The Fix List — Columbus

The Fix List · September 10, 2026

The 5 gaps costing Columbus
businesses points.

Measured across 633 independents on our public Index — and every one is fixable in a weekend.

1. Email listed80% missing this (505 of 633)

Worth 5 points. List a real business email — some customers will never call first.

2. Social channels (10 each, up to 3)76% missing this (482 of 633)

Worth 30 points. Claim the big three where your customers are, then LIST them on your website and listings so they count.

3. Hours published35% missing this (224 of 633)

Worth 5 points. Publish hours and keep holidays updated. 'Hours unknown' costs you the customer standing outside at 9am.

4. Secure site (https)27% missing this (172 of 633)

Worth 5 points. Ask your host to enable HTTPS (usually one click, free). Browsers mark plain HTTP 'not secure' in front of your customers.

5. Own domain (not a social page)18% missing this (116 of 633)

Worth 10 points. Buy your business name as a .com (~$12/yr) and point it at your site. A social-page URL as your 'website' reads as temporary.

Want to know exactly which of these are costing you?

Percentages are recomputed from public listings each edition — no business is named on this page. Published by McLaren Visuals LLC.