Journal

Notes from the shop.

Long-form pieces on pricing, the small-business website market, and the work behind the work. Written for Tampa Bay operators, not for other agencies.

• Jun 8, 2026 / ownership, code ownership, lock-in, domain, tampa, small business

  Do you actually own your website? A Tampa small business guide to code ownership, lock-in, and the monthly-fee trap.

  The website you paid for might not be yours. Here's how Tampa small businesses get locked out of their own sites, what US copyright law actually says about who owns the code, and the questions to ask before you sign.

  

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• May 29, 2026 / custom web design, wordpress, astro, performance, small business, ownership, page builders

  What "custom website" actually means (and what most small businesses get instead)

  Four tiers from Wix to hand-coded static; why speed and not being platform-locked favor Astro builds; and when WordPress or a page builder is still the honest pick.

  

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• May 24, 2026 / web design, tampa bay, wesley chapel, comparison, small business, buyers guide

  Tampa Bay web designers compared: a buyer's guide for Wesley Chapel, Tampa, and Pasco County (May 2026)

  A buyer's guide to picking a Tampa Bay web designer in 2026. Methodology, fixed-date measurements, and an honest comparison of Tarpon Web Co. against Gulf Coast Web Design, Dominate Solutions, OptiView 360, Thirteen05 Creative, and the average WordPress page-builder shop. Includes when each is the better pick.

  

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• May 23, 2026 / ai search, geo, tampa, small business, google, local seo

  Google changed the front door. What Tampa Bay business owners need to know about AI search in 2026.

  AI Overviews, AI Mode, and ChatGPT are where customers decide on a dentist, restaurant, or contractor before they ever click a website. Here is what changed, what actually helps, and what is noise.

  

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• May 21, 2026 / pricing, tampa, small business, web design cost, diy vs agency

  How much should a small business in Tampa pay for a website in 2026?

  Real Tampa Bay agency prices, real DIY platform costs, and the honest range a small business should expect to pay for a professional website in 2026.

  

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• May 18, 2026 / wix, squarespace, restaurants, local seo, tampa

  Wix vs Squarespace vs custom: what a Tampa restaurant should actually pick.

  A working comparison of Wix, Squarespace, and a custom static build for a small Tampa restaurant. Real costs over three years, real trade-offs, and the kind of site a place on Gulf Boulevard actually needs.

  

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• May 11, 2026 / wordpress, hosting, performance, security, small business

  WordPress is a tax. Here's what it actually costs you.

  Why most small business sites running on WordPress are slower, more expensive, and more fragile than they need to be, and what to do about it.

  

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