The Internet, by Josh Withers
An online presence that actually works for your business.
I'm the digital person for small businesses that don't have one. Website, email, Google Business, Apple Maps, branding, SEO — I make sure customers can find you and trust what they see. Based in Hobart, Tasmania — working with clients across Australia, Canada, and the USA.
A website that brings people together.
What I do
I help small and local businesses get found online, look professional, and turn visitors into customers. Think of me as your digital department — without the overhead.
01
Website design & development
A fast, modern website custom-built for your business — not assembled from a template on a platform. Ships zero unnecessary JavaScript, loads in under a second, and scores 100 across every Google PageSpeed metric. Built with Astro, hosted for free, and designed around your business goals — not a platform's limitations.
How I build websites02
Professional email
Business email that actually lands in inboxes, not spam folders. Proper domain setup, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and professional signatures that match your brand. Your emails arrive looking like they came from a real business — because they did.
Email that works03
Google & Apple listings
Google Business Profile, Apple Business Connect, Bing Places — set up correctly so customers find you on maps, in search results, and when they ask their phone for recommendations nearby.
Get found on maps04
Digital branding
Consistent look and messaging across your website, email signatures, social profiles, and business listings. One cohesive brand everywhere customers see you — so you look like the professional operation you are.
Look professional everywhere05
SEO & AI visibility
Get found on Google, recommended by ChatGPT and AI assistants, and rank ahead of competitors. Technical SEO, structured data, and the emerging field of generative engine optimisation — handled.
Get found and recommended06
Ongoing digital support
Your fractional digital executive. Instead of hiring a full-time digital person, you get me — keeping everything running, updated, and working for your business month to month. One person who knows your whole digital picture.
Ongoing supportRecent work
Websites and digital projects for small businesses across Australia and beyond.
MESCo
A clean, professional website for McPhee Engineering Systems — a Western Australian engineering support partner specialising in QA/QC frameworks, HSE compliance, ISO audit support, and project mobilisation systems. Built with Astro, scoring 100/100/100/100 on PageSpeed Insights.
HutchTV
A modern, professional website for Hobart's award-winning video production studio — featuring SEO optimisation, Google Workspace email setup, analytics integration, and a portfolio-driven design showcasing 20+ years and 1000+ projects
Married By Jake
Robust online presence built for Brisbane wedding celebrant Jake, establishing him as an expert in AI and organic search results
Togetherness Collective
A static website for a Canadian officiant authority and charity — built with Astro, scoring 100/100/100/100 on PageSpeed, with comprehensive schema markup and SEO that landed them on the first page of Google within two months.
Justin Taylor Massage Therapist
Website built on Astro JS with search engine optimisation for Justin Taylor, a massage therapist in Tasmania
Mountain River Flower Patch
A pick-your-own flower farm in Tasmania's Huon Valley, 33 minutes from Hobart
Niche directories
Business directories built to help companies get found in their niche — with quality backlinks, NAP citations, and local SEO presence.
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10 locations
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Tasmanian Wedding Directory
Tasmania, Australia
ANSETT Directory
Australia
Australian Wedding Celebrants
Australia
Brisbane Wedding Directory
Brisbane, Queensland
Melbourne Wedding Directory
Melbourne, Victoria
Sydney Wedding Directory
Sydney, New South Wales
Byron Bay Wedding Directory
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Gold Coast Wedding Directory
Gold Coast, Queensland
Perth Wedding Directory
Perth, Western Australia
Hobart Directory
Hobart, Tasmania
Marriage office experiments
Sites built to compete in congested marriage services markets — proving static architecture can outrank established players.
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14 locations
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Australian Marriage Offices
Australia
Marriage Office Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria
Marriage Office Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales
Marriage Office Tasmania
Tasmania
Byron Bay Marriage Office
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Perth Marriage Office
Perth, Western Australia
Adelaide Marriage Office
Adelaide, South Australia
Gold Coast Marriage Office
Gold Coast, Queensland
Newcastle Marriage Office
Newcastle, New South Wales
Brisbane City Celebrants
Brisbane, Queensland
Canberra Marriage Office
Canberra, ACT
Mackay Weddings
Mackay, Queensland
Darwin Marriage Office
Darwin, Northern Territory
Townsville Weddings
Townsville, Queensland
Every business is different
Some businesses need a full digital overhaul — website, email, listings, branding, the lot. Others just need a website and proper email. Some already have a website but need someone to make it actually work for them.
I'll figure out what you need and give you a straightforward quote — no packages designed to upsell you on things you don't need. I work directly with businesses and as a build partner for SEO and marketing agencies.
Every project includes
- Custom website design to your brand
- 100/100/100/100 Google PageSpeed target
- Mobile-first, fully responsive
- SEO foundations — schema markup, sitemaps, meta tags
- AI visibility — llms.txt, structured data
- Google Business & Apple Maps setup
- Professional email configuration
- Free or near-free hosting setup
- Google Search Console setup
- Brand-consistent email signatures
Questions
Straight answers to the things people usually ask before getting started.
Ask something elseWhat do you actually do?
I'm the digital person for small businesses that don't have one. I build websites, set up professional email, get you on Google Maps and Apple Maps, make sure your branding is consistent everywhere, and handle the technical SEO and AI visibility work that helps customers find you online. Think of it as having a digital department — without needing to hire a whole team.
What's a fractional digital executive?
It means you get an experienced digital professional working on your business, but you're not paying a full-time salary. I work with several businesses at once, giving each one the attention their digital presence needs. Most small businesses can't justify a full-time digital hire — but they still need someone who knows what they're doing. That's where I come in.
Do I need a new website?
Maybe. Maybe not. Some businesses need a ground-up rebuild. Others have a website that just needs the right technical work done — faster hosting, proper SEO setup, email that doesn't go to spam. I'll look at what you've got and tell you honestly what needs doing. I'm not going to sell you a new website if your current one just needs fixing.
Why do my emails go to spam?
Usually because your domain isn't set up to prove the emails are really from you. There are three records your domain needs — SPF, DKIM, and DMARC — that tell email providers like Gmail and Outlook 'yes, this email is legitimate.' Without them, your emails look suspicious and end up in spam. I set all of this up properly so your business emails land where they should: in the inbox.
How do I get my business on Google Maps?
Through Google Business Profile — it's free and it's one of the most important things a local business can do. It's what shows up when someone searches 'plumber near me' or 'best cafe in Hobart.' I also set you up on Apple Business Connect (for iPhone users) and Bing Places. Most businesses either haven't claimed their listing or set it up once and forgot about it. I make sure it's complete, accurate, and working for you.
What is SEO and do I need it?
SEO — search engine optimisation — is what helps your website show up when someone searches Google for what you do. If you're a plumber in Launceston, you want to appear when someone searches 'plumber Launceston.' Good SEO isn't a magic trick — it's making sure your website is fast, well-structured, and clearly tells Google what your business does and where you are. Every website I build has this baked in from the start.
What about AI — do I need to worry about ChatGPT?
More and more people are asking AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Siri for recommendations — 'best electrician in Hobart,' 'wedding photographer in Byron Bay.' If your business isn't structured in a way these systems can read, you won't get recommended. I build websites with structured data and AI-readable files so that when someone asks an AI about your industry in your area, your business has the best chance of being mentioned.
How much does this cost?
It depends on what you need. A website build for a small business typically starts around $3,000–$4,000. Email setup, Google Business, and branding work can be bundled in or done separately. Ongoing support is a monthly arrangement based on what you need each month. I'll give you a straightforward quote after we talk — no hidden fees, no upsells.
I already have a website — can you help?
Absolutely. I can audit what you've got and tell you what's working, what's not, and what needs fixing. Sometimes it's a full rebuild. Sometimes it's setting up proper email authentication, adding schema markup, claiming your Google Business listing, or getting your site speed from a 40 to a 95 on PageSpeed. Not everything needs starting over.
What makes your websites different?
I build static websites — which is a technical term for sites that are pre-built and served as simple files. The practical difference for you: they load almost instantly, they cost nothing or next-to-nothing to host, they can't be hacked the way WordPress sites can, and they score top marks on Google's speed tests. I used WordPress for 20 years before switching. Static sites are genuinely better for small businesses in every way that matters.
Can you help with social media?
I focus on the digital foundations — your website, email, listings, branding, and search visibility. I don't create social media content or manage accounts day-to-day. But I'll make sure your social profiles are branded consistently, linked properly, and working with your website rather than against it. If you need a social media manager, I can point you in the right direction.
Where are you based?
Tasmania's Huon Valley, just outside Hobart. But I work with clients across Australia, Canada, and the USA. I've been building websites since 1996 and running my own businesses since 2008. The internet doesn't have borders — wherever you are, the work is the same.
Your digital presence should work as hard as you do.
Website, email, listings, branding — let's get it all working together for your business.