About Mike Ferguson

Mike Ferguson has been tinkering with websites full time since 1999 after leaving a perfectly good, well paying civil servants job with benefits. He can't help himself.

Your Essential Small Business Website Maintenance Checklist

So you've got a website up and running—that's awesome! But here's the thing: building a site is just the beginning. Nearly 24% of small businesses still don't have websites (according to Digital.com), which means having one already puts you ahead of the game. But if you want your site to actually work for your business, you can't just set it and forget it. Your website needs regular care, just like your car or your storefront. Skip the maintenance, and you'll end up with a slow, outdated, or insecure site that turns people away instead of bringing them in. If handling all this technical stuff sounds like a headache, The Affordable Web Guy can take care of it for you. We specialize in keeping small business websites running smoothly so you can focus on what you do best. Why Website Maintenance Actually Matters Your website works around the clock—from Grand Junction to Greeley and everywhere in between. But without regular upkeep, problems start piling up: broken links, security holes, slow loading times, and outdated info. These issues don't just sit there quietly—they actively hurt your business by driving potential customers away. Regular maintenance prevents small problems from becoming big headaches that cost you money and customers. This checklist breaks down what you need to do and when, covering daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly tasks. 1. Security Updates and Vulnerability Patching Your website is often someone's first impression of your business, so leaving it vulnerable is like leaving your front door unlocked. Security updates patch holes that hackers love to exploit, and for small businesses, a security breach can seriously damage your reputation and customer trust. Many business websites use plugins and add-ons for extra functionality. If one of those has a security flaw, your whole site is at risk [...]

How to Write Meta Descriptions That Get Clicks

Writing a meta description is about crafting a short, compelling ad for your webpage. The sweet spot is around 155 characters. Your goal is to include your main keyword and wrap it up with a clear call to action that makes people want to click. Think of it as your website's quick sales pitch on Google. Managing all the small details of a website can feel like a full-time job. At The Affordable Web Guy, we handle technical elements like meta descriptions so you can get back to what you do best—running your business. Let us build a website strategy that helps you reach more customers. What Meta Descriptions Are and Why They Matter A meta description is the little block of text seen under a page’s title in a search result. It’s the welcome mat for your website, giving potential customers a sneak peek of what’s inside. This small summary plays a huge part in whether someone clicks your link or scrolls right past to a competitor. The Role of Meta Descriptions in Search Meta descriptions don't directly boost your website's ranking. They do have a powerful indirect effect. A well-written description drives up your click-through rate (CTR), which is the percentage of people who see your listing and actually click on it. A high CTR is a strong signal to search engines that your page is a relevant, helpful result for a specific search. This is where the magic happens. For a small business owner, learning how to write good meta descriptions is a simple but effective way to stand out. It helps pull in visitors who are genuinely looking for what you offer. Getting this right is a fundamental piece of good search engine optimization (SEO) that directly impacts your online visibility. A great meta description [...]

How Small Businesses Are Growing Faster with Smart Web Marketing in 2025

Growing Your Customer Base Through Affordable Web Marketing Bottom Line Up Front: Small businesses with professional websites earn 50% more revenue than those without. Moreover, 89% of businesses use their websites as their primary customer acquisition channel. The key isn't expensive marketing—it's strategic web presence that helps customers find you when they need your services. Why Your Website is Your Most Important Employee Small businesses face a stark reality: 92% of business owners say a website is essential for credibility, yet 27% still don't have one. Meanwhile, customers increasingly rely on online research before making purchasing decisions. The numbers tell a compelling story about what works. Furthermore, businesses investing in professional web presence consistently outperform competitors who rely solely on word-of-mouth marketing. Studies show that 76% of consumers check a website before visiting a store, which means your online presence directly impacts foot traffic. When customers search for services like yours, they make split-second decisions about which businesses to trust. Therefore, your website needs to immediately communicate what you do, who you serve, and why they should choose you over competitors. How Affordable Web Marketing Actually Works The most effective approach isn't about having the biggest budget—it's about consistency and local focus. However, many small business owners waste money on generic marketing that doesn't connect with their actual customers. Smart business owners understand that websites remain the top customer acquisition channel, with 89% of businesses utilizing their sites to attract new customers. Additionally, the approach that works best combines several key elements working together. Local Search Optimization Local search has become the battleground for small business success. Research indicates that 99% of people search online for local business information, and 21% search for nearby businesses daily. When someone searches for your services in your area, consequently, they're demonstrating immediate [...]

Mobile Friendly Websites Design to Grow Your Business

Why Mobile Matters More Than Ever Mobile performance isn’t optional anymore — it’s business critical. Each extra second of load time can reduce conversions by 7% (Tenacity). Nearly 40% of users leave a site that takes over 3 seconds to load (Shopify). Lost customers often never return. How Poor Mobile Sites Hurt Your Brand Visitors bounce quickly, lowering trust and engagement. Search engines take the signal as a quality issue and may drop your rankings. Competitors with faster, cleaner sites win those lost clicks. Get a free website audit and speed test to see where your site stands. How Google Ranks Mobile Sites Google now uses mobile-first indexing, meaning your mobile version is the primary version considered for rankings (Google Search Central). If your mobile site is slow or missing content, your whole site suffers — even desktop searches. What Google Expects Fast page loads Readable text without zooming Simple navigation with tappable elements Same content on mobile and desktop What Good Mobile Design Looks Like Navigation That’s Easy to Use Menus should be simple, with key pages reachable in two taps. Hidden or confusing menus frustrate visitors. Content That’s Readable Short paragraphs, clear headings, and bullet points make text scannable. Nobody wants to pinch and zoom to read your phone number. Layout That Fits Any Screen Responsive design adjusts layouts automatically for every screen size. This is now the industry standard (W3C). Why Professional Strategy Saves Time Running a business already takes everything you’ve got. Trying to DIY your website adds another job you don’t need. Professional website management means: 24/7 security monitoring Ongoing speed optimization Help whenever you need changes Strategic planning for site structure and conversions See our website design rates to learn what’s included. Common Mobile Website Questions [...]

How To Improve Website Loading Speed

Why Website Speed Matters When a page takes longer than three seconds to load, many visitors leave before it even finishes. Research shows the chance of someone leaving jumps by 32% when load time goes from one to three seconds (Think with Google). More than half of mobile users abandon pages that take longer than three seconds (Google/SOASTA). A faster site keeps visitors engaged, helps search rankings, and builds trust. If you’d like help with SEO, see our Affordable Search Engine Optimization page. How Fast Your Site Should Be Google’s Core Web Vitals suggest targets that keep pages feeling quick and stable: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): under 2.5 seconds Interaction to Next Paint (INP): under 200 ms Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): under 0.1 See details on web.dev — Core Web Vitals. Find What’s Slowing You Down Start with a speed test: Google PageSpeed Insights shows real-world data and clear suggestions. WebPageTest lets you see filmstrips and detailed waterfalls from different locations. Watch for common problems like oversized images, too many scripts loading, or slow hosting. Simple Fixes You Can Try Resize and compress images before uploading. Turn on caching so repeat visitors load pages faster. Clean up code by removing unused CSS or delaying scripts that aren’t needed right away. Upgrade hosting if your server responds slowly. Use a CDN to load files from servers closer to your visitors. Keep It Fast Over Time Check your site every few months, because small changes can add up: Review plugins and themes and remove what you don’t need. Compress new images before publishing. Run a speed test after big updates. If you want a hand, these resources can help: Website Care Plan for managed updates, backups, and performance checks. Free Website Audit & Speed Test to spot issues quickly. Book a [...]

How to Change a Domain Name Without Losing Your Customers

What Is A Domain Name: It's Kinda A Big Deal Changing your website's domain name is a big deal. It’s more than a quick technical switch; it’s like moving your entire business to a new street address. You must register the new domain, but you also need to make sure all the traffic from your old address gets forwarded to the new one. Managing the details of a domain change requires a steady, experienced hand. At The Affordable Web Guy, we handle the entire process to protect your brand's online presence and make sure the change is smooth and successful. Contact us today to get started. This process takes careful planning. You’ve worked hard to build up your search engine authority, and you definitely don’t want to lose that. Most of all, you need to make sure your customers can still find you without a problem. Deciding if a New Domain Is Right for Your Business Choosing to change your domain name is a major business decision, not just a tech problem to solve. It is a strategic move that can seriously affect your brand. Before you even think about the technical side, it’s smart to get clear on why you’re doing it. This clarity helps set your goals and lays the groundwork for a smooth process. Rebranding for a New Focus Businesses change over time. Maybe your company started with a specific service, but now you have expanded. If your domain name doesn’t reflect what you do anymore, a new one can bring some needed clarity. For example, a business called "BobsCustomBowls.com" now sells entire dishware sets, glassware, and flatware. That old name is holding them back. A new domain helps align the online identity with what is actually offered today. Sometimes the reason is simpler: you just [...]