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WooCommerce May Meltdown: The Critical Error Crashing WordPress Sites and How We Can Help

Chris Grant (he/him) May 07, 2025 0 Comments

What’s Happening With WooCommerce? A recent bug in WooCommerce is leading to fatal errors on WordPress sites, resulting in complete site outages. The problem appears to stem from conflicts between WooCommerce and other plugins or themes, particularly following recent updates. Users have reported that activating or updating WooCommerce triggers critical errors, rendering their websites...

Blue and green lava lamp on desk in O'Brien Media office surrounded by plants and a pride flag

Why Small Businesses Thrive with a Small Local Web Agency

Chris Grant (he/him) May 04, 2025 0 Comments

In today’s digital-first world, a strong online presence isn’t optional – it’s essential. But for many small businesses, navigating the world of websites, SEO, and digital marketing can feel overwhelming. That's where working with a small, local web agency really shines. If you're a small business owner looking for tailored, reliable support, here’s why choosing a local agency – like...

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O’Brien Media: New Contact Forms Spam Protection Features

Chris Grant (he/him) May 02, 2025 0 Comments

New Spam Protection Features for Your Website Contact Forms At O’Brien Media, we’re always looking for ways to help our customers get more from their websites. That means better performance, easier management—and keeping spam out of your inbox. We’ve introduced three powerful new spam protection features that are now available for all customer websites with contact forms. These tools are...

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

Chris Grant (he/him) April 16, 2025 0 Comments

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. Named in honour of celebrated composer Cecil Taylor, this release is a tribute to creativity and innovation—a fitting theme for a platform that...

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The Future of WordPress Security in 2025 and Beyond

Chris Grant (he/him) April 16, 2025 0 Comments

Navigating the Potential Shutdown of the CVE Program In today’s digital-first business landscape, maintaining a secure website is as vital as having a reliable internet connection. For millions of businesses powered by WordPress — the platform that runs over 60% of all websites — security has always relied on a silent hero: the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system. But that...

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Why We Use WordPress and Elementor to Build Small Business Websites

Chris Grant (he/him) April 08, 2025 0 Comments

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. This combo gives our customers the freedom to manage and grow their websites without needing to call a developer every...

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New in WooCommerce 9.7: Features Every Small Business Should Know

Chris Grant (he/him) February 26, 2025 0 Comments

WooCommerce has launched version 9.7, bringing a host of new features designed to enhance the online shopping experience while making store management easier for small business owners. This update focuses on improving shipping displays, boosting site performance, and refining user interactions, ensuring that small businesses can provide a seamless and engaging experience for their customers with...

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O’Brien Media, the Go-To Agency for WordPress in Swindon

Jenny O'Brien January 27, 2025 0 Comments

In the competitive world of digital marketing and website design, choosing the right partner to bring your vision to life can make all the difference. If you're based in Swindon or the wider Wiltshire area and looking for expert WordPress services, O’Brien Media is here to help. With years of experience, a passionate team, and a customer-focused approach, we’ve established ourselves as the...

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Wix and Squarespace vs Bespoke WordPress: What Small Businesses Need to Know

Chris Grant (he/him) January 25, 2025 0 Comments

When it comes to building a website, small businesses often face the choice between a platform like WordPress and website builders such as Wix or Squarespace. While all three can help you create a functional website, a bespoke WordPress website offers unmatched flexibility, scalability, and professionalism—making it the superior choice for many small businesses. Let’s explore why a...

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Why WordPress is a Great Choice for Small Business Websites in 2025

Jenny O'Brien January 24, 2025 0 Comments

When choosing a platform to build your small business website, it’s important to find one that’s flexible, cost-effective, and easy to use. WordPress is one of the world’s most popular website-building platforms, and for good reason. With its powerful features and user-friendly design, WordPress offers everything a small business needs to create a professional online presence. Let’s take...

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