vitals Explained

Core Web Vitals explained in plain language, with real before and after numbers from our own site. What LCP, INP and CLS mean and what fixed them.

Mike Willett, founder of Skratch Creative in The Woodlands, Texas
Mike Willett
August 12, 2026
12
Minute Read
Three people at a table reviewing a hand-drawn brand strategy diagram
logo design

Branding Strategy for Small Businesses in The Woodlands

A practical branding strategy for small businesses: define your value, build a consistent look, tell your story, show up locally and keep your promises.

Mike Willett, founder of Skratch Creative in The Woodlands, Texas
Mike Willett
June 6, 2026
4
Minute Read
Small business owner seeing his business cited in an AI search answer
online marketing

How to Get Your Business Cited in AI Answers

Learn how answer engine optimization works, how it differs from SEO and what helps AI tools cite your business in their answers.

Mike Willett, founder of Skratch Creative in The Woodlands, Texas
Mike Willett
June 6, 2026
6
Minute Read
Marketing team planning a local SEO strategy around a table
online marketing

Local SEO for Small Businesses: How to Get Found Nearby

Local SEO helps nearby customers find you. Learn how SEO works, what to fix first and how profiles, citations, reviews and content fit together.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
May 4, 2026
6
Minute Read
Desk with several monitors and wall screens showing dashboard-style web designs
web design

How Much Does a Website Cost? Our Pricing Explained

Skratch Creative website builds run $3,500 to $10,000, or choose a $249 per month plan. See what drives the price and what to budget after launch.

Mike Willett, founder of Skratch Creative in The Woodlands, Texas
Mike Willett
April 30, 2026
4
Minute Read
Illustration of a dark studio desk with a monitor showing a colorful design
e-commerce websites

What to Expect From Your Web Designer, Stage by Stage

What to expect from your web designer at every stage, from the first consultation and contract to planning, design, testing, launch and support.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
November 6, 2022
7
Minute Read
Web designer and business owner collaborating in an office
web design

What to Look for When Hiring a Web Designer

What to look for when hiring a web designer: portfolio fit, technical skills, clear communication, a solid contract and support after launch.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
September 10, 2022
8
Minute Read
Team reviewing a Google Analytics dashboard in an office
online marketing

Understanding Google Analytics: What to Track and Why

Google Analytics shows who visits your site, where they come from and what they do. Learn what to track in GA4 and how to use it to get more leads.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
August 27, 2022
6
Minute Read
Freelancer and agency team working on web design in an office
web design

Freelancer or Agency: Who Should Build Your Website?

Freelancer or agency for your website? Compare cost, skills, communication and long-term support to decide which one fits your project.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
August 1, 2022
4
Minute Read
City street at dusk lined with bright digital billboards
web design

How to Spot a Great Website: Mistakes That Cost You Customers

A checklist of the website mistakes that drive visitors away, from slow pages and hidden contact details to weak calls to action, with a fix for each.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
August 1, 2022
5
Minute Read
Small business owner learning web design terminology with a designer in a well-lit office.
web design

Website Design Terminology Explained: A Plain-English Glossary

A plain-English glossary of website design terms, from sitemap and breakpoint to kerning, alt text and Core Web Vitals, with a one-line definition each.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
August 17, 2020
7
Minute Read
Team of designers working at a long table in front of a wall of brand logos
logo design

What Makes a Good Logo: 10 Tips From Logo Designers

What makes a good logo? Ten tips from logo designers on simplicity, sizing, color, type, balance, testing and using your logo the same way everywhere.

Mike Willett, founder of Skratch Creative in The Woodlands, Texas
Mike Willett
July 28, 2020
6
Minute Read
Team of web designers reviewing website design for SEO impact
online marketing

Can Your Website Design Hurt Your SEO?

Slow pages, pop-ups, hard-to-read text and weak mobile layouts can hurt your rankings. Learn which design mistakes hurt SEO and how to fix them.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
May 15, 2020
4
Minute Read
Designer at a desktop monitor reviewing a set of logo designs
logo design

9 Steps to Creating an Effective Logo Design

A 9-step logo design process: start with your story, study competitors, sketch, test, refine, then set colors, type and files that work everywhere.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
April 20, 2020
6
Minute Read
Web designers collaborating on mobile website design in a modern office.
web design

Tips for Better Mobile Website Design

Practical mobile website design tips: responsive layouts, fast pages, thumb-friendly buttons, short forms, simple menus and how to test on real phones.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
February 10, 2020
5
Minute Read
Designer at a desktop monitor showing large letterforms in a sunlit studio
web design

Best Fonts for Web Design and How to Use Them

How to choose fonts for your website: reliable picks like Open Sans, Roboto and Lato, how to pair them, what size to use and how to keep them fast.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
November 16, 2019
4
Minute Read
Designer working at a desktop monitor in a high-rise office
web design

How Web Design Affects Your Conversion Rate

How web design turns visitors into customers: focused home and landing pages, clear calls to action, real testimonials, speed and steady testing.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
October 30, 2019
5
Minute Read
Web design team gathered around a large monitor showing a website layout
web design

How to Create a User-Friendly Website in 5 Steps

Five steps to a website people can use: clear navigation, fast pages, mobile layouts, accessible content and an obvious next step.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
October 23, 2019
6
Minute Read
Team reviewing a website launch checklist on screen
web design

Website Launch Checklist: What to Check Before You Go Live

A website launch checklist covering content, testing, SEO, SSL, legal pages, backups and what to watch once your site goes live.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
November 19, 2018
5
Minute Read
Design team talking in a bright studio beside a table covered in color swatches
logo design

Color Theory for Logo Design: Colors, Fonts and Shapes

Color theory for logo design in plain terms: what colors, shapes and fonts signal, how to build a palette and how to keep color right in print.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
August 20, 2018
5
Minute Read
Street with modern storefront logos
logo design

When to Redesign Your Logo: Signs It's Time

When to redesign your logo: your business has changed, it breaks down at small sizes, looks dated or like competitors, or shows up differently everywhere.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
July 23, 2018
5
Minute Read
Coffee shop customers leaving online reviews on their phones
online marketing

How to Get More Customer Reviews Online

How to get more customer reviews: ask every customer, make it easy, follow up once and reply to each review, all within Google's rules.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
May 7, 2018
5
Minute Read
Shoppers outside a storefront with an e-commerce sign at dusk
e-commerce websites

How to Reduce Cart Abandonment on Your Online Store

Why shoppers leave full carts and how to reduce cart abandonment with clear costs, a shorter checkout, the right payment options and trust signals.

James Thole, contributing writer
James Thole
October 9, 2017
6
Minute Read
Friends at a café table looking at social media on their phones
online marketing

7 Ways to Increase Your Social Media Engagement

Seven practical ways to increase social media engagement for a local business, from replying to every comment to tracking saves and shares.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
July 31, 2017
4
Minute Read
Man planning social media posts at a café table
online marketing

7 Social Media Strategy Tips for Local Businesses

Seven social media strategy tips for local businesses: know your audience, pick the right platforms, plan content, set a budget and track results.

Mike Willett, founder of Skratch Creative in The Woodlands, Texas
Mike Willett
July 17, 2017
6
Minute Read
Shoppers walking past a lit storefront at dusk
e-commerce websites

Ecommerce Web Design Mistakes That Cost You Sales

The ecommerce web design mistakes that cost the most sales, from confusing navigation and slow pages to thin product pages, and how to fix each one.

Jessica Long, cofounder of Skratch Creative
Jessica Long
May 22, 2017
6
Minute Read
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