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Thank You! Your Verification is Complete 🎉 Thank you for completing your Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. Your identity has been successfully verified, and you’re all set to continue using our services with confidence. At O'Brien Media, we take security and compliance seriously, ensuring a safe and seamless experience for all our customers. If you have any questions or need further...
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Why Every Tradesperson in Swindon Needs a Website in 2025

In today’s digital world, having a website is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity, even for tradespeople. Whether you’re a plumber, electrician, builder, or decorator in Swindon, having a professional online presence can make all the difference in securing more clients and growing your business. Why is a Website Essential for Tradespeople? Increased Visibility and Credibility When...
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New for 2025: QR Codes for Google Business Profile Review

Google has rolled out a new feature for Google Business Profiles that makes it easier to collect customer reviews. You can now generate custom QR codes that, when scanned, direct customers straight to your business’s review page. You can now create easy-to-scan QR codes that take customers directly to your GBP, encouraging them to leave more reviews. On your desktop, go to your Business...
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Why Your Business Needs a Google Business Profile

And How a Google Business Profile Helps You Get Found In today’s digital world, if your business isn’t on Google, does it even exist? While that might sound dramatic, the reality is that most customers turn to Google first when searching for products or services near them. That’s where Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) comes in. This free tool from Google is one of the...
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Smartphone screen showing a row of icons without any accompanying text labels

Why Icon-Only Design is Failing Users – And What to Do Instead

Icons have long been a staple of web and app design, providing quick visual cues to help users navigate interfaces with ease. But in recent years, there’s been a growing trend of removing text labels altogether, leaving users to decipher an array of symbols with no explanation. The result? Confusion, frustration, and a poor user experience. At O’Brien Media, we believe that web design should...
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Close-up of a QR code being scanned on a smartphone screen

Beware of QR Code Scams: How to Stay Safe

QR codes have become an essential part of our everyday lives. From scanning menus at restaurants to making payments or logging into apps, they offer a quick and convenient way to access information. However, with the increasing reliance on QR codes, cybercriminals have found ways to exploit them for scams, fraud, and malware distribution. In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the dangers of...
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Smartphone screen showing the Skype logo on a blue background

Microsoft to Hang Up on Skype: End of an Era in Digital Communication

In a move that signals the end of an era, Microsoft has announced that it will officially shut down Skype on May 5, 2025. The decision marks the conclusion of a 22-year journey for a platform that transformed the way people communicate online, bridging distances with voice and video calls long before the rise of modern collaboration tools. The Rise of Skype: A Pioneer in Online Communication...
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Person using laptop displaying SEO analytics dashboard with graphs and charts

Local Search and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) in Swindon

Swindon SEO & Local Search Experts We are passionate about SEO at O'Brien Media, and we bring that passion to helping your business reach as wide an audience as possible online! We understand the impact that amazing SEO can have on your website. Get in touch today or find out more about your website's SEO performance... Talk to us about SEO It's important to be at the top of the search rankings...
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Blue and green lava lamp on desk in O'Brien Media office surrounded by plants and a pride flag

The O’Brien Media Digital Insider Blog

The O'Brien Media Insider Welcome to the O’Brien Media Insider - Your Go-To for Digital Insights and Business Know-How The O’Brien Media Insider is your behind-the-scenes look at all things digital, creative, and business-focused. From web design trends and SEO tips to small business insights and local Swindon highlights, our blog covers a bit of everything – just like we do at O’Brien...
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Person holding a smartphone with the ChatGPT interface open

SearchGPT vs. Google: What Small Businesses Need to Know

As SearchGPT emerges as a new player in the search engine landscape, small businesses need to understand how it compares to the industry giant, Google. SearchGPT, developed by OpenAI, is designed to provide conversational, context-aware search experiences. It integrates real-time data with generative AI, offering a more interactive and dynamic search process. What is SearchGPT? SearchGPT is...
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