Straight answers.
No fluff.

Pricing, process, and what small businesses actually need online. Written by Michael and Isaac, not a content team.

Pricing5 min read

How Much Does a Website Cost for a Small Business?

Real numbers, not ranges. Here's what a website actually costs in 2026, and what drives the price up or down.

March 15, 2026Read →

Small Business4 min

You Probably Don't Need a $10,000 Website

March 22, 2026→

Hiring5 min

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Web Designer

March 29, 2026→

Our Story4 min

Building a Web Agency While on Active Duty

Michael Stevenson is in the Army, in college full time, and runs Str8shift Digital on top of it. Here's why that background matters for the clients we work with.

April 5, 2026→

DIY vs. Pro5 min

Squarespace vs. Hiring a Web Designer: What's Actually the Difference?

Both get you a website. Here's when each makes sense, and when one is clearly the wrong choice.

April 12, 2026→

Process4 min

How Long Does It Take to Build a Website?

Real timelines for real projects. What affects the schedule, and what slows things down.

April 19, 2026→

Web Design5 min

What Makes a Good Small Business Website?

Five things that actually matter, and what most designers oversell.

April 27, 2026→

Small Business4 min

Do I Need a Website If I Already Have Instagram?

Instagram gets you followers. Here's what it can't do for your business.

May 4, 2026→

Web Design4 min

What Is a Landing Page (And Does Your Business Need One)?

A landing page is not a homepage. Here's the difference and when to use each.

May 11, 2026→

SEO6 min

Local SEO for Small Businesses: How to Show Up on Google

How Google decides who appears in local searches, and what you can actually control.

May 18, 2026→

Veterans5 min

Web Design for Veteran-Owned Businesses

Resources, discounts, and what to look for when building your veteran-owned business's online presence.

May 25, 2026→

Branding5 min

What Is Branding (And Why Does a Small Business Need It)?

Your logo isn't your brand. Here's what branding actually means and why it affects whether customers trust you.

June 1, 2026→

Our Story3 min

We Started This Before Our Car Insurance Dropped

We started Str8shift before either of us had run a client business. These are the mistakes that cost us the most time.

June 14, 2026→

Process4 min

Things We Wish Clients Knew Before Emailing Us

Not a complaint list. These are the things that make projects go better for everyone, and we figured explaining them once publicly was more efficient.

June 26, 2026→

Branding4 min