Runchey Websites // Field notes
The blog.
Practical advice on websites, local SEO, payment processing, and the rest of running a small contracting business. Thinking out loud so you can borrow the reasoning.
Section 02 // All posts
Everything else
What an Underperforming Website Costs You
A better website might only seem to add a few percentage points of conversion at a time. Stretched across five years and every channel that touches the site (paid, organic, GBP, AI search, referral), the same percentages produce a different number. Here's the math, the real benchmarks, and what 'better' has to deliver to count.
How Does That One Shop Afford All Those Ads?
The big shop on every billboard isn't winning at marketing — they're running a different P&L. Higher tickets, labor arbitrage, fixed-cost dilution, and PE money. Here's the structural math behind their ad spend, and why copying their percentage doesn't work at your size.
Card Processing Fees for Small Businesses: What You Can (and Can't) Pass to Customers
Jobber takes 2.9% + 30¢ on every card. The instinct is to add a '3% processing fee' to invoices. Two rules make that move illegal, and the fines escalate fast. Here's the legal way to recover the cost, and why the rate is so high.
Outgrowing Paid Leads: The Lifecycle Every Local Business Goes Through
Most local businesses don't track what percentage of revenue goes to lead acquisition. The number is usually uncomfortable. Here's the roadmap from paid dependency to organic growth.
How to Build a Contractor Pricing Page That Closes Jobs
Starting-at pricing, ranges, or contact-for-quote? The right format depends on the service. A practical guide to what works, what to put around the numbers, and the SEO opportunity most contractors miss.
GoDaddy's Website Design Service: What You're Paying For
GoDaddy's done-for-you design service charges agency prices for template output you don't own. The 36-month math, the SEC filing data behind their pricing, and what you actually get for the money.
Why You're Getting 15 Marketing Calls a Week (And How They Got Your Number)
The moment you file your LLC, your information enters a pipeline designed to sell you services you don't need. Here's exactly how the machine works, who's behind it, and what to do about it.
Every Site You Never Signed Up For Has Your Business Listed (Here's Why)
You google your business and find it on 15 sites you've never heard of, some with wrong information. Here's how your data got there, what 'unverified' actually means, and which listings actually matter.
How a Seattle Electrician Got a Customer Through ChatGPT
Greenworks Electric published real pricing, referenced local utilities by name, and answered the questions people actually ask. ChatGPT noticed. No 'AEO' retainer required.
Why Your Marketing Agency's Biggest Advantage Just Disappeared
The economics of scale that justified large marketing agencies have shifted. Here's what the numbers look like now that the tools have changed.
The Bundling Trap: When 'One Vendor for Everything' Stops Serving You
Bundling services under one vendor can be convenient, or it can mean paying more for less while making it painful to leave. How to tell the difference, with pricing data from GoDaddy, Wix, and dental platforms.
You Tried an AI Website Builder. Now What?
The AI gave you a website in 10 minutes. Three weeks later, you still can't get it to look like your business. Here's why, and what to do about it.
Social Media for Contractors: What Actually Works
100k TikTok views rarely turn into local jobs. A look at where social media actually generates leads for service businesses and where it's a time sink.
Your First 6 Months with Runchey Websites
What actually happens after launch? A month-by-month guide to Google rankings, content building, and why 6 months is when momentum kicks in.
Online Booking: What the Data Says
67% of customers prefer online booking. 72% would pay 10% more for better service. What the research says about letting customers book on your website.
How Google Ranks Local Businesses
The Claim-Verification-Flywheel model explained. Why doorway pages got crushed in 2024, how Navboost tracks user behavior, and what this means for local businesses.
Referral Systems: Your Cheapest, Highest-Converting Leads
Referrals close at 50%+. Ads close under 20%. How to build a referral system with tracking instead of hoping customers mention you to their neighbors.
AEO: The Emperor's New SEO
Answer Engine Optimization is the hot new marketing buzzword. Agencies are charging $15K/month for it. The tactics? Identical to what you're already doing.
Are You Locked In? What Your Web Agency Can Actually Do (And What's Just a Scare Tactic)
Worried about leaving your web agency? Here's what they can actually hold hostage, what the law says, and your step-by-step escape plan.
The 47 Decisions Behind Your Quote Calculator
Every feature on your website is a conversation with your customers. How we designed the quote calculator and the decisions behind features that serve your business.
What to Expect When You Work with Runchey Websites
From intro call to going live, and beyond. Here's exactly what happens when you hire us to build your website.
Why Accessibility Matters for Contractors (And Your Customers)
Most contractor websites fail basic accessibility standards. What that means for your customers, your Google rankings, and the growing legal landscape around web accessibility.
Why Runchey Websites? A Different Kind of Web Partner
Software engineers who build websites for service businesses. No contracts, no lock-in, you own everything. How we got here and why we work the way we do.
SEO for Contractors: What They're Selling You vs. What Actually Works
What a $500/month SEO package typically includes, what actually drives leads for local businesses, and why reviews and your Google Business Profile matter more than keyword density.
Reviews: The Complete Guide for Contractors
Why the first 50 reviews matter most, how much negative reviews actually hurt, and what to do when someone leaves you an unfair one.
Paid Ads for Contractors: Google vs. Yelp vs. Thumbtack
Where should you spend your advertising budget? Here's an honest comparison of the major platforms, what they cost, and how to know if they're working.
What Customers Want (According to Their Reviews)
We analyzed thousands of contractor reviews to find what customers value. Communication, reliability, and cleanup came up far more than price.
A Website That Works: What That Means for Contractors
Your website doesn't need to be fancy. It needs to load fast, look good on phones, and make it dead simple to contact you.
Do I Need Website Management?
You own your website. You can run it yourself or have us manage it for $50/month. Here's what each option actually looks like.
Google Business Profile for Local Contractors: What Actually Matters
When someone searches 'electrician near me,' they see the Map Pack before any website. Your Google Business Profile drives that visibility. Here's how to set it up and what to focus on.
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