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.

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.

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.