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Small Biz Geek

Small Biz Geek

Small Business Design, Marketing & Technology Journal

Website design services

A Journal on Small Business Design, Marketing and Technology

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Design

Thee posts in this category are related to design and small businesses, including but not limited to graphics and visual aspects...

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

By Small Biz Geek on December 18, 2020 · Filed Under: Design, Internet, Legal, Web Development, WordPress Updated: December 21, 2020

Photo of a dog wearing large glasses using a computer tablet

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.

In the Pandemic, QR Codes are Finally Proving Worthy in the West

By Small Biz Geek on August 27, 2020 · Filed Under: Design, Marketing, Operations, Web Development Updated: November 18, 2020

Graphic image of Face mask and QR codes

In western society QR codes have been mostly regarded as an ugly marketing gimmick, but they’re now proving valuable as a logistical solution to the virus problem.

20 Years On and Website Hit Counters are Still a Waste of Pixels

By Small Biz Geek on February 1, 2020 · Filed Under: Design, Web Development Updated: March 4, 2020

website hit counters

Website hit counters clutter up the computer screen and run the risk of looking like an unsophisticated attempt to impress visitors. Counters should be extinct, with the exception being for humour, parody and pastiche.

Waiting on Final Images for a WordPress Website? Use Temporary Placeholders and Design Around Them

By Small Biz Geek on June 25, 2019 · Filed Under: Design, Web Development, WordPress Updated: February 11, 2020

Don’t wait on graphics or photos while your WordPress website is being built. Create your layout using placeholder images and edit these exact same files once you have the final artwork. How often do you begin building a site only to discover the images you need are not ready? Perhaps you’re eager to add photos, […]

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

By Small Biz Geek on November 14, 2017 · Filed Under: Books, Design, Web Development Updated: September 4, 2020

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…

QR Codes Could Get the Chance They Deserve Thanks to iOS 11

By Small Biz Geek on August 8, 2017 · Filed Under: Design, Software, Web Development Updated: November 7, 2019

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…

Cheap Instant Website Builders: Should We Dump Them?

By Small Biz Geek on February 14, 2017 · Filed Under: Design, Software, Web Development Updated: April 10, 2019

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…

Badly Behaved Images? Leverage the Power of Vector Graphics to Eliminate Unruly Design

By Small Biz Geek on September 13, 2016 · Filed Under: Design, Web Development, WordPress Updated: February 18, 2020

Scalable Vector Graphics image

The Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format is the frequently overlooked solution to high quality design both in print and online. Once explained to non-designers, it is obvious the advantages afforded by “vector paths” is common sense, essential to workflow and cost effective…

Google AMP: Shocked Webmasters Learn of Changes to Mobile Site Search Results

By Small Biz Geek on June 14, 2016 · Filed Under: Design, Web Development Updated: April 15, 2017

Google Amp

Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) is the most important design and development change to hit webmasters in the last 5 to 10 years. Life just got complicated…

10 Website Trust Signals You Can’t Afford to Ignore

By Small Biz Geek on April 12, 2016 · Filed Under: Design, Marketing, Web Development Updated: March 4, 2020

Website Trust Signals

Does your small business website seem honest and trustworthy to customers? Use these psychological triggers to increase conversions and build a good reputation…

Overwhelmed by Web Design? Use This 10 Step Project Checklist and Stay in Control

By Small Biz Geek on November 10, 2015 · Filed Under: Design, Web Development Updated: February 18, 2020

Website Design & Development Checklist

Are you a web design client or consultant? Do you need to track project progress? This website checklist is a coherent action plan for setting priorities and better managing your time…

This WordPress Media Uploader Problem Makes Your Blog Look Amateur

By Small Biz Geek on August 11, 2015 · Filed Under: Design, Video, WordPress Updated: August 30, 2017

WordPress Thumbnails

WordPress automatically creates thumbnails when you upload images. Add a featured image to a post and a smaller thumbnail is used for your blog archive. How does yours look?

2 Advantages of Using PNG instead of JPEG on Your Website

By Small Biz Geek on July 28, 2015 · Filed Under: Design, Video Updated: April 15, 2017

PNG Format

What format do you save your digital images to? Would you like to take advantage of background transparency? Try the PNG format…

Say What? How Your Website Colours Communicate

By Small Biz Geek on March 17, 2015 · Filed Under: Design, Internet Updated: April 6, 2018

How Your Website Colours Communicate

Website design colour schemes must be analysed carefully. The colour palette you choose affects communication, user experience and purchase decisions…

DIY Excel Customer Management Database (EU Requirement)

By Small Biz Geek on September 30, 2014 · Filed Under: Design, Legal, Marketing, Operations Updated: October 22, 2016

Excel Customer Database

Small Businesses are advised to keep sales/enquiry records in a spreadsheet as part of their customer management activities…

5 Ways to Make Your Small Business Look Bigger

By Small Biz Geek on April 8, 2014 · Filed Under: Design, Internet, Marketing, Operations Updated: February 20, 2020

Big Fish

There are a few creative ways to use technology and resources to improve the perception of our operation. We can apply a more professional veneer…

Business Card Idea: Hand Stitched Price Tag

By Small Biz Geek on October 8, 2013 · Filed Under: Design, Marketing Updated: March 27, 2019

Hand made business card

If your business is arts/crafts related you might be interested in these hand made business cards. I use them whenever I sell artwork in locally…

How to Paint Canvases Using PhotoShop Templates

By Small Biz Geek on February 19, 2013 · Filed Under: Design, Operations, Software Updated: March 23, 2015

Low Cost Artwork

A cool idea for artists wanting to produce template based canvas paintings. This is a guide outlines a system for creating film noir style pop art…

Small Business Website – DIY Vs Pro

By Small Biz Geek on January 2, 2013 · Filed Under: Design, Internet, Marketing, Web Development Updated: March 10, 2015

Small Business Website - DIY Vs Professional

There’s no question about it: a website is essential for any small business. If you don’t exist on the web, you’re creating unnecessary inconvenience…

DIY Laminated Printed QR Code

By Small Biz Geek on September 25, 2012 · Filed Under: Design, Marketing Updated: September 11, 2015

DIY Printed QR Code Marketing Materials

Here is a low cost method for experimenting with printed weather proof QR codes to promote a local product or service on a website…

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Hello, my name is Darren, a 36-year-old business enthusiast eager to learn and do good work.

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Recently Read Book

Don't Make Me think - Steve Krug

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

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…

Latest Journal Entries

  • 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
  • Unable to Meet in Person? Communicate Stress-Free with Online Audio/Video
  • 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 Temporary Placeholders and Design Around Them
  • GoDaddy Loves Spamming Branded Footer Links to WordPress Installatron Sites
  • Dealing with Negative Comments on Your Paid Social Media Posts

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