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Practical writing about web development, digital marketing and building software for small businesses.
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Running WordPress? Here's what I'd do about PHP2Shell today
Should you worry about PHP2Shell? Don't panic, but don't wait either. Here's the half-hour check I'd run on any WordPress site today.
Google Business Profile posts cost nothing. Here's why local businesses should post anyway
Google Business Profile posts are free and may soon be more visible. What to post, the October 2026 rules to follow, and a five-minute weekly routine.
Small team, big output: why AI needs tighter processes, not fewer people
Anthropic's own data shows AI multiplies output but makes human judgement the bottleneck. What the reports say and how small businesses can apply the same guardrails.
How to Make Your Business the Answer Google's AI Recommends
Google's AI answers now favour official sources. Here is a five-step checklist to make your local business the site Google cites, with a free example.
ChatGPT Traffic Now Shows as Direct in GA4: What It Means for Marketers
Since GPT-6, ChatGPT clicks appear to arrive with no referrer or UTM tag, so GA4 files them as direct. What changed, why it matters, and what to check.
How to Track Your Visibility in AI Overviews and AI Search
Google and Bing now report on AI search visibility. Here is what the new reports show, what they miss, and how we build them into UK small business SEO.
Rank Trackers Are Getting Bad Data From Google
Google is feeding some SEO tools wrong ranking data. Here's why Search Console alone isn't the answer either, and how I'm changing client reports.
Why I've switched off Google's automatic text overlays on every client account
Google Ads now adds AI text overlays to Demand Gen videos by default. Here's why I've switched it off for every client, and how to do the same.
Stop Scammers Faking Your Business Email (UK Guide)
Scammers can send fake invoices from your business email address. Learn how SPF, DKIM and DMARC stop them and how to check your domain for free.
How to Choose an SEO Agency in Derby and Derbyshire
Hiring an SEO agency in Derby or Derbyshire? The questions to ask, what SEO costs, the red flags Google warns about, and when you don't need an agency at all.
How to Choose a Website Developer
A practical guide on what to look for when choosing a website developer: customisation, content management, and SEO best practices explained plainly.
What Is AI Search and Does Your Derby Business Show Up?
AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity crawl the web separately from Google. Here is what determines whether your Derby business shows up when someone asks for a recommendation.
Why We Don't Lock Clients Into 12-Month Marketing Contracts
No 12-month lock-in. Hempsall Digital offers flexible, month-to-month marketing contracts across Derby, Staffordshire and the West Midlands. Here's why.
How to Choose a Digital Marketing Agency in Derby: A 2026 Checklist
A checklist for Derby businesses vetting a digital marketing agency in 2026: pricing, GA4 reporting, AI search readiness, and the right questions to ask.
How I Built a Cookieless Analytics Dashboard From Scratch (And Why I Did It)
Why we built a fully custom, cookieless analytics system instead of using Google Analytics, and the technical hurdles involved in building one.
Is Your Website Costing You Customers?
Your website might look fine on the surface, but small issues with speed and messaging could be quietly turning visitors away before they contact you.