Field Notes
What we're thinking.
Essays on web design, SEO, and the craft of building things that last. Written by the people who do the work.
Local SEO
Ranking number one for "plumber Thirsk" won't save your business
Local rankings are a vanity metric without the rest of the system. Most businesses chasing the top spot are losing money before the phone rings.
Local SEO
Why reviews decide who wins local search
Between two similar local businesses, Google's tie-breaker is usually reviews. They lift your ranking and win the customer at the same time, and most owners simply forget to ask.
Studio
The trouble with a website you rent
Wix, Squarespace and rented agency sites feel cheap to start. The cost you do not see is what happens when you want to leave. Here is the difference between renting a website and owning one.
Local SEO
The Google listing most North Yorkshire businesses leave half-finished
For a local business, your Google Business Profile is often higher-return than your website, and most are set up once and forgotten. Here is what to actually do with it.
Local SEO
What schema actually does for a Harrogate accountant
Schema markup is one of the least-understood and most-undervalued local SEO moves. Here's what it really does, and what it doesn't.
Web Performance
Why your Lighthouse score isn't the SEO win you think it is
A 100/100 Lighthouse score makes a great screenshot. It doesn't, by itself, make a great site, and it definitely doesn't guarantee you'll rank.
SEO
Why most Yorkshire business websites fail at SEO
The problem isn't lack of effort. It's that most websites are built on three foundational mistakes that no amount of content marketing can fix.
Case Notes
How we built True Grit's location-page system
A small Dales cleaning company. 18+ location pages. A schema-driven system that adds new towns in five minutes. Here's how it works.
Studio
Affordable does not have to mean careless
No upfront cost only works when the scope is clear. Here is how we keep small business websites practical, useful, and properly handled.
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