Engaging Marketeer

A single interview question could cost your business thousands… and most employers don’t even realise they’re asking it.

In this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, HR expert Joanne Moss explains why small, everyday mistakes in hiring and people management can lead to five-figure consequences. She talks about how one inappropriate question can trigger a discrimination claim, and why “I didn’t know” is never a defence when things go wrong.

Jo also breaks down the hidden HR risks most business owners overlook, and explains the steps every employer can take to protect themselves and create a safer, fairer workplace without drowning in paperwork. If you hire people, plan to hire people or simply want to avoid expensive HR mistakes, this episode is essential viewing. 

Read more about Joanne

Joanne Moss is the Founder and Managing Director of Moss HR, an independent HR consultancy based in Suffolk. She is a Chartered member of the CIPD with more than twenty years of experience in HR and people management across sectors including motor retail, warehousing and distribution, hospitality and not-for-profit. That broad background shaped her reputation for offering clear, practical and commercially minded HR advice that helps small and medium-sized businesses stay compliant while still treating people well.

Through Moss HR, Joanne supports organisations with outsourced HR retainers, project-based HR work and straightforward advice on recruitment, employee relations, contracts and policies. She is also the creator of the popular Simple Steps toolkit for business owners taking on their first employee, combining legally sound documents with clear guidance that helps employers understand their responsibilities with confidence. Joanne is an active member of the BNI business community and is known for her contributions, referrals and leadership within her chapter. She also speaks regularly for local business groups on topics such as workplace wellbeing, mental health and people management.

You can connect with Joanne here:

Website: https://mosshr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-moss-52719514/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MossHRLtd/

X: https://x.com/mosshrltd?lang=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.

You’ll never get referrals if you can’t answer THIS one question.

In today's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren breaks down the 10 biggest networking mistakes that hold business owners back.

If you’ve ever walked out of an event wondering why nothing comes from it, this episode will hit home. Darren reveals what actually makes people remember you, what makes them trust you and what makes them willing to introduce you. You’ll discover how small shifts in how you show up can make a big difference, opening more doors to genuine opportunities through the people you meet.

Ready to change the way you network for the better? Then this one's for you. 

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.

After a life-changing accident at just 20, Alistair Dickinson was told he was lucky to be alive - and to make the most of his second chance.

From building SaaS platforms and CRM systems to creating one of the first AI record labels, Alistair has done exactly that. He has spent his career pushing boundaries in technology, creativity and business - and in this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, he joins Darren to explore how AI is transforming the music industry. They talk about what creativity really means in the age of automation, and how one defining moment can change the course of a life forever.

More about Alistair:

Alistair Dickinson is a tech entrepreneur, author and innovator with over 30 years of experience in software, SaaS, and data-driven business solutions. He’s the founder of a global AI record label creating fully AI-assisted artists and music distributed on Spotify and YouTube, and the creator of Maps, a geospatial SaaS platform used worldwide. Alistair is also the author of The Essential Guide for Businesses on GDPR and a recognised voice in AI creativity, technology and automation. From surviving a life-changing accident to building multiple international tech ventures, he continues to push the boundaries of how humans and machines can create together.

You can connect with Alistair here:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2703779406444247/user/100000857479981/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alistairdickinsontiktok

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.

If you’re too embarrassed to put your name to your content… why should Google recommend it?

In this week’s episode, Darren explains why faceless, AI-generated content is slowly killing credibility online - and what to do about it.

If you want to be trusted by search engines and AI tools like ChatGPT, you need to show who you are. That means your name, your experience and your expertise front and centre on your website.

Because here’s the truth that we all know deep down: when people and algorithms can’t see who’s behind the words, they stop trusting them. And if ChatGPT can’t tell you’re the expert, it’ll recommend someone else who is.

This episode is a must-watch for business owners who want their content to stand out - and be cited by AI, not replaced by it. 

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.

Every business owner has their own secret recipe - the way they do things that makes their company unique.

But what happens when that recipe lives only in your head? When processes, systems and client knowledge disappear the moment you step away?

In this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren speaks to Taruna Chauhan, a business owner who turned her passion for preserving her family’s recipes into a powerful lesson about systems, wellbeing and legacy.

From reversing pre-diabetes and creating her FRESH Framework, to understanding the “why” behind how we work, Taruna’s story is one every entrepreneur needs to hear.

It’s a reminder that structure, purpose and self-care aren’t opposites - they’re the real ingredients of sustainable success.

About Taruna Chauhan

Taruna is a health and mindset coach, author, and founder of the Inner Wisdom Coach brand. After reversing her own pre-diabetes through lifestyle changes, she created the FRESH Framework — a holistic approach combining nutrition, movement, and mindset to help others achieve long-term wellbeing.

A former NHS professional, Taruna is also the author of Recipes from a Gujarati Kitchen, a cookbook preserving generations of authentic family recipes and cultural traditions. She runs workshops, speaks at events, and mentors through organisations such as Migrant Leaders UK, guiding people to reconnect with their values, habits, and “inner why” for healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Website: https://www.tarunachauhan.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarunachauhaninnerwisdomcoach/

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

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.

Someone had to say it - and Darren did.

In the latest episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren talks about the unspoken rule in UK business - the one that stops us from calling out bad behaviour.

Why do we “keep the peace” when someone does a terrible job? And how does that silence end up protecting the very people who shouldn’t be trusted?

This episode digs into why that British tendency to “not make a fuss” might be costing small businesses thousands - and what we can do to change it.

If you run a business, network regularly or rely on referrals, this is one episode you can’t afford to miss. 

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.

LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/darrenjamieson_when-you-get-ripped-off-by-someone-who-doesnt-activity-7371465132109111297-owX5/

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.

Your brand won't collapse overnight... but it WILL erode when you stop living up to what people believe about you.

The moment someone realises you’re not delivering on your brand message, the damage is done. Trust fades, credibility slips and rebuilding it can take years - IF it ever comes back.

In this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren speaks with Martyn Thorp of Hera Creative about what really makes a brand strong - and how even the best businesses can lose everything when they forget that a brand isn’t built on logos or promises, but on consistency, emotion and truth.

If you’re trying to grow your business, protect your reputation or build a brand that lasts, this is one to watch. 

About Martyn:

Martyn Thorp is the founder and Managing Director of Hera Creative Design, a UK brand management agency that helps ambitious businesses clarify their positioning and build reputations that win trust and command higher prices. Hera’s work spans brand strategy, visual identity, website design, content marketing and social media, with an emphasis on plain-English guidance and measurable outcomes. Martyn brings close to two decades of industry experience and leads client engagements that cut through jargon to focus on brand perception, consistency and growth. He is based on the Isle of Wight, serves clients nationally, and also co-hosts the business and tech podcast The Geekly Upload. Recent roles and public profiles reflect his hands-on brand coaching, writing and speaking on brand stories and practical brand building.

You can connect with Martyn here: 

Website: https://heracreative.design/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lord.Thorp/

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyn-thorp/

X: https://x.com/heracreates

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@martynthorp

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.

“What’s the point in a web designer being there?”

That’s the question Darren asks when a client says, “I love this site - just copy it for me.”

If you’ve ever had a client or prospect tell you how to do your job, promise “future work” instead of payment or pitch you a 50/50 “partnership” deal… this episode will hit close to home. In this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren shares three painful lessons from over 16 years of running a digital marketing agency - three things he’ll never do again.

From “partnership” deals that sound too good to be true, to giving away work for free, these are traps that every new web designer, freelancer and business owner needs to see coming. If you run a creative or marketing business, this is a must-watch before you agree to another “great opportunity.”

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.

Discover the secret to making buyers talk themselves into YES!

This is exactly what can happen when you guide prospects to question their own assumptions and see the problem for what it really is.

As David Angel shares in this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, most people shrink their challenges. Your role isn’t to exaggerate - it’s to help buyers see the true scale of the problem so they can make a confident decision all on their own.

This conversation goes far beyond the old “sell me this pen” cliché. David and Darren dive into why context is everything in sales, how to handle (and even welcome) objections and the systems that can help a business realise its earning potential.

If you’re a business owner or salesperson looking to sharpen your communication, close more high-ticket deals and build a sales process that actually scales, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can put into action straight away.

Connect with David:

David Angel, also known as The Sales Angel, has built his reputation working across 19 industries and nine countries, helping businesses transform their sales performance. From coaching electricians who pivoted into solar, to guiding consultants, recruiters and training firms, he specialises in turning low-converting processes into scalable, high-profit systems. With years of experience refining mindset, skill set and habits, David brings practical, no-nonsense strategies that help business owners replace themselves in the sales process and achieve real growth.

Website: https://theultimatesalestrainingacademy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamthesalesangel/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidthesalesangel/?hl=en-gb

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

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.

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.