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

Who says summer break means turning off the brain? 🧠💡A rainy evening gave us the perfect opportunity to dive into some h...
06/17/2026

Who says summer break means turning off the brain? 🧠💡

A rainy evening gave us the perfect opportunity to dive into some hands-on tech education at home with our first ibrick build.

This kit is a fantastic example of smart learning tools: one modular set of blocks (including a motor) that drops a brand-new project challenge every week. It's safe to say the kids are hooked!

Always looking for ways to keep them busy that don't involve the TV or an iPad screen. What are your kids into this summer?

We have been BUSY at Thornapple Tech and the results are showing up. 📈I ran reports today for a local Hastings business ...
06/15/2026

We have been BUSY at Thornapple Tech and the results are showing up. 📈

I ran reports today for a local Hastings business we partner with for online presence management. I'm thrilled to share that over the last three months, their average Google search position jumped from 29.1 to 6.9, taking them from page 3 straight to page 1 on average.

Even better? They skyrocketed to the top 2 spots for massive local search terms for their industry 🛠️

What moved the needle?

✅ Consistent Local Signals: Posting on social media 3–5 times a week to drive engagement and local relevance.
✅ Technical SEO Clean-up: Fixing underlying backend code issues so search engines can crawl the site flawlessly.
✅ On-Page Optimization: Aligning content so Google and modern AI search tools know exactly what they do and who they serve.

Here’s the thing. Keeping up with algorithm changes, technical audits, and content creation is a full-time job when you’re already running a business.

We keep it simple for our clients: they send us a few photos or a quick update one a week, and the Thornapple Tech team handles the rest. Writing, posting, backend auditing, and indexing optimization.

You're great at running your business; you shouldn't have to be an SEO expert, too. If you want to get your weekends back and hand off your digital marketing to a local team, let's chat. Send me a message or comment below and I’d be happy to chat. ☕

I mentioned I hired someone a while back and she deserves a proper introduction! 🎉Meet LouAnne Swift, the newest member ...
06/10/2026

I mentioned I hired someone a while back and she deserves a proper introduction! 🎉

Meet LouAnne Swift, the newest member of the Thornapple Tech team!

LouAnne is a dedicated wife and mom, active in her church, and brings a degree in Computer Information Systems from Ferris State University to the table. She has already proven herself to be an incredible asset. Her ability to find answers fast and learn quickly has been everything I hoped for.

Thornapple Tech is officially a team now and I couldn't have asked for a better first hire. This means faster turnaround, more capacity, and even better results for the businesses we serve. Welcome, LouAnne! 💛

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 😅), 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 🤷🏻‍♀️

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

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

3am desk check. ✅

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. 💙

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

Monday chaos hit different today at Thornapple Tech. 😅

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. 👇

📩 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. 🤓

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 “mastered” 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 “you’re not tech-savvy”—I get it. I’m learning right alongside you.

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

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