Most small businesses are doing everything manually when they could be using automation as a force multiplier to generate more revenue. I've been building websites for 12 years. What I've come to realise is that a solid website is just the foundation - the real magic happens when you build off it with smart processes and tooling to become a sophisticated revenue generating powerhouse.

From Web Dev to Technical Advisor

I'm based in London and originally started as a web developer and IT security consultant, freelancing for 12 years helping small businesses with their websites. But working closely with these businesses showed me something important - most were just using email or some rudimentary systems to manage themselves, not really grasping the full potential of what they could do.

I've come to see that this is an important thing for them. They weren't using proper CRM systems, marketing automation, or any sort of internal tooling to connect various systems together. They had no idea how a full tech stack could transform their operations. I became a sort of freelance CTO (Chief Technical Officer) for a few clients, but my role isn't to pile on lots of new tools they need to learn and maintain.

Through WildPress, I build websites for small businesses. As a freelance automation consultant, I help them understand what they could do with improved processes. I look at what would work with their current systems and workflows, and what would remain easy for them to use. My goal is to save them time and money by getting their most important bits right, reducing technical debt rather than adding to it.

The Perfect Storm for Self-Hosting

The timing is perfect for this stuff. There's a booming ecosystem of free, self-hosted, open-source solutions now. There are tons of APIs and loads of tools for home and business automation. You've got tools that integrate with AIs to create new agents that handle specific tasks. The hardware is getting cheap enough that you can run large language models in-house and connect them to your internal systems.

That's what I help businesses with. I build custom automation that runs on your own kit, giving you complete control without the vendor lock-in and crazy costs. I'm constantly playing with new tools and approaches because I genuinely love figuring this stuff out.

When I'm not working, I'm deep into home automation and home lab setups. I'm always trying out new devices, focusing on non-proprietary systems that stay offline and under my control.