The Alectronic Journal

Plain-English notes on web design, local SEO, and small business IT. Search the archive, or start with this week’s cover story.

This week’s cover storyWeb Design
A person working at a desk with a large high-contrast display

Is Your Website Accessible? A Plain-English Guide for Small Business Owners

Accessibility sounds like a compliance chore until you realize how many customers it quietly turns away. Here's what it means, what it risks, and what it costs.

Alectronic Solutions7 min read
Read the story

Inside this article

  • 01Who This Actually Affects
  • 02The Legal Risk, Honestly
  • 03The Fixes That Cost Nothing
  • 04What Retrofitting Costs

From the archive

16 more articles to browse

A customer leaving a star rating on a phone at a cafe counter
Business Tips

How to Get More Customer Reviews Without Being Annoying

Most happy customers will leave a review if you ask once, at the right moment, and make it take thirty seconds. Here's the timing, the script, and the mistakes.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
A phone showing a loading spinner on a blank page
Web Design

Why Your Website Feels Slow (and What Actually Fixes It)

Slow sites lose customers before the page finishes loading. Here's what's actually causing the delay, how to measure it honestly, and which fixes are worth paying for.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
A laptop showing an email inbox in a dimly lit office at night
IT & Security

The Email Scam That Targets Small Businesses (and How to Stop It)

Most small business losses don't come from hackers breaking in. They come from an email that looks legitimate. Here's the scam and the four fixes that stop it.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
A shop owner holding a phone showing a map with a location pin
SEO

Your Google Business Profile Is Doing More Work Than Your Website

For most local searches, your Google Business Profile is the first thing a customer sees and often the only thing. Here's how to fill it out properly.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
A laptop and desktop monitor side by side displaying website dashboards
Web Design

Wix or Squarespace vs. Hiring a Professional: An Honest Comparison

DIY builders are cheap and fast. Professionals cost more and do more. Here's an honest breakdown of when each one is actually the right choice.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
Rows of server equipment racks in a data room
IT & Security

Small Business IT Support: What You Actually Need (and What You Don't)

Most small businesses don't need a full IT department, but 'nothing' isn't the right amount either. Here's what IT support actually covers and when to get it.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
A person reviewing a printed invoice beside a laptop showing a billing screen
Business Tips

Website Subscription vs. One-Time Cost: Which Actually Saves You Money?

Pay $5,000 once or $149 a month? Here's the honest math on website subscriptions versus one-time builds, including the costs nobody puts in the proposal.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
A row of small-town storefronts along a Central Valley main street
SEO

Online Marketing for Central Valley Small Businesses: Where to Start

From Lodi to Merced, Central Valley businesses face a different online landscape than the big metros. Here's where to focus first, and what to skip.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
Warning alert icon displayed over a laptop screen
IT & Security

What to Do If Your Website Gets Hacked: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide

If your website has been hacked, acting fast and in the right order matters. Here's exactly what to do to recover safely and prevent it from happening again.

Alectronic Solutions7 min read
Map pin icon over a city street representing local search results
SEO

Local SEO for Small Businesses: The Complete 2026 Checklist

Ranking in local search results takes more than a Google Business Profile. Here's the full local SEO checklist small businesses need to actually get found.

Alectronic Solutions7 min read
Old and new website mockups side by side on a designer's screen
Web Design

10 Signs Your Website Needs a Redesign in 2026

Not sure if your website is holding your business back? Here are 10 clear signs it's time for a redesign, and what to do about each one.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
Business owner reviewing charts and revenue numbers at a desk
Business Tips

Website ROI: How to Calculate What Your Website Should Be Making You

Most small business owners have no idea if their website is actually paying for itself. Here's a simple way to calculate real website ROI.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
Two business owners reviewing a website proposal on a tablet
Business Tips

How to Choose a Web Design Company: 9 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Picking a web design company is a bigger decision than most business owners realize. These 9 questions separate a good partner from a costly mistake.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
Person working on a laptop with security lock icon overlay
IT & Security

Small Business Website Security Checklist: 10 Things to Do Right Now

Most small business websites have at least 3 of these security gaps. Here's a plain-English checklist to protect your site and your customers.

Alectronic Solutions7 min read
Google search results on a laptop screen
SEO

Why Your Small Business Website Isn't Showing Up on Google

If customers can't find you on Google, you're losing business every single day. Here are the most common reasons and exactly how to fix them.

Alectronic Solutions6 min read
Laptop showing website analytics dashboard on a clean desk
Web Design

How Much Does a Website Cost for a Small Business in 2026?

From DIY builders to full-service agencies, here's what small businesses actually pay for a website and what you get for the money.

Alectronic Solutions5 min read

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