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Small Biz Geek

Small Biz Geek

Small Business Design, Marketing & Technology Journal

Nerdy analysis of small business design, marketing and technology

  • The Internet
  • Marketing
  • Graphic Design
  • Web Dev
  • Web Design
  • Social Media
  • Privacy & Security
  • Tech
  • Misc

Small Business in the 21st Century

Small Biz Geek is aimed at UK self-employed/small business owners with a beginner to intermediate knowledge of design, marketing and technology.

My name is Darren and this website is an online notebook containing thoughts, ideas, tutorials and practical help. 💡

Hailing from Ilkeston in the Derby/Nottingham area of the East Midlands, England, I’m passionate about teaching what I know and learning what I don’t.

I provide a website design service where I work closely with self-employed individuals and small firms. 

What Type of Small Business Geek Are You?

This is the kind of geek you probably are:

✅ Beginner to intermediate skill level 
✅ Uses Windows operating system
✅ Uses a Linux shared web host
✅ Operating or planning a WordPress.org website

What Type of Business Person Are You?

This is the kind of person you probably are:

✅ Business owner, manager, employee, freelancer, virtual assistant, technical support
✅ Often works from home or remote location
✅ Might also work from commercial office or premises
✅ Reader of books, listener of podcasts
✅ Enjoys learning and digging deep into the details
✅ Hates spammers

Computer Love…

Society is firmly entrenched in computers. The charming allure of digital screens has fast-tracked communications and offered up convenience surpassing all past predictions.

Whether you’re controlling your boiler thermostat or trading in the financial sector, the varied applications of computer technology have touched every aspect of modern life.

While consumer habits favour and fuel technology, it’s fair to say it presents a non-negotiable situation often viewed with trepidation.

Printed Page Ink Cartridge

Disruption to the Status Quo

The cyber age is throttling the traditional manufacturing economy spawned by the industrial revolution of the 1700’s.

Spinning Jenny

The Spinning Jenny seemed radical at the time

Early mass production led to the bespoke cottage industries of 18th Century England becoming disenfranchised if not completely uprooted, and although large electricity companies still mine fossil fuels, and developing countries rely mostly on manufacturing, the age of industry is pretty much over.

Disruptive innovation has both created and threatened markets for a long time.

Henry Ford was able to find a way to use his Model T production line to double the wage of mechanics in Detroit, and Ford’s mass production lines were instrumental to the war effort. 

With a sharp rise in post World War 2 commercial output, mass marketing was born.

Although new developments astonish us initially, they become part of the norm. Technology is predictable; it will always try to do things better, faster, cheaper.

Think about the following technological advancements:

✅ Electricity disrupted gas
✅ Aeroplanes disrupted balloons
✅ Fax machines disrupted letters
✅ Hard drives replaced most filing cabinets
✅ Mobile phones made public phones almost redundant
✅ Email replaced fax
✅ Cloud computing is gaining ground for home-based remote staffing
✅ Internet mobile devices have a larger market share than desktop computers
✅ Social media is uniting kindred spirits (as well as sulking teenagers)
✅ Artificial Intelligence is [fill in the blank] 😆

Thirty years ago, USB sticks, search engines, Photoshop, podcasts, YouTube, Skype and iPhones were unheard of. Now these technologies are as common as a cup of coffee.

Design, Marketing & Technology

Design, marketing and technology are a means to an end. Whatever a business is selling, they are first and foremost a problem solver.

  • Design can be conceptual as well as visual. Spreadsheets, management systems and coding are every bit as valid as logos, leaflets or business cards.
  • Marketing is the process of identifying and serving a particular group of people with a particular problem needing a particular solution. 
  • Technology is the hardware and software operating in our lives, whether we acknowledge it or not. It could be a simple Biro pen or a complex block-chain. 

I Will Help You Build an Engaging Website

Shop

Whether you’re a consultant, one man band, small organisation, shop, office or factory, I want to help.

Let me help you use design, marketing and technology for decreasing costs, increasing income, streamlining operations and saving time.

Hire me to build a new website from scratch, or redesign an existing one.

We will come up with a plan of action together by first completing a questionnaire about what you do and what you want to achieve, change or improve.

  • Read the monthly journal for tips, ideas, guidance and motivation
  • Let’s work together on your small business website

OnPage SEO Website Structure Spreadsheet

Website Architecture, Planning & Development Spreadsheet

Plan Your Website On Page SEO: Free Excel Template 🚧

By Small Biz Geek · Filed Under: Featured, Video, Web Development

The next time you build, develop or SEO a website, consider using this handy free Excel spreadsheet document designed to help organise on page data…

Recommended Books

Don't Make Me think - Steve Krug

“Don’t Make Me Think: Revisited” – Steve Krug (Book Review) 📘

By Small Biz Geek · Filed Under: Books, Design, Web Development

A person of average technical ability must be able to navigate your website easily. This is required reading for anyone wanting to create a better experience for their visitors…

Graphic Design & Web Design

Photo of a dog wearing large glasses using a computer tablet

Computer Says No: Does Your Website Work for People with Disabilities? ♿

By Small Biz Geek · Filed Under: Design, Internet, Legal, Web Development, WordPress

The 2020 surge in internet use has led to record levels of online activity. It’s high time for businesses to check that their apps and websites are fully accessible to all.

Marketing

Image of business people gathered around a hole in the ground

A Story of Seductive Social Media Success and Neglected Email Strategy 🏚️

By Small Biz Geek · Filed Under: Marketing, Operations, Sales, Social, WordPress

As much as you love social channels, be smart by strategically optimising business operations, sales processes and leads with website email forms.

Technology & Gadgets

SIM Card Cutting Guide

Resize Your Phone SIM Card: Free Printable Cutting Guide (PDF) ✂️

By Small Biz Geek · Filed Under: Gadgets, Video

Is your SIM card is too large for the phone? Download this free printable PDF SIM cutting guide for the ability to slice and shave that plastic with care.

Ideas, Rants, Thoughts & Musings

Fake reviews and bogus ratings

Cream of the Crap: How Fake Reviews, Bad Businesses and Dangerous Products Rise to the Top 💣

By Small Biz Geek · Filed Under: Internet, Miscellaneous, Scams

The UK and USA consumer market regulators plan to take action against the dangers of bogus ratings, but how did fake online reviews gain such a foothold?

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Latest Blogs

  • A Story of Seductive Social Media Success and Neglected Email Strategy 🏚️
  • The Classic Social Media Trend Destined to Ruin Your Business 😭
  • Looking for Online Work? Don’t Fall for this Fake Hays Recruitment WhatsApp Scam ⚠️
  • Cream of the Crap: How Fake Reviews, Bad Businesses and Dangerous Products Rise to the Top 💣
  • Exposed: The Hong Kong Investment “Fraud Recovery” Scammer Deceiving Victims 🤑
  • Computer Says No: Does Your Website Work for People with Disabilities? ♿
  • Chinese Tinder Profiles Are Using Photos of Pretty Girls to Scam “Investors” 💋
  • Small Biz Owners “Trapped” Using Email Addresses Belonging to Internet Service Providers 🪤
  • In the Pandemic, QR Codes are Finally Proving Worthy in the West 😷
  • Small Businesses Finally Start Marketing… and All It Took Was a Global Pandemic 🏁
  • UK Contractors Operating Ltd Companies Should Be Mad as Hell with HMRC and IR35 🧾
  • 20 Years On and Website Hit Counters are Still a Waste of Pixels 🧮
  • Competitors Can Easily Edit Your Google and Facebook Business Listings 🤨
  • Waiting on Final Images for a WordPress Website? Use this Handy Thumbnail Placeholder Trick 🪟

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