Blog
Notes on building software.
Practical writing on fixed-price consulting, SEO for professional practices, AI-leveraged delivery, and building software that works.
July 12, 2026
Having a Website Isn't the Same as Being Found
A good-looking website and being findable on Google are two different purchases, and a lot of local businesses only bought the first one. Here's why, and how to tell if it's happening to you.
WebsitesLocal SEOGoogle Business ProfileSmall businessService tradesJuly 9, 2026
When Your Website Is Quietly Costing You Customers
Most websites don't fail loudly. They leak. The signs your site is losing you business, a 10-minute self-test to catch them, and why fixing it pays off now.
WebsitesSmall businessLead generationConversionLocal SEOJuly 7, 2026
How Reviews Work for Local Business (And How to Get More)
Why reviews rank your business, how to actually get more of them, and what to say when they arrive. Written for small businesses and service trades.
ReviewsGoogle Business ProfileLocal SEOSmall businessService tradesProfessional practicesJuly 7, 2026
When It's Time to Leave a National Legal Marketing Platform
You've been paying monthly for years. Ranking isn't moving. Here's how to actually leave, without wrecking your SEO, losing your reviews, or getting sued.
AttorneysWebsitesProfessional practicesLocal SEOJuly 7, 2026
What a $2,000 vs. a $10,000 Website Actually Gets You
An honest breakdown of what actually differs between cheap and expensive websites: what you're paying for, what's overpriced, and how to pick the right tier for your business.
Website costsPricingSmall businessFixed-bidWebsitesJuly 6, 2026
How Being Found Online Actually Works
A plain-English guide to SEO, Google Business Profile, and Analytics: what they are, why they take time, and what the real work actually costs.
SEOGoogle Business ProfileAnalyticsSmall businessService tradesJuly 1, 2026
How Attorneys Should Actually Compare Website Vendors
How solo and small law firms should compare website vendors: national services, boutique agencies, and independent developers. What each costs.
AttorneysWebsitesProfessional practicesFixed-bidJune 30, 2026
Fixed-Bid vs. Hourly: Which Pricing Model Fits Your Project
Plain-English guide to fixed-bid vs. hourly software pricing. Which fits your project, where each hides risk, and the honest answer.
Fixed-bidConsultingSmall businessPricingJune 30, 2026
How SEO Actually Works for Small Businesses and Practices
Plain-English guide to SEO for law firms, accountants, medical practices, and small businesses. What matters, what doesn't, and realistic expectations.
SEOWebsitesProfessional practicesSmall businessFebruary 28, 2026
AI Doesn't Write Bad Code. It Writes Convincing Code.
AI writes convincing code, not obviously bad code. Inside structured systems it's transformative. Outside them, it amplifies chaos, faster.
AIClaude CodeSoftware qualityEngineeringJanuary 4, 2026
The Three Clocks Framework: Designing Real-Time Systems
Every real-time platform runs on three clocks: user time, system time, business time. Most teams only design for one. That's why they fail under pressure.
ArchitectureDistributed systemsReal-timeEngineeringSoftware qualityDecember 31, 2025
Start With Good: Where Quality Actually Begins
Good doesn't start with testing. It starts with understanding: the problem, the user, and why the work matters. Shift Left Quality in practice.
Lister's LawSoftware qualityShift Left QualityEngineeringOctober 31, 2025
Lister's Law: If You Don't Pick Good, You Don't Get Any
The classic Good/Fast/Cheap trilemma is wrong. After 37 years shipping software, Good isn't one of three options: it's the precondition for the other two.
Lister's LawSoftware qualityEngineering