The WP Base Blog
Practical notes on WordPress care, web design, and running a small business online, from a one-person studio in Northern Ireland.
More from the blog
Local Business Why Most Northern Ireland Businesses Are Choosing the Wrong Hosting
Most small businesses in NI are on hosting that's either too cheap to do its job properly, or too expensive for what they actually need. Here's how to work out which camp you're in, and what to do about it.
WordPress Security Someone Bought 30 WordPress Plugins and Planted a Backdoor in All of Them
A massive WordPress supply chain attack compromised 30+ trusted plugins. Here's what happened, what it means for your business, and what you should do about it.
Local Business Why Northern Ireland Businesses Are Losing Leads to Bad Websites
If your website hasn't been touched in three years, it's probably costing you business right now. Broken forms, slow load times, stale content — here's what's going wrong and what to actually do about it.
Web Design 7 Signs Your Small Business Website Needs a Redesign
Most small business websites don't fail dramatically — they just quietly stop working. Here are seven signs it's time to do something about yours before it starts costing you business.
Side Hustle Does Your Side Hustle Need a Website?
Not every side hustle needs a website straight away — but some absolutely do. Here's how to work out which camp you're in, the signals that tell you it's time, and what you actually need to get started.
General How Much Does a Small Business Website Cost in Northern Ireland?
A plain-English breakdown of what a small business website actually costs in Northern Ireland — from DIY builders through to custom WordPress builds. What you get at each price point, and where the traps are.
General WordPress vs Squarespace: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?
Squarespace has done a remarkable job of marketing itself. But appealing marketing isn't the same as the right tool. Here's a head-to-head comparison and when each platform actually makes sense.
Maintenance Why WordPress Maintenance Isn't Optional Anymore
WordPress maintenance used to be optional in the same way that locking your car used to be optional. Then the world changed. Here's what happens when you don't maintain your site.
Performance Speed Kills: What a Slow Website Is Costing Your Business
53% of mobile users abandon a website that takes longer than three seconds to load. Here's what's slowing your WordPress site down and what actually fixes it.
WordPress Security The 5 WordPress Security Basics Every Business Owner Should Know
Most WordPress hacks exploit obvious weaknesses. Get the basics right and you've addressed the vast majority of the risk. Here are the five fundamentals every business owner should know.