Answers
Westhampton Beach, New York
Straight answers.
Local context.
The questions Long Island business owners ask us most about websites, Google, local search and AI, answered plainly with real numbers and sources. Written and kept current by Eric C.
Websites
Cost, platforms, upkeep and the rules.
- How much does a website cost on Long Island?Typically $1,000–$10,000 to build, plus $50–$300 a month. Prices by type of build.
- How much does website maintenance cost?Typically $50–$300 a month. What a care plan should include, and the cost of skipping one.
- How much does a website redesign cost, and when should you redesign?Refresh vs. full redesign, the signs it’s time, and how to keep your rankings through it.
- WordPress vs. Squarespace for a small businessSquarespace is easier and all-in; WordPress is more flexible and portable. How to choose.
- Does my small business website need to be ADA compliant?The DOJ’s position, why New York leads in lawsuits, WCAG in plain terms, and why overlays fail.
Google & reviews
Your Business Profile, Maps and reviews.
- Why isn’t my business showing up on Google Maps?A 10-step checklist, built on Google’s own ranking factors.
- How do you respond to Google reviews?Reply templates for 5-star, mixed and 1-star reviews, and what never to say.
- Can you remove a bad Google review?What Google removes, how to report and appeal, extortion scams, and the FTC’s fake-review rule.
- My Google Business Profile was suspended. How do I get it back?Why profiles get suspended, how the appeal works, and what evidence to gather.
Local SEO
Showing up when neighbors search.
- How long does local SEO take, and what does it cost?Early movement in 30–90 days, clear gains in 3–6 months, and what it typically costs.
- SEO for roofers: how roofing companies get found on GoogleCategories, page structure, storm-driven demand and license-number rules for roofers.
- SEO for HVAC companies: how heating and cooling contractors get found on GoogleA seasonal plan: be ready before the heat waves and cold snaps, not during them.
- SEO for plumbers: how plumbing companies get found on GoogleWinning urgent map-pack searches: categories, a page per job, and never missing a call.
- SEO for landscapers: how landscaping companies get found on GoogleThe landscaping calendar: prep for the spring rush, use the winter, follow Long Island’s rules.
AI search
Getting named by ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity and AI Overviews.
- How do I get ChatGPT to recommend my business?How AI assistants pick local businesses, and an 8-step playbook to be one of them.
- AEO vs. GEO vs. SEO: what’s the difference?What each term means, where they overlap, and what a local business should actually do.
- Is SEO dead because of AI?No, but it changed. The click data, what still works locally, and what to stop doing.
AI receptionist & automation
Answering every call and following up automatically.
East End marketing
Seasonal towns, year-round businesses.
Around the East End
What we see town by town.
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