How many customers are you losing without even realising it?

On today's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren reveals how a bad website doesn’t just fail to win new business - it actively drives people away. When someone checks you out online and sees something cheap or amateur, they'll assume that’s how you do everything in your business - and can you blame them?

It doesn’t matter if you get leads elsewhere. If your website looks like you don’t care, people will believe you don’t care about them either. And you’ll never know the enquiries you’ve lost, because those customers simply move on. This is the true (and expensive) cost of cutting corners on your online presence by trying to save money on a professionally designed website.

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helping UK ex-pats build wealth through UK property investing!

Steve Cowgill isn’t your typical property investor. A British ex-pat living in the Middle East since 2013, Steve built his portfolio with one clear goal: creating security and opportunities for his family. Now, he balances financial success with family priorities and speaks openly about what really matters - stability, education and doing things the right way.

In this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Steve shares with Darren his journey from Manchester to the Middle East, his views on business, property and life, and the lessons every ex-pat and investor can take on board. Expect straight-talking insights, practical advice and a perspective that goes beyond money to what lasting success really looks like.

More about Steve:

Steve Cowgill is a UK expat property investor and community-builder who has spent much of the past decade in Oman, where he grew a seven-figure UK property portfolio that generates a six-figure income and now helps other expats replicate the model. He’s the founder of Expat Property People, a free community that connects overseas investors with trusted UK-focused advisers via webinars, networking and resources, and he hosts the weekly Expat Property Podcast, sharing practical strategies for building and financing portfolios from abroad. His work centres on mindset, leverage, and data-led investing—showing expats how to structure deals, access finance, and build resilient income streams while living overseas.

You can connect with Steve here:

Website: https://stephencowgill.com/ / https://expatpropertypeople.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-cowgill-mba-6111a919/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_cowgill/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The secret to more reach on LinkedIn? Post content people actually care about!

Darren's off on another rant... but believe it or not, it's not just about car park drama. It’s about what gets people talking online.

It's about why you should be posting content that is actually interesting. Stuff people want to comment on. Stuff they’ll like, share and keep coming back to.

When you do that, LinkedIn rewards you. Your reach grows - and when you finally post something about your business, far more people see it.

This week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer is packed with insights (and a few parking-related tangents) on how to use everyday stories to fuel your brand growth.

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🚀 From military officer to property mogul!

In this week's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Richie Miller shares how he went from having no property experience to owning and managing a multi-million-pound property portfolio. Starting with a single investment in Sheffield, Richie now manages everything from HMOs to a self-storage business that’s already bringing in big returns.

He talks about the lessons learned along the way, including how to scale your investments, the importance of making quick decisions under pressure (thanks to his military background) and how he used creative financing to acquire huge properties without using his own money.

Richie’s story will inspire anyone looking to break into property or entrepreneurship, so tune in to hear how you can start your journey today.

About Richie:

Richie Miller is a former military officer turned successful property investor and developer. With a background in the British Army, where he learned critical decision-making skills under pressure, Richie transitioned to property investment with no formal training or knowledge of the industry.

After buying his first property in Sheffield with no money down, he quickly scaled his portfolio to a 48-bed tower block, demonstrating the power of calculated risk and strategic partnerships. Richie now focuses on high-value property investments, including large HMOs and commercial conversions, while also expanding into the growing self-storage market. His success has been driven by his ability to make quick decisions, learn from his experiences, and take action, rather than getting bogged down in analysis paralysis. As a mentor, Richie now helps others achieve success in property investment, sharing the same mindset and strategies that have fueled his own growth.

Connect with Richie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richie-miller/

Book a call: https://elevatepropertymentoring.com/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's about to get personal 🔥

In this special takeover of The Engaging Marketeer, Peter Murphy Lewis sits Darren in the hot seat and asks the questions no one else does.

From award-winning comedian to expert marketer, Darren’s, shall we say, unique mix has drawn comparisons to “Gary Vee crossed with a stand-up.” But how do you take your authentic personality - even the quirks you may try to hide - and turn that into a business advantage?

In this week's episode, Darren explains why faking it never works, how being yourself attracts the right kind of clients and why trying to play a part will only bring the wrong people through your door.

If you’ve ever wondered how to build your brand around who you truly are, this one’s for you.

More about Peter:

Peter Murphy Lewis is a seasoned SEO strategist, video content marketer, and documentary producer based in the United States. He began his career by founding a travel company in South America in 2008, where he pioneered early SEO and online booking strategies in the tourism sector. His innovative use of intern-generated content, TripAdvisor reviews, and guerrilla marketing saw his company featured in the New York Times and attract celebrity clients including Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, and Aerosmith.

After scaling the business to nearly 50 staff across multiple cities, Peter sold the company and transitioned into a new venture: Strategic Pete. Now working as a fractional CMO and documentary filmmaker, he helps B2B companies build brand authority through long-form storytelling. His documentaries are shot with professional television crews and aimed at platforms like Netflix and Amazon.

Peter is also a strong advocate for holistic SEO — combining PR backlinks, employee-generated content, and platform-specific strategies across YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, and traditional blogs. He’s highly data-driven, avoids shortcuts like AI-generated content for writing, and focuses on authority-building through trust, strategy, and human storytelling.

You can connect with Peter here:

Website: https://strategicpete.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermurphylewis/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gringopeter/?hl=en

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“It’s not a telling-off. It’s a criminal offence.”

In this week's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, health and safety expert Shabbir Halai breaks down what really happens when a business ignores safety laws - and it's not just a fine.

If a health and safety inspector decides to prosecute, it’s a criminal case. Directors can face personal liability. Supervisors can end up in court. Fines can hit hundreds of thousands. And yes - people go to jail.

This isn’t scaremongering. It’s what happens when businesses fail to take safety seriously - and Shabbir’s seen it all.

From the film set that went up in flames, to the workshop where serious accidents stopped completely in just five months, this episode will change the way you think about workplace safety for good.

Watch now and find out how to protect your staff, your business and yourself.

More about Shabbir:

Shabbir Halai is a seasoned health and safety consultant with over three decades of experience across diverse sectors, including manufacturing, construction, hospitality, and public services.

Beginning his career as an engineer, Shabbir transitioned into health and safety in 1989 after completing his first professional qualification, later becoming a Chartered Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). His work spans everything from hands-on safety improvements in factories to advising councils and supporting businesses of all sizes in creating safer workplaces. Known for his practical, no‑nonsense approach, Shabbir focuses on simplifying health and safety compliance through clear policies, risk assessments, and engaging training. His personable style and ability to make complex regulations accessible have made him a sought‑after advisor, speaker, and trainer for organisations aiming to reduce risks, avoid costly incidents, and protect their people.

You can connect with Shabbir here:

Website: https://safetyisthekey.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shabbirhalai/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s always ‘just a joke’ - until it’s not

Darren has spent decades as a member of the Transformers community, which is often regarded as one of the most inclusive of its kind in the UK.

But in this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, he reveals how one Facebook post exposed a type of casual discrimination that’s often ignored - even in spaces that pride themselves on acceptance.

What started with a “joke” about deodorant turned into something much uglier. You might think this episode isn’t about marketing - but the way you treat people online says more about you than anything you put on your website. One comment could ruin your brand’s entire reputation.

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever walked into a room and instantly felt the tension? Or felt completely at ease with someone you’ve just met?

In this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren speaks with Donna Still about the energy we give off, how our bodies respond to it and how understanding this can help us reconnect with who we are at our core. From breathwork to overcoming limiting beliefs, it’s a fascinating conversation about tuning in to yourself and the people around you, and how this in turn can help you make better decisions in business.

More about Donna Still:

Donna is an experienced life coach who helps individuals reconnect with their true selves through a combination of breath work, coaching, and holistic practices. With over 20 years of business experience, she specialises in guiding people to understand and integrate their past experiences to unlock their full potential.

Donna’s approach is deeply intuitive, blending her knowledge of breath work, NLP, and astrology to support her clients in overcoming barriers and achieving personal and professional growth. A dedicated BNI member, she has built a thriving business that empowers others, particularly women, to break free from limiting beliefs and embrace their authentic purpose. Outside of her professional life, Donna is an avid advocate for the connection between nature, spirituality, and personal well-being, often using plant-based rituals and lunar cycles in her work. She has authored several books and continues to inspire others to transform their lives through her unique approach to self-discovery and empowerment.

You can connect with Donna here:

Website: https://donnastill.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnastill/?originalSubdomain=uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondology/?locale=gl_ES

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultimatelife/

Books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034PR556/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.