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Field notes on search and automation.

Practical articles on AI agents, SEO, link building and getting cited in AI answers. Each one ends with something you can do this week.

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Latest · AI AutomationOct 19, 20267 min read

How to build an agentic OS for a small business: the order I'd build it in

How to build an agentic OS for a small business, in seven steps from a real build: memory first, the approval gate second, then one agent at a time.

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12 articles

AI AutomationOct 19, 20267 min read

How to build an agentic OS for a small business: the order I'd build it in

How to build an agentic OS for a small business, in seven steps from a real build: memory first, the approval gate second, then one agent at a time.

AI AutomationOct 19, 20266 min read

Obsidian as memory for AI agents: how my agents share one brain

Obsidian memory for AI agents, from a real system: what goes in the vault, how agents find the right note, and the mistake that left notes disconnected.

AI AutomationOct 19, 20266 min read

Running AI agents on free models: what 735 real runs taught me

Free AI models for agents, tested on real work: over half my agent runs went through free routes. What worked, what failed, and the checks that keep it usable.

AI AutomationOct 19, 20267 min read

Why AI agents fail: what 328 failures in 1,346 real runs show

Why AI agents fail, from a real log: I counted every failed run in my own agent system, 328 of 1,346. Busy models and dropped connections led, not bad prompts.

AI AutomationOct 14, 20267 min read

AI agents vs automation: which does your business actually need?

AI agents vs automation: a plain comparison for small business owners, with what each is good for, what they cost and how to keep control.

SEOOct 14, 20268 min read

Is Link Building Worth It for Small Business?

Is link building worth it for small business? Yes, when the links point at pages worth citing. Here is how I decide, what it costs and what to fix first.

SEOOct 12, 20267 min read

SEO Retainer vs Project Pricing: Which Fits a Small Business?

Choosing between seo retainer vs project pricing? Devian Chard sets out what each option suits, what SEO retainers cost, and how to decide.

AI SearchOct 11, 20268 min read

AI Search Optimization for Small Business: What Changes, What It Costs, and What to Fix First

AI search optimization for small business, explained plainly: what changes, what it costs, and what to fix first, from consultant Devian Chard.

SEOOct 10, 20267 min read

Link Building Cost Per Link: What I Charge and Why

Link building cost per link is $240 to $495 on my price list. Here is what that buys, how it sits with SEO retainers, and how I quote.

SEOOct 9, 20267 min read

How Much Does SEO Cost Per Month for a Small Business?

How much does SEO cost per month for a small business? Here are my real prices: retainers of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,200 a month, and what each includes.

AI AutomationOct 1, 20267 min read

What Can AI Automate in a Small Business?

What can AI automate in a small business? The repeating admin: inbox triage, quoting, follow-ups, invoicing, reporting. Here is what to automate first.

AI AutomationSep 28, 20268 min read

AI Agents for Small Business Examples: What They Look Like and What They Cost

Real AI agents for small business examples, what each one costs to run, and how to pick the first one to build with a lean team.

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