---
title: "Colin Shove's blog"
description: "Ideas to help small businesses perform better. Personal blog."
canonical: "https://www.colinshove.com/blog"
---

![Close-up of vintage typewriter typebars, curved metal platen mechanism, and paper stamped "2016"](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fvintage-typewriter-typebars-2016.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a15f87c1461a7ed90cef9e0%26v%3D1779875959642&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_GgSGZEaBgZRBqvj3cyB6JnQnt6KZ)

# The Blog

Ideas to help small businesses perform better. Personal blog.

[![](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fgrow-your-business-hero.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a15f87c1461a7ed90cef9e0%26v%3D1780732166287&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_GgSGZEaBgZRBqvj3cyB6JnQnt6KZ)](/blog/grow-your-business-without-asking)[

## Grow your business without asking

](/blog/grow-your-business-without-asking)

I learned sales from audio books on the motorway. Here is my gentler, modern take: grow your business by sowing seeds and answering, not asking.

by Colin Shove

Updated: Saturday, 6 June 2026

[![Open lined notebook with round glasses, cup of coffee, green pencil, and tablet with sticky note](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fnotebook-coffee-glasses-tablet.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a15f87c1461a7ed90cef9e0%26v%3D1779875985506&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_GgSGZEaBgZRBqvj3cyB6JnQnt6KZ)](/blog/how-i-use-ai-to-write-blog-content)[

### How I use AI to write blog content that is actually worth reading

](/blog/how-i-use-ai-to-write-blog-content)

by Colin Shove

Updated: Wednesday, 27 May 2026

[![Salon interior with stylists and clients, circular framed portrait, headline: "How to get more Google reviews without asking."](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fsalon-stylists-portrait-google-reviews-headline.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a15f87c1461a7ed90cef9e0%26v%3D1779875968864&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_GgSGZEaBgZRBqvj3cyB6JnQnt6KZ)](/blog/more-google-reviews-without-asking)[

### How to get more Google reviews without asking

](/blog/more-google-reviews-without-asking)

by Colin Shove

Updated: Wednesday, 27 May 2026

[![Salon stylists attend clients beneath headline "How to get more referrals without asking."](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fsalon-stylists-referrals-headline.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a15f87c1461a7ed90cef9e0%26v%3D1779875962809&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_GgSGZEaBgZRBqvj3cyB6JnQnt6KZ)](/blog/more-referrals-without-asking)[

### How to get more referrals without asking

](/blog/more-referrals-without-asking)

by Colin Shove

Updated: Wednesday, 27 May 2026

[![Close-up of vintage typewriter typebars, curved metal platen mechanism, and paper stamped "2016"](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fvintage-typewriter-typebars-2016.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a15f87c1461a7ed90cef9e0%26v%3D1779875959642&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_GgSGZEaBgZRBqvj3cyB6JnQnt6KZ)](/blog/welcome-blog)[

### Welcome. A short hello from Colin Shove and what's here.

](/blog/welcome-blog)

by Colin Shove

Updated: Tuesday, 26 May 2026

[![Busy salon with stylists at mirrors and large circular portrait beside headline "Why 95% of your salon clients buy their shampoo somewhere else"](/_next/image?url=%2Fapi%2Fmedia%2Ffile%2Fsalon-why-95-percent-buy-shampoo-elsewhere.jpg%3Fprefix%3Dtenants%252F6a15f87c1461a7ed90cef9e0%26v%3D1779875961584&w=1536&q=75&dpl=dpl_GgSGZEaBgZRBqvj3cyB6JnQnt6KZ)](/blog/why-clients-buy-shampoo-elsewhere)[

### Why 95% of your salon clients buy their shampoo somewhere else

](/blog/why-clients-buy-shampoo-elsewhere)

by Colin Shove

Updated: Wednesday, 27 May 2026