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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

  • The Internet
  • Marketing
  • Graphic Design
  • Web Dev
  • Web Design
  • Social Media
  • Technology
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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.

Local Business Websites: “About” Pages Done Right Will Attract and Delight Readers

By Small Biz Geek on September 4, 2018 · Filed Under: Marketing, Video Updated: November 1, 2018

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…

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

By Small Biz Geek on December 12, 2017 · Filed Under: Legal, Marketing, Sales Updated: February 15, 2021

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.

Rant: Manipulative Website Email Popovers Look Like Backhanded Ransom Notes

By Small Biz Geek on January 10, 2017 · Filed Under: Marketing, Web Development Updated: February 22, 2018

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

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

By Small Biz Geek on November 15, 2016 · Filed Under: Legal, Marketing, Scams, Web Development Updated: March 12, 2018

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…

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…

Browser Ad Blockers are Destroying Website Functionality and Killing Content

By Small Biz Geek on August 9, 2016 · Filed Under: Internet, Web Development Updated: February 1, 2017

Browser Ad Blocker

While the blocking of aggressive advertising in web browsers is common, the side effects are that overzealous ad blockers damage core website functionality and mute genuine content…

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…

Vote “Remain” in the EU: Britain is a Steadying Hand on Digital Law Madness

By Small Biz Geek on June 8, 2016 · Filed Under: Internet, Legal, Web Development Updated: February 18, 2020

EU digital law gavel and laptop

Vote “Remain”. Britain is a parental chaperone on EU digital policy, is negotiating better terms and has MEPs to represent our interests. We can do more from the inside…

17 Detailed Twitter Tips for Hosting a Successful Tweet Chat

By Small Biz Geek on May 3, 2016 · Filed Under: Marketing, Social Updated: February 18, 2020

Are you a social media manager or small biz owner developing a Twitter community? In this instruction guide, I reveal my best tips for hosting an amazing tweet chat…

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…

Dodge WordPress Website Disasters: Use a Localhost for Development

By Small Biz Geek on February 9, 2016 · Filed Under: Software, Video, Web Development, WordPress Updated: May 2, 2019

WordPress Disaster

Are you a smart webmaster? Avoid web development hell by testing, building and improving your WordPress site in a localhost offline server…

Pssst! 16 Sneaky Snooping Tools for Spying on Competitors

By Small Biz Geek on January 12, 2016 · Filed Under: Internet, Software Updated: February 18, 2020

Jesse and Mike in Breaking Bad Stakeout

Take advantage of these free online tools and dig up data on on business competitors. Set up a digital stakeout and discover what your rivals are doing online…

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…

Can We Really Trust WordPress Plugins? Back Up Your Site Manually NOW

By Small Biz Geek on September 22, 2015 · Filed Under: Web Development, WordPress Updated: April 15, 2017

WordPress Manual Back Up

Do you back up your WordPress website manually? You might use a plugin but these can fail, especially free ones. Better a little caution than a great regret!

How to Comply with Google’s EU Cookie Ultimatum

By Small Biz Geek on September 1, 2015 · Filed Under: Internet, Legal, Video, Web Development Updated: April 15, 2017

Google Cookie Requirements EU Law

Google have emailed webmasters warning them they must comply with the European Union website visitor cookie user consent policy by 30th September 2015…

Boost Your Biz Using Local Web Directory Listings

By Small Biz Geek on August 21, 2015 · Filed Under: Internet, Marketing Updated: April 15, 2017

Boost Your Biz Using Local Web Directory Free Info Listings

In this 10 minute video I demo the value of free online business listing directories for the purpose of publishing your business information to be discovered by search engine users…

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…

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About the Webmaster

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

I’m a website builder for hire working with small to medium businesses.

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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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