About Dijstra Ltd
About Jaimie Dijstra
When I take on a project with a clear goal, I tend to become very focused on getting it there. Whether that means launching a website within a few days, developing a working business system or finding a practical way to use new technology, I enjoy taking something from an idea or problem through to something that genuinely works.
I have more than 20 years’ experience working with websites, including over 15 years working with Joomla. During that time I’ve worked on everything from straightforward business and information websites to medical, appointment, artist and e-commerce websites.
I work remotely and communicate regularly through Zoom, WhatsApp and email. That allows projects to move quickly without requiring endless meetings, particularly when the content, imagery and decisions needed to progress the work are available.
Websites that people can actually manage
A major part of my work is building content-led websites that their owners can continue to manage themselves.
Joomla remains a particular specialism. I can build a Joomla website from the ground up, configure its structure and content, customise templates and CSS, and provide hosting and ongoing maintenance where required.
I don’t believe everything needs to be developed from scratch. In many cases, the sensible solution is to start with a good commercial template and customise it around the client’s requirements, branding, colours, typography and content.
I also work with Squarespace, particularly for businesses and individuals who want a professionally configured website without having to maintain the underlying software themselves.
For e-commerce, I provide focused Shopify setup assistance rather than trying to become an ongoing e-commerce department. That can include initial configuration, product setup and imports, collections, navigation and advice on suitable apps.
Across all of this, responsive design matters enormously. Websites are increasingly experienced first on a mobile phone, so I design and test with mobile use firmly in mind alongside desktop and tablet presentation.
Making Excel Work for You
I have extensive experience developing Excel systems, ranging from simple calendars, data-entry and presentation tools through to commercial costing, workflow and factory-production systems.
What interests me is not the spreadsheet itself, but what it enables somebody to do.
A well-designed system can remove repetitive work, organise information, make complicated data easier to understand or turn an awkward manual process into something far more manageable.
I approach each project by understanding how the information is used, what the people working with it actually need, and where a simpler or more reliable process could make a difference.
Sometimes the right solution is very simple, such as a reusable template or an organised way to record information. Other times, it becomes a substantial working system supporting the day-to-day operation of a business.
The aim is always to create something practical, understandable and genuinely useful, rather than making a spreadsheet more complicated than it needs to be.
Making AI Work for You
AI has become an increasingly important part of my own work, and an area I genuinely enjoy developing.
I use AI as a practical working tool rather than as technology that needs to be added simply because it is fashionable.
That can mean helping to organise or analyse information, presenting data more clearly, accelerating website coding and development, researching ideas, or building structured workflows that help take a task or project from beginning to completion.
I also develop customised ChatGPT Projects and AI workflows for clients and help individuals personalise the way they use AI so that it becomes genuinely useful to the work they actually do.
I believe AI works best when people remain in control. Understanding its limitations, checking its output and applying human judgement are just as important as finding useful ways to simplify everyday work.
The aim is always the same: use technology to help people work better, rather than making people work around the technology.
Small business, direct involvement
Dijstra Ltd is deliberately a small business, and that's an important part of how I work. When you get in touch, you're dealing directly with the person who will discuss your ideas, understand what you need and carry out the work. There are no layers of account managers or complicated handovers.
Although I work independently, I'm very comfortable collaborating with designers, developers, marketers, agencies and other specialists where a project benefits from additional expertise. The important thing is bringing together the right skills without making the process unnecessarily complicated.
I'm particularly suited to focused projects with a clear objective, where we can agree what needs doing and make meaningful progress without unnecessary layers of management. I prefer straightforward communication, practical decisions and solutions that people can understand and comfortably manage afterwards.
For me, the work may be technical, but the relationship should always remain human.
A Small Selection of My Work
Over the years, I’ve worked on websites for a wide variety of businesses and individuals. These range from internal websites for business use, to e-commerce websites, artists and medical centres. I don’t brand my work, much of my work is in collaboration with teams or indeed the site owners. Two of my major involvement projects are below. Of course browse this, my own website for my examples of my work!
James Doran-Webb
James Doran-Webb is an internationally recognised artist specialising in extraordinary sculptures created from reclaimed driftwood.
I originally built James's website and continue to manage, develop and support it today. The website showcases his sculptures, exhibitions, videos and creative work, providing a visually engaging platform for visitors from around the world.
My involvement goes well beyond the original website development. I provide ongoing hosting, maintenance, technical support and customised styling, while working closely with James to organise, present and update content as his work and exhibitions evolve.
I also provide ongoing search visibility and content optimisation, incorporating traditional SEO alongside newer approaches to making website information accessible, understandable and discoverable through search engines and AI-powered search platforms.
The result is a continually evolving website that combines strong visual presentation with practical content management and ongoing technical support.
The Jewellery Stop
The Jewellery Stop is an established UK retailer specialising in colourful costume jewellery, scarves and accessories.
I've worked with The Jewellery Stop for over a decade, rebuilding and redesigning its website, modernising its functionality and adapting it to the changing demands of online retail.
My involvement covers ongoing website development, technical troubleshooting, customised styling and content presentation, alongside maintaining a visually appealing, practical and user-friendly shopping experience.
I've also collaborated with third-party extension developers to introduce specialist functionality and developed custom code to resolve technical challenges and improve the website's appearance and usability.
As e-commerce technology continues to evolve, so do the requirements surrounding security, compliance, accessibility and customer experience. My ongoing work includes keeping the website technically up to date, maintaining and improving its content, and developing its visibility through traditional SEO and emerging AI-focused search optimisation (AEO and GEO).