Free resources.
Six guides you can use today, no sign-up. As of November 2026.
- 01Website launch checklistSpeed, favicon, link previews, analytics, privacy and sitemap, before you hit publish.
- 02AI agent starter guideWhat an agent team is, and five first agents a small business can start with.
- 03Prompt libraryCopy-ready prompts for emails, plans, sales, marketing and building.
- 04AI models explainedChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini and DeepSeek or Kimi: what each is good at, and what to know about privacy.
- 05AEO checklistHow to get named when people ask ChatGPT, Gemini or Google's AI for a recommendation.
- 06How to read a merchant statementInterchange, processor markup and fees, in plain words.
Website launch checklist
Run through this the day before a site goes live, and again after any redesign. Each line is a yes or no.
Speed
- Images are compressed and sized for how big they appear. Nothing is a 5 MB photo shown at 300 pixels wide.
- No script or plugin on the page that you cannot explain.
- You opened the site on your own phone, on cellular, and it loaded in a few seconds.
- You ran Google PageSpeed Insights (free) and fixed the top two or three items it flagged.
Favicon and app icon
- A favicon shows in the browser tab, not the default blank icon.
- An app icon exists for when someone saves your site to their phone home screen.
Link previews
- Every page has its own title and a one-sentence description.
- Every page has a preview image (1200 by 630 pixels is the common size).
- You pasted your link into a text message to yourself and checked how it looks.
Analytics and consent
- You picked one analytics tool and know what it records.
- If it sets cookies or tracks people across sites, visitors get a clear notice and a real choice before it runs, where the law where your visitors live requires it.
- Your cookie notice says in plain words what it is for.
Privacy
- A privacy page says what your forms collect, why, and who sees it.
- Every form tells people what happens after they press send.
- You do not collect anything you do not need.
Findability
- A sitemap.xml exists and you submitted it to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
- robots.txt does not block pages you want found.
- The site uses HTTPS, and the version without www sends people to the one you chose.
- A custom 404 page points people back to somewhere useful.
Last look
- Every button and form works, on a phone too.
- Your name, address and phone number are the same everywhere they appear.
- Your Google Business Profile links to the new site.
This is a practical checklist, not legal advice. Privacy and cookie rules differ by place, so check the rules that apply to your visitors.
AI agent starter guide
An AI agent is software that uses an AI model to finish a task for you, using tools you allow, such as your inbox, calendar or spreadsheet. An agent team is a few small agents that each do one job and pass work to each other, with a person who owns the result. Small and boring beats big and clever.
Five first agents
- Inquiry responder. Reads new website or email inquiries, drafts a reply from your own answers, and flags anything unusual for you.
- Follow-up agent. Notices quotes, estimates and leads that went quiet, and drafts a short nudge for each.
- Scheduler. Offers times from your real calendar and confirms the booking.
- Review agent. Asks happy customers for a review, and drafts a reply to each review that comes in.
- Weekly report agent. Pulls last week's numbers from the places you already keep them and writes a one-page summary.
How to start safely
- Pick one job that happens every week and follows the same steps.
- Write down the steps and the rules, in plain words, as if training a new hire.
- Let the agent draft, and you approve, for the first few weeks.
- Keep a log of what it did, so you can check any decision.
- Give it only the access it needs, nothing more.
- Count the time saved after a month before adding a second agent.
What to watch for
- Agents make mistakes. Anything involving money, legal promises or health needs a person in the loop.
- Your customers' data stays yours. Know where each tool stores it.
- If you cannot explain what an agent does, it is not ready to run alone.
Prompt library
Copy a prompt, fill in the [brackets], and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or whichever assistant you use.
Start here
Explain it like I'm new
Any topic in plain words, with an everyday example.
See the prompt
Explain [topic] to me like I'm brand new to it. Use plain words, no jargon. Give me one everyday example, then tell me the 3 things that matter most. When you use a term I might not know, define it in one short sentence. End by asking if I want to go deeper.
Start here
Teach me with questions
Learn by being asked, not lectured.
See the prompt
I want to learn [topic]. Ask me one question at a time to find out what I already know. Based on my answers, teach me the next small step, then check I understood before moving on. Keep each reply under 120 words.
Start here
Turn a mess into a plan
Dump your thoughts, get one clear next step.
See the prompt
Here is everything on my mind about [project or problem], unorganized: [paste your thoughts]. Sort it into what matters, what can wait, and what to ignore. Then give me the single next action I can do in 15 minutes.
Start here
Make me a better prompt
Let the AI sharpen your request first.
See the prompt
I want help with: [describe what you want]. Before you answer, ask me up to 5 short questions that would help you do it well. Wait for my answers, then give me the result.
Start here
Check my thinking
A second opinion that pushes back kindly.
See the prompt
Here is my idea or plan: [paste it]. Play a friendly skeptic. Tell me what is strong about it, the 3 biggest risks, and what I might be missing. Then suggest one small test I could run this week to see if it works.
Build
Debug with me
Find the real cause of a bug, step by step.
See the prompt
I'm stuck on a bug. What I expected: [expected]. What actually happens: [actual]. Here is the code or error message: [paste]. Don't rewrite everything. Tell me your top 3 likely causes in order, how to check each one, and the smallest fix for the most likely one.
Build
Plan the build before I code
A small version one, in the right order.
See the prompt
I want to build [what you want to build] for [who it's for]. Before any code, write a short plan: the screens or pages, the data I need to store, and the order to build it in. Keep version one as small as possible and list what to leave out for now.
Build
Review my code like a senior
Problems ranked from serious to minor.
See the prompt
Review this code like a careful senior engineer: [paste code]. List problems from most to least serious: bugs, security, confusing parts. For each, show a short fix. Skip style nitpicks unless they hide a bug.
Build
Explain this code to me
Understand code you did not write.
See the prompt
Explain what this code does in plain English, line by line where it matters: [paste code]. Tell me what could break it and what I should never change without understanding. Finish with a 3-sentence summary.
Build
Write the tests first
Decide what done looks like before you build.
See the prompt
I'm about to build: [feature]. Write the tests first, in plain language, then in code. Cover the normal case, an empty input, and one thing that should fail. Don't write the feature yet.
Business
Weekly plan in 10 minutes
A realistic week with three priorities a day.
See the prompt
Help me plan my week in 10 minutes. My goals this month: [goals]. Fixed commitments: [meetings, kids, deadlines]. Tasks on my plate: [list]. Give me a day-by-day plan with no more than 3 priorities per day, and flag anything that doesn't fit.
Business
Client email, human tone
Warm, short, and not corporate.
See the prompt
Write an email to a client named [name]. Situation: [what happened]. What I need from them: [ask]. Tone: warm, direct and short, like a real person, not a corporation. No filler like 'I hope this finds you well'. Give me two versions: one 4 sentences, one 2 sentences.
Business
Turn meeting notes into actions
Decisions, owners and a follow-up message.
See the prompt
Here are my rough meeting notes: [paste]. Pull out the decisions made, the action items with an owner and a due date (write 'unclear' if missing), and any open questions. Then draft a 5-line follow-up message.
Business
Write a simple how-to checklist
Document a task so anyone can do it.
See the prompt
I do this task often: [describe the task]. Interview me with questions one at a time until you know every step. Then write a one-page checklist someone new could follow, with the common mistakes at the end.
Business
Price a project fairly
Three options and how to explain the price.
See the prompt
Help me price this project: [describe the work]. My time is worth about [hourly rate] and I estimate [hours] hours. Give me three options (basic, standard, premium) with what's included in each, and a short note on how to explain the price to the client without apologizing.
Sales
Cold outreach that gets replies
A short first message with one clear question.
See the prompt
Write a short first message to [type of person] at [type of business]. I help with [what you offer]. One specific thing I noticed about them: [detail]. Under 80 words, one clear question at the end, no hype and no 'quick call' ask. Give me three different openings.
Sales
Handle the objection
Three honest ways to answer "too expensive".
See the prompt
A prospect said: '[objection, e.g. it's too expensive]'. I sell [offer]. Give me 3 honest ways to respond: one that asks a question, one that reframes the value, one that offers a smaller first step. Keep each under 60 words and don't be pushy.
Sales
Prep for a sales call
Questions to ask and worries to expect.
See the prompt
I have a call with [name] from [company] about [topic]. What I know: [notes]. Give me 5 good questions to ask, 3 things they might worry about, and a simple way to close the call with a clear next step.
Sales
Follow up without being annoying
Three follow-ups, from nudge to polite last note.
See the prompt
I sent [what] to [name] [number] days ago and heard nothing. Write 3 follow-up messages: a gentle nudge, one that adds something useful, and a polite last note that leaves the door open. Each under 50 words.
Sales
Proposal in plain English
A one-page proposal a client will actually read.
See the prompt
Draft a one-page proposal for [client]. Their problem: [problem]. My solution: [solution]. Timeline: [timeline]. Price: [price]. Structure: the problem in their words, what I'll do, what they get, the price, and the next step. Plain language, no buzzwords.
Marketing
Landing page first draft
Headline, benefits, how it works, call to action.
See the prompt
Write a first draft of a landing page for [product or service] aimed at [audience]. Include a headline, a one-sentence subhead, 3 benefits (not features), a short 'how it works' in 3 steps, answers to 3 common doubts, and a call to action. Plain, confident, no hype.
Marketing
A month of post ideas
Twenty ideas, then the best three drafted.
See the prompt
I run [type of business] for [audience]. Give me 20 social post ideas for the next month, mixed between teaching something, showing behind the scenes, sharing a result, and answering a common question. One line each, then pick the best 3 and draft them.
Marketing
Make my website say it clearly
Would a stranger understand what you do?
See the prompt
Here is the text from my website: [paste]. Tell me in one sentence what a stranger would think I do. Then rewrite the headline and the first paragraph so a first-time visitor understands what I do, who it's for, and what to do next.
Marketing
Turn one idea into five posts
One idea, five formats, your voice.
See the prompt
Here is one idea or piece of content: [paste]. Turn it into five different pieces: a short post, a longer post, an email, a list of tips, and a question that starts a conversation. Keep my voice: [describe your voice].
Want more? The free Sandbox community is launching soon.
AI models explained
There is no single best assistant. Most people end up using two or three. These are broad strokes. Products and terms change often, so treat this as a starting point and check each company's current settings.
What each is good at
- ChatGPT (OpenAI). A broad all-rounder: writing, analysis, brainstorming, images and voice. The one most people already know.
- Claude (Anthropic). Often liked for careful writing, working through long documents, and coding.
- Gemini (Google). Works closely with Google products such as Gmail, Docs and Search, and handles images, audio and video.
- Grok (xAI). Built into X, with a more casual tone and easy access to what people are posting there.
- DeepSeek and Kimi. AI labs based in China that release capable models at low cost, many of them open-weight, meaning the model files can be downloaded and run on your own hardware.
Privacy notes
- On free or personal plans, your chats may be used to improve the product unless you switch that off. Look for a data or training setting in your account.
- Business and API plans usually come with stronger data terms. Read them rather than assuming.
- Hosted apps from any company send your text to that company's servers. For DeepSeek and Kimi, that means servers run by companies subject to Chinese law. Many businesses avoid sending anything sensitive there. Running an open-weight model yourself is a different thing.
- Never paste passwords, card numbers, or other people's personal details into a chat you have not checked.
- If a tool offers a temporary or incognito chat, use it for anything you would not want stored.
A simple way to choose
- Try the same real task in two assistants and keep the one whose answer you would send.
- Match the plan to the data: personal plan for low-stakes work, business plan for customer information.
AEO checklist
Answer engine optimization (AEO) is making your business easy for AI assistants to find, understand and recommend. It builds on the same basics as good search work. Nobody can guarantee a mention, because answers change by person, place and day.
Know your starting line
- Write down the ten questions a customer would ask before picking a business like yours, including your town.
- Ask each one in ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI, and note who gets named.
Get your facts straight
- Your name, address, phone number, hours and services match on your site, your Google Business Profile and every directory.
- Your site says plainly what you do, where, and for whom.
Write the answers
- Add a page or section answering each customer question in plain language.
- Add an FAQ with your real questions, and mark it up with structured data (schema.org) so machines read it without guessing.
- Make sure your robots.txt does not block the crawlers you want to read you.
Earn the mentions
- Ask happy customers for reviews, and reply to the ones you get.
- Get listed on trusted local and industry sites that talk about you.
Check again
- Re-ask the same questions every month and keep notes on what changed.
- Fix what you find, then repeat.
This follows the same steps as the AEO page on this site.
How to read a merchant statement
A merchant statement is the monthly bill from the company that processes your card payments. It looks confusing on purpose or by accident, but it comes down to three kinds of cost. This guide helps you read yours. It does not promise you will save money.
The three layers
- Interchange. A fee set by the card networks and paid to the bank that issued the customer's card. It varies by card type and how the card is taken. The processor does not set it.
- Network assessments. Smaller fees charged by the card networks themselves.
- Processor markup. What your processor adds on top: usually a percentage, a per-transaction fee, and sometimes monthly charges. This is the part that differs from one provider to the next.
Other lines you may see
- Monthly or statement fee, gateway fee, batch fee.
- PCI fee, which is for card-data security compliance. Ask what it covers and whether a non-compliance fee applies.
- Chargeback fees, and fees for equipment or leases.
- Early termination fees and automatic renewal terms in the contract.
Find your effective rate
- Add every fee on the statement. Divide the total by your total card volume for the month.
- Example with made-up round numbers: $300 in total fees on $10,000 of card volume is 3.0 percent.
- Compare the same figure month to month, and against any quote you receive.
Common pricing models
- Flat rate. One percentage for everything. Simple, and easy to compare.
- Interchange-plus. The real interchange, plus a stated markup. Clearer, because you can see the markup.
- Tiered. Transactions are sorted into buckets with names like qualified or non-qualified. The buckets are set by the processor, so it is harder to see what you are paying.
Questions to ask
- What is my total effective rate, all fees included?
- Which lines are fixed by the card networks, and which are yours to negotiate?
- What does it cost to leave, and when does the contract renew?
General education, not financial or legal advice. Fees and card-network rules change, so check the current terms.
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