John K Mitchell's Misc Blog

John Mitchell
Someone Says Your Website Looks Dated. But It's Still Working. Should You Change the Design?


At some point, most businesses will hear somebody say that their website looks a little dated and could do with a refresh.

Perhaps it's a customer, a friend, a business associate or even a web designer suggesting that it's time for a new look. Maybe you've looked at a competitor's website and decided that yours doesn't look quite as modern.

But here's the question: if your website is still working, bringing in enquiries and giving visitors the information they need, do you really need to change it?

There's a difference between a website that looks a little old-fashioned and one that is no longer doing its job. A website doesn't necessarily need to follow the latest design trends to be successful.

So, before spending time and money on a redesign, it's worth looking at the advantages and disadvantages and, more importantly, considering what your business actually needs from its website.

More at https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3247 https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3247

John Mitchell
Webchats, Contact Forms and Phone Calls – Are You Making It Easy for Customers to Contact You?


Most small businesses understand the importance of having a website that makes it easy for potential customers to find out about their services. But what happens when someone actually wants to get in touch?

Whether you use a contact form, webchat, email or telephone, the aim should be the same: make it as easy as possible for someone to contact you and get a useful response.

Unfortunately, not every business gets this right. In fact, a recent experience of mine has been a good reminder of how easily a potential customer can become a frustrated customer.


My recent experience of trying to contact a supplier


During the recent storms here in the UK, a part of my car literally blew off in a particularly strong gust of wind.

Fortunately, it wasn't an expensive part, so I decided that replacing it would probably be the easiest option rather than try to claim on insurance.

More at https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3243 https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3243

John Mitchell
October 2026 – A look back at this month's blog posts


October has been a slightly quieter month on the blog, with fewer articles published than usual. I've been spending quite a bit of time working on server updates and maintenance, including important security updates relating to the infamous PHP exploit. Keeping the server secure and making sure everything continues to run smoothly has to take priority, even if it does mean spending a little less time writing!

There have still been five new articles covering a variety of subjects, from making your home office more comfortable to understanding how Google handles local searches. Here's a quick look at what we've covered this month with links to each of the articles.


Is Your Home Office Too Humid? It Could Be Affecting Your Business


If you run your business from home, it's easy to concentrate on computers, internet connections and office furniture while overlooking the environment you're working in.

More at https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3245 https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3245

John Mitchell
Google Searches and Geography: How Far Away Are Your Customers Looking?


TL;DR: When someone searches Google for an accountant, plumber or local shop, their location can make a big difference to the results. A customer might look within five miles for a nearby service, consider a 45-minute drive for a professional adviser, or search much further afield for a specialist. Understanding these differences can help your small business focus on the customers most likely to use your services.


Google doesn't show everyone the same local results


Imagine searching Google for an accountant. You might expect to see the same firms as someone else searching for exactly the same words. In practice, that isn't necessarily what happens.

Google considers several factors when showing local results, including relevance, distance and prominence. It looks at how well a business matches the search, how far away it is from the person searching, and how well-known it appears to be.

More at https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3239 https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3239

John Mitchell
Can Your Children Work in Your Family Business?


Although it was many years ago, my introduction to the world of work started with a paper round and later helping out at my dad's newsagent stall and shop. It was a good way to learn about turning up on time, dealing with customers and understanding that earning money meant putting in some effort (especially on a Sunday when, back then, many papers had "Sunday supplements).

Things have changed since then though, and employing children comes with rules that parents running a business need to understand. But the basic idea is still the same: a family business can be a useful place for children to gain work experience, learn new skills and earn some money of their own.

If you run a small business, you might be wondering whether your own children can lend a hand — and whether you can pay them for doing so.

More at https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3237 https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3237

John Mitchell
How to Stop Those Annoying “Sign in with Google” Pop-ups


TL;DR: Fed up with websites asking you to sign in with Google every time you visit? You can block many of these pop-ups, but the method depends on your browser. Chrome has a built-in setting, while Firefox users may need an extension or a filter.


Another website, another pop-up!


You visit Reddit, open an interesting page or browse a website you’ve used dozens of times before, and there it is: a box asking you to “Sign in with Google”.

No, thank you. I just want to read the page!

These prompts have become an increasingly familiar irritation, and annoy the heck out of me so much that I spent some time looking at this yesterday and decided to pass on to my readers what I'd found. They’re often called Google One Tap prompts, and they’re designed to make signing in quicker. Rather than creating another password, you can use your Google account.

That’s handy if you actually want to sign in.

More at https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2026/10/how-to-stop-those-annoying-sign-in-with-google-pop-ups/ https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2026/10/how-to-stop-those-annoying-sign-in-with-google-pop-ups/

John Mitchell
Google Search Console Says Your Speculation Rules Are 404 Errors – Should You Worry?


TL;DR: If Google Search Console has started reporting 404 errors for URLs such as /* after you've added Speculation Rules to your website, don't panic. The /* isn't supposed to be a real page. It's a pattern used to tell a browser which links it can consider for preloading or prerendering. Google has been known to report these patterns as if they were URLs. In most cases, there's nothing wrong with your website and nothing you need to fix.

If you've been doing a bit of technical housekeeping on your website, you may have come across something rather odd in Google Search Console, it's happened on all my client's sites, so I thought it was worth mentioning.

More at https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3226 https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=3226