Free Goods Of The Week – Oct. 21
October 22, 2024
Valuable Tips | Interesting Articles This Week
I’m listening more than reading these days, and I find that a good audiobook can make a real impact on the way I absorb and learn from a book. It’s a once in a century sort of shift in this medium. My new book is now available in audio . It’s not on Audible, at least not now. Audible has exploited their dominant position and the offer they make to authors is unfair and almost untenable. I’m not s
How An Obsession With Quality Led Emily Kramer to 48k Newsletter Subscribers and Counting
“An obsession with quality” is what I wish 12-year-old me had… but alas, I ended up with boatloads of Forever 21 T-shirts. As it turns out, quality really does matter. Our master today — Emily Kramer , a marketer, investor, and advisor for B2B growth-stage startups (and MKT1 newsletter creator) — told me her “obsession with quality” is the reason she’s been so successful in the newsletter space.
Fake “Fix It” Pop-Ups Target WordPress Sites via Malicious Plugin to Download Trojan
In our recent investigation, we discovered a new malware campaign targeting WordPress sites through a fake plugin, universal-popup-plugin-v133 , which delivers deceptive browser fix pop-ups. This malware leverages social engineering tactics to deceive visitors into downloading malicious files, compromising their systems. Type of website impacted and the scope of infection
WordPress 6.7 Release Candidate 1
The first release candidate (RC1) for WordPress 6.7 is ready for download and testing! This version of the WordPress software is under development . Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, it’s recommended that you evaluate RC1 on a test server and site. Reaching this phase of the release cycle is an important milestone.
How Marketers Save Time and Make Data-Backed Decisions with AI Reporting [+ Expert Insights]
Marketers are often asked to do more with less . I’ve been there too. I’ve battled the constant pressure to juggle multiple campaigns, track their performance, and present insight-packed reports. This process is overwhelming, time-consuming, and riddled with challenges. After years of struggling to prepare reports for my marketing campaigns, I discovered how AI reporting can truly transform the
9 Best AI Marketing Bots I Use at Work in 2024
As a solopreneur, marketing my own business gets pushed to the back burner more times than I care to admit. There are just too many other tasks that require immediate attention. It’s why I’m a big fan of AI marketing bots. Automating certain marketing tasks means I have more time for other tasks, like creating connections with other business owners who need my services. Recently, I chatted with o
The Ultimate WordPress Toolkit for Pros (59+ Must-Have Tools)
Lots of users think that WordPress experts rely heavily on custom code for their sites. In our experience, that’s not the case. Professional WordPress developers prefer to use existing tools rather than reinvent the wheel. Most have a WordPress toolkit — a collection of software and plugins — that they use to build a solid foundation for their websites.
Creating AI Assistants Using Claude Projects
Want to create consistently high-quality content while maintaining your unique tone and brand identity? Are you looking for ways to streamline your workflow with AI assistants? In this article, you’ll discover how to create AI assistants using Claude Projects. Claude Projects: A Game-Changer in AI Assistance Since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, the […]
My new book (out today) contains more than 500 questions. Here are some to get you started: Who is this project for? Who is my smallest viable audience? What change do I seek to make with this project? What is my strategy to make this change happen? Can I articulate it clearly? What resources and assets do I have to dedicate to this project? Do I have enough kindling to burn this log?
Choosing an Ideal WooCommerce Order Export Plugin
WooCommerce’s native order export functionality won’t suit many advanced use cases. This is where a dedicated WooCommerce order export plugin will be handy. In this post, we look at a few different options!
Rounding Up the Best Plugins to Import WooCommerce Products from CSV Files
While you can access built-in functionality to import WooCommerce products from CSV files, it’s not the best. We’re going to round up several plugins that can do the job better!
How to Import WordPress Users with Passwords
The need to import WordPress users with passwords is pertinent if you need to migrate your site. Mergers after new acquisitions also need due care. This post is going to look at two plugins to handle the job!
How to Show Upcoming Events in WordPress (The Easy Way)
Whether you are managing a local business, community organization, or personal blog, using WordPress to show upcoming events has a lot of benefits. It can help increase awareness about your activities and boost participation as a result. Plus, when people have access to all the necessary details about your events conveniently online, it also improves the user experience.
I Used AI to Create a Marketing Plan 2 Ways — Here’s How You Can Too
The prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) has many concerned about job security. AI writing , AI images , AI videos — while the final products are far from perfect, they raise the question of what jobs AI could eventually replace, even if we don’t want them to. But, heck, if AI can create a marketing plan for me, I say, “Welcome to the team!” A marketing plan is a foundational piece of any
Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success.
The challenge of focus groups for bold ideas
“We’re thinking of having a holiday every year where kids of all ages go door to door unescorted and beg for candy, and adults dress up in expensive and revealing costumes and get drunk. Would you be likely to participate?” It’s not really a helpful question. (Yes, Halloween is mostly dumb, but it’s clearly popular). Instead of focus groups, creators make assertions. They look for how the people
Floundering is flopping around and making little progress. A Dutch word for getting mired and lost. Foundering is what we call it when the ship goes down. It’s an ancient French word based on bottom. Too often, in our desperate attempt to not founder, we flounder. Better, I think, to go down with energy and direction than to simply meander. It turns out that calmly executing a plan makes it less
How often do we assume that popular things are good, and that good things become popular? If your work doesn’t catch on, does that mean it wasn’t good? In almost every field, people with insight, taste and experience admire and emulate good things that aren’t popular, and are surprised by popular things that aren’t good. Perhaps we need to broaden our definition (or narrow it)
Expanding Our Code of Conduct to Protect Private Conversations
At the heart of our community is our shared pledge to create a space that is harassment-free, welcoming, and inclusive for all. Our Community Code of Conduct already outlines a clear set of expectations, while also providing examples of unacceptable actions. Today, we are reinforcing our values by adding another element to our list of unacceptable behaviors:
In the midst of our legal battles with Silver Lake and WP Engine, I wanted to take a moment to highlight something positive. Because of my friendships with the co-founders of Slack, Stewart Butterfield and Cal Henderson , WordPress.org has had a free version of the Pro version of Slack since they started in 2009. We switched from IRC to Slack, and it was like superpowers were unlocked for our
7 Best WordPress Store Locator Plugins to Boost Local SEO
If your business has a physical location, then you’ll need to make it easy for customers to find you. Adding a store locator to your website provides a convenient way for people to search for nearby stores, view their locations on a map, and get directions. It also improves local SEO. We carefully researched and tested how the best WordPress store locator plugins improve customer experience.
Designing an Event Marketing Budget? Here’s What Experts Recommend
The year I turned 30, I started a new job. The role was a management position and carried strategic responsibility for marketing, communications and PR — all things I was excited about. Also tucked in the job description? Event planning for a festival and various smaller events. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to take a crash course in event marketing.
“Ease” isn’t the same as “easy.” In fact, they’re often at odds. Easy work is hardly worth our effort. It can deaden us instead of giving us the chance to bring our best selves to life. Ease, on the other hand, is the feeling of doing something worthwhile, and doing it well. When we choose a project where the stakes are too high, where stress is our fuel, where conflict is at the heart of the
Given the egregious legal attacks by WP Engine against WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, a number of their customers have been looking for alternative hosting, and in return a number of hosts have created specials and promotions for WP Engine customers looking to migrate to a host that has great relations with WordPress.org. Here they are, in alphabetical order. We’ll update this post if any n
AI in Graphic Design: The Pros, Cons and What it Means for Designers [+ Expert Insight]
Several months ago, I tested several AI logo generators and documented my experience. Then my friend Michael Randall , a graphic designer, read the post, and I‘ll just say he wasn’t thrilled about it. “[Expletive] logo generators? We’re doomed,” were his exact words. I ended that blog post by clarifying that businesses should use actual graphic designers when designing their logos to stand out.
AI Conversion Rate Optimization: How AI Is Transforming CRO Strategies
The future of conversion rate optimization is here — and it’s driven by AI. From personalized video to scalable email outreach, learn how to maximize conversions with AI CRO. If Kieran and I were to invest our marketing budget anywhere in the next 6-12 months, it would be in AI Conversion Rate Optimization (AI CRO) . In fact, we believe in AI CRO so strongly, that we easily rank it above other ma
12 Best Online Form Builders (Expert Picks for 2024)
Many of our readers have asked us if we can recommend any online form builders to simplify their workflows. After 15+ years of running websites on different platforms, we understand the importance of having user-friendly form builders that allow you to make contact forms, payment forms, donation forms, and user surveys. For example, we have had a great experience using WPForms for our contact for
Instagram Updates for 2025: What Marketers Need to Know
Feeling left behind by Instagram’s rapid evolution? Need help understanding how recent updates can benefit your business? In this article, we’ll explore some of Instagram’s newest features and what they mean to marketers. Why Instagram’s Latest Features Matter for Marketers Instagram continues to be a powerhouse platform for marketers and Instagram creators, with recent statistics […]
Why are we more likely to get tasks done than to take on new initiatives? Checking something off a to-do list requires far less emotional energy than adding something to the list was in the first place. As is often the case, “resistance” is the answer. It’s easy to type a book, hard to write one. That’s because writing one involves making choices. The effort to perform a task we’ve done before is
Drama?! What Drama?! *Sips Tea*
Read to the end to see a cat who is definitely asleep and not up to ANYTHING suspicious… In today’s edition: Cheers to the WordPress Plugin Review Team for digging themselves out of one hell of a backlog. HeroPress celebrates folks who have used WordPress to make the world a better place, and we’re here for it. Is your site’s CPU usage is off the charts?
It’s going to get busy around here. I wanted to share some upcoming events (online and in person) so you can plan ahead… there are five more for the end of the week, but here we go: Linda Rottenberg is joining me on LinkedIn on Monday . She’s built an extraordinary organization that most people have never heard of– Endeavor transforms entrepreneurs who go one to build significant organization
How to Create a HIPAA-Compliant Form in WordPress (Easy Way)
Creating a HIPAA-compliant form in WordPress might sound tough. But don’t worry – it’s totally doable, even if you don’t have any technical skills. At WPBeginner, our team has designed and tested a lot of different WordPress forms when writing tutorials and reviewing form plugins. So, we’re experts when it comes to customizing WordPress forms for specific purposes. In this guide, we’ll break down
What Are the Best Alternatives to Google? How Brands Can Succeed Off Google Search
When I think back to my school days when we were asked to complete research papers using good old-fashioned books from the library, and I genuinely don’t think I could do that today. I’ve become so accustomed to the wide accessibility of information on the Internet that I’m willing to do anything to maintain that access, including risking inaccurate information or an inefficient experience.
2024 Generative AI Marketing Industry Report
Wondering how other marketers are leveraging generative AI? Want to ensure you’re staying ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving space? Discover how marketers are using generative AI to transform their content strategies and productivity in the first-ever . How Are Marketers Using Generative AI? In this comprehensive 38-page […]
Walk into an office, and the person behind the desk begins an interaction. You respond (or react). They respond (or react) in turn. Answer the phone. Caller ID tells you who it is–are you smiling? How much enthusiasm or disdain or annoyance or delight comes through? The caller responds (or reacts). And so it goes. Every interaction leads to the next interaction. But the first one starts the whole
WordPress Drama Explained (and How it May Affect Your Website)
It’s weird to receive texts like “is this WordPress drama crazy or is it being blown out of proportion”. In the 15 years of running WPBeginner, I never thought I would have to write a blog post covering any WordPress industry drama. My focus with the blog has always been to provide high quality free WordPress tutorials for non-techy beginner users and small business owners.
5 Levels of AI Marketing Mastery: How to Level-Up Your Use of AI
Are you ready to take your use of AI to the next level? Wondering how to integrate AI more deeply into your marketing plans? In this article, you’ll discover the steps to becoming highly proficient in AI. Why Marketers Need to Master AI Many marketers report feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks they […]
Mullenweg and Co. Take Over the Advanced Custom Fields Plugin
A couple of weeks ago, I talked about the new and growing fight between Automattic/Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine. Back then, the two were mainly trading words, and dueling cease and desist letters. However, the scope seems to be continuing to expand, including WP Engine filing an actual lawsuit against Matt Mullenweg and Automattic.
How to Thrive as an Immigrant in Tech: Tips for Your Job Search
Welcome to Creator Columns , where we bring expert HubSpot Creator voices to the Blogs that inspire and help you grow better. I moved to the United States exactly a decade ago. I’ve been saying this a lot lately — perhaps my brain is still adjusting to this milestone. I remember when a friend once said, “I plan to stay in this country for 5 years.” At the time, I thought, “Five years is a lot; I’
I Tried Creating a YouTube Channel Using Only AI
Welcome to “I Tried…,” the series where I try different marketing tools and strategies so you don’t have to. In this series, I document my experience and let you know if a tool or strategy is worth your time. Recently, I came across a viral video from Jensen Tung , a talented creator on our HubSpot Creator Network . In the video, Jensen created a YouTube channel using only AI!
How to Add a Hero Image in WordPress (4 Easy Ways)
Many websites use a large, eye-catching image at the top of their homepage, known as a hero image. And WordPress, a popular website builder, allows you to add this feature to your site. That being said, many users need help figuring out how to exactly do it. We’ve received tons of questions about WordPress hero image size and where to properly set up a hero image in the WordPress
Consider a simple graph of the temperature of the Earth over time. There’s nothing interesting about any frame of this graph . But when we pause for just a few seconds for it to load and render, we can see 150 years unfold and then the truth becomes apparent. The snapshot is a useful way to capture a moment. But moments rarely offer as much insight as seeing something shift over time.
is now ready for testing! This beta version of the WordPress software is under development . Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, it is recommended you
Interesting Articles This Week
