guides

straight answers, no jargon.

what marketing actually costs, what works for a small business, and what to ignore. written for owners, not for other agencies.

Search7 min read

What is AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) and how is it different from SEO?

AEO is optimising to be the answer that AI assistants and search summaries quote. Here is how it differs from SEO, and the practical steps to get cited.

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the short answer

AEO — answer engine optimisation — is the practice of structuring content so AI assistants and search summaries quote you as the answer. SEO aims to win a click; AEO aims to win the citation. The tactics overlap heavily, but AEO puts far more weight on direct answers, clear structure and machine-readable schema.

Choosing help·6 min

Agency, freelancer or in-house marketer — which should you choose?

An honest comparison of the three ways to resource marketing in a small business, what each really costs, and how to tell which one fits where you are now.

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Budgets·7 min

How much does marketing cost for a small business in the UK?

Real UK numbers for 2026: what a marketing manager, an agency retainer and a freelancer actually cost, and what a small business should realistically budget each month.

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Outreach·8 min

Does cold email still work in 2026?

Cold email still works — but only with correct domain setup, verified data and genuinely relevant copy. Here is what changed, and what a compliant, effective sequence looks like.

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Local·7 min

How to get more customers for a small business in South Wales

A practical, local playbook for small businesses in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and the valleys — what actually generates enquiries here, in what order.

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Systems·7 min

Custom CRM vs off-the-shelf: which works out cheaper?

Per-seat CRM fees add up fast and rarely fit how you sell. Here is an honest comparison of subscription CRMs against a custom build, with the break-even maths.

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Web·6 min

How much should a small business website cost?

What UK small business websites really cost in 2026, what changes the price, and how to tell a fair quote from an expensive one.

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Strategy·5 min

The real cost of doing nothing about your marketing

Inaction has no invoice, which is why it feels safe. Here is how to actually quantify what standing still costs your business each month.

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