Small Business Website Help Articles

Our team loves to share our thoughts, research, and experiences here on our blog. Please enjoy our articles and leave a comment to let us know what you think.

Announcing Upendo WIN: Website Improvements & Next-Level Support for Small Businesses

June 17, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

Small business success starts with a WIN online. But for most business owners, the problem isn’t knowing that - it’s knowing how.

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From Idea to Website Stability — We’ve Got You

May 13, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

Running a business today is harder than ever. Whether you’re solo or part of a team, one thing’s clear: it’s tough out there.

At Upendo Ventures, we’ve worked with countless business owners facing the same challenge: “We know we need to improve our website, but we don’t even know where to start.”

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Most Popular Posts

Your Website Isn’t the Finish Line — It’s the Launchpad for Your Marketing

October 16, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

A lot of small businesses stop at their website. They get it launched, breathe a sigh of relief, and move on. But your website shouldn’t be the end of your marketing story — it's supposed to be where it starts.

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Are Hashtags Dead on X? A 2025 Reality Check for Marketers

October 9, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

You’ve probably seen bold X (formerly Twitter) threads that proclaim “hashtags are dead” — or at least that they’re useless for serious marketers these days. The truth is more nuanced. Hashtags have lost their easy “hack” status, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely useless. They’ve just become one piece in a more complex discovery puzzle.

In this post, we’ll dig into the latest academic and industry evidence, explore how hashtags are abused, and show how marketing teams can still use them smartly.

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What Is Technical SEO (And Why Small Businesses Should Care)

October 11, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

If you’ve ever heard someone mention “technical SEO” and thought, that sounds complicated — you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: technical SEO isn’t just for big corporations or marketing experts.

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How to Use AI to Prepare for a Podcast Interview

June 18, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

AI doesn’t replace authenticity - it enhances it. Use tools like Claude & ChatGPT to prepare for your next podcast interview with clarity and confidence.

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What You Need to Know About the TLS 1.2 Update

March 11, 2018Will StrohlBusiness

Upendo Ventures on Security

There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about TLS compliance requirements. There’s good reason for this, because notable vendors that are known for being on the forefront of security such as Authorize.net, PayPal, and UPS began notifying their partners and vendors about two years ago. Everyone else began receiving similar notifications about a year ago. What does this all mean though?

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Top 5 Tips for Creating ChatGPT Prompts (Even If You're Not a Tech Person)

June 23, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

Here are the top 5 tips to help you get better, faster results from ChatGPT - no geek speak required.

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Top 3 Reasons Every Business Should Connect Their Website to a CRM

June 5, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

Imagine how much more money your business could be making - or saving - by letting your website do more of the heavy lifting.

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Preparing Your Customers for COVID-19

March 30, 2020Will StrohlBusiness

Upendo Ventures: Preparing Your Customers for COVID-19

This really is an unprecedented time we all find ourselves in. More and more, our respective jurisdictions are ordering us all to stay home. For many people, it’s simply not possible. Our grocers, hospital staff, and others must go into work still. There is another segment of us that can still run our business from home. Still, others might need to do both. Regardless, this article contains some critical tips for your company to remain helpful to your respective customer base. After all, we need to keep our businesses running.

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Hotcakes Commerce 03.02.02 is Here!

November 6, 2019Will StrohlTechnology

New Hotcakes Commerce Release

Our team has been working hard at delivering the next great release of Hotcakes Commerce. We primarily focused on some updates that both our support clients and the community really wanted. We’re very happy to announce that version 03.02.02 is ready for you and it brings with it some very popular updates.

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How to Do a Technical SEO Audit (Without the Tech Headache)

October 13, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

If your website isn’t showing up the way it should, the problem may be the “behind‑the‑scenes” setup. This guide explains—in plain English—how to check the most important technical SEO items so more customers can find you.

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Most Recent Posts

Your AI Keeps Forgetting. Here Is How Your Business Can Stop Paying for It.

July 18, 2026Will StrohlBusiness

AI tools promise to save time, but unreliable memory, limited file access, and disconnected project history can force businesses to repeat work, re-explain requirements, and correct preventable mistakes. This article explains what AI forgetfulness means for everyday business users and offers practical ways to preserve context, protect institutional knowledge, and reduce inefficiency.

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A Website Is Not a Checkbox. And This Conversation Proved Why.

February 22, 2026Will StrohlBusiness

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ranger Kielak, host of the South of SF podcast, for a conversation titled Your Website Isn’t a Checkbox: Building a Digital Presence That Actually Works.

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Featured by San Carlos Life: Feeling the Upendo

February 6, 2026Will StrohlBusiness

Every now and then, something happens that makes you pause and genuinely reflect. Feel the Upendo with us...

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Practical AI Training for Everyday People & Business Is Here

January 28, 2026Will StrohlBusiness

If you’re considering AI for your business and want guidance before committing to tools or processes, this AI training is a smart first step.

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A Year of Momentum, Trust, and Building What Actually Matters

January 21, 2026Will StrohlBusiness

As we look back on the past calendar year, one thing stands out more than anything else: this has been a year of trust.

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Cookies, Explained (Without the Tech Jargon)

January 7, 2026Will StrohlInternet

Cookies power the internet - but not the kind you eat... And, they have zero calories! Cookies play a small but important role in how websites work behind the scenes. Learn more...

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Finish the Year Strong (While Your Competitors Take Time Off)

October 29, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

While most businesses start to slow down toward the end of the year, this is actually one of the best times to take action.

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What It Means to Be a Growth-Focused Business Owner

October 23, 2025Will StrohlBusiness

Let’s be honest — not every small business owner is actually trying to grow. A lot of businesses are comfortable right where they are. They’re making enough to get by, their customers are loyal, and their website hasn’t changed in ten years… because, well, “it’s still working.”

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