Thornapple Tech

Thornapple Tech Websites. Google. Growth. Thornapple Tech makes the tools work so you can focus on the work you love.

Sometimes you gotta burn the night oil.Custom systems, websites, and building online presence for local businesses is no...
05/27/2026

Sometimes you gotta burn the night oil.
Custom systems, websites, and building online presence for local businesses is not for the faint of heart.

Good thing I like a challenge. (And coffee. Mostly coffee.)

Two years ago today, I went full time into Thornapple Tech. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into 🤣  That's ho...
05/13/2026

Two years ago today, I went full time into Thornapple Tech. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into 🤣 That's how it happens sometimes right?!

Since then, I've built more websites than I can count, designed custom operational systems that help businesses run smoother, learned more about SEO than I ever expected (including how humbling it can be šŸ˜…), and somehow kept it all moving while raising two little kids alongside a husband who's also building his own business.

None of this happened alone. My sister has been by my side since day one, and my family has cheered this thing on through every late night and busy season. This week, we hit a new milestone... Our first official W2 team member. This business is growing, and I'm so grateful for the people in it.

I'm grateful. For the clients who trusted me. For the work that kept me sharp. And for a business that's grown into something I'm genuinely proud of.

Here's to what's next. 🌱

I used AI to build a web-based game for my daughter to help her learn her piano.She’s been struggling to learn her piano...
04/18/2026

I used AI to build a web-based game for my daughter to help her learn her piano.

She’s been struggling to learn her piano note names. She’s obsessed with dragons. Her favorite color is pink. And like most kids, she absorbs things way faster when it feels like play. So I built her a pink-themed dragon game where every 5 notes she gets right, something magical happens. She starts with a dragon egg. Get 5 right — it hatches. Keep going — her dragon goes to kindergarten, then 1st grade. She has already asked me for new levels such as sending her dragon to visit the zoo, and to the whitecaps baseball game (same as her upcoming school field trips 🤣)

She’s played it for about 15 minutes two nights in a row and is already starting to recognize her notes better.

The details matter. Her favorite color. Her favorite animal. A reward system that makes her want to come back. None of that came from a worksheet šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø

I’m a mom and a tech person, and sometimes those two things collide in the best way.

3am desk check. āœ…This is what happens when puppy appointments and kid chaos eat half multiple days week after week — you...
04/17/2026

3am desk check. āœ…

This is what happens when puppy appointments and kid chaos eat half multiple days week after week — you find your quiet hours and you work in them.

No snack requests. No "she hit me." No "can I have a snack?" Just the click of keys, piano worship in the background, and a to-do list that's finally getting shorter.

Do I love late nights? Not exactly. But there's something peaceful about the stillness when everyone else is sleeping. It's just you and the work and a little bit of Jesus music.

Worth it. šŸ’™

Monday chaos hit different today at Thornapple Tech. šŸ˜…I’m deep in the flow when — BOOM. The building shakes. Turned out ...
03/30/2026

Monday chaos hit different today at Thornapple Tech. šŸ˜…

I’m deep in the flow when — BOOM. The building shakes. Turned out my landlord decided today was a great day to start excavating the parking lot right next to my office for new townhouses. 🚜

Here’s the thing though — it barely slowed me down. Because my systems are set up so I can work from anywhere there’s internet. Pack up, log in, keep going.

It got me thinking: are YOUR business systems flexible enough to handle the unexpected?

If a surprise excavation (or a sick day, a power outage, or just needing to leave early) would throw your whole operation into chaos — that’s worth fixing.
That’s exactly what I help with. šŸ‘‡

šŸ“© DM me or drop a comment if you want to talk through what a more flexible business setup could look like for you.

03/30/2026

Sunday started with church, then spent the afternoon outside soaking up this beautiful Michigan spring weather with the kids.

Now they’re in bed early, the house is quiet, and I just spent the last hour or so mapping out client workflows.

Not exactly how most people wind down their weekend. šŸ¤“

But here’s the thing: I’m building something that matters.

This week I’ve been researching how Google’s March 2026 update is changing local search rankings. I’ve been testing tools. I’ve been refining the systems I’m offering to local businesses.

Why? Because I know what it’s like to be a business owner who’s great at their craft but completely overwhelmed by the tech side.

The HVAC guy who doesn’t know why his Google profile isn’t showing up. The mechanic who forgets to respond to reviews for weeks. The contractor who has a beautiful website that loads like molasses.

They don’t need to become tech experts. They need someone to handle it for them.

That’s the business I’m building: one where I can serve local businesses well while still prioritizing faith, family, and rest.

Sundays spent with family, Sunday nights spent building systems that actually help people, and ending the day with Jesus and his word. That’s a must for this lady!

Now it’s time for rest. Early bedtime for me too. 😓

My daughter started piano lessons at the beginning of this year.She’s learning something I need to remind myself of cons...
03/29/2026

My daughter started piano lessons at the beginning of this year.

She’s learning something I need to remind myself of constantly: It’s okay to suck at something when you’re brand new at it.

She hits wrong notes. She has to start over. Sometimes the frustration shows.

But she keeps showing up, keeps practicing, and every week she’s a little better than the last.

I’m realizing I’m doing the exact same thing building Thornapple Tech.
Learning custom CRM systems? Clunky at first. Understanding Google’s algorithm changes? Still figuring it out. Building automated systems that actually work? Lots of trial and error.

But here’s what I keep coming back to: The businesses that win aren’t the ones who get everything perfect on day one. They’re the ones who have the grit to keep going.

Technology changes constantly. Platforms update. Best practices shift. And if I waited until I ā€œmasteredā€ everything before offering it to clients, I’d never start.

So I’m practicing. I’m learning. I’m building systems for local businesses—GBP management, website monitoring, social posting—and getting better at it every single week.

Just like my daughter at the piano: showing up, making mistakes, and improving over time.

If you’re a business owner who’s been hesitant to dive into streamlining your business with systems, local SEO, or automation because ā€œyou’re not tech-savvyā€ā€”I get it. I’m learning right alongside you.

But we’ll both get there. One practice session at a time.

If your Google Business Profile hasn’t been updated in weeks… you’re already behind. šŸ“‰Google just rolled out their March...
03/25/2026

If your Google Business Profile hasn’t been updated in weeks… you’re already behind. šŸ“‰

Google just rolled out their March 2026 algorithm update, and it’s changing who shows up when people search for local businesses.

What Google is rewarding now:
āœ… Posting every 5 days (not once a month when you remember)
āœ… Fast review responses (within 24-48 hours)
āœ… Mobile-fast websites (because everyone’s on their phone)
āœ… Consistent business info across the web

Here’s the thing: Most local business owners are too busy actually running their business to manage all of this.
That’s exactly why I built our Local Presence Management service at Thornapple Tech.

We handle your GBP posts, review responses, and website monitoring—so you can focus on serving customers instead of chasing algorithm changes.

Currently managing a handful of West Michigan contractors, counselors, and service businesses. If you’re tired of wondering why competitors show up before you do, let’s talk.
Drop a šŸ™‹ in the comments or DM me.

Not all website traffic is good traffic.A local service business thought their website was getting great visibility. The...
03/03/2026

Not all website traffic is good traffic.

A local service business thought their website was getting great visibility. The numbers looked solid at first glance.

When we reviewed the data more closely, over 600 views were from overseas.
They serve a local market. Those views weren't potential customers.

The real problem? False confidence in the website.

When the data looks strong, you assume everything is working. You stop improving pages. You delay changes. You think demand is higher than it is.

We identified the source, geo-blocked foreign traffic that are not confirmed verified bots, and locked the site to US-only visitors. Now their analytics reflect their actual market and they can make decisions based on real data.

Local businesses need local data.

If your stats look good but growth feels flat, that's usually worth a closer look.

When you’re in the zone… and your supervisor requests cuddles instead šŸ¶ā¤ļø
03/03/2026

When you’re in the zone… and your supervisor requests cuddles instead šŸ¶ā¤ļø

Road trip.Hotspot.Workflow builder open. šŸš—šŸ’»When you love building systems, location doesn’t really matter.Most people se...
02/28/2026

Road trip.
Hotspot.
Workflow builder open. šŸš—šŸ’»

When you love building systems, location doesn’t really matter.

Most people see websites.
I see the workflows, automation, and backend systems that make a business run smoother.

That’s the work I care about = helping good organizations grow without adding more work.

Address

Hastings, MI

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