Fractional CIO | IT Strategy for High-Stakes M&A | Faster M&A, Smoother Exits | De-risking IT & unlocking value | Author

Most technology integrations miss their synergy targets. Not because the technology is wrong, but because the right leadership wasn't in place early enough.

That's where I come in.

I'm an Interim / Fractional CIO specialising in Transformation & Resilience. I work with CEOs and boards of multi-site, acquisition-led businesses, typically PE-backed, 500–10,000 employees, to turn technology from a source of risk into a source of value.

When integration timelines slip, cyber posture is unclear, or the estate has grown faster than the team can manage, I step in to stabilise delivery, simplify complexity, and build a roadmap the board can trust.
Recent engagement:

VetPartners (BC Partners-backed, £1B revenue, 14,000 staff, 9 countries). Built the Group IT Strategy from scratch. Created acquisition integration blueprints. Accelerated new practice onboarding by 30%. Simultaneously ran IT operations for 540 UK practices.

Career outcomes:

£700M+ M&A technology integration across the platform and bolt-on acquisitions
£15M+ annual EBITDA contribution through operational excellence and cost optimisation
Technology leadership across automotive retail, consumer goods, and veterinary services

Clients call me when:

→ Integration is off-track, and synergies are at risk
→ The board wants cyber confidence before exit, audit, or due diligence
→ Technology is a red flag in the data room
→ They need senior leadership fast—without permanent headcount

I also serve as NED (Digital & Technology) at Age UK, and I've published on AI governance, IT leadership, and board-level technology strategy.

Available for select interim and fractional mandates.

Let's talk: DJ@Starkhorn.co.uk

Daniel J. Jacobs

The AI didn’t fail. It did exactly what we asked, just not what we meant.
We built an agent that ran flawlessly… until everything around it started quietly breaking.

 If you're leading AI deployments or planning to, this reflection might save you some heartache.

👇 Read it here: Reflections on Agentic AI, Human Trust, and the Space 

Between Promise and Reality

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned deploying AI in the real world?

Interim / Fractional CIO (Transformation & Resilience) | Board-level clarity on Technology (Risk • Cost • Delivery) | Multi-site & acquisition-led businesses | M&A integration • Cyber resilience • Operating model

View newsletter: Digital Disruption Digest

The system did what we asked. It just didn’t do what we meant, and we didn’t realise the difference until something subtle broke. Reflections on Agent

Open article: The AI didn’t fail. It did exactly what we asked — just not what we meant. by Daniel J. Jacobs • 7 min read

The AI didn’t fail. It did exactly what we asked — just not what we meant.

“We won’t fix the legacy stack, it’s too complex and too expensive. Let’s add AI and show progress.”

That move can create a short-term win.

The short-term gain

➡️ Nicer dashboards and “insight” layers
➡️ A quick story for the board: “We’re doing AI”
➡️ Lower upfront disruption than a proper rebuild
➡️ Faster cycle times in a few workflows (support, sales ops, reporting)

It feels like momentum because some metrics will move.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 (𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭)

If the core systems are brittle, AI becomes a high-gloss layer sitting on low-trust data and fragile processes.

You end up with:

➡️ Automation of mess (you scale inconsistency, not performance)
➡️ Rising change cost (each “quick win” increases architectural debt)
➡️ Hidden operational risk (every new model relies on unstable integrations)
➡️ A strategy trap (it looks modern, so the real modernisation never happens)
➡️ AI outputs nobody trusts (because the underlying data is wrong or incomplete)

AI on broken foundations doesn’t transform the business; it amplifies whatever the business already is.

𝐀 𝐂𝐄𝐎-𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭

Don’t ask, “Where can we deploy AI?”

Ask, “Where do we have clean ownership, stable data, and a repeatable process so AI can compound value instead of compounding risk?”

𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛:

If a process can’t be measured, governed, and explained without AI… Adding AI won’t fix it. It will just make it faster and harder to debug.

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Where in your business is AI used to modernise, and what would fixing the foundation unlock instead?

Kicking off 2026 with renewed energy and big goals, but what I’m hearing from leadership teams isn’t “new year, new me”.

It’s urgency.

After months of planning in 2025, 2026 is shaping up as the year of decisive execution. The “nice-to-have” transformation work is becoming “must-have” modernisation, and the question has changed:

𝐍𝐨𝐭: “Should we modernise?”
𝐁𝐮𝐭: “How fast can we move without breaking what already works?”

The companies that win this year will treat technology as a strategic lever, not a support function:

➔ IT optimisation as a weapon, not a cost centre
➔ M&A integration as value creation, not operational admin
➔ Cybersecurity as business enablement, not just risk management

If 2026 is the year you’re aiming to reduce complexity, strengthen resilience, or become acquisition-ready, I’m happy to compare notes.

What’s your biggest technology challenge heading into 2026?

#ITStrategy #DigitalTransformation #Cybersecurity #BusinessGrowth #2026Goals

New IT strategy question for 2026:
How fast can you change your mind—without breaking the business?

That confession will sound familiar to anyone who has watched organisations cycle through enthusiasm and quiet disappointment. Project NANDA’s prelimi

Open article: New IT strategy question for 2026:
How fast can you change your mind—without breaking the business? by Daniel J. Jacobs • 7 min read

70% of digital transformations fall short. It's not because the technology fails, but rather because the operating model remains unchanged. (McKinsey/BCG)

After years spent guiding transformations and saving millions across PE-backed businesses, one truth is impossible to ignore:

“Technology rarely breaks a transformation.
Behaviour, capability, and ownership do.”

Because if the organisation doesn’t change how it works, the tooling becomes nothing more than expensive wallpaper.

Here’s how this destroys EBITDA:

𝟏. 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞

If leaders don’t change how they work, new systems become old habits wrapped in a new interface.

Commercial impact:
→ £300k–£700k in unrealised value for a mid-market portfolio company.

𝟐. 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

You can’t scale with a workforce that doesn’t believe in the new system—or lacks the skills to use it.

The hard truth:

- 60% of work can be automated
- 70% of teams fear the capability gap
- 80% of leaders mistake resistance for stubbornness (instead of upskilling)

Commercial impact:
→ 10–15% rise in operating costs (often £500k+ annually)

𝟑. 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

When nobody owns decisions, transformations collapse under their own weight:

- No clear accountabilities
- No single owner for platforms
- No clarity on “who delivers what, by when”

Commercial impact:
→ £5M–£10M wiped off the exit valuation due to poor execution discipline

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛:

Spend your first 30 days on:
✓ Shifting behaviour
✓ Upskilling teams and rebuilding capability
✓ Establishing clear ownership and decision rights

When behaviour, capability, and ownership move in tandem, PE-backed companies typically see a 1–4% annual improvement in EBITDA.

Because successful transformations were never about technology —
They’re about disciplined execution.

Repost ♻️ if you’re tired of seeing transformations fail for the same avoidable reasons.

P.S. CIOs, which mistake (1–3) do you see most often in the field?

Early in my career, I measured myself by how much I was needed.

Every escalation that landed on my desk felt like proof I was valuable.
Every decision that required my sign-off confirmed I was essential.

Then I took two weeks off. And the wheels came off.

Not because my team wasn’t capable.
Because I’d built a system that required me to function. I’d confused being needed with being effective.

That was a hard lesson. And it shows up fast in boardrooms and due diligence.

When investors assess a business, they’re not only looking at EBITDA.
They’re quietly asking: what happens if this person leaves?

If the honest answer is “things slow down” or “decisions stall”, that risk gets priced in, even if performance looks fine today.

The harsh reality for technology leaders is that being indispensable isn’t a sign of strength; it's a sign of vulnerability masked as importance.

The shift that changed how I lead:

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, “How do we perform when I’m here?”
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, “How do we perform when I’m not?”

Design decision rights so choices don’t bottleneck.
Build operating rhythms that run without you in the room.
Create clarity so your team doesn’t need to check with you; they already know.

That’s operational maturity: not a leader holding things together, but a system that doesn’t need holding.

What’s one thing you’ve deliberately built to work without you?

PE firms don’t buy technology.
They buy better EBITDA.

This is the non-negotiable truth of Private Equity.

Most CIOs still believe PE wants:
• New platforms
• AI implementation
• Modern tech stacks
• Big transformation programmes

This is “technology theatre”.

After delivering £1.5M in savings across multiple PE-backed businesses in 10+ countries, one pattern is consistent: 𝐏𝐄 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬.

Here's the brutal truth. PE partners aren't interested in shiny tech. They need commercial clarity.

They priorities:

𝟏. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Reducing operational cost through vendor optimisation, licence rationalisation, and system consolidation.

𝟐: 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Eliminating technical and vendor debt (including the £500k penalties and £3M true-ups we routinely uncover) that can erode exit value.

𝟑. 𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲:
Building a simple, scalable platform that guarantees growth. Allows the next buyer to pay a higher multiple (as seen in the 10x outcome achieved for one of our clients).

This requires the CIO to become the Chief Value Officer.

Every transformational decision (from renewing a Salesforce contract to integrating a new acquisition) must be tied around its direct commercial outcome— otherwise it's noise.

P.S. What is the single biggest "tech for optics" investment you’ve seen that failed to deliver a measurable EBITDA-level return? Comment ↓

AI in growth planning has moved from experiment to operating system. Five evidence-backed patterns, and what actually changes in your next planning cycle

The shift isn't about faster spreadsheets. It's about fundamentally rethinking how organisations sense, decide, and adapt. Something quiet but profoun

Open article: 5 Ways AI Is Reshaping Growth Planning in 2026 by Daniel J. Jacobs • 5 min read

5 Ways AI Is Reshaping Growth Planning in 2026

Your M&A integration strategy should do one thing above all: protect EBITDA.

Most integrations fail because leaders start with systems rather than commercial reality.

They obsess over:
- Buying new tools
- Implementing platforms
- Rebuilding CRMs
- Chasing “transformation theatre.”
- Forcing teams to adapt before they’re ready

And the consequences are predictable.
Here’s how EBITDA leaks when leaders ignore commercial reality:

𝟏. 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
Misaligned teams delay integration by 30–60 days, resulting in £500k+ in EBITDA leakage.

𝟐. 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬:
Each delay increases deal costs by 10–15%, often adding £500k–£1M in extra operating spend.

𝟑. 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬:
A 60–90-day delay can reduce valuation by 0.5x–1.2x EBITA multiples, wiping £5M–£12M from the exit story of a mid-market portfolio company.

And once EBITDA leaks, you almost never get it back.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬:
Protecting EBITDA is unrelated to technology.

It begins with stabilising people, contracts, and processes in the first 90 days (long before systems are touched).

Because if teams aren’t aligned, contracts aren’t secured, and processes aren’t controlled, the exit clock is already ticking. Every month of delay permanently erodes value.

This is why the best CIOs ruthlessly remove duplication, noise, and complexity.
They lead with clarity, disciplined sequencing, and clean commercial execution.

The result?

𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 £𝟐𝟓𝟎𝐤–£𝟓𝟎𝟎𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝟗𝟎 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 (as we’ve seen repeatedly across multiple PE-backed businesses).

Commercial stability comes first.
Systems come last.

Repost ♻️ if you’re tired of watching the same integration failures repeated across the industry.

P.S. What’s the most expensive integration mistake you’ve seen CIOs make? Comment below ↓

Alt text for the Image: M&A Integration Strategy Fix

Most execs don’t realise it… 
Every time employees use public AI tools for sensitive work, they could be training their competitors’ systems.

After Samsung’s $100M wake-up call, and seeing similar risks across industries. I built a framework to help leaders turn AI governance into a competitive edge.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eDRYMFFt

CMO & Founder @ Huemor ⟡ B2B websites that outsell the competition ⟡ 93% more website leads & ZERO extra AD spend ↴ [DM me so HUE can learn MOR]

Huemor builds memorable websites that sell for brands like 23andMe, Boston Dynamics, Live Nation, Revlon, and The United Nations.

Book a call with me to:
✅ Generate more qualified leads
✅ Make your website a breeze to update
✅ Become the industry leader in your niche

Don't believe me? Here's what our clients have to say 👇

“Something I found most unique about Huemor is how much they care [about] the success of the project. The site is a lot cleaner and shows a very in-depth narrative of our story.”

Jenny Lee, Creative Director at BetterCloud

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The Huemor team has that impossible combination of genuine creativity and professionalism that turns every project they work on into a success. They do truly amazing work that is unique to each client and their market. Partnering with Huemor is the best decision a company can make. Great team doing great work.

Ed Deaton, VP of Marketing at SurePoint

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“Our project manager was always readily available to address feedback with his team, and made sure that all parties understood their deliverables and deadlines. From a technical standpoint, we have already seen our search rankings increase and overall improvements to the website's usability.”

Lisa Turnbull, Head of Global Marketing at Encompaas

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Getting the nuances of messaging, design, and technology right is no easy task.

To produce the right outcomes, you need a partner you can trust.

An expert who can guide you to the right strategy, take charge of the process, and deliver a website that your customers will love.

After a website redesign, our clients typically experience:
+ 83% monthly website visits
+ 94% increased conversions
+ 91% leads generated

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ARE YOU READY TO BE BETTER THAN "GOOD ENOUGH"?

You've built an amazing business—don't settle for a below-average website. It's time to build something better.

APPLY FOR A FREE WEBSITE ANALYSIS

With a free analysis, you'll receive 100+ personalized, actionable tips that cover:
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Apply here:
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(or click the link in my featured section)

Jeff Gapinski

Marketing isn’t an expense. 
It’s your revenue’s best friend.

CEOs tend to put marketing under "expenses," right there next to printer paper and office snacks.

But let’s be honest:

Marketing isn’t a cost.

It’s 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭.

It’s the engine that drives awareness, trust, and, ultimately, revenue.

Cutting marketing when things get tight is like firing your sales team and hoping word-of-mouth pulls a double shift.

Yes, marketing takes time.

Yes, it requires strategy.

But every dollar you 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 in the right message, for the right audience, at the right time?

That’s a seed. 

Some bloom fast. Others take time.

But the ROI always looks better than the 
snack budget.

So next time someone asks,

"𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨?"

 Ask them this instead:

→ 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰?

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♻️ Share with a leader who still sees marketing as a cost.

CMO & Founder @ Huemor ⟡ We build memorable websites for construction, engineering, manufacturing, and technology companies ⟡ [DM “Review” For A Free Website Review]

Not all marketing advice is good advice. 
These five are downright dangerous.

There’s a lot of bad marketing advice 
out there. 

Some of it is outdated. 

Some of it is wishful thinking.

And some of it… is just plain awful.

Here are a few gems I’ve actually heard (and why they make me want to scream into the void):

→ “You need to be on EVERY social platform.”

→ “Just copy what your competitors are doing.”

→ “If we build it, they will come.”

→ “More content = better results.”

→ “Marketing is just about getting attention.”

Great marketing isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things, intentionally 
and consistently.

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♻️ Share with someone drowning in bad marketing advice.

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Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer

Founder & CEO

Spanish

The Five Worst Pieces of Marketing Advice I've Ever Heard

Tired of content that feels like a sales pitch? 
So is everyone else.

Not everything needs to be a pitch.

Some content should 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭.

→ Teach something.
→ Spark a conversation.
→ Make someone nod and go, “Yep, that’s me.”

Because here’s the truth:

If all your content sounds like a sales call, people will hang up. Mentally, at least.

The best brands don’t just 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 at people.

They build trust by showing up with value 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 asking for anything.

Want to win more customers?

Stop trying to close on every post.

Start creating content that makes people 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 to 
come back.

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♻️ Share with a brand struggling to build trust.

Redesigns don’t pay off in pixels. 
They pay off in performance.

How do I prove ROI on a website redesign?

A totally fair question.

Especially when your CFO sees “$100K website” and hears “pretty pictures.”

But here’s the thing:

A website redesign isn’t an expense. It’s an investment in performance.

So if you want to prove ROI, don’t just show 
what changed.

Show what 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥.

Here’s how:

→ Start with the baseline
→ Connect to business goals
→ Track more than traffic
→ Monitor the sales team’s life getting easier
→ Look at what you’re 𝘯𝘰𝘵 wasting anymore

Redesigns don’t make you money because the site 
is prettier.

They make you money when the 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 is clearer, faster, and easier to act on.

So how do you prove ROI?

By measuring what your website makes 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, or 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 for your business.

What’s one unexpected way your website has made your business more efficient or effective? We’re all for the hidden wins that don’t show up in Google Analytics.

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♻️ Share with someone defending a redesign budget.

Redesign Done Right: 5 Ways to Show It’s Paying Off

You don’t need all the answers. 
Just a partner who can help you find them.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵?”

If that’s your hesitation before a website redesign, here’s your permission slip: 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵.

You need a starting point and a partner that knows how to work through the gray areas with you.

Truth is, most companies aren’t launching from a place of perfect clarity. They’re evolving.

Messaging is half-baked. Pages are outdated. Stakeholders aren’t aligned. Sound familiar?

Good. You’re in the right place.

A website redesign isn’t a 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 you get after your brand is perfectly polished.

It’s the process that helps you get there.

Here’s what you 𝘥𝘰 need to get started:

→ A clear(ish) understanding of who your audience is

→ The problems your product or service solves→ What you want visitors to do when they land on the site

→ A rough picture of what success looks like (more demos? better leads? brand credibility?)

Even if some of those are fuzzy, that’s not a blocker. It’s the brief.

What a 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 redesign process helps you do:

→ Extract insights from sales calls, support tickets, and customer feedback

→ Prioritize the pages that actually drive results

→ Turn scattered internal opinions into clear, 
unified messaging

→ Build a flexible structure that evolves with
your business

→ Empower your team to manage and iterate

You don’t need:

→ A 47-slide brand deck
→  Finalized copy for 60 pages
→  Ironclad answers to every question

What you 𝘥𝘰 need is direction. And a partner who knows how to guide you through it.

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♻️ Share with someone delaying their website update.

Strategic Redesign Without a Brand Bible, 47-Slide Deck, o

Gut feelings don’t scale. 
Data does.

Redesigning your website without data is like building IKEA furniture without the instructions.

You’ll spend more time guessing than assembling, and in the end, something important is probably 
upside down.

Aesthetics matter. But if your redesign starts with “let’s freshen things up” and skips over “let’s look at the numbers,” you’re missing the mark.

Here’s what data actually tells us when used the right way in a redesign:

→ User Behavior
→ Conversion Insights
→ SEO Opportunities
→ On-Page Messaging
→ What Actually Drives Results

Design should respond to your audience, not just impress your stakeholders.

That means starting with data, not just opinions.

Your next website redesign doesn’t need to be a leap 
of faith.

It should be a strategic move rooted in insight and built for performance.

If your site is underperforming, don’t throw it out. Study it. Learn from it. Then rebuild it better.

What’s one piece of behavioral data you wish you had before your last redesign?

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♻️ Share with anyone about to redesign without insights.

Dashboards don’t lie. 
But they do get ignored.

Your analytics are your loudest, 
most brutally honest coworker.

They don’t sugarcoat. They don’t guess. They just tell you what your website is actually doing, and, more importantly, what it’s failing to do.

The problem is, most teams either don’t check them or don’t know what to 𝘥𝘰 with the data if they do.

Here’s how we help clients go from data-overwhelm 
to clarity:

5 Signals Your Website Analytics Are Screaming at You (and How to Read Them):

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
Visitors are either confused or uninterested. Your messaging doesn’t match their expectations. Start with aligning your copy to intent.

𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
This isn't a “bad design” problem. It's a hierarchy problem. Move your core value prop and CTA above the fold where it belongs.

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵
Congrats, something’s working in SEO or paid. But if conversions aren’t climbing too, your pages aren’t built to convert. Time for a CRO pass.

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
This one hurts, but it’s usually fixable. Reduce form fields. Improve clarity. Set better expectations (what happens after they click “submit”?)

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
So if you're looking at dashboards and feeling stuck, zoom out. The goal isn’t to track everything. It’s to understand something.

What’s one metric in your analytics you 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬, but don’t fully trust?

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🎉 𝗛𝘂𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴!  🎉

We’re not just adding headcount. We’re building a stronger, sharper, more creative version of who we are.

This isn’t about filling roles. It’s about making space for more great people to do meaningful work together.

Here's what we're looking for: 

𝗦𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 - 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 - 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Help us create content that ranks, reads well, and drives results across Google and next-gen search platforms like ChatGPT. If you're part strategist, part storyteller, and fluent in SEO, we’d love to chat.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/eWzvv6KE 
 
𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 - 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 - 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Help keep our client website projects on track, on time, and on point. If you’re organized, proactive, and great with people, you’ll fit right in.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/e-np9qzZ 
 
𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 - 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 - 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲)
Ready to break into sales and marketing? Join our team to support lead generation, client outreach, and proposal prep while learning the ropes of agency life. If you're organized, curious, and eager to grow, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/ecUzrJXw 

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Bring websites to life by turning thoughtful designs into clean, scalable Webflow builds. If you’re detail-oriented, confident in Webflow, and comfortable collaborating with designers and project teams, we’d love to connect.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/edtiPA-G 
 
𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 & 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 -𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲)
Create scroll-stopping video content for web and social. If you’re skilled in motion graphics, editing, and visual storytelling, and love turning ideas into engaging, polished videos, we’d love to work with you. 

Apply: https://lnkd.in/enf66eaR 
 
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 - 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 - 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀  (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲) 
Support our web projects behind the scenes by keeping tasks organized, timelines on track, and quality high. If you're detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working across teams and tools like ClickUp, we’d love to connect.

Apply: https://lnkd.in/eNDi8wG8 

At Huemor, you’ll contribute to meaningful digital projects, collaborate with a sharp and supportive team, and help create web experiences that stand out for all the right reasons.

Think you’d be a great fit? We’d love to hear from you.

Know someone else who would be interested? Tag or share to share the post!

Skimmers vs. Scrollers
It’s the great CTA divide.

Some people click before the page loads. Some need to read the About page, three blog posts, and a whitepaper first.

Both are real. Both matter.

Neither will convert if your CTA misses 
them completely.

𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 are on a mission.

They want the headline, the button, and to be three tabs deep before you finish your coffee.

If your CTA isn’t up top and obvious, they’re 
already gone.

𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴? They’re still with you.

They’re thoughtful. Detail-driven. Suspicious of 
your promises.

They’ll read everything, then scroll back up just to double-check.

If your CTA showed up too early, they ignored it 
on principle.

𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰?

You CTA like a multitasker.

→ 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗧𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽.
Serve the skimmers. They deserve nice things too.

→  𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻.
The scroll squad is almost ready. Show them the door when they get there.

→  𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
The early one should sound confident. The later one should sound like you’ve earned it.

→  𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁.
Nothing screams "I'm a marketing trap" like a button floating in space.

Design for both attention spans.

Because the best CTA is the one someone actually sees and clicks because it showed up at the right moment.

What’s your go-to trick for catching both skimmers and scroll-happy skeptics?

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Limited resources? 
Let your website work 24/7 for you.

Small marketing teams know the struggle: limited time, limited resources, unlimited expectations. 

But there’s one team member who never sleeps, never takes a break, and works 24/7.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦. 

A great website is your best salesperson, brand ambassador, and customer support rep, all rolled 
into one.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: answering questions before people 
even ask.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀: turning visitors into leads, 
leads into customers.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: building trust through content, testimonials, and social proof.

→ 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀: handling traffic spikes, automating processes, and working while you sleep.

For small marketing teams, a high-performing website is a game-changer. It saves time, streamlines efforts, and ensures every click moves the business forward.

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A bad lead magnet does more harm than good. 
Especially the 43-page kind.

Let’s be honest. Most lead magnets are just… magnets for bounce rates.

A 43-page PDF no one asked for.

A generic checklist with zero relevance.

A “free guide” that sounds suspiciously like a blog post you already published.

And then we wonder why no one’s converting.

Here’s the real reason most lead magnets flop: 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦.

If the first thing you give someone is underwhelming, what does that say about what’s behind the gate?

So, what actually works?

→ Specificity over generality
→ Utility over fluff
→ Instant payoff
→ Real positioning
→ Design that doesn’t feel like homework

Here’s the test:

Would you 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 your real email for your lead magnet?

If the answer is “maybe later,” 
so is your conversion rate.

What’s the best (or worst) lead magnet 
you’ve seen recently?

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A go-live isn’t the finish line. 
It’s the starting point.

"Is this built for future growth?"

You should be asking this before your website redesign starts, not after it launches.

Because too many websites look great at go-live and then fall apart the minute the business evolves.

→ New product? Needs dev work.
→ New campaign? Needs design support.
→ New content? No idea where to put it.

That’s not future-ready.

That’s future-friction.

A website built for growth does more than look the part. It:

→ Makes it easy to add pages without breaking layout

→ Adapts to new messaging without redesigning 
from scratch

→ Supports evolving funnels, offers, and goals

→ Gives your internal team tools to own 
updates confidently

→ Scales with your business, not against it

Your business will change. Your messaging will shift. Your strategy will evolve.

If your website can’t keep up, you’ll feel the friction every time something new needs to launch.

The best websites are not just built to go live.

They are built to grow with you.

What’s one thing you wish your current site could do more easily?

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🎉𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵: 𝟲𝗞 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 🎉

We’re excited to share the launch of the 𝟲𝗞 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 homepage, a critical step as they make their business public and showcase their innovative approach to upcycling metal scraps into 
high-performance materials.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲:
As 6K Additive transitioned into a standalone brand, they needed a homepage that clearly communicated their value and expertise in the metal upcycling industry. Their previous site was text-heavy and didn’t present their advanced technology in an easy-to-understand way, especially for potential investors.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗱:
We created a clean, modern homepage with clear messaging that tells 6K Additive’s story right from the start. We streamlined key sections from their parent site, like Spherical Metal Powder and Buyback Program, and ensured that the content was simple and digestible. The design was focused on clarity, using whitespace and minimalism to make the page feel fresh 
and professional.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻: A minimalist approach that keeps the focus on content and usability.

𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴: Straightforward language that highlights 6K Additive’s innovative process and industry leadership.

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱: Designed to make a strong first impression, positioning 6K Additive as an industry leader for potential investors.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁:
 The new homepage makes a powerful first impression, simplifies complex information, and sets the stage for the full site overhaul in the future. It’s an ideal starting point for 6K Additive’s journey as a standalone brand.

We’re excited to continue collaborating with them on their next steps!  

Checkout their website here: https://6kadditive.com/ 

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