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Beyond Websites
An editorial hub for better thinking and decisions around small business websites - with a wry view of the world
Welcome! You’ve landed in Beyond Websites – a space for people who know their website matters, but aren’t always convinced the advice around it does.
This is for:
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people starting a business who aren’t quite sure how “online” they need to be (or where to even begin)
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business owners with a website who feel it should be doing more
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anyone who’s ever thought, “I’m not stupid… so why does this feel harder than it should?”
You’ll find ideas, insight, practical guidance and the occasional raised eyebrow – shaped by years spent working with small businesses, managers, marketing teams and boardrooms where real decisions are made.
I’ve been around this industry long enough to spot patterns, myths and recurring questions when they appear. Beyond Websites is where I share what I’ve learned, what I’ve seen work, and what tends to make the biggest difference.
Some posts will spark ideas.
Some will answer questions you’ve been quietly asking.
Others might simply help you feel more confident about what you don’t need to do.
Either way, you’re very welcome here.
About the author
Susi is the founder of The Trade Marketer and an experienced storyteller who’s spent years making complex subjects feel clear, human and genuinely useful.
Over a long career in marketing and digital, she’s worked with everyone from small start-ups to senior managers and boardrooms – building brands, shaping strategies and helping businesses connect with real people in ways that actually work. Long before websites became “a thing”, she was already thinking about how messages land, how decisions get made, and why clarity always wins.
These days, Susi works directly with small businesses – especially those navigating websites, online visibility and marketing decisions without a big team or budget behind them. It’s where her experience, curiosity and practical streak come together.
On Beyond Websites, she explores the questions business owners really ask: how to get started online, how to make a website pull its weight, how to attract local customers, and how small, thoughtful choices can make a big difference. Expect insight, real-world examples, the odd personal observation, and a steady focus on what helps rather than what complicates.
Her writing always comes back to the same themes: clarity, connection, and helping people see what’s possible when things are thought through properly.
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Featured: start here
If you’re wondering what Beyond Websites is really like, this featured post gives you a good feel for it.
Each one I highlight here shares the same flavour – thoughtful, practical, occasionally curious, and grounded in real experience. It might explore a big idea, unpack something that’s quietly confusing a lot of people, or offer a fresh way of looking at a familiar problem.
There’s usually a bit of perspective, a bit of realism, and something useful to take away - whether you’re just getting started or already knee-deep in decisions.
Want to browse our full selection of Beyond Websites....
Read about the journey that shaped how I think about websites, visibility and doing things properly. The highlights and the lowlights that brought me to The Trade Marketer and a local focus.
Why Subscribing makes sense
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Join the ride
Subscribing is an easy way to keep a gentle finger on the pulse without having to think about it.
You’ll get new posts as they’re published – thoughtful takes on websites, visibility and decision-making for small businesses – along with the occasional nudge to look at something in a new way. No noise, no constant emails, just useful perspective when there’s something worth sharing.
If it stops being useful, you can unsubscribe at any time. No hard feelings and I promise you will get only great insights, no junk here!
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Have an idea?
If you’ve spotted something, wondered about something, or thought “someone should write about this”, you’re very welcome to suggest it.
Websites, AI, business, life - It’s all great content to share.
Want a conversation?
Beyond Websites is first and foremost a place to explore ideas, perspectives and practical thinking. But if something you’ve read here connects to your own business – or prompts you to pause and think “I might need a steer on this” – getting in touch is always an option.
There’s no script and no expectation. Sometimes it’s just a quick question, sometimes it’s the start of a wider conversation. Either way, it’s simply a way to continue the thinking.
We have several ways to 'make contact' below. Pick what works best for you!
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You can WhatsApp and Email at any time. These are checked regularly so normally we reply within a very short time the same day. For calls please respect office hours (9.00am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday).