Year: 2024

A small business owner standing outside their shop, symbolizing resistance to Black Friday sales pressure.

Why Small Businesses Are Rebelling Against Black Friday

Jenny O'Brien December 02, 2024 0 Comments
Black Friday and Cyber Monday – two of the biggest shopping days of the year – have become synonymous with slashed prices, frenzied shopping, and big-box retailers dominating headlines. But in recent years, a growing number of small businesses have begun to step back from these mega sales events, refusing to participate or even openly rebelling against the trend. If you're a small business...
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Moving your website and domain name from Wix.com to O’Brien Media

O'Brien Media and Cloudflare To provide the best possible service, we have partnered with Cloudflare - the industry leading DNS and website protection provider, to provide additional services beyond just standard website hosting. Claoudflare protects your website from automated attacks, spammers, and malicious attacks - and at the same time speeds up page load times giving your website visitors a...
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Person interacting with a digital interface displaying the years 2023, 2024, and 2025

UK Online Trends 2024: How Small Businesses Can Use Search and Social Insights to Succeed

Tom Summers December 01, 2024 0 Comments
The internet is evolving rapidly, and Ofcom’s Online Nation 2024 report is here to show us how. This comprehensive study reveals trends in search behaviour, social media use, and the online habits of UK adults. Whether you're a small business owner or a digital enthusiast, understanding these trends is essential for staying ahead. This blog will break down the key takeaways, offer actionable...
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Mastering WooCommerce Category Image Sizes: A Quick Guide

If you’re running an online shop with WooCommerce, you’ve probably noticed how crucial visuals are in creating an appealing and user-friendly store. A significant part of this is making sure your category images are properly sized and optimised. After all, clear and consistent category images can enhance your store's overall appearance and make browsing a breeze for customers. But, if...
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WordPress 6.3 interface showing the 'Publish' button highlighted.

The Shift from ACF to SCF: What It Means for WordPress Users

Jenny O'Brien November 29, 2024 0 Comments
WordPress is a platform beloved by millions of users and developers for its flexibility, extensibility, and commitment to the open-source community. However, recent changes involving one of the most widely-used plugins, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), have sparked debate and a significant response from developers around the world. The controversy has not only led to questions about the practices of...
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Developer upgrading PHP version on a WordPress website for improved security and performance in 2024.

Why Upgrading PHP in 2024 is Essential for Your WordPress Website

Jenny O'Brien November 27, 2024 0 Comments
If you manage a WordPress website, you’ve probably heard of PHP. It’s the programming language that powers WordPress, and having an up-to-date version of PHP is critical for keeping your website secure, fast, and functioning properly. At O’Brien Media, we want to ensure your website is running as smoothly as possible, so let’s explore why updating PHP is so important and how we can help...
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Protecting the Backbone of the Internet: Lessons from Recent Cable Incidents

Chris Grant (he/him) November 21, 2024 0 Comments
Two undersea internet cables connecting Finland and Sweden to mainland Europe have been severed, raising serious concerns about the resilience of global internet infrastructure. These incidents, believed by EU leaders to be acts of sabotage, highlight the vulnerabilities in the networks that underpin international connectivity. Read more about the incidents on Tom's Hardware. What Happened? The...
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Drupal 7 End of Life: What It Means and How to Prepare

Chris Grant (he/him) November 19, 2024 0 Comments
As of 5 January 2025, Drupal 7 will officially reach its end of life (EOL), bringing over 14 years of service to a close. This milestone signifies the cessation of community support, security updates, and official maintenance for Drupal 7. Website owners and administrators using Drupal 7 must act promptly to ensure their sites remain secure and functional. At O'Brien Media, we’re ready to help...
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Illustration highlighting WebP format advantages for faster website loading speeds and enhanced image quality.

WebP Explained: Faster Websites, Better Images

Chris Grant (he/him) November 17, 2024 0 Comments
Why WebP Images Are Revolutionising Web Design In the ever-evolving world of web design, delivering high-quality visuals while ensuring fast website performance is a constant challenge. Enter WebP, an innovative image format developed by Google to address this very issue. Offering efficient compression without compromising image quality, WebP is a win for both website designers and visitors. A...
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