What Belongs in Your Website Footer (and What’s Just Clutter)
A practical guide to what every small-business website footer should include, what doesn't belong, and a six-point checklist you can run today.
Working with a Designer
The client’s side of a design project. How to write a brief, what happens at each round of revisions, how to give feedback that moves the work forward, and where projects most often go sideways.
All (60)Brand Strategy (11)New Mexico Notes (2)Visual Identity (10)WordPress Development (18)Working with a Designer (19)
Read MoreWhat Belongs in Your Website Footer (and What’s Just Clutter)
Microcopy: How the Smallest Words on Your Website Do the Most Work
The button labels, helper text, and error messages on your site shape conversions more than the hero headline does. Here's where microcopy earns its keep, with rules and examples from real projects.
How to Give Design Feedback That Makes the Work Better
The difference between a project that lands in three rounds and one that drags through eight is almost always the quality of the feedback, not the design. Here's how to give comments a designer can actually use.
When to Hire an Agency vs. an Independent Designer (and How the Cost Compares)
Agencies, independents, or something in between — a practical guide to who to hire for design work, when each option fits, and what they cost in 2026.
How Long Does a Rebrand Actually Take? A Realistic Timeline
A small-business rebrand takes three to six months of calendar time when decisions move on pace. Here's the phase-by-phase breakdown, and what stretches or shortens it.
The Elements of User Experience: What Business Owners Should Know Before a Website Project
Jesse James Garrett's five-plane framework explains why some websites just work and others look fine but fall apart. Understanding it will change the questions you ask your designer.
How to Budget for a Brand Project When You’ve Never Hired a Designer
Brand identity for a small business typically costs $5,000–$30,000 in 2026. Here is what each piece actually costs, where to spend first if the budget is tight, and the two mistakes to avoid.
How to Write a Creative Brief That Saves Everyone Time
A creative brief is a business document, not a design document. Here are the six things it needs, what to leave out, and why you are the only person qualified to write it.
How to Vet a WordPress Developer Before You Sign a Contract
Five questions that filter the right WordPress developer from the wrong one, the red flags worth taking seriously, and the things you absolutely have to put in writing.