Rise and Shine: Your Daily Dose Of Business Tech Inspiration

Ask Charly Leetham
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Where small business tech meets plain English. Charly Leetham brings decades of hands-on experience helping business owners harness technology - without drowning in jargon or wasting time on fluff. Whether you're a DIY'er trying to make sense of your website, emails, or software, or you just want to know if your IT team is talking sense, this podcast is for you. Each episode is packed with practical advice, real-world tips, and insights from the trenches. If you've ever thought, "There’s gotta be a better way to do this tech stuff" - you’re right. Charly is here to show you how.

  1. Is That Free WordPress Theme Secretly Costing You Customers? (2025/623)

    13H AGO

    Is That Free WordPress Theme Secretly Costing You Customers? (2025/623)

    Free WordPress themes sound like a great deal — until they start hurting your brand, slowing your site, and costing you sales. In this episode, Charly explores why “free” often comes with hidden costs and what to consider when building your website. 📌 Here's what you'll learn: ✅ Common issues with free themes: poor mobile design, slow speed, lack of support ✅ Why outdated code can break your site after updates ✅ The hidden SEO risks of built-in links and developer credits ✅ How premium themes and page builders like Thrive can reduce risk and boost ROI 🔗 Recommended: Thrive Themes – https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/thrivethemes (Charly receives a commission for purchases made from this link) 🛡️ Build your site with purpose, not just pretty colors 🛡️ Keep accessibility, conversion, and future updates in mind 🛡️ Weigh the real cost of time lost troubleshooting vs investing upfront If your website is part of your business, this episode could save you time, stress — and money. 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    20 min
  2. Are You Falling for the “Domain Name Scam” Without Realizing It? (2025/622)

    2D AGO

    Are You Falling for the “Domain Name Scam” Without Realizing It? (2025/622)

    Ever received one of those urgent emails claiming someone’s registering your business name in Asia? It feels serious — but is it legit? In this episode, Charly breaks down: ✅ What domain variations are and which ones really matter ✅ The truth behind scam emails pressuring you to “protect your brand” ✅ Simple ways to guard your business name without wasting money ✅ How to handle domain impersonation or fraud attempts 📌 You’ll also learn: 🔗 Which domain extensions to register (and which to ignore) 🛡️ How to spot and shut down domain scams fast 🛡️ Steps to monitor your domain name for potential threats 🛡️ Why maintaining trust matters more than owning 20 domain names This is a must-listen for small business owners who want to stay safe online without falling prey to fear-based tactics. 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    24 min
  3. Should You Trust Website Speed Test Scores or Ignore Them? (2025/621)

    4D AGO

    Should You Trust Website Speed Test Scores or Ignore Them? (2025/621)

    Website speed scores can feel like a tech report card — but do they really matter? In this episode, Charly unpacks what those numbers from Google PageSpeed, GTMetrix, and others actually mean, and why obsessing over them might not be worth your time. 📌 Here’s what you’ll learn: ✅ What speed test tools measure (and what they don’t) ✅ Why results vary wildly between tools and locations ✅ The difference between synthetic scores and real user experience ✅ How caching and CDNs skew speed results ✅ Why chasing a perfect score can be a waste of time 🛡️ Charly also shares a real client story where speed optimization delivered minimal metric gains but huge improvements in user satisfaction. 🔗 Use speed test tools for guidance, not gospel. Focus on user happiness, not just numbers. 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    14 min
  4. What Is Hotlinking and Should You Be Worried About It? (2025/620)

    6D AGO

    What Is Hotlinking and Should You Be Worried About It? (2025/620)

    Ever found your images or PDFs showing up on someone else’s site — but still hosted on yours? That’s hotlinking, and it could be quietly draining your bandwidth, costing you money, and weakening your brand. 📌 In this episode, Charly explains: ✅ What hotlinking is and why it's considered bandwidth theft ✅ The difference between innocent hotlinking and malicious abuse ✅ Real costs and risks: server load, copyright issues, broken images, and SEO ✅ Practical ways to stop hotlinking using server rules or CDNs ✅ Why reaching out to small bloggers might work better than fighting them 🛡️ Whether you’re running a blog or a big e-commerce site, Charly recommends blocking hotlinking by default — before it becomes a problem. 🔗 Want help setting up server rules to protect your content? Reach out or ask your IT team. 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    14 min
  5. Do Australian Websites Really Need Cookie Consent Banners in 2025? (2025/619)

    OCT 8

    Do Australian Websites Really Need Cookie Consent Banners in 2025? (2025/619)

    Are cookie banners just annoying popups or a legal necessity? In this episode, Charly breaks down what cookie consent really means for Australian businesses, and why even local websites are starting to display those GDPR-style notices. 📌 Inside this episode: ✅ The difference between essential and non-essential cookies ✅ Why GDPR impacts websites globally — even in Australia ✅ What Australian law actually requires for cookie tracking ✅ Two clear choices Aussie businesses have when it comes to EU visitors ✅ How cookie banners can build trust, not just tick a box 🛡️ Charly explains how the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles apply, and what you must include in your privacy policy. 🔗 Want to avoid legal headaches and show visitors you care? Consider adding a cookie banner — even if you're not legally required to. 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    13 min

  6. OCT 6

    What Are the Best Free Alternatives to Zoom for Business Meetings? (2025/618)

    Looking for a way to cut Zoom out of your business toolkit without losing functionality? In this quick episode, Charly explores free and low-cost alternatives for video meetings that won’t compromise your workflow. 📌 In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why Google Meet is a solid option with any Gmail or Workspace account ✅ How Microsoft Teams works as a free replacement for Skype ✅ What Zoho Meeting offers at the free tier (and why it’s Charly’s go-to) ✅ The differences between personal and business-level features in each platform ✅ Questions to ask yourself before ditching Zoom 🔗 Explore Zoho Meeting: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/zohomeeting (Charly receives a commission for purchases made from this link) 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    7 min
  7. Are You Building on Rented Land by Relying Too Much on Social Media? (2025/617)

    OCT 4

    Are You Building on Rented Land by Relying Too Much on Social Media? (2025/617)

    Social media might feel like the best place to grow your business — but what happens when the platform changes the rules or disappears overnight? In this episode, Charly unpacks why your website should be your true digital home, not just an afterthought. 📌 You’ll discover: ✅ Why social media is risky “rented land” for business content and customer data ✅ The long-term benefits of owning your website and controlling your messaging ✅ How SEO and email signups create stability and direct reach ✅ Tips to repurpose social posts into evergreen website content ✅ A smart strategy to balance both website and social for sustainable growth 🔗 Treat your website as the hub — social media is just the spokes. 🛡️ Protect your digital business by investing in what you truly own. 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    10 min
  8. Are Your Browser Extensions Putting Your Business at Risk? (2025/616)

    OCT 2

    Are Your Browser Extensions Putting Your Business at Risk? (2025/616)

    Browser extensions seem harmless — until they’re not. In this episode, Charly dives deep into how those tiny tools could create massive vulnerabilities for your business. From malicious data leaks to compliance nightmares, you'll learn what’s really at stake. 📌 You’ll discover: ✅ Why excessive extension permissions can expose your business ✅ How even “safe” extensions might sell your user data ✅ Real-world cases of extensions turning into spyware ✅ The productivity costs of buggy or distracting add-ons ✅ Why compliance (GDPR, HIPAA) can be at risk from browser misuse 🔗 Tips include auditing your extensions, training your team, and using enterprise tools. 🛡️ Don’t wait for a breach — secure your browsers before it’s too late. 📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Follow us: Locals: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com Rumble: https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham Odyssey: https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/askcharlyleetham Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourbizmgr Instagram: https://instagram.com/ask_charly_leetham LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charlyleetham LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ask-charly-leetham/ Spotify: https://askcharlyleetham.com/likes/rise-and-shine Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager/id1659738721 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ask-charly-leetham-online-105944212/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/662f1e44-115d-4094-862b-efe9307e0df4/ask-charly-leetham-online-business-manager

    10 min
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About

Where small business tech meets plain English. Charly Leetham brings decades of hands-on experience helping business owners harness technology - without drowning in jargon or wasting time on fluff. Whether you're a DIY'er trying to make sense of your website, emails, or software, or you just want to know if your IT team is talking sense, this podcast is for you. Each episode is packed with practical advice, real-world tips, and insights from the trenches. If you've ever thought, "There’s gotta be a better way to do this tech stuff" - you’re right. Charly is here to show you how.

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