Notes on small business operations and AI, from the work.
Two kinds of reads: Playbooks that teach a skill step by step, and Field Notes that give you a window into how this work actually gets done. Written for business owners, not marketers.
Long reads with worksheets you can use this week.
The small business AI playbook
What AI can and can't do for a 5 to 50 person business, real costs, risks, and a 30-day plan.
Read the guide →12 min readSpeed to lead: the follow-up system
What the lead response research found and the follow-up sequence I'd set up first.
Read the guide →15 min readLocal SEO + AI search checklist
How Google and AI assistants pick local businesses, with 40 checks in priority order.
Read the guide →Posts
ChatGPT search small business: do you need to worry?
ChatGPT search small business owners: customers add AI tools but still Google you. Here's a 20-minute check you can run on your own business this week.
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Missed Call Text Back: How to Set It Up in 5 Steps
Missed call text back sends an automatic text when nobody picks up. Learn the 5 setup steps, from calling yourself first to carrier registration and testing.
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No-Show Policy for Small Business: Stop the Leak
What no-shows really cost, and the policy that stops them.
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Lead Follow-Up Mistakes Costing Small Businesses Money
How slow follow-up loses leads, and how to fix it.
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Why DFW Small Businesses Lose Customers Online
The fixable reasons local customers choose someone else.
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How to get your business to the top of Google: without paying for ads.
How Google ranks local businesses, without paying for ads.
Read the post →What does this blog cover?
Four topics, all written for owners who still work in the business. Every post names a problem, shows the math where there is math, and points to a next step you can take. For longer reads with worksheets, start with the free guides.
Missed calls, no-shows, slow follow-up, and leads nobody called back, with the numbers to size each one.
What an AI receptionist, an automation, or an AI agent actually does for a small team, and what to ignore.
Local SEO, reviews, your Google Business Profile, and what happens to a lead after it arrives.
SOPs, onboarding, intake, and scheduling that keep the work running the same way every time.