Home
Guides

Digital marketing guides

Practical guides to websites, SEO and ads

Guides to web design, SEO, Google Ads, social media and branding, drawn from the websites and campaigns we build and run for clients.

Written by James Gleeson, Managing Director of Everblue Digital.

Latest guide

Strategy 27 September 2026 6 min read

Changing agency? What you need to own before you leave

The accounts, logins and files your business should own before you change web or marketing agency, and how to hand over without losing yo…

Read the guide

Browse by topic

All guides

Every guide we've published, newest first.

Web design 27 September 2026 6 min read

How much does a website cost in the UK?

Typical UK market prices for a website, from DIY builders to freelancers and agencies, plus what pushes a quote up and the running costs…

Read the guide

Software 27 September 2026 6 min read

Custom CRM development cost, and when building your own makes sense

What a custom CRM typically costs to build, what off-the-shelf software costs per user, and how to tell when building your own is worth it.

Read the guide

Strategy 27 September 2026 5 min read

Moving company lead generation without shared leads

How movers can bring in their own inquiries through their website, Google Business Profile, reviews and ads, instead of buying leads that…

Read the guide

Paid ads 27 September 2026 5 min read

How much does Google Ads management cost in Ireland?

Typical Google Ads management fees in Ireland, the ways agencies charge, what the fee should cover and the questions that show whether it…

Read the guide

SEO 27 September 2026 5 min read

AI SEO: how to show up in ChatGPT and AI Overviews

What AI SEO means for a local business, how ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews choose their sources, and the practical steps that make you…

Read the guide

SEO 27 September 2026 6 min read

How much does SEO cost in Ireland?

Typical market prices for SEO in Ireland, how agencies charge, what a monthly retainer should cover and the warning signs in cheap SEO pa…

Read the guide

Strategy 12 March 2026 10 min read

AI Marketing Tools for Small Businesses: What Actually Works in 2026

A practical guide to the best AI marketing tools for small businesses in 2026. What works, what's overhyped, and how to get real results…

Read the guide

SEO 5 March 2026 14 min read

SEO Trends 2026: What Actually Matters for Your Business

Cut through the noise. These are the SEO trends for 2026 that will drive real results - from AI Overviews and E-E-A-T to local SEO and Co…

Read the guide

Paid ads 26 February 2026 10 min read

TikTok Ads for Irish Businesses: Is It Worth the Investment?

A practical guide to TikTok ads for Irish businesses. Learn about ad formats, costs, targeting, and whether TikTok advertising is right f…

Read the guide

Paid ads 19 February 2026 11 min read

Meta Ads for Small Businesses: Facebook & Instagram Advertising Guide

A practical guide to Facebook and Instagram ads for small businesses. Learn how to use Meta Ads Manager, set budgets, target audiences, a…

Read the guide

Strategy 12 February 2026 11 min read

Digital marketing strategy for Irish SMEs

A practical digital marketing strategy guide for Irish SMEs, covering budget allocation, channel selection and frameworks for businesses…

Read the guide

Strategy 5 February 2026 10 min read

Online Reputation Management for Irish Businesses: A Practical Guide

A practical guide to online reputation management for Irish businesses. Learn how to manage Google reviews, respond to negative feedback,…

Read the guide

Strategy 29 January 2026 10 min read

Google Analytics 4 for Small Businesses: What to Track and Why

A practical GA4 guide for small businesses. Learn which Google Analytics reports actually matter, how to set up key events, and what to t…

Read the guide

Social media 22 January 2026 10 min read

Social Media Marketing for Irish Restaurants: A Complete Guide

A practical guide to social media marketing for restaurants in Ireland - covering Instagram, TikTok, Google Business Profile, reviews, an…

Read the guide

Content 15 January 2026 10 min read

Video Marketing for Small Businesses: Getting Started Without a Big Budget

A practical guide to video marketing for small businesses. Learn what equipment you need, which platforms to use, and how to create effec…

Read the guide

Content 8 January 2026 12 min read

Content Marketing Ireland: A Strategy Guide for SMEs

A practical content marketing guide for Irish businesses, covering which formats work, how to build a strategy on a real budget and how t…

Read the guide

Content 1 January 2026 13 min read

Email Marketing for Small Business: What Works in 2026

A practical email marketing guide for small businesses. List building, automation, GDPR compliance, platform picks, and emails people act…

Read the guide

Social media 25 December 2025 11 min read

Social Media Strategy: A No-Nonsense Guide for Businesses

Build a social media strategy that drives real business results. Platform selection, content planning, paid vs organic, and how to measur…

Read the guide

Strategy 18 December 2025 7 min read

How to get more Google reviews: a simple system

A simple system for getting more Google reviews: when to ask, how to make it take seconds, how to reply to bad reviews and which shortcut…

Read the guide

Strategy 11 December 2025 13 min read

Google Ads vs SEO: Which Should You Invest In?

Google Ads vs SEO compared in practical terms, with typical 12-month costs, realistic timelines and when each one makes sense for your bu…

Read the guide

Paid ads 4 December 2025 14 min read

Google Ads for Small Business: The Beginner's Guide

New to Google Ads? This beginner's guide covers how the auction works, which campaigns to start with, realistic budgets, and when to hire…

Read the guide

Paid ads 27 November 2025 11 min read

Google Ads Mistakes: 8 Budget-Killers and How to Fix Them

The most common Google Ads mistakes we see draining SME budgets every month, with a practical fix for each one.

Read the guide

Strategy 20 November 2025 11 min read

Conversion Rate Optimisation: The Practical CRO Guide

What is conversion rate optimisation? A practical CRO guide with a website checklist, worked examples and the fixes that make the biggest…

Read the guide

Web design 13 November 2025 7 min read

Website lead generation: why your site gets no enquiries

Your website looks fine but brings in no enquiries. Here are the ten problems we find most often, in the order we check them, and the fix…

Read the guide

Web design 6 November 2025 10 min read

Shopify vs WooCommerce: Which Is Right for Your Irish Business?

Shopify vs WooCommerce compared for Irish businesses, with typical costs, pros and cons, and a practical decision framework from an agenc…

Read the guide

Web design 30 October 2025 10 min read

WordPress vs Squarespace vs Custom-Built: Which Website Platform Is Right for Your Business?

Comparing WordPress, Squarespace, and custom-built websites to help Irish businesses choose the right platform based on budget, goals, an…

Read the guide

Web design 23 October 2025 6 min read

When to redesign your website, and how to do it without losing your Google rankings

The signs it's time for a website redesign, and a step-by-step checklist for redirects, launch and the weeks after, so a new website keep…

Read the guide

Web design 16 October 2025 12 min read

Website Maintenance: What It Costs and Why It Matters

A straightforward guide to website maintenance costs in Ireland: what's included, what the market typically charges, and what happens whe…

Read the guide

Web design 9 October 2025 16 min read

Website Speed and Conversion Rate: The Real Impact

Slow websites kill conversions. See the real data on how page speed affects your conversion rate, plus step-by-step fixes for Core Web Vi…

Read the guide

Web design 2 October 2025 9 min read

How Much Does a Website Cost in Ireland? 2026 Pricing Guide

A practical breakdown of typical website costs in Ireland for 2026: market price ranges from brochure sites to e-commerce, what affects c…

Read the guide

Web design 25 September 2025 12 min read

How to Choose a Web Design Agency in Ireland (2026)

Choosing a web design agency in Ireland? A practical guide to portfolios, pricing, red flags, and the questions to ask before signing any…

Read the guide

SEO 18 September 2025 13 min read

Ecommerce SEO: How to Get Your Online Store Ranking

The complete ecommerce SEO guide for Shopify and WooCommerce. Product pages, site structure, technical SEO, and content strategies that d…

Read the guide

SEO 11 September 2025 12 min read

Local SEO strategy for Irish businesses: a practical guide

The complete local SEO guide for Irish businesses. Covers Google Business Profile, citations, reviews, Maps rankings, and location pages…

Read the guide

SEO 4 September 2025 12 min read

SEO for small businesses in Ireland: a practical guide

A plain-English SEO guide for Irish small businesses, covering local SEO, Google Business Profile, on-page basics, common mistakes and wh…

Read the guide

Branding 28 August 2025 11 min read

Building a Brand That Stands Out: A Small Business Guide

Your brand is far more than a logo. This practical guide walks small business owners through every step of building a brand that stands o…

Read the guide

Branding 21 August 2025 12 min read

Brand Identity Guide: How to Build a Brand That Works

A brand is more than a logo. This brand identity guide walks you through strategy, visual systems, and voice - with real examples from ou…

Read the guide

Strategy 14 August 2025 10 min read

Digital Marketing for Tradesmen in Ireland: A Practical Guide for Plumbers, Electricians, and Builders

Practical digital marketing advice for Irish tradesmen. Learn how plumbers, electricians, and builders can get more leads through website…

Read the guide

Strategy 7 August 2025 11 min read

Restaurant Marketing Beyond Social Media - A Complete Guide

A practical guide to restaurant marketing covering local SEO, Google Ads, review management, email marketing, website optimisation, and m…

Read the guide

Strategy 31 July 2025 10 min read

Marketing for Professional Services: A Practical Guide for Accountants, Solicitors, and Consultants

A practical guide to marketing for accountants, solicitors, and consultants in Ireland. Covers local SEO, Google Business Profile, conten…

Read the guide

Strategy 24 July 2025 12 min read

Hotel & B&B Marketing in Ireland: How to Get More Direct Bookings

A practical guide for Irish hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs on reducing OTA dependency and driving more direct bookings through website opt…

Read the guide

Web design 17 July 2025 10 min read

Core Web Vitals Explained - What Irish Business Owners Need to Know

A plain-English guide to Core Web Vitals (LCP, INP, and CLS) for Irish business owners. Learn what each metric measures, what good scores…

Read the guide

SEO 10 July 2025 12 min read

Structured Data for Small Business Websites: A Practical Guide

Learn what structured data and schema markup actually do for small business SEO, which schema types matter most, and how to implement JSO…

Read the guide

Web design 3 July 2025 11 min read

Why Your Website Is Slow (And How to Fix It)

Your website is losing visitors and revenue every second it takes to load. Here are the 10 most common causes of slow websites and exactl…

Read the guide

Strategy 26 June 2025 10 min read

GDPR for Irish Websites: A Practical Guide for Business Owners

A practical guide to GDPR compliance for Irish business websites. Cookie consent, privacy policies, email marketing, Google Analytics, an…

Read the guide

Strategy 19 June 2025 10 min read

Small Business Grants for Digital Marketing in Ireland (2026 Guide)

The Trading Online Voucher is gone. Here is what actually replaced it and every grant Irish small businesses can use to fund websites, SE…

Read the guide

SEO 12 June 2025 12 min read

How to Set Up Google Business Profile for Irish Businesses - Step by Step

A complete step-by-step guide to setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile for Irish businesses. Covers verification, Eircod…

Read the guide

Strategy 5 June 2025 11 min read

Hiring In-House vs Agency for Digital Marketing: Which Makes Sense?

A cost comparison of hiring in-house marketing staff versus working with an agency in Ireland, covering salary data, hidden costs, and wh…

Read the guide

Web design 29 May 2025 12 min read

Webflow vs WordPress in 2026 - Which Should You Choose?

A comparison of Webflow and WordPress in 2026 covering pricing, SEO, design flexibility, performance, e-commerce, security, and which pla…

Read the guide

Strategy 22 May 2025 10 min

How to Measure Marketing ROI - A No-Nonsense Guide for Small Businesses

Most small businesses measure marketing wrong. Learn how to track real ROI across SEO, PPC, social media, and email - with practical tool…

Read the guide

Paid ads 15 May 2025 12 min read

Google Ads not working? A troubleshooting guide

A practical troubleshooting guide for Google Ads campaigns that aren't delivering results. Covers the 10 most common problems - from brok…

Read the guide

Free website audit

See how your site shows up on Google for what you sell

Send us your website and we'll look it over before a free 20-minute call, then walk you through the changes in order of priority. If the site is in good shape, we'll tell you so.

Get my free audit Book a 20-minute call