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Branding & Marketing
Jenny Howell

What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

A good CMS system will have the navigation structure built into it. This will ensure that as pages and elements are added to the website, the navigation portion will automatically be updated by the CMS. This saves the developer a lot of time creating special graphics for the buttons since it's all done automatically.

Because the CMS is tied to a database it opens up a new world of opportunity. Things like user names and passwords can be stored, different access privileges can be assigned for private "members only" areas, e-commerce systems can be built on top of CMS's, and blogs, event calendars, forums, and photo galleries can be easily created.

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Jenny Howell 15th August 2017 11:00 pm
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Code and Development
Chris O'Brien

The benefits of bespoke software and web applications for your business

A bespoke software solution is a piece of tailor made software created specifically for your business, in this article we're going to discuss the benefits of bespoke software applications. A well planned and developed custom application can make running your business easier, increase the efficiency of you and your staff and open up workflows that can be sometimes be restricted by utilising an off-the-shelf product

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Chris O'Brien 28th July 2017 11:32 pm
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Branding & Marketing
Jenny Howell

A mobile-friendly site can generate almost double the average traffic per user

According to recent studies, 80% of internet users own and search the web on their smartphones. If you’re not on mobile, you’re missing so much. That doesn’t mean you should ignore those customers who still use desktops and laptops, though. They still account for a significant роrtіоn of your client base and new prospects but you should make sure to use website analytics services to identify the types of devices your customers are using when accessing your website.

As a small business owner, it is very important for you to do everything possible to grow your business, to make sure that your services get to as many people as possible and that’s why you have to make your web pages a mobile friendly one so as to drive more traffic to your site.

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Jenny Howell 18th July 2017 3:36 pm
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WordPress
Jenny Howell

WordPress 4.8 – An Update with You in Mind

WordPress 4.8, released on the 8th June, has some great new features you’ll welcome like an old friend: link improvements, three new media widgets covering images, audio, and video, an updated text widget that supports visual editing, and an upgraded news section in your dashboard which brings in nearby and upcoming WordPress events.

If you need a hand we can upgrade your WordPress website for you with our cost effective WordPress upgrade service. Contact us for more details.

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Jenny Howell 21st June 2017 10:05 pm
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Drupal
Jenny Howell

Drupal 7.56 and Drupal 8.3.4 – Security updates now available

Security releases for Drupal (Drupal 8 version 8.3.4 and Drupal 7 version 7.56) which contain fixes for security vulnerabilities are now available and it's advisable that any websites using earlier Drupal versions are upgraded as soon as possible to keep them secure and prevent hacks and unauthorised access, including information disclosure.

Files that have been uploaded by an anonymous user but not permanently attached to content on the site should only be visible to the anonymous user that uploaded them, rather than all anonymous users. Drupal core did not previously provide this protection, allowing an access bypass vulnerability to occur. This can result in files uploaded to your website being publicly accessible. 

The Drupal security team has received reports that this vulnerability is being exploited for spam purposes, similar to the scenario discussed in PSA-2016-003 for the public file system. This could result in your website being used to host images and malicious software that would be damaging to not only visitor computers but also to business reputation and search engine ranking.

We can upgrade your Drupal website for you with our cost effective Drupal upgrade service. Contact us for more details or if you're an O'Brien Media website hosting customer you can view your Drupal version information and request an upgrade via Client Connect, just log in and access the "My products" section for more information. 

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Jenny Howell 21st June 2017 9:34 pm
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Code and Development
Chris O'Brien

Webmail is getting a fresh new mobile-friendly look and some great new features

In the early hours of Saturday 17th June we'll be performing an upgrade to our Webmail system. We're upgrading to the latest version of Roundcube Webmail, which powers our system, and have been working over the past month to ensure that our address book and task list enhancements will work correctly after the upgrade. 

Following a final round of testing we're ready to go live with a fresh new look, including full support for smartphones and tablets so that you can easily access Webmail while you're away from your desk.

We've also added some additional features including a set of sidebar widgets that enable you to view local weather information and add RSS feeds from popular news websites, we hope these features will make Webmail more useful for users.

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Chris O'Brien 15th June 2017 2:22 pm
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Branding & Marketing
Chris O'Brien

Live Chat app tawk.to can increase engagement

If you're looking for a great way to engage with your website visitors then tawk.to should be at the top of your list. tawk.to is a 100% FREE live chat app that lets you monitor and chat with visitors on your website.

  • Gain valuable insight when you monitor your website visitors in real time as they browse your website.
  • Stay connected anywhere, be in touch with your customers from your computer, or your smartphone.
  • Live Chat is convenient for your customers, helping them through pinch points and as a result helping you generate better customer support and achieve higher conversions.
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Chris O'Brien 26th May 2017 2:42 pm

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