The wall of Lava Lamps in the reception area at Cloudflare's San Francisco's HQ

News

Free Cloudflare Protection Our Hosting Services – and the Lava Lamp Magic Behind It!

At O’Brien Media, we’re big believers in making life easier – and safer – for our customers. Whether you’re running a one-page site for your local business or managing a fully-fledged online store, we’ve got your back when it comes to website security and performance. That’s why we include free Cloudflare protection with every domain name registration and website hosting package we offer.

Chris Grant (he/him) 20th April 2025 11:00 am

WordPress

WordPress 6.8 “Cecil” Released: What’s New in the Latest Update

On April 15, 2025, WordPress introduced its latest update: WordPress 6.8 “Cecil”, bringing with it a host of new features, performance enhancements, and accessibility improvements aimed at making the web more inclusive and dynamic for everyone.

Chris Grant (he/him) 16th April 2025 10:38 am

A person warning of a security threat with a red exclamation mark, representing the HTTP/2 rapid reset vulnerability in web technology.

News

The Future of WordPress Security in 2025 and Beyond

WordPress itself has a good track record when it comes to security — especially in the core software. But its real power lies in its flexibility, with over 60,000 plugins and thousands of themes. That’s where the risk lies.

Chris Grant (he/him) 16th April 2025 10:22 am

Team collaborating around table with laptops, tablets, and phones during digital strategy meeting

Business

Why Having Your Own Website is More Important Than Ever (Even If You’re on Social Media)

Discover why having a dedicated website is essential for business success in 2025. Learn how a professional website builds trust, boosts SEO, and gives you full control—beyond just social media.

Chris Grant (he/him) 14th April 2025 12:57 pm

Gardener trimming hedge with shears in a bright outdoor setting

Digital Marketing

How SEO benefits builders, and gardening businesses

Today we’re diving into the not-so-mysterious world of SEO and how it boosts businesses like builders and gardening businesses. Have you ever wondered how your competitor is raking in customers while you’re waiting for the phone to ring?

Andrei Ghimpu 10th April 2025 7:25 am

Person using a laptop while reading Braille with one hand, highlighting accessibility

SEO

Google Says the Disavow Tool Isn’t for Routine Use

If you’re regularly disavowing links as part of your SEO maintenance checklist – Google says you might be wasting your time.

Andrei Ghimpu 9th April 2025 4:26 pm

Three bluetits standing on a rustic red brick wall

Random

Tea Break Read – Respect Our Feathered Friends: Protecting Wild Birds This Spring and Beyond

As the days grow longer and the air fills with birdsong, it’s clear that spring has arrived—a crucial time for our wild birds. Nesting season is one of the busiest and most vulnerable periods for birdlife across the UK.

Chris Grant (he/him) 9th April 2025 7:31 am

MacBook on a glass table near a person, representing a modern website in development

Elementor

Why We Use WordPress and Elementor to Build Small Business Websites

At O’Brien Media, we specialise in building websites that not only look fantastic but also empower our clients to take control of their online presence. For most of the websites we create for small businesses, we use WordPress combined with the powerful Elementor visual editor.

Chris Grant (he/him) 8th April 2025 6:14 am

Phone displaying ChatGPT with a laptop in the background, both showing AI interfaces

AI and Business

How We Use AI at O’Brien Media (and Why It’s a Game-Changer for Our Team and Clients)

AI is everywhere these days—from powering the apps we use daily to transforming how businesses operate behind the scenes. At O’Brien Media, we’ve embraced AI not as a buzzword or a replacement for creativity, but as a powerful tool to support our work and enhance the services we provide to our clients.

Jenny O'Brien 7th April 2025 11:07 am

Yellow smiley face cookies on a tray, representing emojis and messaging

How to guide

Fixing Emoji Display Issues in Android Texts: A Quick Guide

Emojis are a fun and expressive way to communicate, but what happens when they stop showing up in your Android text messages? Whether you’re seeing blank boxes or

Jenny O'Brien 3rd April 2025 9:13 pm

Find out the latest news from Google

Google Play’s Alternative Billing Systems: What Parents Need to Know

If you’re a parent whose child uses an Android device, you may have noticed something new when they make purchases in their apps. Google has introduced what they call alternative billing systems for in-app purchases on Google Play. But what does that actually mean? And how does it affect you and your family?

Chris Grant (he/him) 1st April 2025 4:56 pm

Top-down view of a laptop on a desk featured in the blog “Putting Fairness First”

Business

Putting Fairness First: Our Commitment to Treating Customers Fairly

For us, treating customers fairly isn’t just a policy. It’s how we do business. It’s part of why we’ve got so many long-standing clients and great feedback from businesses across Swindon and beyond.

Chris Grant (he/him) 28th March 2025 2:42 pm

Amazon Sellers

The £19.99 Pricing Dilemma: How a Penny Could Be Costing Your Amazon Sales

In the competitive world of Amazon UK, pricing strategies can significantly impact a seller’s success. A common tactic is charm pricing—setting prices just below a round number, such as £19.99 instead of £20. While this approach traditionally appeals to consumers by making prices seem lower, it may inadvertently hinder sales due to Amazon’s delivery policies and consumer purchasing behaviours.

Jenny O'Brien 26th March 2025 5:46 pm

The O’Brien Media Digital Insider Blog