Keith Barker
@keefomatic.com
Designer & marketer. Founder of Keefomatic Creative Marketing — keefomatic.com
Based in Ashby de la Zouch, UK.
My new book, '20 Ways to Stand Out Using Print,' is available now on Amazon.
More details at http://20ways.uk/
Based in Ashby de la Zouch, UK.
My new book, '20 Ways to Stand Out Using Print,' is available now on Amazon.
More details at http://20ways.uk/
Facebook’s enshitification continues.
Facebook tests charging users to share links in potential blow for news outlets
Facebook tests charging users to share links in potential blow for news outlets
News organisations fear move could hit newsrooms and other media publishers by stopping users sharing their content
Facebook is testing a system that charges users for sharing web links, in a move that could prove to be a further blow to news outlets and other publishers.
Meta, the social media platform’s owner, said it was carrying out a “limited test” in which those without a paid “Meta Verified” subscription, costing at least £9.99 a month, could only post two external links a month. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Facebook’s enshitification continues.
Five reasons social media is failing small business - and what you can do about it.
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
All Pain and No Gain
Why Social Media Is Such a Poor Fit for Small Businesses
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Five reasons social media is failing small business - and what you can do about it.
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
What – Whoof Er Eurore are touring again!?
November 30, 2025 at 6:42 PM
What – Whoof Er Eurore are touring again!?
That's almost as useful as thoughs and prayers
November 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
That's almost as useful as thoughs and prayers
The reviewer has obviously never seen Mrs Browns Boys
November 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The reviewer has obviously never seen Mrs Browns Boys
If you are in any way interested in graphic design, the news that Canva has released ‘Affinity by Canva’ for free should pique your interest.
As someone paying Adobe a small fortune for design software, here why I won’t be taking up Canva’s free offer:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
As someone paying Adobe a small fortune for design software, here why I won’t be taking up Canva’s free offer:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
Affinity and Beyond
Why free design software is not for me
open.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 11:19 PM
If you are in any way interested in graphic design, the news that Canva has released ‘Affinity by Canva’ for free should pique your interest.
As someone paying Adobe a small fortune for design software, here why I won’t be taking up Canva’s free offer:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
As someone paying Adobe a small fortune for design software, here why I won’t be taking up Canva’s free offer:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
Does the QR code take you to Pornhub?
October 31, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Does the QR code take you to Pornhub?
Yes people use them all the time
October 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Yes people use them all the time
Mine’s cancelled too. I don't even live in the US, but hey Ho!
September 19, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Mine’s cancelled too. I don't even live in the US, but hey Ho!
Traditional SEO advice assumes you have thousands of monthly searches to compete for. What happens when you're fighting for a handful? Smart micro-businesses are doing this instead:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
Too Niche for Google? Smarter Marketing for Micro-Businesses
If your business serves a specialist market or small local area, traditional SEO probably isn't working. Here's a smarter way to use your time.
open.substack.com
August 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Traditional SEO advice assumes you have thousands of monthly searches to compete for. What happens when you're fighting for a handful? Smart micro-businesses are doing this instead:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
That is interesting, and counter-intuitive. I can see why corporates want certainty, but SMEs usually don't have the time or budget for this kind of long-term brand awareness. My experience is at the micro business level, so maybe that explains the difference.
July 24, 2025 at 6:31 PM
That is interesting, and counter-intuitive. I can see why corporates want certainty, but SMEs usually don't have the time or budget for this kind of long-term brand awareness. My experience is at the micro business level, so maybe that explains the difference.
This strategy may well work for big businesses with chief marketing officers, but for the small and micro businesses that I deal with, zero click marketing is just opportunity cost. It’s another example of jam tomorrow.
July 24, 2025 at 8:13 AM
This strategy may well work for big businesses with chief marketing officers, but for the small and micro businesses that I deal with, zero click marketing is just opportunity cost. It’s another example of jam tomorrow.
My colour vision deficient graphic designer top tip is to look at the graphic in greyscale, and see whether there is enough contrast.
July 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
My colour vision deficient graphic designer top tip is to look at the graphic in greyscale, and see whether there is enough contrast.
Not me, I’m afraid. I can make out 2 if the graphic is small, and three if its larger.
July 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Not me, I’m afraid. I can make out 2 if the graphic is small, and three if its larger.
I used to go in there a lot when I lived in Hillingdon, and they also (I think I have this right) had a shop in Harrow.
July 17, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I used to go in there a lot when I lived in Hillingdon, and they also (I think I have this right) had a shop in Harrow.
Many small businesses invest in a professional website, only to find it brings in few clients. In my latest article, I share a real-world, work-in-progress case study – a therapy practice with a site that's not generating leads.
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/build-it-a...
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/build-it-a...
July 14, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Many small businesses invest in a professional website, only to find it brings in few clients. In my latest article, I share a real-world, work-in-progress case study – a therapy practice with a site that's not generating leads.
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/build-it-a...
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/build-it-a...
Another vote for Nationwide. I’d have also said Chase, but you’re with them already.
June 20, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Another vote for Nationwide. I’d have also said Chase, but you’re with them already.
If you’re in, or near Kent, give Chris at @favershamoptical.bsky.social a try.
Also, if you have Vitality health insurance, you can claim up to £500 back off new glasses if you use Vision Express.
Also, if you have Vitality health insurance, you can claim up to £500 back off new glasses if you use Vision Express.
June 18, 2025 at 12:33 PM
If you’re in, or near Kent, give Chris at @favershamoptical.bsky.social a try.
Also, if you have Vitality health insurance, you can claim up to £500 back off new glasses if you use Vision Express.
Also, if you have Vitality health insurance, you can claim up to £500 back off new glasses if you use Vision Express.
Nice to hear the Portsmouth Symphonia getting some airplay
June 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Nice to hear the Portsmouth Symphonia getting some airplay
Social media reach has nose-dived – and for small businesses, that might be the best thing that could have happened.
If you're trying to grow your business without becoming a full-time content creator, my latest article is for you.
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/stop-broad...
If you're trying to grow your business without becoming a full-time content creator, my latest article is for you.
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/stop-broad...
Stop Broadcasting and Start Connecting
Relationship-first marketing in an age of social media fatigue
visibilityblueprint.substack.com
June 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Social media reach has nose-dived – and for small businesses, that might be the best thing that could have happened.
If you're trying to grow your business without becoming a full-time content creator, my latest article is for you.
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/stop-broad...
If you're trying to grow your business without becoming a full-time content creator, my latest article is for you.
visibilityblueprint.substack.com/p/stop-broad...
I work with small and micro-businesses (often solo business owners) who need a 121 brand partner to deliver strategy, design and marketing in a simple, no-jargon way.
As part of that, I have my own marketing framework, The Visibility Blueprint.
Here's a taste:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
As part of that, I have my own marketing framework, The Visibility Blueprint.
Here's a taste:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
How to Market a Small Business Without Social Media
A few uncomfortable truths… and some hopeful ones too.
open.substack.com
May 15, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I work with small and micro-businesses (often solo business owners) who need a 121 brand partner to deliver strategy, design and marketing in a simple, no-jargon way.
As part of that, I have my own marketing framework, The Visibility Blueprint.
Here's a taste:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...
As part of that, I have my own marketing framework, The Visibility Blueprint.
Here's a taste:
open.substack.com/pub/visibili...