No Script Show

Nathan Wrigley, David Waumsley
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A show for people who build websites. A podcast on modern frontend web design where we look at what we can build today with minimal dependencies and skills. We're building this website as part of the show.

  1. 7H AGO

    Ep 29. Making a website owners manual

    On the podcast today we have David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley. David and Nathan are diving into the world of website owner’s manuals, a concept inspired by Paul Boag’s influential book, but brought firmly into the present day, with a focus on everyday website owners, small businesses, and web designers who care about empowering their clients. Drawing on decades of experience building and managing websites, David has crafted an in-depth, living document inside Canva (but designed to be platform-agnostic) that aims to give website owners a comprehensive guide for project management, strategic planning, and brand assets. If you’ve ever struggled with unclear communication between designer and client, or wished for more independence in managing your website, this episode is for you. David and Nathan discuss the evolution from classic brand style guides, documents focused primarily on logos and colours, to holistic website owner's manuals that cover business objectives, brand voice, technology choices, accessibility, and governance. Along the way, they revisit the lessons learned from early web design days and address the friction that so often arises between technical experts and business owners. They walk through the structure of David’s owner’s manual, over 50 pages and growing, detailing pipeline steps like mission and messaging, technology requirements, visual identity, and even legal and ethical considerations. This is not just theory, they share practical tips for real-time collaboration, asset management, and making the manual a valuable resource whether you’re starting your first one-page site or scaling up. If you want your web projects to start on the right foot, and avoid common pitfalls when building for yourself or your clients, you’ll find plenty of actionable advice in this episode. And if you’ve never created a style guide or website manual before, David and Nathan break down the whys and hows, helping you build more sustainable, maintainable, and independent online presences. Whether you’re a designer, a business owner, or simply interested in better website planning, this conversation will give you a roadmap for approaching digital projects with clarity and confidence. 00:00 Website Owner's Manual Concept 05:45 "Platform-Agnostic Presentation Approach" 07:53 Website Style Guide & Design Tools 12:52 "Problem-Solving Before Product Building" 15:43 Website Navigation & Client Guidance 19:31 Document Structure Overview 23:27 "Building Trust for Rankings" 25:20 "Building a Clear Brand Identity" 29:11 "Content & Voice Guidelines" 32:48 Authentic Brand Voice Matters 35:24 "Website Content and Writing Guidelines" 37:54 Visuals: Complement, Not Replacement 43:57 "Design Systems: Test and Simplify" 46:34 "Accessible Web Design Priorities" 49:50 Branding Across Platforms 53:46 Website Analytics and Governance Insights 54:36 Website Review and Compliance Tips 58:01 "Creating a Central Resource Hub"

    1 hr

  2. FEB 6

    Ep 28. Trap or Trade off What small businesses should know before getting a website

    UntitledAre you a small business owner thinking about getting a website? In this episode, David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley break down the real traps and trade-offs of using no code website builders versus hand coding your site. - How the commercial website builder market is taking over—and what that means for business owners - The surprising decline of hand-coded websites and why HTML still matters - The hidden costs and limitations of using platforms like Wix and Squarespace - A practical walkthrough of building a simple one-page business site from scratch - Why simplicity, clear messaging, and owning your code can set you apart from the competition Want to avoid vendor lock-in and make smarter website choices? Dive in for actionable advice and real-world examples.

    54 min

  3. JAN 9

    Ep27. Enshittification. Why We Need Independent Websites.

    This episode looks into how platforms lure us in, lock us down, and extract value from everyone and how small, independent websites can push back. What this episode covers The 3 stages of Enshittification (Cory Doctorow’s framework applied to web platforms) Real‑world examples: Facebook, Amazon, Google How interoperability was intentionally broken and antitrust was weakened The hidden human labour and exploitation behind “AI magic” The rise and hangover of vibe coding (Karpathy, YC, GitClear findings) Why AI‑generated codebases are brittle and hard to maintain Tim Berners‑Lee, the fight to keep the web in public ownership, and why the web is for everyone Practical ways web designers and developers can reclaim agency: Static sites and the “dumb web” IndieWeb and POSSE (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) Using AI as a tool, not a master If you’ve been feeling uneasy about AI hype, social media, and the state of the modern web, this episode might help connect the dots and point to a healthier, more human direction for making websites. Mentioned in this episode Cory Doctorow – Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It Karen Hao – Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI Yanis Varoufakis – Technofeudalism Tim Berners‑Lee – This Is for Everyone Ed Zitron – Better Offline (podcast & newsletter) Carl Brown – Internet of Bugs (YouTube channel) IndieWeb & POSSE (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Everywhere)

    1h 6m

  4. 11/29/2025

    Ep26. Google Ads for Local Businesses. Avoid costly mistakes.

    On the podcast today we have David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley. David and Nathan have been helping local businesses build websites for years, gaining insight into the world of digital marketing and the challenges faced by small business owners, from vets and accountants to electricians and therapists. In this episode, they turn their attention to Google Ads, demystifying pay-per-click advertising for those new to it. With the rapid shift from traditional marketing, think local papers and radio, to digital options, spending your marketing budget wisely is more important than ever. David begins by sharing his experiences supporting clients as they navigate Google Ads: requests to set up tracking scripts, questions about campaign managers, and a recent odd appointment with Google’s own support team. There’s skepticism, are Google’s new beginner-friendly moves as helpful as they seem? As Google adapts to challenges in its search dominance, the duo explore what this means for newcomers. Nathan and David then break down the landscape. Why is Google so powerful? What do statistics about return on investment actually mean, and why do most small businesses lose money? They discuss the differences between traditional and digital marketing, explaining why driving more traffic is pointless unless your offer really connects. Using the story of Bob Smith, a landscape gardener, they illustrate common mistakes, like sending ad traffic to generic homepages and neglecting the power of targeted messaging and landing pages. They contrast this with the marketing-savvy approach of Bob’s wife, Mary, who uses landing pages, keyword research, urgency, and lower-risk conversion options to boost results. The conversation digs deeper into Google Ads practicalities: negative keywords, location targeting, conversion tracking, and why “set it and forget it” just doesn’t work. There’s talk of budgets and timelines, and the importance of time and skill regardless of whether you DIY or hire an expert, along with the red flags to look for if you do. Finally, David and Nathan round off with a checklist for getting started: optimise your Google Business profile, learn about local service ads, invest in onsite SEO, and always start by clarifying your business problem before jumping in. If you’re a local business owner, or guiding one through the world of online advertising, this episode is packed with actionable advice, real-world stories, and critical perspectives on how to avoid costly mistakes with Google Ads.

    41 min

  5. 09/10/2025

    Ep25. Form options for static websites

    Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley are the hosts of the No Script Show, and in this episode, they’re diving into the vast topic of website forms. Forms, as they point out, are what make the web interactive, without them, you can’t do things like search, comment, shop online, or even book an appointment. But adding forms, especially to static websites, can be a lot more involved than it first appears. They start by sharing their personal journeys and frustrations with forms, both as web developers and as people helping clients with website interactivity. They discuss the explosion in the number of static and hybrid sites, and the need for third-party form solutions if you’re not using a dynamic platform like WordPress. The conversation ranges from specific client expectations, like the belief that ‘if you build a booking form, bookings will magically come’, to why forms can be both a blessing and a pain to administer. They unpack when you might actually need a form, and look into some eye-opening statistics about contact forms, such as how they typically convert much less than direct clickable emails or phone numbers. Along the way, Nathan and David look at alternatives to forms, like WhatsApp links and website chat, and why simply putting a phone number on the site could sometimes be the best UX decision of all. For those who do need a form, the hosts provide an overview of the different options available, from DIY setups using third-party endpoints like FormSpark, all the way up to full-featured SaaS form builders such as Jotform, Paperform, and Tally. They touch on accessibility, cost, performance, spam issues, and how keeping things simple can often be the smartest move. If you want to understand the real value, challenges, and modern choices for website forms, whether you run static sites, work with WordPress, or are helping clients decide what’s best, this episode is for you.

    50 min

  6. 08/20/2025

    Ep24. Don't quote us on this!

    This is the fourth episode in our ongoing series about the different components that make up a website, and today we’re diving deep into the world of testimonials, block quotes, pull quotes, and the cite element, and why so many of us are probably coding them all wrong. Nathan and David take a look at how these quote elements are handled from technical, design, accessibility, and SEO perspectives. Inspired by resources like Kevin Powell’s “Is HTML the Hardest Language?” and the work of Hayden Pickering, they set out to demystify the (often confusing) specifics of semantic HTML, particularly around quotes and citations. We start with the basics: where quotes show up, be it testimonials for credibility, comments for engagement, or pull quotes for stylistic flair, and debate what pull quotes really are. Then, they walk through the evolution of HTML specifications, the ongoing confusion around the best markup for quotations, and how expert voices like Hayden Pickering and Adrian Roselli suggest different, sometimes contradictory approaches to structuring quotes, citations, and testimonials. You’ll learn why using blockquote for pull quotes isn’t recommended, and why the cite element doesn’t always do what you think, or anything useful at all. David and Nathan talk through common patterns for testimonials (with author images, company names, and more), how to structure them for maximum meaning and accessibility, and why major platforms like WordPress often stray from the specification. The episode also covers the practicalities: how to rationalise your code, how to use article and aside elements when appropriate, and even touches on the perennial pull quote debate, are they worth the trouble (especially for screen readers and responsive layouts)? If you’ve ever wondered how to properly mark up quotes and testimonials in your HTML, and how to future-proof your work for accessibility and SEO, this episode is for you.

    33 min

  7. 07/23/2025

    Ep23. Are we right in the head?

    This is the third episode in the series exploring the different components that make up a website, and today’s focus is on the often-overlooked but vitally important head element in HTML. Nathan and David kick things off by admitting that, like many web professionals, they haven’t thought deeply about the head for quite some time, despite its massive impact on performance, accessibility, and SEO. Drawing from their own experiences as CMS users and enthusiasts, they dig into what the head is, the key tags you can (and must) use, and which practices are still essential in modern web development. They cover everything from the basic meta tags you need for setting character encoding, viewport scaling, and page titles, to why the order of scripts and styles in your head can dramatically affect site speed and user experience. David explains some of the technical nuances, like choosing between inline styles and external stylesheets and recent updates that now allow for SVG favicons with light and dark mode support, thanks to the latest version of Safari. They also discuss SEO considerations, such as canonical tags, language declarations, and social sharing metadata, along with hands-on tips to help you validate your sites and avoid common mistakes, like using special characters in titles that may trip up screen readers or search engines. If you build or maintain websites and haven’t recently double-checked your head element, this episode is well worth your time. By the end, Nathan and David will have you rethinking and refreshing your approach to the head of your HTML, ensuring you’re setting up your sites for the best possible technical, SEO, and accessibility outcomes.

    36 min

  8. 07/09/2025

    Ep22. Are design systems worth it?

    On the podcast today, we’re joined by Paul Lacey. Paul has been working in web design and development since 1999, and in that time he’s witnessed the evolution of the industry from the early days without CSS, through the dot-com boom, to the modern era of design systems. He’s put together his own design systems for professional and client work, and brings first-hand, practical experience to our chat. Paul joins our regular hosts, Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley, to help demystify what “design systems” actually are, and why they might matter to all of us, not just the largest organisations. We kick things off by uncovering the surprisingly varied definitions of design systems, including perspectives from the Nielsen Norman Group and Figma. The conversation quickly turns to what design systems look like in real-world settings: are they just libraries of reusable components, or do they go deeper than the visual layer to include things like code, documentation, and accessibility? Paul, David, and Nathan talk through the differences between style guides, design tokens, component libraries, and pattern libraries, and where the lines between them blur. We touch on how design systems operate in organisations of all sizes, from solo freelancers to giant institutions like the UK government, and how the goal of a design system isn’t just making things look good, but improving collaboration, maintaining consistency, and supporting accessibility. If you’ve ever wondered how to get started with a design system, whether to build your own or adapt an off-the-shelf solution, or why some systems succeed while others become overly complex, this episode is for you. We also talk about the long-term benefits and pitfalls: does consistency stifle creativity? How do design systems need to evolve alongside technology? And how do they stay resilient in an ever-changing industry? If you’re curious about design systems—or want to build more efficient, accessible, and lasting websites—this episode is packed with insights, practical tips, and plenty of honest stories about what happens when theory meets practice.

    1h 7m
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About

A show for people who build websites. A podcast on modern frontend web design where we look at what we can build today with minimal dependencies and skills. We're building this website as part of the show.

Information

  • Creator
    Nathan Wrigley, David Waumsley
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Nathan Wrigley, David Waumsley
  • Show Website
    No Script Show