A web designer in Harrogate did what?!

Andrew Backhouse
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Marketing

Whether you're just starting out in web design or trying to make sense of your business website, this podcast meets you where you are. I'm Andrew Backhouse, a freelance web designer in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with over 25 years in the industry. Each episode covers one idea in around 10 minutes - the kind of thing they don't always teach in courses, and the kind of thing clients don't always ask about. Practical, honest, and grounded in real freelance experience. New episodes every two weeks.

Episodes

  1. May 25

    Accessible design is for everyone

    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 for disabled people is the right thing to do, full stop. But today I am focusing on something slightly different; I want to show you how design choices made for accessibility end up helping all of us every day, without us even noticing. Hi, I’m Andrew Backhouse. My site is ⁠https://andrewbackhouse.design⁠ and in this episode of “A web designer in Harrogate did what?!”, I am exploring value based pricing; but, this approach isn't without difficulty. It takes confidence to quote a higher number and hold your ground. Some clients, especially smaller local businesses, are used to comparing hourly rates - and a fixed fee without a visible hourly breakdown can feel opaque to them. Follow Andrew: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewadesigner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewadesigner

    8 min

  2. May 11

    Stop charging by the hour - try value-based pricing. What I charge for web design.

    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 that penalises you for improving. Hi, I’m Andrew Backhouse. My site is https://andrewbackhouse.design and in this episode of “A web designer in Harrogate did what?!”, I am exploring value based pricing; but, this approach isn't without difficulty. It takes confidence to quote a higher number and hold your ground. Some clients, especially smaller local businesses, are used to comparing hourly rates - and a fixed fee without a visible hourly breakdown can feel opaque to them. Follow Andrew: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewadesigner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewadesigner

    8 min

  3. Apr 27

    Why accessible design is good for business

    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 designer in Harrogate did what?!”, I am exploring why when I bring up accessibility in a client conversation, the response is usually polite but vague People nod, they agree it's important, and then they ask whether it's going to add time and cost to the project So today I want to flip that question around The real question is: what is inaccessibility costing you right now? Follow Andrew: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewadesigner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewadesigner

    15 min

  4. Apr 13

    Fun times with Contact Forms - do you get enquiries?

    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 forms that quietly fail to ones that genuinely bring in business. Whether you built your own form or just accepted whatever your theme gave you, this one is worth a listen. Follow Andrew: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewadesigner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewadesigner

    7 min
  5. Can people use my website?

    Mar 16

    Can people use my website?

    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 did what?!”, I'm going to talk through how I run a usability test using Zoom. This is about what happens during the call itself. At this point in the process, your participants are already recruited, the questions have been reviewed, and people have been selected. This is all assuming you know how to make a Zoom call and that the calls are booked and confirmed. I'll cover how I open the Zoom call, how I guide the session, and how I wrap up and review interviews. Follow Andrew: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewadesigner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewadesigner

    10 min
  6. Design with your mum in mind

    Mar 2

    Design with your mum in mind

    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 blind spots in digital designHow clear language improves user experienceWhy clever layouts can reduce confidenceHow to write error messages that feel calm and helpfulWhy accessibility should feel like common senseThe value of testing with people who are not in tech This episode is for small business owners, designers, and anyone building something online. If your mum can use it without help, frustration, or feeling lost, you have probably done a good job. Design with empathy. Design with clarity. Design with your mum in mind.

    8 min
  7. Clear structure, better blogs, stronger SEO foundations

    Feb 16

    Clear structure, better blogs, stronger SEO foundations

    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 length, lists, internal links, images, and metadata, and explain how these elements work together to support visibility and trust. This episode is for Harrogate businesses and anyone who wants their blog content to work harder without chasing algorithms.

    13 min
  8. Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress? Which one for my Business website?

    Feb 2

    Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress? Which one for my Business website?

    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 time, and what that means if your business plans to grow, publish regularly, or change direction. Follow Andrew: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewadesigner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewadesigner

    6 min
  9. Trailer

    Jan 20

    Trailer

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

    3 min

Trailer

About

Whether you're just starting out in web design or trying to make sense of your business website, this podcast meets you where you are. I'm Andrew Backhouse, a freelance web designer in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with over 25 years in the industry. Each episode covers one idea in around 10 minutes - the kind of thing they don't always teach in courses, and the kind of thing clients don't always ask about. Practical, honest, and grounded in real freelance experience. New episodes every two weeks.

Information