Practical marketing guidance for small businesses.
Explore practical guidance on advertising, websites, search visibility, analytics, AI, automation and lead generation. Cedar's insights are created to help established small businesses across the United States make clearer marketing decisions.
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- SEO and AEOJul 8, 2026 · 8 min read
AI Overviews: How Small Businesses Can Scale SEO Changes
Google is prioritizing AI-generated answers over traditional blue links, fundamentally changing how customers find your services online. Small businesses must shift from keyword-stuffing to providing verifiable, authoritative facts to maintain their search real estate.
Read Article → - Google AdsJul 7, 2026 · 6 min read
Campaign Mix Experiments: Testing Multiple Variables
Google has introduced Campaign Mix experiments via their API, allowing for simultaneous testing of up to five variables across multiple campaigns. For small businesses, this provides a sophisticated way to compare different tactical combinations without isolating a single change at a time.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJul 7, 2026 · 7 min read
AI Search: How Brands Are Now Used vs. Cited
AI search engines are pivoting from simple links to using your data to answer queries directly. Small businesses must shift their strategy to ensure they are both cited as a source and used as the definitive answer.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJul 7, 2026 · 8 min read
Google Ads in AI Overviews: What Small Businesses Need to Know
Google is integrating ads directly into AI Overviews to maintain monetization in the generative search era. For small businesses, this means your search ads must now prioritize informational intent and clear structure to win these new high-visibility placements.
Read Article → - Websites and ConversionJun 5, 2026 · 6 min read
How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in 2026?
Small business website costs range from free to $50,000+. Here's what you typically get at each price point - and how to decide what fits your business.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJun 4, 2026 · 5 min read
How Long Does SEO Take for a Small Business?
SEO is slower than ads but cheaper than ads forever. Here's a realistic timeline of what to expect month by month.
Read Article → - Websites and ConversionJun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
Landing Page Best Practices for Small Business Lead Generation
Landing page conversion rates vary widely by market, offer and traffic quality. Here's what stronger pages tend to do differently.
Read Article → - Websites and ConversionJun 4, 2026 · 4 min read
Landing Page vs Homepage: Which Should You Send Ads To?
If you're running ads to your homepage, you're paying twice what you should for every lead. Here's why - and the fix.
Read Article → - Google AdsJun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
Google Ads vs Local Service Ads: Which Wins for Small Business?
Google Ads and Local Service Ads look similar but work completely differently. Here's which one a small business should start with.
Read Article → - Google AdsJun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
How to Lower Your Google Ads Cost Per Click (Without Losing Leads)
Poor targeting, broad search terms and incomplete tracking can cause small businesses to pay for clicks that do not become qualified leads. Here are the levers that can lower CPC without losing leads.
Read Article → - Meta AdsJun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
Meta Ads for Small Business: A Beginner's Playbook (2026)
Meta Ads work great for small businesses with visual products and local appeal - if you skip the Boost Post button and run them right.
Read Article → - Meta AdsJun 4, 2026 · 5 min read
Facebook Ads vs Google Ads for Small Business: Which First?
Facebook or Google first? It depends entirely on whether your customers are searching for you or scrolling. Here's how to tell.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
Google AI Overviews: What They Mean for Small Business Traffic
AI-generated search results can reduce clicks to traditional listings for some queries. Here's how small businesses are adapting - and what's still working.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJun 4, 2026 · 5 min read
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) vs SEO: What's the Difference?
GEO, AEO, SEO - the acronyms are multiplying. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what they mean and where small businesses should spend their time.
Read Article → - Industry Marketing GuidesJun 3, 2026 · 7 min read
Google Ads for Contractors: A Beginner's Guide
Contractors waste thousands on Google Ads every month. Here's how to set up campaigns that actually book jobs - with the right keywords, bids, and landing pages.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJun 3, 2026 · 7 min read
Small Business SEO Checklist: 12 Steps That Move the Needle
Skip the 200-item SEO audits. These 12 actions cover the fundamentals a small business needs to start ranking on Google.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJun 3, 2026 · 7 min read
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO): The New SEO for Small Business
Answer Engine Optimization is the new SEO. Here's exactly how a small business website gets cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews.
Read Article → - AI and AutomationJun 3, 2026 · 6 min read
How to Show Up in ChatGPT and Perplexity for Small Business Searches
Customers are asking ChatGPT and Perplexity for recommendations instead of Googling. Here's exactly how to get your small business in those answers.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJun 2, 2026 · 8 min read
AI Search Is Changing How Customers Find You: What Small Businesses Should Do
AI search isn't coming - it's here. Google's AI Overviews, ChatGPT search, and Perplexity already answer questions without sending a click. Here's how small businesses stay visible.
Read Article → - SEO and AEOJun 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Local SEO for Small Business: A Practical Guide
Local SEO is the highest-ROI marketing channel most small businesses ignore. Here's exactly how to rank in Google Maps and get found by customers nearby.
Read Article → - Websites and ConversionJun 1, 2026 · 5 min read
WordPress vs Custom Website for Small Business: Honest Comparison
WordPress powers a large share of the web for good reasons - but it is not always the right call for small businesses. Here is the honest tradeoff.
Read Article → - Websites and ConversionMay 28, 2026 · 5 min read
Landing Page vs Website: Which Does Your Small Business Need?
Building a full website when you just need a landing page wastes weeks and thousands of dollars. Here's how to know which one your business actually needs.
Read Article → - Websites and ConversionMay 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Small Business Website Design: 9 Pages That Actually Convert
Most small business websites have too many pages and not enough of the right ones. Here are the nine that actually drive leads.
Read Article → - Industry Marketing GuidesMay 20, 2026 · 7 min read
Google Ads for Plumbers: A Practical Starter Guide
Plumbing is one of the highest-intent verticals on Google. Here's exactly how to set up campaigns that convert searches into booked jobs.
Read Article → - Google AdsMay 12, 2026 · 6 min read
How Much Should a Small Business Spend on Google Ads?
Most small businesses overthink ad budgets. Here's what actually works at $500, $1,500, and $3,000 per month - and how to know when to spend more.
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