InsightsNotes from the studio

Notes on growth, craft & code.

No fluff, no jargon — just how we think about marketing, engineering and AI for businesses that intend to grow.

Engineering

MERN vs Next.js — which stack your business website actually needs

MERN is powerful, but for most business websites it is the wrong default. Here is how we decide between a MERN application and a Next.js site, and why the answer is usually Next.js.

29 Jun 2026 · 5 min read

AI & Automation

AI chatbots for local businesses — what actually works in 2026

Most business chatbots annoy customers and lose leads. Here is the small set of things an AI assistant must do well to be worth installing for a local business.

29 Jun 2026 · 4 min read

Strategy

The seven-second test every business website should pass

A stranger should understand what you do, who it is for, and what to do next — in seven seconds. Most business websites fail this test. Here is how to fix yours.

28 Jun 2026 · 4 min read