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Learn: 30 free guides
Practical, step-by-step guides on WordPress, Elementor, SEO, speed, WooCommerce, Google Ads, freelancing, security and more, written by a working UK web developer. Each one links to the course that takes it further.
SEO6 min read
Work through this section-by-section checklist to set up your Google Business Profile properly and give your service business the best shot at the map results.
Goes deeper in WordPress SEO for Beginners
SEO6 min read
Connect your WordPress site to Google Search Console in under half an hour: choose a property type, verify ownership and submit your sitemap.
Goes deeper in WordPress SEO for Beginners
SEO6 min read
Both plugins can help a small business rank. Here is how they differ, how to choose between them and the settings that matter most.
Goes deeper in WordPress SEO for Beginners
Speed6 min read
What Google's three Core Web Vitals actually measure, the scores to aim for, and the WordPress fixes that make the biggest difference.
Goes deeper in Fast WordPress: Speed
Speed5 min read
Your web server decides most of this choice. Here is how each caching plugin works, how to check your hosting and how to set them up safely.
Goes deeper in Fast WordPress: Speed
WooCommerce5 min read
The choice between Elementor's Checkout widget and WooCommerce's block checkout comes down to plugin compatibility first and design second. Here is how to decide.
Goes deeper in WooCommerce Shop with Elementor
WooCommerce5 min read
Charge the right delivery cost for the Highlands, islands and Northern Ireland by setting up WooCommerce shipping zones in the correct order.
Goes deeper in WooCommerce Shop with Elementor
WooCommerce6 min read
Not VAT registered? Switch WooCommerce taxes off. Registered? Here are the exact settings for a typical UK shop, from tax options to the 20% standard rate.
Goes deeper in WooCommerce Shop with Elementor
Freelance6 min read
Stop guessing your rate. Here is a simple method to work out a freelance web design day rate that covers your costs, holidays and the days you cannot bill.
Goes deeper in Freelance Web Design Business
Freelance6 min read
A good care plan covers updates, backups, security, uptime checks and a set amount of support time. Here is what to include, three example tiers and how to price them.
Goes deeper in Freelance Web Design Business
AI6 min read
In most cases you can use AI-generated images on a UK business website. Here is what to check first: tool terms, copyright, real people, trade marks and honesty.
Goes deeper in Build Websites Faster with AI
AI6 min read
AI drafts are a starting point, not finished copy. This step-by-step editing process strips out filler and adds the real details that make a business sound like itself.
Goes deeper in Build Websites Faster with AI
AI5 min read
Passwords, API keys, customer personal data and confidential client files should never go into an AI chat tool. Here is a full checklist and safer alternatives.
Goes deeper in Build Websites Faster with AI
Static sites6 min read
Static sites cannot process forms on their own. Here is how Netlify Forms, Formspree and other services fill the gap, and how to pick one.
Goes deeper in Fast Static Sites
Static sites5 min read
Keep the same URLs, carry over every title and description, redirect anything that moves and check Search Console after launch. Here is the full process.
Goes deeper in Fast Static Sites
Static sites5 min read
Static sites are fast, cheap to host and low maintenance. WordPress is easier to edit and extend. Here is an honest comparison to help a small business choose.
Goes deeper in Fast Static Sites
Security5 min read
A backup only counts if you can restore it. Here is a safe, 15-minute way to test a WordPress backup on a staging or local copy without touching your live site.
Goes deeper in Security, Backups and Recovery
Security5 min read
A hacked WordPress site feels like an emergency, but the first hour is about containment. Here is a calm checklist to stop the damage and set up a clean recovery.
Goes deeper in Security, Backups and Recovery
Security5 min read
Thirty minutes a month keeps most WordPress sites safe, fast and working. Here is the exact checklist, in order, with what to look for at each step.
Goes deeper in Security, Backups and Recovery
Hosting and email7 min read
DNS records tell the internet where your website and email live. Here is what A, CNAME, MX and TXT records do, and how to edit them without breaking anything.
Goes deeper in Domains, Hosting and Email
Hosting and email6 min read
If a former web designer controls your domain, you can usually get it back. Check who the registrant is, ask for a transfer properly, and know your options if they refuse.
Goes deeper in Domains, Hosting and Email
Hosting and email6 min read
Contact form emails usually land in spam because your website sends them without proper authentication. Here is why it happens and how to fix it properly.
Goes deeper in Domains, Hosting and Email
Google Ads6 min read
Stop paying for clicks from job hunters, DIYers and bargain seekers. Here are 50 negative keywords to add before your first click, and a few to avoid.
Goes deeper in Google Ads for Local Businesses
Google Ads5 min read
Google Ads targets people interested in your area by default, not just those in it. For local service businesses, that often means paying for useless clicks.
Goes deeper in Google Ads for Local Businesses
Google Ads6 min read
Performance Max is often pushed as the default Google Ads campaign. For most small local businesses it is not the right place to start. Here is why, and when it does make sense.
Goes deeper in Google Ads for Local Businesses
Code and Elementor6 min read
Squashed columns, sideways scrolling and giant headings on phones usually come from seven fixable causes. Here is how to spot and fix each one.
Goes deeper in HTML and CSS for Elementor
Code and Elementor6 min read
Actions run your code at a set moment; filters change a value and hand it back. Real examples show how to use both safely.
Goes deeper in Your First WordPress Plugin
Code and Elementor5 min read
Build a reusable notice box widget for Elementor with two small PHP files, then extend it with style controls and more fields.
Goes deeper in Your First WordPress Plugin
Code and Elementor5 min read
Validate input, sanitise before saving, escape on output. The core WordPress security habits explained with practical code examples.
Goes deeper in Your First WordPress Plugin
Code and Elementor5 min read
Widget, page, site-wide or child theme? A clear guide to choosing where custom CSS should live on an Elementor and WordPress site.
Goes deeper in HTML and CSS for Elementor
The courses take each topic from start to finish, with a project and personal one-to-one tutoring.