Field Notes
On web design, honestly.
Notes from the studio — what AI changed, what it didn’t, what we ship, what we won’t. Written for Greater Montreal small-business owners shopping for a real website.
Studio transmission log
Wix vs Custom Website: The Real 5-Year Cost (2026)
Wix advertises $16/month. The 5-year math is closer to $1,560 — and that's without the apps you'll end up needing. Here's the honest side-by-side, with a live calculator you can run yourself.
Read transmissionThe Best Wix Alternatives for Small Business (2026)
Outgrown Wix or just tired of the monthly bill? Here are the real alternatives — Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify, WordPress, and custom code — with a straight answer on which fits you.
Webflow vs Custom Website: Real 5-Year Cost (2026)
Webflow is the best of the builders — and still a subscription you never own. Here is the honest 5-year cost against custom code, where Webflow wins, and where owning your code wins.
Squarespace vs Custom Website: Real 5-Year Cost (2026)
Squarespace looks like $16/month. For a real business site it is closer to $26–$55/month — and you never own it. Here is the honest 5-year math against custom code, with a live calculator.
WordPress in 2026: Still Worth It? (vs a Custom Site)
WordPress powers much of the web, but "free" hides real costs: hosting, plugins, maintenance, and the security treadmill. Here is the honest 2026 comparison against a custom build.
Shopify vs a Custom Store: The Real Cost (2026)
Shopify is excellent at what it does — and it charges monthly plus a cut of every sale. Here is the honest cost of a Shopify store vs a custom-built one, and which fits your business.
Website Not Showing Up on Google? 9 Reasons & Fixes
If you cannot find your own site on Google, one of nine things is usually wrong. Here is how to diagnose each — from "not indexed yet" to "accidentally blocked" — and how to fix it.
How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026? (Real Numbers)
DIY builder, freelancer, agency, or one-time custom build — here are the real 2026 numbers, the recurring costs nobody quotes, and a calculator to price your own scenario.
The Montreal HVAC Website Playbook (2026)
Heating dies in January, AC quits in July — and the customer calls whoever shows up first on their phone. Here is what a Montreal HVAC business needs to win that call, year-round.
llms.txt & Schema: Get Your Site Cited by AI (2026)
The practical follow-up to "get cited by AI": exactly what to add to your site — structured data, answer-first copy, a real FAQ, an llms.txt file, and a crawler allowlist — and in what order.
Pay Once, Own It: One-Time vs Monthly Websites (2026)
A monthly website is rent: stop paying and it disappears. A one-time build is a purchase you own. Here is the real five-year math and what "ownership" actually means.
The Montreal Restaurant Website Playbook (2026)
A hungry customer decides in seconds. Here is what a Montreal restaurant’s website needs — a real menu, easy reservations, and a Google presence — to win the table instead of the place next door.
The Montreal Salon & Barbershop Website Playbook (2026)
For a salon or barbershop, the website has one job: fill the chair. Here is what a Montreal shop needs — instant booking, a real service menu, and a look that matches the room.
Core Web Vitals in 2026: Why Speed Decides Ranking
Google measures how fast and stable your site feels, and factors it into ranking. Here is what Core Web Vitals actually are, why a slow site quietly loses customers, and how to fix it.
The Montreal Contractor Website Playbook (2026)
A contractor’s website has one job: turn a search into a phone call. Here is exactly what a Montreal plumber, electrician, or trades business needs to get found and get booked.
Get Cited by ChatGPT & AI Search: A 2026 Guide
People increasingly ask ChatGPT and Google AI instead of scrolling ten blue links. Here is how to make your business one of the sources those answers actually cite.
How to Actually Rank on Google as a Montreal Small Business (2026)
Ranking isn't a black box and it isn't about hacks. It's about doing five specific things — the same five things — that nine in ten Montreal small-business sites skip. Here's the honest playbook.
How AI Is Reshaping Web Design for Montreal Businesses in 2026
The real shift isn't "AI built this site." It's that one experienced developer can now ship what used to take a 6-person agency.
What Does a Custom Website Cost in Montreal? (2026 Honest Pricing)
Most agencies hide their pricing. Wix publishes theirs but charges for every basic feature. Here's what a custom site actually costs in Greater Montreal — and what you should walk away from.
Why Lighthouse 100 Isn't Magic — It's a Deliberate Choice
Most websites score 30–60 on mobile. The ones ranking score 70–90. Hitting 100 is engineering discipline, not wizardry — and honestly, most agencies don't bother.
Templates Are Dying. Here's What's Replacing Them for Small Businesses.
For five years, Wix and Squarespace templates were the answer for cheap small-business websites. They're not anymore — and the reasons should change how you spend your next budget.
5 Signs Your Montreal Small-Business Website Is Hurting You
Most owners with bad websites don't know it. You launched 3 years ago, it looks "fine" to you, and you assume new customers find you via Instagram. Here are 5 signs that's wrong.
From Brief to Launch in 14 Days: Behind a Real AI-Assisted Build
Last month we built a full e-commerce storefront for a Montreal eyewear brand — brief on Monday, live two weeks later. Here's every day of the build, including what AI did and didn't do.
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