https://russmg.com Practical, honest notes for electricians, plumbers and other local service businesses on getting found online, written by Russ Gohl. en-US https://russmg.com/notes/service-area-pages-that-help https://russmg.com/notes/service-area-pages-that-help Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT One page per city can help customers find you, but copy-pasted pages are a known spam pattern. Here is how to tell the difference. https://russmg.com/notes/questions-before-hiring-a-web-designer https://russmg.com/notes/questions-before-hiring-a-web-designer Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Who owns the site, what you pay each month, and what happens if you leave? Questions that protect a small business owner before signing. https://russmg.com/notes/getting-recommended-by-ai-assistants https://russmg.com/notes/getting-recommended-by-ai-assistants Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT People now ask AI tools for local recommendations. Nobody knows the full rules, but accurate information and real mentions help. Fake 'independent' sites don't. https://russmg.com/notes/google-business-profile-basics-for-trades https://russmg.com/notes/google-business-profile-basics-for-trades Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT How to set up and keep a Google Business Profile honest and useful if you work at customers' homes, including the service-area rules. https://russmg.com/notes/knowing-where-your-calls-come-from https://russmg.com/notes/knowing-where-your-calls-come-from Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Simple, low-cost ways to see whether your site, Google listing, ads or word of mouth bring in work, and the limits of each method. https://russmg.com/notes/how-customers-find-local-services-on-google https://russmg.com/notes/how-customers-find-local-services-on-google Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Google says local results depend on relevance, distance and prominence. Here is what each one means for a small trade business, in plain words. https://russmg.com/notes/asking-for-reviews-without-being-pushy https://russmg.com/notes/asking-for-reviews-without-being-pushy Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT A simple, honest way for trades to collect more reviews, and the review practices that can get your listing penalized. https://russmg.com/notes/what-goes-on-a-service-business-homepage https://russmg.com/notes/what-goes-on-a-service-business-homepage Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT A homepage for an electrician, plumber or landscaper has one job: help a worried person decide to call. Here is what belongs above the fold.