SEO isn’t dead — but it has changed. With AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews reshaping how people find businesses, ranking on Google alone is no longer enough. We break down SEO, AEO, and GEO — and what your business needs to do right now to stay visible in an AI-powered search world.

The truth about what branding actually sells, and why most small businesses are missing the whole point. Let’s get one thing straight before we go any further: nobody woke up this morning and thought, “Wow, I really love that sans-serif font. I’m going to give them my money.” Not a single soul. And yet here […]

Building a successful brand starts with foundations, not aesthetics. Before investing heavily in brand photography or social media marketing, small businesses should prioritize a website, email list, and simple marketing systems that make it easy for customers to find, trust, and buy from them.

“Fractional CMO” has become one of those titles you start seeing everywhere once you hit a certain level in business. A buzz word, if you will. Revenue plateaus. Your team feels busy but growth feels inconsistent. You’re investing in marketing, but it’s not compounding the way it should. Someone inevitably says, “You probably need a […]

By Alissa Stennett Most people think a social media strategy starts with content. It doesn’t. It starts with clarity. Clarity on where your business actually is right now. Clarity on where you’re trying to go. Clarity on how your brand should feel, sound, and show up online. At Studio West, we don’t just jump in […]

A beautiful website is nice. But if it’s not optimized for SEO, structured for AI, designed intentionally for mobile, and built with clear calls to action — it’s just wallpaper. Social media may get attention, but your website is your foundation. And foundation is what actually builds a business.

What if small businesses stopped saying “we can’t offer that” and started building benefits that actually support real life? I’m sharing why I expanded profit sharing, healthcare coverage, sabbaticals, and PTO at Studio West — and why it matters more than we think.

By Alissa Stennett Most founders want a number. How many times a week should I post?What’s the ideal time?Is three times enough? Is five better? Should I be posting every day? And here’s the truth no one really wants to admit. There isn’t a universal answer. If social media feels confusing in this area, it’s […]

SEO built the foundation—but AEO is changing how people actually find and choose businesses. As search shifts from keywords to real questions (and AI starts answering them), brands that lead with clarity—not fluff—are the ones getting picked. If your marketing feels solid but results feel soft, this quiet shift might be why.

Trends don’t build brands — consistency does. If your marketing strategy lives and dies by whatever sound, hook, or aesthetic is trending this week, your brand is running on borrowed time. Chasing trends doesn’t make you more legitimate; it makes your message forgettable. This is your permission slip to step off the trend treadmill and build a brand that actually lasts.