Free Goods Of The Week – Apr. 01
April 1, 2025
Valuable Tips | Interesting Articles This Week
That might be the wrong question
“Will it work?” Along the way, we’ve been pushed to load our decisions with a need for certainty. It’s easier, it seems, to not try than it is to fail. But the question, “is it worth trying?” unlocks possibility. A surgeon in the middle of an operation should probably not experiment with an untested technique. But a writer, a leader or a musician can make that question part of their craft. It’s t
How to Add Trust Badges to Checkout Pages in WordPress (& Boost Sales)
Looking to boost your online store’s conversion rates? You’re not alone. When we first started selling products online, we noticed that many visitors would abandon their carts right at checkout. The reason? They weren’t sure if they could trust our website with their payment information. That’s when we discovered the power of trust badges. After adding them to our checkout pages, we saw an immedi
What is User-generated Content (UGC)? Essentials for a Soaring Strategy
My personal social media is full of four main things: family, friends, food, and UGC. And as I type this, I hear the former saying, “Uh, what is UGC?” For over a decade, I’ve been creating social media content for brands, usually in exchange for complimentary products, ranging from skincare and makeup to spicy snacks and even water pitchers. This is an example of UGC or user-generated content ,
“Have You Tried Turning It Off and On Again?”
Read to the end to see a very chill dude absolutely shredding it on the slopes. In today’s edition: Post Status launches WP Speakers Virtual Stage Series, for rejected WordCamp speakers and anyone else with something to say about WordPress. A cybercriminal network has been working 9-5 since 2016 to infect over 20,000 WordPress websites with malware in the so-called “DollyWay World Domination” cam
Kinsta vs SiteGround: Your Preferred Hosting Provider in 2025
In the ever-changing world of web hosting, choosing the most reliable for your WordPress website is necessary for performance, security, and overall success. However, with many options available, it becomes difficult to choose the right ones. In this blog, we will compare Kinsta vs SiteGround, two of the best WordPress hosting providers worldwide. Kinsta is […]
WordPress 6.8 Release Candidate 2
The second Release Candidate (“RC2”) for WordPress 6.8 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 RC2 on a test server and site. Reaching this phase of the release cycle is an important milestone
Be an Addition, Not a Substitution: Lessons from Tom Holland’s NA Beer Brand
When actor Tom Holland made the late-night rounds last October to talk about his new company, BERO Brewing, he said that he’d “find myself in these boardrooms” surrounded by experts spouting unfamiliar terms. The once and future Spider-Man told Seth Meyers , “thank God I found acting,” because it took “every bit of acting chops I’ve got to convince them I know what I’m talking about.” Today’s mas
How Qwen 2.5 Just Beat the Top AI Models — HubSpot SVP of Marketing Shares The Industry Impact
The AI model races are heating up. Right on the heels of DeepSeek-R1’s release , the industry is reeling from yet another powerful AI model hitting the market. I test drove the latest iteration of Alibaba’s Qwen models — Qwen 2.5. In this post, I’ll break down what Qwen 2.5 is, how you can use it, and how it compares to OpenAI o1 and DeepSeek-RI . I’ll also explore what this means for the AI indu
How to Keep Personally Identifiable Info Out of Google Analytics
Recently, we discovered something alarming while auditing one of our clients’ websites. Email addresses and phone numbers were showing up in their Google Analytics reports, exposing sensitive visitor information that they never intended to collect. Collecting personally identifiable information from users can be a major issue. Not only does it violate privacy regulations like GDPR, but it also pu
How AI Helps Leaders Accelerate Business Growth
Want to make smarter, faster business decisions with AI? Wondering how leaders can effectively leverage AI without getting lost in technical details? In this article, you’ll discover a practical framework for becoming an AI-driven leader who can harness artificial intelligence to enhance strategic thinking and decision-making across your organization. Why Using AI Is an Imperative […]
Where do con men come from? There are three conditions that need to be met: First, there needs to be rising societal pressure to get ahead, cut the line and find a win. Second, there needs to be people willing to set aside their ethical principles to take advantage of others in their community. And third, we need to be lulled into a state of unjustified credulity, eager to believe that seeds migh
Understanding FTP and SFTP: A Guide to Secure File Transfers
Updating your website means getting files to your server, but the process can feel like a chore when simply navigating in a conventional hosting panel. FTP and SFTP are essential tools for managing files on your server. Whether you’re uploading website content or downloading backups, these protocols offer a straightforward method to handle your site’s files, though they aren’t quite the same.
Vulnerability & Patch Roundup — March 2025
Vulnerability reports and responsible disclosures are essential for website security awareness and education. Automated attacks targeting known software vulnerabilities are one of the leading causes of website compromises. To help educate website owners about potential threats to their environments, we’ve compiled a list of important security updates and vulnerability patches for the WordPress
I Lived 5 Minutes From the Ghibli Museum and Here’s My Thoughts on the Ghibli AI Trend
Back in 2018 I spent some time in the city of Mitaka – which happens to be where the Ghibli Museum is located. I walked by it several times a week and have fond memories from there. When the internet became flooded with Ghibli style art last week after OpenAI released their newest AI image generator, my reaction was probably more visceral than most people’s. After spending some time Ghibli-ficati
Discovering Multi Page Auto Advance: How to Create Better Harmony for Your Gravity Forms
Every additional click on your site’s forms presents another opportunity for users to abandon it. This problem is a job for Multi Page Auto Advance! For this post, the Mayor will give you a chance to discover what this plugin can do for your Gravity Forms—in a nutshell, less friction and greater conversions!
WPBeginner Spotlight 10: WordPress 6.8 Preview, New AI Tools, and Plugin News
March has been a busy month across the WordPress ecosystem. We’re excited that WordPress 6.8’s first release candidate (RC1) is now available for testing, and we’ve also seen innovative new features roll out for popular plugins. AI continues to be a recurring theme — from smarter form calculations in WPForms to StoreAgent’s automated WooCommerce helpers. There’s also a wave of quality-of-life imp
How TikTok, Canva, & Other Top Marketing Teams Outperform the Rest [New Data]
Imagine trying to describe a giraffe to someone whose never seen one. Maybe I’d say something like this: “Well, it has brown patches that look a little like puzzle pieces; a long, 6-foot-tall neck, and skinny legs.” This description is close enough, sure, but it doesn’t quite capture the sensation of seeing one in real life. Which is how I feel about high-performing marketing teams: Hard to descr
Division is easier than connection
But connection is where the value lies. Connected, resilient communities create possibility and forward motion. Division is satisfying in the short run, and it might even draw a crowd. But the only useful reason to disconnect is if it opens up the chance to increase connection somewhere else.
Really? Which self? The self you were when you were two years old, almost out of diapers? The self you were when you were screaming with the fans at the big game? The self you were after a long night? How about this: Become the self you’d be proud to be. Hang out with people and ideas that help you become that self. Act like that self every chance you get.
We might not seek it out often enough in our work. It’s a musical term, but we can use it too. The light touch. A way to make a sound without making a commotion. Delicate and graceful. Showing up with care and with just enough extra, but not more than that. see also
Hidden Malware Strikes Again: Mu-Plugins Under Attack
At Sucuri, our security researchers continually monitor for new malware variants and infection techniques targeting WordPress websites. Recently, we’ve uncovered multiple cases where threat actors are leveraging the mu-plugins directory to hide malicious code. This approach represents a concerning trend, as the mu-plugins (Must-Use plugins) are not listed in the standard WordPress plugin
How to Easily Get a Custom Email Alert in Google Analytics (2 Ways)
Are you constantly logging into Google Analytics to check your website’s performance? We did this too when we first built a WordPress website. It was time-consuming and frustrating, especially when we wanted to track specific metrics or spot unusual patterns in our traffic. That’s when we discovered Google Analytics custom email alerts. These automated notifications have saved us countless hours
“Obvious” closes the door to inquiry. “Perhaps” opens it.
Quick Guide to Magento Security Patches
Magento remains a popular ecommerce platform in 2025 and its security patches play a vital role in addressing vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by attackers. These patches help prevent issues like data breaches, website defacement, or unauthorized access, ensuring the safety of customer data and store operations. Given the platform’s widespread use, staying updated with patches is
Navigating Global Expansion: What Brands Can Learn from Liquid Death’s UK Exit
When Liquid Death, the edgy, death-metal-themed water brand that took American social media by storm, announced it was pulling out of the UK market, marketing Twitter(X) erupted with hot takes. Was it the irreverent branding that didn‘t connect with British sensibilities? Or proof that even viral marketing can’t guarantee product success? According to behavioral science expert Phill Agnew , the a
How Remote Worker Apps Can Improve Team Collaboration and Communication
Remote work isn’t just a trend anymore—it’s how businesses operate now, giving people flexibility and letting companies tap into talent from all over the world. Since mid-2021, remote job postings have shot up by over 1,100% , which is wild when you think about it. But here’s the catch: keeping a remote team clicking without those casual office chats isn’t easy. Miscommunication can sneak in, acc
15+ Best WordPress Themes of 2025 – Multipurpose, Mobile-Ready, and Beautiful
Most WordPress theme lists bore me. So I made one that’s actually useful. This post covers 15+ WordPress themes that real users love, backed by solid ratings, and good numbers of “active installations.” I picked only themes people genuinely like, not just ones that look good on demos.
How to Use Claude to Create a Virtual Assistant (in Under 10 Minutes)
Who wouldn’t want their own personal executive assistant? Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, with the AI tool Claude, anyone can set up a virtual executive assistant in just ten minutes. In this article, I’ll share how you can use Claude’s incredible new Projects feature to create an executive assistant. That virtual EA can help you analyze meeting transcripts, manage action items, draft follow-
How to Disable Payment Methods in WooCommerce (Ultimate Guide)
Many WooCommerce store owners make the mistake of enabling every available payment method. But we’ve learned that having too many payment options can actually confuse your customers and even lead to abandoned carts. While running WooCommerce stores, we’ve found that strategically limiting payment options can improve conversion rates and streamline your checkout process. For example, you might wan
How to Use Disruptive Storytelling to Thrive as a Marketer
Are your tried and true marketing tactics losing their impact? Wondering how to adapt and stay relevant with consumers? In this article, you’ll discover why disruptive storytelling is the key to thriving in today’s marketing environment and learn practical strategies for building deeper customer relationships and making content stand out. Why Story is Critical in […]
The name doesn’t matter (that much)
Busy people in important organizations waste a lot of time naming things. It could be that once a name is good enough, you’re done. That’s certainly true for the logo. Nike is hard to pronounce. Starbucks is named after an obscure character in a mostly unreadable book. Apple is named after a fruit, Google is spelled wrong. These are good names, not perfect ones. It’s worth noting that when asked
WPLP Compliance Platform: The WordPress Privacy Solution You Need!
There was a time when adding a cookie banner and linking to a basic privacy policy was enough to tick the compliance box. But as privacy laws get stricter and regulators become more serious about enforcement, those days are long over. Your website now needs to do more than just show a notice. It needs […] Read More… The post appeared first on Learn WordPress with WPLift .
How to Minify JavaScript and CSS in WordPress
A common technical challenge for many WordPress site owners is ensuring that their resources load quickly. In an era where speed and user experience (UX) are crucial for a successful website, WordPress administrators must explore every possible method to improve loading times. Failing to keep websites fast and responsive increases the risk of users abandoning […]
Custom WordPress Development for Enterprises: Is It Worth It?
While WordPress began as a blogging platform, it has since evolved into a powerful content management system (CMS) that supports large-scale business operations. However, out-of-the-box solutions often fall short when it comes to meeting the unique demands of enterprises. Custom WordPress development provides businesses with tailored solutions that enhance performance, security, and functionality
Why Everyone Is a Social Media Entrepreneur Right Now — Trends You Need to Know
In TikTok’s early days of mostly dance challenges and lip-syncing exchanges, Shola West , a Gen Z career advocate, speaker and educator, spotted a gap. “I decided I wanted to come on the platform to share tips and tricks from my career working in the media industry,” she says. Now affectionately known as the “Big Sis to Young Creatives” — with accolades including Forbes 30 Under 30 — West is buil
How to Build a Wedding Website with WordPress (Step by Step)
WPBeginner / 7d
When we first began building wedding websites for clients, we spent countless hours figuring out the best approach, testing different themes, and finding the right combination of plugins. Luckily, creating your own wedding website doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With WordPress, you can build a stunning site that handles everything from sharing your love story to managing RSVPs. Best
“Nobody wants this” is unlikely. “Somebody will like this” is almost certainly true. “Everyone needs this” is a trap. The work begins with finding the right somebodies, while ignoring the imaginary everyone. Scale is rarely the first signal of important work.
How to Market Your WordPress Products: 5 Steps for Reaching the Right Audience in 2025
Whether you’re launching a new plugin or branching out as an expert-for-hire, marketing a new WordPress product or service presents as many challenges as it does opportunities. Sure, as the driving force
Interesting Articles This Week
