A web designer in Harrogate did what?!

I used to think accessibility was a checklist. Add some alt text. Pick a readable font. Tick the box and move on. Then a client called and the building of a website changed my mind. Sound of Wonder is run by DJ Scooby, who I work with at Harrogate Community Radio. So this isn't a stranger's project. It's someone I know well, asking me to solve a real problem for real readers. Hi, I’m A...

I want to talk about something I get asked about more than almost anything else. And that is: why is my website not getting me any enquiries? It is a fair question. You have got a website. It exists. People can find it, presumably. So why is nobody picking up the phone or filling in the contact form? A lot of the time, when I actually look at the site, the answer is pretty obvious. And it usually...

Today we are talking about something I say to almost every client. Your website is not your brochure. Hi, I’m Andrew Backhouse. My site is https://andrewbackhouse.design and in this episode of “A web designer in Harrogate did what?!”, I'm talking about why lots of small business websites work exactly like brochures - they look nice, they list the services, they have a phone number at the botto...

Welcome to the eighth episode of "A web designer in Harrogate did what?!" Today I want to talk about something that affects every single person who uses a website, an app, or a phone. And yet, most people have never heard the term for it. It is called accessible design. And no - it is not just for disabled people Before I go any further, I want to be clear about something, Making things accessible...

Most of us start the same way - pick an hourly rate, estimate how long something will take, multiply the two, and send a quote. That method has a name - it's called time-and-rate estimating. On the surface it feels fair and logical. The problem is it ties your income directly to your hours. The better you get, the faster you work - and the less you earn for the same result. That's a system...

Today I want to talk about accessibility Before you assume this is going to be a technical deep-dive into WCAG guidelines and ARIA labels, let me be clear: this episode is about money It's about why making your website accessible is one of the smartest commercial decisions a business can make Hi, I’m Andrew Backhouse. My site is https://andrewbackhouse.design and in this episode of “A web desi...

Your contact form is sitting there on your website, looking the part. But is anyone actually using it? Hi, I’m Andrew Backhouse. My site is ⁠https://andrewbackhouse.design⁠ and in this episode of “A web designer in Harrogate did what?!”, I look at contact forms - what makes them work, what puts people off, and why so many enquiries never arrive. I share what I've seen across client sites, from...

Do you know how people use your website? Analytics are well and good, but they don't show you how visitors actually use it - and your visitors will not use a website like you use it. In this episode I walk you through how to conduct a usability test of your website for free. Hi, I’m Andrew Backhouse. My site is https://andrewbackhouse.design and in this episode of “A web designer in Harrogate...

You have heard the advice to design with the end user in mind. In this episode, I suggest something more specific. Design with your mum in mind. Not because she represents everyone. But because she quickly reveals where things feel confusing, stressful or unclear. If something works for your mum, it usually feels calmer and more human for everyone else too. I talk about: Why familiarity creates bl...

Many businesses blog regularly but see very little return. In this episode, I explain how blog post formatting supports SEO by making content clearer, more readable, and easier for search engines to understand. I am not an SEO expert. The aim is not to replace one, but to show how good structure helps SEO specialists work more effectively. I cover one topic per post, heading structure, paragraph l...

Many small businesses choose Squarespace or Wix because they are quick and easy to launch. In this episode, I explain what I often recommend - WordPress is possibly a better long term option. Hi, I’m Andrew Backhouse. My site is https://andrewbackhouse.design and in this episode of “A web designer in Harrogate did what?!”, I look at how the platforms actually work, where their limits show up over...

In the trailer I let slip the plans for my first five episodes.