Rise and Shine: Your Dose Of Business Tech Inspiration

In this milestone 600th episode, Charly Leetham walks you through setting up a passkey on your Stripe account — and why it’s critical for your online security. This isn’t just a tutorial. It’s a wake-up call to protect your financial platforms with modern, passwordless login methods that use biometrics or a PIN. 📌 In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ What passkeys are and how they work across de...

When someone leaves your team, what happens to their Microsoft 365 license and email? In this episode, Charly walks through the smart and secure way to free up a license without losing access to important inbox content. 📌 Here’s what you’ll learn: ✅ Why deleting the user immediately can cause problems ✅ How to convert a user to a shared mailbox — step-by-step ✅ What happens to inbox access and...

Think your website should be indexed by Bing but it's not showing up? You might need IndexNow. In this episode, Charly dives into the open-source protocol that could streamline your SEO efforts. She also shows you exactly how to enable it with SmartCrawl Pro. 📌 Here's what you'll learn: ✅ What IndexNow is and how it works ✅ Conjecture on why Bing and Yandex support it — and why Google doesn’t (...

Struggling to get your site listed on Bing? You’re not alone. In this episode, Charly walks through live troubleshooting of a real client site that’s stuck in indexing limbo—even after sitemap submission and backlinks from high-authority domains. 📌 Learn what might be holding your site back: ✅ What “indexed” really means (and why it matters) ✅ How to use Bing Webmaster Tools to uncover issues...

Ever wonder what’s lurking on your web server? In this episode, Charly shares a real-world server audit that uncovered years-old WordPress installs, malicious PHP files, and leftover databases — all hidden risks just waiting to be exploited. 📌 You’ll learn: ✅ Why abandoned WordPress installs can be major security holes ✅ What encrypted payloads are and how they work ✅ How to identify and clean...

Feeling overwhelmed by SEO advice? Charly strips it back to the essentials in this episode, explaining exactly what you need to do (and avoid) to help your website rank — without falling for spammy tricks or getting penalized. 📌 You’ll discover: ✅ Why metadata like site title and description still matter ✅ The best WordPress SEO plugins Charly recommends ✅ How to pick and place keywords natura...

Struggling to get your site listed on Bing? You're not alone — and there's a fix. In this episode, Charly walks you step-by-step through using Bing Webmaster Tools to submit your site, verify ownership, and boost visibility. 📌 You'll learn: ✅ How to set up a Bing Webmaster Tools account and verify your domain ✅ Why submitting an XML sitemap is critical for search indexing ✅ How to...

Ever felt burned by a “new customer” deal that leaves loyal users behind? In this episode, Charly unpacks her reaction to a Xero ad offering deep discounts and gift cards to newcomers — while long-time users continue paying full price. 📌 Inside this episode: ✅ Why loyalty pricing matters to small businesses ✅ The risk of alienating long-term customers ✅ Real talk on rising SaaS costs vs. value...

Ever had a moment of panic when your website suddenly vanishes? In this episode, Charly explains what really happens when a website goes down — and how to handle it like a pro. 📌 You’ll learn: ✅ Common reasons websites go offline (DNS, server failure, attacks, expired domains) ✅ What to check before contacting support (screenshots, errors, network tests) ✅ How to clearly communicate the issue...

Thinking of buying one of those "magic" dongles that promise global internet access without VPN fees? In this episode, Charly breaks down what a Decentralized Private Network (DPN) really is and why it might be too good to be true. 📌 You’ll learn: ✅ What a DPN is and how it compares to a VPN ✅ Why these devices can pose serious security and privacy risks ✅ How your bandwidth, data, a...

Most people just see a padlock in the browser and think, “Secure, cool.” But do you actually know what HTTPS does—or what happens when it’s broken, expired, or misconfigured? In this episode, Charly explains how HTTPS works, what SSL certificates do behind the scenes, and why this protocol is critical for trust, security, and even search engine rankings. 📌 In this episode: ✅ What HTTPS is and ho...

Ever updated your website only to find your changes don’t show up? That’s caching in action — and it can speed up your site or totally wreck your user experience if you don’t manage it right. In this episode, Charly explains caching from the ground up, covering browser, server, CDN, and even ISP-level caching. Learn how it works, where it can go wrong, and what you need to do to avoid the biggest...

If you’ve ever been told “that’s your private IP, not your public one” — or gotten mysteriously blocked from a site or app — your IP address is likely the culprit. In this episode, Charly breaks down what IP addresses are, the different types, and why they still matter (even if you never mess with them yourself). 📌 In this episode: ✅ What IP addresses do and how they route your data ✅ IPv4 vs I...

Ever changed a domain setting and wondered why your emails vanished or your website stopped showing the right version? This episode breaks down the real reasons behind DNS propagation delays and what you can do to avoid disaster. 📌 In this episode, Charly explains: ✅ What DNS propagation really is (hint: it's not instant) ✅ Why your changes take time to spread across the internet ✅ What TT...

Confused by tech jargon like DNS, resolvers, or name servers? You're not alone—and that's exactly why Charly breaks it all down in plain English. In this episode, she demystifies the Domain Name System and shows why it's essential for running a reliable, secure business online. 📌 In this practical walkthrough, Charly explains: ✅ What DNS really does (and why it’s like GPS for your we...

Got an alarming email about someone else trying to trademark your business name? In this episode, Charly digs deep into one such message, investigating whether it’s legit or just another clever scam targeting small business owners. Learn how to spot the red flags, protect your brand, and avoid wasting money on unnecessary legal services. 📌 In this episode, Charly shares: ✅ How scammers mimic leg...

Ever wondered what really happens when you type a website address into your browser? In this episode, Charly kicks off a new series to break down the complex world of the internet into plain, easy-to-follow steps — no tech jargon overload. 📌 In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ What a domain name is and why it’s easier for humans than numbers ✅ How DNS turns that domain into a server’s IP address...

If you’ve ever wondered how Zoho Mail handles storage for shared mailboxes, you’re not alone. A listener asked whether emails and attachments in a shared mailbox use everyone’s storage or just the creator’s quota — and the answer might save you headaches later. 📌 In this episode, Charly explains: ✅ How Zoho Mail allocates storage for shared mailboxes ✅ Why the mailbox owner’s quota is impacted...

AI bots are increasingly crawling websites to train their models and provide instant answers — sometimes replacing traditional search engine traffic. But should you let them use your content, or block them entirely? In this episode, Charly explains Cloudflare’s new “Block AI Bots” and “AI Labyrinth” features, showing exactly where to find and enable them. She breaks down the pros and cons so you c...

Instagram has begun rolling out a new map feature that shares your last active location in DMs — but should you be concerned? In this episode, Charly explains what the feature does, why there’s a lot of online hype about it, and how to protect your privacy when it arrives in your account. 📌 In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ What Instagram’s new map feature is and how it works ✅ Why it’s a potent...

Think incognito mode makes you invisible online? Not quite. In this episode, Charly clears up the myths and realities about private browsing, showing what it actually does — and what it can’t do. 📌 In this episode, Charly covers: ✅ What incognito/private browsing really does ✅ Common myths (and why they’re wrong) ✅ When to use incognito for security and testing ✅ How it can help with multiple...

Google is urging website owners to “lock down” their Google Maps API keys to prevent unauthorized use — and unexpected charges. If your key is open, anyone who gets hold of it could run up usage on your account, pushing you past the free tier and into billable territory. 📌 In this episode, Charly covers: ✅ What the Google Maps API is and how it works with your site or app ✅ Why unrestricted API...

Google reCAPTCHA is moving from its old system into Google Cloud, which means you’ll need a billing account — and possibly start paying for something that’s been free for years. But is that really unfair? In this episode, Charly explores the “free vs. paid” debate and the hidden costs behind free tools. 📌 In this episode, Charly covers: ✅ What reCAPTCHA is and how it protects against bots ✅ Why...

Are you confused by Google’s reCAPTCHA migration email? You're not alone. In this episode, Charly breaks down what the migration actually means, why it matters, and what steps you should take to avoid service disruption or unexpected issues with your website. 📌 Here’s what you’ll learn: ✅ What reCAPTCHA does and how it protects your site from bots ✅ Why Google is migrating reCAPTCHA to Goog...

Your website might look good on your screen—but does it actually work for your visitors? In this episode, Charly lays out why testing your site from the customer’s perspective is one of the most overlooked yet crucial steps before launching. 📌 You’ll learn: ✅ How to test your site across devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) ✅ What to check: layout, usability, forms, purchases, and clarity ✅ Why g...