Mike Henden
Mike is a Wellington, New Zealand-based graphic and digital designer who helps small businesses to look sharp and communicate clearly, both online and in print. With years of experience creating brands, websites and marketing designs that actually work in the real world, Mike combines creative thinking with practical know-how to produce work that feels right, looks great and gets results.
Posts by Mike Henden for Things you need to know
Why Your Website Isn’t Showing Rich Results
You’ve probably seen them. Those Google search results that look like they’ve had a little extra attention.
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Structured Data: Why Google Likes Labels More Than Humans Do
There’s a particular moment in almost every SEO conversation where things begin to drift slightly away from reality. It usually starts innocently enough. But things can go sideways fairy quickly...
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How Google Actually Understands Your Website in 2026
Most people still think Google “reads” websites. It doesn’t. Not in any human sense anyway. It’s not sitting there gazing at a screen, admiring your layout and appreciating your clever headlines or insightful content...
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Is Schema just more ‘SEO Snake Oil’ — or does it give you a Genuine Ranking Advantage?
It’s a fair question. With a website being an important part of any small businesses’ marketing strategy, it’s getting harder and harder to stand out online. So will Schema (aka 'Structured Data') solve your SEO problems? Or is it just another cost?
Why Website Aesthetics Matter (and it’s not just about looking pretty)
Looks matter — but usability matters more. Discover why strong UX and UI are essential for websites that don’t just look great, but actually perform. Because a beautiful website with bad UX is just a very expensive screensaver.
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How Much Should You Really Budget for a Website in NZ?
Wondering what a small-business website in New Zealand should actually cost? We unpack the real numbers — design, development, hosting, content and the bits nobody else tells you about.
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What Should Your Brand Kit Include?
When you started your business you had your logo professionally designed. You did things properly. You went straight to a real Graphic Designer and parted with some real cold, hard cash. So did you get the tools you needed to build a ‘brand’ for your business? Or did you just get a logo design?
Why You Should Hire a Professional Photographer (and not just use your smartphone)
In a world where nearly everyone has a smartphone and thousands of photos sitting in their pocket, it’s tempting to think: “Why hire a professional photographer when I can just take the photo myself?” Here’s why...
Brand Amplification in the Age of AI-Powered Search
Publishing new content is the key to staying relevant online. But if AI is answering people's search queries, how does your content get seen? The short answer: Brand Amplification.
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Why Your Website’s Content is as Important as Coffee on a Monday Morning
Thought you’d nailed your website content, right? So how come people aren’t sticking around?
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