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Small Biz Geek

Small Biz Geek

Small Business Design, Marketing & Technology Journal

Solving small business design, marketing & tech problems

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These are my posts, I hope you like them.

Dealing with Negative Comments on Your Paid Social Media Posts 👺

Published: April 1, 2019; Updated: September 10, 2023 Filed Under: Marketing, Social

Photo of a person typing on a laptop keyboard

If you’re thinking of running paid social media ad campaigns, be prepared for trolls. Although their intent is to derail and undermine, the spotlight will be on you more so than usual.

Don’t Be a Boring Bastard! Use Your Business Website “About” Page to Build Trust with Prospects 🥰

Published: September 4, 2018; Updated: September 12, 2023 Filed Under: Marketing, Video

Pixelated Digital Heart

Don’t allow your business website “About” page to be a predictable romp through all the cliches we’ve seen before. Leave out the bragging and chest beating. Do this instead…

Magazine Advertising Scam: Rogues Impersonate Crime Prevention Officers ๐Ÿคฅ

Published: June 12, 2018; Updated: May 19, 2025 Filed Under: Marketing, Miscellaneous, Scams

Crime Prevention Magazine Fraudsters Impersonate Police and Telephoning Biz Owners to Sell Advertising

Fraudsters are impersonating the police and telephoning self-employed people to sell advertising in a fake crime prevention magazine. They claim to be partnered with Trading Standards.

Privacy and Data Protection is a Matter of Life and Death ☠️

Published: May 22, 2018; Updated: September 13, 2023 Filed Under: Internet, Legal, Security

Elizabeth Denham

A data protection failing can threaten everything from a person’s bank account to their life, or, at the very least, cause damage and stress.

Magazine Advertising Scam: Bogus Children’s Cancer Charity Misleading Small Businesses 🤥

Published: March 13, 2018; Updated: August 28, 2023 Filed Under: Marketing, Miscellaneous, Scams

Kids for Life Bogus Charity Magazine Cover

Don’t be misled by this classic magazine advertising scam in which small businesses seeking exposure are hoodwinked by ruthless rogues claiming to be running a real charity. This particular operation is called “Kids for Life”. It was heavily criticised on an edition of BBC Radio 4’s “You and Yours”.

UK Businesses Electronically Processing Data Are Legally Required to Register with the ICO ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

Published: February 13, 2018; Updated: March 5, 2024 Filed Under: Internet, Legal, Marketing, Operations

Do you run a UK company, partnership or sole proprietorship in which you electronically collect and keep data that identifies individuals? You need to notify the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is the independent regulator enforcing the laws that govern privacy.

Stolen Credit Card Email Scam Targets Small Businesses and Service Providers 💳

Published: January 30, 2018; Updated: August 29, 2023 Filed Under: Internet, Legal, Miscellaneous, Scams, Security

Hand holding a credit card in front of a laptop computer

Get wise to this socially-engineered credit card fraud operation that hinges on the recipient invoicing someone who is not who they say they are for a project that doesn’t exist.

Nuisance Calls, Emails and Empty Promises: The Bungling Incompetence of Yell.com ๐Ÿ™‰

Published: December 12, 2017; Updated: September 25, 2024 Filed Under: Legal, Marketing, Sales

Nuisance Calls, Emails and Empty Promises The Bungling Incompetence of Yell

I’ve honestly had it with Yell, or hibu, or whatever their trading name is. This outfit doesn’t understand the meaning of the words “please stop calling me”. Their services are rubbish too.

“Don’t Make Me Think: Revisited” – Steve Krug (Book Review) ๐Ÿ“˜

Published: November 14, 2017; Updated: February 17, 2024 Filed Under: Books, Design, Web Development

Don't Make Me think - Steve Krug

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…

How to Report Fake Negative Google Reviews 🤖

Published: October 10, 2017; Updated: September 9, 2023 Filed Under: Legal, Marketing, Social

Fake Negative Google Reviews

The Google business review system is suffering from fake negative comments commissioned by competitors or published by trolls acting alone. What can you do to combat this?ย 

How Safe Is Your Password from the $450 Billion Cybercrime Industry? ๐Ÿ˜ˆ

Published: September 12, 2017; Updated: March 5, 2024 Filed Under: Internet, Scams, Security

Cyber criminal wearing a hooded top

How strong is your password? In 2016, cyber criminals profited $450 billion and show no signs of slowing. We need to be on a war footing.

QR Codes Could Get the Chance They Deserve Thanks to iOS 11 ๐Ÿ”—

Published: August 8, 2017; Updated: October 10, 2024 Filed Under: Design, Software, Web Development

QR Codes

QR codes are great in theory. They’re a novel means for accessing information via smartphone, but the adoption rate among consumers is fairly low. That could change…

Claw Back Time and Improve Business Communications with Private Videos

Published: June 13, 2017; Updated: September 12, 2017 Filed Under: Audio, Operations, Software, Video

Private Videos for Business Communications

Need to explain a difficult concept? When business associates are unable to get together, prerecorded digital screen capture video is an effective multimedia memo…

Google Security Smackdown: Websites Without HTTPS Will Suffer 🔓

Published: May 9, 2017; Updated: September 5, 2023 Filed Under: Software, Web Development

Google Chrome browser security warnings

Following several years of communiquรฉ, Google has pushed the button and decreed all websites must become “secure” and adopt https. If your site visitors use Chrome, pay attention…

Argh! Why Does Google Delete Genuine Business Reviews? 🤖

Published: March 14, 2017; Updated: September 7, 2023 Filed Under: Internet, Marketing, Software

Deleted Google My Business Reviews

Google deletes genuine “My Business” reviews by real customers. The frustration is incredible. Can the reviews be restored? Let’s find out…

Cheap Instant Website Builders: Should We Dump Them? 🫗

Published: February 14, 2017; Updated: September 7, 2023 Filed Under: Design, Software, Web Development

Woman frustrated with laptop

What is so bad about instant online website builders, if the claims are to be believed? Are jealous rival designers defending their turf? This could be a messy breakup…

Rant: Manipulative Website Email Popovers Look Like Backhanded Ransom Notes 🖕

Published: January 10, 2017; Updated: September 10, 2023 Filed Under: Marketing, Web Development

Okay, so we’re all sick of full screen pop up dominators on websites begging for email subscribers. Right? Let’s rant…

โ€œYoutilityโ€ by Jay Baer (Book Review) 📘

Published: December 13, 2016; Updated: September 19, 2023 Filed Under: Books

Youtility by Jay Baer

Thanks to pixels and psychological tact, the classic advertising model has been superseded by marketing based on being useful and helping people, says Jay Baer in his book Youtility…

Warning: Dubious Web Industry “Regulator” Selling Questionable Business Leads ๐Ÿฅธ

Published: November 15, 2016; Updated: May 19, 2025 Filed Under: Legal, Marketing, Scams, Web Development

Dishonest businessman with fingers crossed behin back

Hold on to your lunch money. There’s a UK internet business lead generator outfit operating under false pretenses and making misleading claims…

Return of The Apprentice: Lord Sugar Still Milking BBC & Flogging SEO

Published: October 4, 2016; Updated: September 12, 2017 Filed Under: Miscellaneous

Alan Sugar

Popular BBC business soap opera The Apprentice returns as series 12 and Alan Sugar treat us to more tedious TV. It’s Big Brother in pinstripe and enough is enough…

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