The BBH Blog

Tips, insights, and straight talk about building a web presence that actually works for your business.

Google Ads vs. SEO for Local Businesses: Where to Put Your First Marketing Dollar

Most local businesses waste Google Ads money before their site can convert. The smarter order: fix your website and local SEO first, then add paid.

Canva Website vs Wix vs Done-for-You: Which Actually Works for a Small Business in 2026?

Canva website for small business vs Wix vs done-for-you: an honest 2026 breakdown of SEO, cost, and maintenance so you pick what fits.

Your Google Business Profile Says 'Website Not Set Up': What It's Costing You Right Now

If your Google Business Profile has no website link, you're losing local search rankings and trust from ready-to-buy customers every single day.

Online Booking on Your Small Business Website: Does It Actually Help or Just Add Hassle?

Online booking on your small business website: when it converts, when it flops, and why the wrong setup can quietly cost you customers.

Do Google Reviews Help Your Local SEO? What Small Business Owners Need to Know in 2026

Do Google reviews help local SEO? Yes, more than almost any other signal you control. Here is what actually moves the ranking, and how to earn more.

Thumbtack vs Angi vs Your Own Website: Where Local Service Businesses Should Actually Get Leads in 2026

Thumbtack vs Angi vs your own website in 2026: real costs, real pros and cons, and which lead source actually fits your local service business.

Why Mismatched Business Info Across the Web Hurts Your Local Google Rankings

Mismatched business name, address, or phone across Google, Yelp, and directories quietly suppresses local rankings. Here's how NAP consistency works.

Do You Need a Website If You Have a Facebook Page? The Honest Answer for Local Businesses

Do you need a website if you have a Facebook page? The honest answer for local businesses, plus what Facebook can't do for your growth.

Yelp vs. Google Business Profile vs. Your Own Website: Which One Actually Brings in Local Customers?

Yelp vs Google Business Profile vs your own website for small business: an honest 2026 comparison of what actually drives local customers.

Why Google Maps Ranks Some Local Businesses Higher, And the Website Fix Most Owners Miss

Most local businesses don't realize their website directly affects Google Maps ranking. Here's what signals matter and how to fix them fast.

Can AI Write Your Small Business Website? What Actually Works (And What Google Penalizes)

Can AI write your small business website? Here's where AI content helps your Google rankings, and where it quietly gets you penalized.

Do Local Businesses Actually Need a Blog? The Honest SEO Answer for Service Businesses in 2026

Most local businesses don't need a blog to rank on Google. Here's the honest answer on local business blog SEO and what actually works in 2026.

Website Builder vs. Freelance Web Designer vs. Done-for-You Service: Which Is Actually Worth It for Small Businesses in 2026?

Website builder vs web designer vs done-for-you service in 2026, honest cost, time, and maintenance comparison for small business owners.

Why Your Slow Website Is Quietly Tanking Your Local Google Rankings

Page speed is a direct Google ranking signal. Slow DIY-builder websites quietly cost local businesses customers every day. Here's how to check yours.

Do You Actually Own Your Website? The Platform Lock-In Trap Local Businesses Fall Into

Do you own your website? Most Wix and Squarespace users don't. Here's what platform lock-in really means for small businesses, and how to avoid it.

GoDaddy vs Squarespace vs Done-for-You: What a Local Business Really Gets for Its Website Budget in 2026

GoDaddy vs Squarespace vs done-for-you websites: the real cost, effort, and results for a local business in 2026.

Wix vs WordPress vs Done-for-You: The Honest Website Comparison for Local Businesses (2026)

Honest 2026 comparison of Wix vs WordPress vs done-for-you website services for small business. Real pros, cons, and total costs for local owners.

Google's AI Answers Now Show Up Before You Do, Here's How to Stay Visible

Google's AI Overviews now answer local searches before your website loads. Here's how small businesses get cited in AI answers instead of skipped.

Google Business Profile + Your Website: The Local SEO One-Two Punch

Your Google Business Profile and website aren't separate tools, here's how to link them for local SEO and turn more Maps views into customers.

Why Your Business Still Needs a Website in 2026 (Yes, Even with Social Media)

Social media is rented land. Algorithms change, accounts get suspended, reach drops overnight. A website is the only digital asset you truly own. Here's why it matters more than ever, and what a good one should actually do for your business.

Template vs. Custom Website: The Real Cost Nobody Talks About

Templates look cheap upfront. But between plugins, workarounds, and the redesign you'll need in 18 months, the total cost of ownership tells a different story.

What Actually Makes a Website Convert? 7 Principles We Use on Every Build

A beautiful website that doesn't generate leads is just expensive art. Here are the 7 conversion principles baked into every BBH project, and how to apply them yourself.

SEO for Small Businesses: The Only 5 Things That Actually Matter

Forget keyword stuffing and black-hat tricks. For local and small businesses, SEO success comes down to five fundamentals. Get these right and Google does the rest.

Website Cost Comparison 2026: Wix vs Squarespace vs WordPress vs Free vs Agency

Honest three-year cost comparison of every realistic small-business website option in 2026. Real prices, real bundling, real time costs, no marketing spin.

How Much Does a Business Website Cost in 2026? (Real Numbers)

The honest range is $0 to $50,000+ depending on six decisions. Here's the full price grid, what each tier delivers, and how to pick the right one for your business.

Free Website for Small Business: Who Actually Builds Them in 2026 (And the Catch in Each)

Six routes call themselves "free" in 2026. Four cost you more than paying upfront would. Here's the honest breakdown, what each one really costs, and the only one that does what it says.

Cheap Website Hosting in 2026: The Honest Math on $1, $5, $20, and $129 Plans

Cheap hosting ranges from $12/year to $300+/year, but the headline price is rarely what you pay. Here's the honest math on every tier, what each excludes, and the cheapest plan that actually works.

The Best Restaurant Website Builder in 2026, Free, Live in 24 Hours

The best restaurant website builder is the one tuned for what restaurants actually need: mobile-first menus, click-to-call, Google Maps, ordering. Free to build, $129/year for hosting + domain.

Can You Build a Free Website with ChatGPT in 2026? Yes, Here's the Catch

Yes, you can build a free website with ChatGPT, Claude, Lovable, or Bolt. The AI part is free. Hosting, security, conversion, and maintenance are not. Honest comparison vs a managed AI website service.