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The Online Thing Blog

Guides on planning, building, and writing a small business website, published as we test the advice ourselves.

Small Business Website Checklist: What Every Page Needs — editorial photo

Small Business Website Checklist: What Every Page Needs

The pages, contact details, and trust signals your site needs before launch.

Website Planning

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Squarespace vs WordPress for a Service Business — editorial photo

Squarespace vs WordPress for a Service Business

Where each platform is strong, and where it slows you down.

Website Platforms

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Choosing a Domain Name That Still Works in 5 Years — editorial photo

Choosing a Domain Name That Still Works in 5 Years

Naming rules that hold up as your business grows.

Domain Names and Hosting

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A Starter Brand Kit for Businesses Under $5,000 — editorial photo

A Starter Brand Kit for Businesses Under $5,000

Logo, colors, and fonts you can build without a designer on retainer.

Branding for Small Businesses

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A Realistic Content Calendar for a One-Person Business — editorial photo

A Realistic Content Calendar for a One-Person Business

How often to publish when you're also doing the actual work.

Content Strategy

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Homepage Copy That Explains What You Actually Do — editorial photo

Homepage Copy That Explains What You Actually Do

A simple structure for the first 100 words visitors read.

Website Copywriting

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