Practical guides for growing online.
Articles from the Cloud9 team on web design, SEO, GEO, content and branding — new guides published regularly.
Schema Markup Explained for Business Owners (No Code Required)
Structured data helps search engines and AI systems understand your business accurately instead of guessing. What it is, and how to add it yourself.
September 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Keyword Research Without Expensive Tools
You do not need a paid subscription to find out what your customers actually search for. Here is how to do useful keyword research with what is already free.
September 24, 2026 · 4 min read
Website Maintenance and Security: What It Actually Includes
A website is never finished. Here is what proper maintenance covers, and the basic security habits that stop most common attacks.
September 15, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Choose a Web Design Agency: 10 Questions
The right agency is a long-term partner. Ask these ten questions before you sign anything.
September 7, 2026 · 3 min read
WordPress vs Custom Development: How to Choose
Both can be excellent. Here is how to decide which approach fits your goals, budget and team.
September 1, 2026 · 3 min read
SEO Basics for Small Businesses: Where to Start
You do not need a huge budget to start with SEO. This beginner’s guide covers the fundamentals that matter most.
August 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Marketing for Trades and Renovation Companies
Electricians, flooring installers, plumbers and renovators win work when customers can find, trust and call them fast.
August 20, 2026 · 3 min read
Google Business Profile Optimization Guide
For local businesses, your Google Business Profile is often the first impression. Here is how to make it work harder.
August 10, 2026 · 4 min read
Product Page and Checkout Essentials That Turn Browsers Into Buyers
Shoppers decide within seconds whether to trust an online store. These are the product-page and checkout details that make the answer yes.
August 6, 2026 · 4 min read
Brand Strategy: What It Is and How to Start
Brand strategy is more than a logo. Learn the building blocks and a simple way to begin defining yours.
July 27, 2026 · 3 min read
Core Web Vitals in Plain English: What They Measure and How to Fix Them
Google measures three things about how a page feels to visit. Here is what they mean, how to check your own site, and how to fix the common causes.
July 21, 2026 · 5 min read
12 Signs It Is Time to Redesign Your Website
A redesign is a big decision. These twelve signals tell you whether your current site is holding your business back.
July 13, 2026 · 4 min read
Local SEO Guide for Vancouver and California Businesses
How to win “near me” searches: Google Business Profile, local pages, reviews and citations — with examples for both markets.
July 8, 2026 · 3 min read
Website Accessibility Basics: A Practical Guide for Small Business Sites
Accessible sites reach more people and tend to work better for everyone else too. Start with these practical fundamentals.
July 1, 2026 · 5 min read
Migrating a Website Without Losing Your SEO Rankings
A redesign or platform change can wipe out years of earned rankings in a weekend if it is done carelessly. Use this checklist before, during and after you launch.
June 25, 2026 · 4 min read
A Technical SEO Audit Checklist You Can Actually Use Today
Great content cannot rank if search engines cannot crawl or trust the page it sits on. Work through this list to catch what quietly holds a site back.
June 16, 2026 · 4 min read
What Is GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and Why Your Business Needs It
People increasingly ask AI assistants instead of searching. Here is what GEO is, how it differs from SEO, and how to start.
June 10, 2026 · 5 min read
Multilingual SEO: How to Build a Site That Ranks in Every Language You Serve
Canada, California and much of Europe are multilingual markets. Here is how to structure a site that genuinely ranks in more than one language.
June 1, 2026 · 3 min read
The On-Page SEO Checklist for Every Page
Run every page through this checklist before you publish. It covers the fundamentals search engines expect.
May 28, 2026 · 4 min read
More from Cloud9
- Glossary66 web, SEO and GEO terms explained in plain English.
- Free checklistsWebsite redesign, local SEO and launch checklists as PDFs.
- Website cost guideWhat drives the price of a website, plus a quick estimator.
- IndustriesTrades, renovation, flooring, professional services and e-commerce.
- Free SEO toolsNine free tools: snippet preview, keyword checker, schema, sitemap and more.
- Free SEO analysisA senior specialist reviews your site and sends a plain-language report.
- Client projectsReal websites we have built for businesses in Canada, the US and Europe.
- Service areasLocal expertise across Greater Vancouver and California.
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