Insights & Strategy

The Engine Room

Practical insights on performance marketing, privacy-first tracking, AI automation and growth strategy — written for SME businesses.

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Should I be optimising my business for ChatGPT citations instead of Google rankings?

Should you optimise for ChatGPT citations or Google rankings? Get the data-driven answer from 20 years of client work plus actionable strategies for both.

27 April 2026 · 1 MIN READRead article →
Should I be optimising my business for ChatGPT citations instead of Google rankings?
The Middle-Funnel Massacre: Why AI is eating your content clicks while Google Ads costs explode
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The Middle-Funnel Massacre: Why AI is eating your content clicks while Google Ads costs explode

AI Overviews are absorbing content clicks while driving up Google Ads costs. Learn how to rebuild your growth engine for AI-first search results.

22 April 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Stop working in your Google Ads. Start working on them.
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Stop working in your Google Ads. Start working on them.

Google's automation requires enhanced conversions, Customer Match, and value-based bidding. Stop manual keyword management — start strategic data architecture.

14 April 2026 · 1 MIN READ
The 70/30 Content Rule: Why I stopped chasing Google rankings and started building actual authority
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The 70/30 Content Rule: Why I stopped chasing Google rankings and started building actual authority

Why I shifted from ranking-focused content to 70% perspective pieces, 30% guides. AI Overviews changed everything. Here's what works now for UK businesses.

14 April 2026 · 1 MIN READ
First-Party Data: Stop renting customer insights and start owning them
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First-Party Data: Stop renting customer insights and start owning them

Stop renting customer data from platforms. First-party tracking through server-side setup, CRM integration & consent management cuts cost per lead 20-40%.

7 April 2026 · 1 MIN READ
How to identify AI Overview traffic that's wasting your time (and what to do about it)
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How to identify AI Overview traffic that's wasting your time (and what to do about it)

Discover how AI Overview traffic inflates Search Console impressions while killing revenue. Learn to spot the patterns and fix your search strategy today.

3 April 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Why I'm ditching HubSpot for Twenty - and why you might want to consider it too
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Why I'm ditching HubSpot for Twenty - and why you might want to consider it too

Performance specialist explains why he's switching from HubSpot to Twenty CRM - data ownership, reduced complexity, and better UK compliance. Read the full analysis.

2 April 2026 · 1 MIN READ
The Middle Funnel Vanishing Act: Where Google's answer engine killed your customer journey
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The Middle Funnel Vanishing Act: Where Google's answer engine killed your customer journey

Google's answer engine eliminated middle funnel touchpoints where prospects build trust. Click-through rates dropped 40%+. Here's how to diversify beyond Google dependency.

31 March 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Why I'm telling SME clients to ditch WordPress for Next.js (even though 43.5% of websites still use it)
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Why I'm telling SME clients to ditch WordPress for Next.js (even though 43.5% of websites still use it)

WordPress costs UK SMEs more in lost conversions than Next.js costs to build. Here's why 20+ years of client data shows Next.js wins for growth-focused businesses.

23 March 2026 · 1 MIN READ
The Three-Model Truth: How GA4 hides last-click, first-click and data-driven in plain sight
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The Three-Model Truth: How GA4 hides last-click, first-click and data-driven in plain sight

GA4 uses three attribution models simultaneously - sessions use last-click, users use first-click, events use data-driven. Learn how to decode your reports.

23 March 2026 · 1 MIN READ
The Great Search Shift: How I'm rebuilding my lead funnel after Google killed the old one
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The Great Search Shift: How I'm rebuilding my lead funnel after Google killed the old one

Google's 2025 updates killed traditional lead funnels. Here's how I rebuilt mine with 3 pillars: traffic diversification, conversion alignment, and revenue tracking. Learn the exact framework.

23 March 2026 · 1 MIN READ