WordPress remains one of the most popular CMS platforms today. In 2023, WordPress was used by 45.8% of all websites on the internet. And, as of 2024, more than 835 million websites are using WordPress around the globe, with over 500 new WordPress sites being built every day.

Those are big numbers, and for good reason.

WordPress can be used by larger corporations to host high-traffic websites and e-commerce, or by solopreneurs who may host a small blog or portfolio site. Its versatility is reflected in its sheer reach.

In this blog, we’ll delve into the many benefits of WordPress, while discussing security, plugins, and API development.

So, let’s start with what makes it such a popular choice…

Why WordPress?

It’s safe to say that since its launch back in 2003, WordPress is certainly not outdated.

As time has gone on, the platform has developed in line with customer expectations, improving functionality and capability. By June 2010, WordPress had introduced version 3.0 which gave users the ability to manage multiple sites.

This ultimately established WordPress as the dominant CMS (Content Management System) software on the market due to its ease-of-use and capabilities.

As time has gone on, many WordPress plugins have been introduced into the market and sophisticated coders have been able to customise these plugins to enhance their websites and the user experience.

Alongside WordPress website development, we also offer WordPress hosting services for our customers. As a hosting provider, we strive to offer our customers the best service possible.

Extensive customisation

One of WordPress’s unique strengths lies in its ability to cater to diverse business needs through extensive customisation.  No two WordPress websites are the same, since the CMS platform allows you to completely adapt each aspect of the site.

However, some reservations stem from fears that customisation may compromise security.

Thankfully, with Interdirect’s expertise, you can harness the power of WordPress’s customisation features without compromising on security. We work diligently to strike the right balance, tailoring your WordPress website to meet your specific objectives while adhering to industry-leading security standards. Our team is also on hand to support you throughout the website build and into the future, taking care of any updates or changes that reflect your business’s growth. During the onboarding process, we will discuss and create a WordPress theme to suit the requirements of your business. Using the WordPress software, we will fully customise your new website.

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Is WordPress secure?

Perhaps the amount of focus on WordPress security was born from the fact it is such a prolific platform. It is only natural that with the significant number of websites hosted on the platform, there would be more security misconceptions. But you will be relieved to know that most of these are unfounded.

The WordPress Security Team, in collaboration with the WordPress Core Leadership Team, and backed by the WordPress global community, all work to identify and resolve security issues in the core software.

In doing so, they are recommending and documenting security best practices for third-party plugin and theme authors. They also often collaborate with other security teams to address issues in common dependencies, such as resolving the vulnerability in the PHP XML parser. This vulnerability resolution was a result of a joint effort by both WordPress and Drupal security teams and highlights the collaborative work done behind the scenes creating a global front to cyber security. These security fixes will be used in other CMS systems, such as Umbraco or Drupal as they are all developed within the same language, PHP.

How secure are WordPress plugins?

One common source of apprehension surrounding WordPress often centres around plugins. While it’s true that plugins contribute significantly to the platform’s flexibility, it’s crucial to distinguish between issues arising from poorly coded or outdated plugins and those inherent to the WordPress core. Our agency takes a proactive approach, curating a carefully vetted selection of plugins that align with security best practices. By doing so, we ensure that the plugins employed in your WordPress website enhance functionality without compromising security.

There may well be outdated approaches to coding that some agencies or developers still employ, but at Interdirect, our team’s knowledge ensures all plugins are met with the most stringent security practices that prevent interception or breakdowns in security.

Application Programming Interface (APIs) and WordPress integration

What is an API?

An Application Programming Interface (API) refers to a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate and interact with each other.

This may be part of your WordPress site if you extend the functionality, create custom plugins, or integrate third-party services seamlessly.

Securing APIs, preventing unauthorised access, and protecting sensitive information are crucial considerations for API integration. WordPress excels in this thanks to its robust security features, secure coding standards, and extensible API functionality. Its commitment to security, coupled with a user-friendly interface, makes WordPress an excellent choice for secure API developments.

Sitewide Security Considerations

Whichever platform you use, you are always at risk of vulnerabilities if you do not follow the right security protocols.

While we work hard to ensure you are protected, there are a few things we recommend to enhance security:

Use strong passwords

Enforce password complexity rules that use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters in passwords.

Regular password updates

Consider setting up automated reminders for users to update their passwords at specified intervals.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Require users to verify their identity through an additional factor, such as a code sent to their mobile device or email.

Implement SSL/TLS certificates

This will establish a secure connection between clients and the WordPress server, preventing eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.

By incorporating these strong password practices and security measures, you can bolster the integrity of your WordPress site, reducing the risk of unauthorised access and potential security breaches.

The Interdirect technical team is on hand with ongoing support and training, to ensure your online presence is as secure, optimised, and functional as it can be.

Your partner in WordPress excellence

As a Milton Keynes-based PR and digital marketing agency, we not only advocate for the unparalleled benefits of WordPress but also serve as your dedicated partner in navigating any concerns you may have.

Our team is committed to offering transparency, addressing misconceptions, and empowering your brand with a secure and highly effective online presence. Don’t let unfounded claims deter you from exploring the vast potential of WordPress. Instead, take the first step toward a dynamic and secure website by reaching out to us for a personalised consultation.

Let’s build your online success story together. Get in touch with the Interdirect team today.

Let’s talk… hi@interdirect.co.uk or call 01908 422242.

New Year, New Challenge, and all for an amazing Milton Keynes Charity and cause!

Martin Carmody, has dusted down his runners and stepped up to run the London Marathon in April, helping to raise vital funds and awareness for local charity MK SNAP – and the training is already well underway.

Martin is no stranger to Marathons having run Brighton Marathon seven years ago, and by the way, said he’d never do it again! All that changed last year after seeing the amazing work undertaken by MK SNAP, who transform the lives of adults with learning disabilities.

Based in Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes, the charity provides a programme of education, life skills, work preparation and opportunities for work to adults aged 18+ with a variety of learning disabilities, giving them the skills to realise their full potential.

Through many local fundraising efforts, they are able to support with computer confidence, provide a health and well-being programme covering food, physical activity and self-esteem, they have a thriving performing arts programme, plus they offer sport, dance, yoga and relaxation sessions.

Their programme of essential life-skills helps to increase independent living opportunities and together with work training opportunities in catering, their cafe and customer service – they look to give their learners life-enhancing services and opportunities.

Martin has already completed a few ‘warm-up’ events including the Dirt Half Challenge at the end of last year, and even though we’re in the midst of winter, the training doesn’t stop with dark and very cold runs in the schedule.

As he takes on this epic challenge, Martin commented, “I honestly thought running the Brighton Marathon would take the urge to run 26’odd miles off my bucket list but seeing the incredible work that MK SNAP do has encouraged me to do it all again. Bring on the training, bring on the aches and pains, but also, bring on the awareness and much needed sponsorship for an amazing local cause. Thanks to everyone who has already sponsored me, and if you haven’t yet, head over to my Just Giving page.”

We wish Martin all the luck with his Marathon Challenge, follow our social pages for a few training updates between now and Sunday 21^st April.

Visit Martin’s Just Giving page

Our Client Director, Katie Jenkins, looks back at a hugely busy and successful year for Interdirect.

As well as continuing to support our existing client partners with comms and digital projects, we’ve welcomed some new ones and spent time focusing on ‘us’ as an agency, which, after 27 years, is not a quick or easy job to undertake!

During, a sometimes hectic year, we have…

• Refined our proposition focusing on our roots and core strengths in PR, comms and digital
• Unveiled our new brand, saying goodbye to our old identity and ‘hi’ to a fresh new look and feel, underpinned by a solid strategy
• Designed, developed and launched our new website to reflect Interdirect’s new branding and approach
• Embraced a collaborative approach by strengthening our relationships with agency partner Stratos to bring more brand and creative services to our clients
• Supported in the delivery of two ‘Picture This’ events in partnership with Stratos and Wirebox. A unique, thought provoking discussion which brings specialists together to share insights and best practice. We are looking forward to hosting further ‘Picture This’ events in 2024.

Agency life can be fast-paced, and this year has been even busier as we have worked hard to enhance our offering and develop an even stronger foundation for our future. We believe it’s important to pause and take time to reflect, which will enable us to positively move forward into a New Year.

So, while we head towards a much-needed festive break on Friday 22nd December, and encourage our team to properly down tools and enjoy time with families and loved ones to recharge and reset – we are also excited to start looking forward to a prosperous 2024, with some exciting projects already lined up to kick off the New Year.

We’d like to thank all of our clients and suppliers for their continued support and look forward to working with you again when we re-open on Wednesday 3rd January.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the #IDTeam

So, you want to build a new business website?

The first question to ask is ‘why’?

For many of you, you might think that change is the best thing for you and your business. Perhaps you’re not seeing the results you want, and you’d like a fresh new look and strategy?

Or maybe you’re experimenting with a new strategy and want to signify that to your audiences with major development?

Whatever the reason, be sure that it underpins every decision you make moving forward.

Here are 3 tips to consider when building a professional business website.

1. Understand your target audience

This journey starts with us really understanding who your target audience is.

Yes, you can create something generic that speaks to ‘everyone’ but won’t get you the results you crave. If you’re marketing to everyone, you’ll often be marketing to no one.

It’s important to establish exactly who your target audience is – who is most likely to consume the media, products, and services that you’re providing. No matter your business, whether you have an online store selling shoes, or a business website providing advice, you will still be targeting a specific audience. From that, your web development agency can determine who is most likely to engage with the content and features we build into your website. For example, if you compare the process of designing a car and designing a website, the fundamental principles and components aren’t too dissimilar.

Cars will generally all have the same mechanics such as wheels, an engine, and gears – however, depending on the target audience they can be two very different vehicles. If your audience is a family of four, with two dogs who live in an off-road location, you wouldn’t build them a three-door sports car with low profile tyres!

2. Build your user profiles

So, what do we do to ensure that you’re pointing your newly developed website towards the right audience?

Good old-fashioned demographic research. At Interdirect, we look at a number of different factors that help us build up a profile. These can range from simple demographic information like their age range, location, job title, and hobbies, etc, through to their psychographic information such as behaviours, attitudes, lifestyle preferences, and personality types. This information creates a strong base of a marketing strategy.

You will likely be targeting a few different sub-audiences, so it’s essential you speak to all of them throughout the user journey.

3. Measure your metrics

However, you need to ensure you’re also analysing your current visitors and SEO (Search Engine optimisation) too.

Who are your most successful clients? Are you attracting the right clients to your site?

Platforms such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console will provide you with the necessary metrics including what devices are being used to access your website, how long users are spending per session on your site, what pages are most relevant to them, and who the new and returning customers are. With this information, you can tweak your strategy over time, ensuring the website is consistently performing and converting your visitors into customers. Using SEO tools will help your website more friendly for search engines, so you’ll rank higher.

Using the metrics gathered, we can help you to create a tailored marketing strategy that can drive traffic to your new professional site.

Armed with all that knowledge, we would then use your research to create User Personas…but that’s a blog for another time.

At Interdirect, we take great pride in designing and building websites for clients and connecting with them on a level that means they’re more than just another client to us. With our team of website builders, we want to create a website that achieves your business goals.

If you would like to discuss your website ambitions and run through some ideas, we’d love to hear from you!

Author – Marisa Harwood on LinkedIn

Let’s talk… hi@interdirect.co.uk or call 01908 422242

Image credit: storyset on Freepik

This summer, the Interdirect team were delighted to appoint Marisa Harwood to the position of Digital Project Manager.

Marisa has already had an incredible digital career, working for the likes of Aviva, Virgin Money, Naked Wines, and Proxama with roles ranging from a Front End Web Developer to Marketing and Client Services.

Throughout her career, Marisa has worked on some exciting projects but has also been involved in some challenges too. Back in 2009, in her very first week at Virgin Money, she witnessed the big market crash and was also involved in a conference call with the company’s founder, Sir Richard Branson!

So, how is our new recruit feeling about her first few months with ID? Marisa said: “It’s been going well so far. I was given such a lovely introduction and allowed to properly connect with my new colleagues and get used to the software we used. This in turn allowed me to get up to speed easily and probably quicker than if I was just thrown in at the deep end.”

For her Digital Project Manager role, Marisa will be focusing on managing processes and helping guide people and teams through a project’s development life cycle. And it’s so far so good for our latest recruit.

Marisa added: “The best thing about this role has to be the team. There doesn’t feel like there’s a hierarchy, and everybody has their skills that they bring to the table, the knowledge throughout the team is extraordinary and we have a range of subject matter experts. There are no weak links, and everyone has been super helpful and welcoming. The hardest part? Giving up control and relying on others to get the job done. It’s been a real change in mindset because I’m so used to just doing everything in other teams I’ve been involved with.”

If money was no object, Marisa would love to have fun in the office, giving clients so much more on top of the already fantastic service they get from Interdirect. She said: “I’d fund more projects for fun, definitely. For example, I’d cost out a project to make a whole, interactive advent calendar, with all the festive bells and whistles, it would be nice not to worry about budgets!”

Our self-confessed foodie loves Thai food, stemming from an incredible voluntary project in Thailand which saw her immersed in the culture of the country as she worked in an orphanage caring for hill tribe children.

Marisa commented: “That project was incredibly rewarding. The living standards were a bit ‘raw’; it was proper bathing with a bucket and ladle type stuff. There was no air conditioning and no luxuries, but after a while, it became a way of life. It made me realise just how lucky I am, it was incredibly humbling.”

Luckily, at Interdirect, Marisa will get to enjoy a few more luxuries and let’s hope she will find her time just as rewarding.

Click here for further information about Interdirect and our PR, communications, and digital services or find us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram @Interdirect.

On 23 November, leading members of the business community across Milton Keynes gathered at the city headquarters of technology company Aiimi for the second edition of Picture This.

What is Picture This?

The Picture This concept has been developed by a trio of agencies within Milton Keynes; Stratos – a brand and creative agency, Wirebox – a technical development agency and ourselves at Interdirect – a PR and digital comms agency.

It is a platform for people, our peers, friends, and partners to get together to discuss key themes and industry touchpoints crafted by that very audience. There’s no ‘hard sell’ – just an honest approach to thought-leadership which is fundamental to the Picture This ethos.

Hot topic

This second edition of Picture This focused on Artificial Intelligence.  A hot topic considering Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes had just hosted the Global AI Safety-Summit; a huge stage for International Governments, leading AI companies and experts in research to come together to discuss and understand how to grip and tackle any potential AI risks to ensure it develops safely in the years ahead.

The aim for Picture This was to give a slightly different take on the sometimes controversial subject of artificial intelligence, from attempting to demystify the subject to looking at how the technology can help and enhance working practices.

What went down?

The event featured three industry specific speakers giving their own thoughts across a number of AI related topics including content creation, emerging tech and more.

Phil Hill from West Herts College talked about how generative AI is disrupting his field within photography. He talked about the historical upheaval when photography overtook painting as a mainstream medium, how he’s been using AI in teaching, particularly focusing on the many ways they cross over through critical thinking. Phil has also used AI to restore images from the past and he touched upon the bias in generative AI due to the fact it is largely used within the Western World.

The second speaker of the evening was Matt Eustace from Aiimi who talked about using AI tech as a problem-solving tool, and how having access to data via AI sources can help businesses make more informed decisions. He also talked at length about Extractive AI – the lesser-known cousin of the more popular Generative AI.

Designer, Matthew Maxwell, shared how he has been inspired by Shakespeare and used DALL.E to create artwork which blended modern day with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. He also went on to talk about using AI to have fun within his art.

A Q&A session wrapped up the event and was hosted by our own MD, Nicholas Mann, who opened the room to encourage attendees to get involved in the conversation. Igniting a forthright debate, insightful questions were put to all three speakers, and all provided valuable input, incorporating various approaches and points within their answers.

What’s next?

The third edition of Picture This will be coming in early 2024 with an all-new topic to discuss and digest. Look out for more information coming soon.

The influence of AI on business is growing rapidly. But should we worry that AI will replace humans completely? Especially in the realms of a marketing agency?

Artificial Intelligence is behind some incredible business innovations. Helping users make automated decisions to improve their efficiency, AI is being used in business to drive innovation and expand the scope of services provided to customers.

AI vs humans in a digital comms agency

When it comes to a PR or comms agency, AI can help with everything from writing a document to brainstorming ideas – but what about the human touch that comes from dealing directly with an agency?

As a bespoke digital marketing agency in the heart of Milton Keynes (a hub of innovation) we are seeing first hand the impact AI has on the industry.

But we always come back to the importance of human relationships; something that cannot be replicated by AI. Whether you require help with a website build, or assistance with your PR and marketing, it’s natural you will opt for the people you enjoy working with, and connect with. They will understand the nuances of your business, your target audience, any cultural considerations, and drive their decisions with empathy.

They do so with thought and insight, which is the foundation of what makes a digital marketing agency so great to work with. AI is extremely intelligent, but it can’t replicate this human connection and interaction.

How can I use AI in digital marketing?

There are, of course, a number of things AI can do for you and your business. For example, you can set up bots to replicate live chat to respond to new site visitors, to placate those people who need answers that second. This has been known to improve website retention rates and nurture users towards a conversion.

AI can also help people conduct market research on potential customers, finding out important statistics such as who they are, what they do, where they consume media and so much more. That information, when building your PR and marketing strategy is vital.

However, humans understand humans. When it comes to physical interaction with a client you can’t beat chatting to someone to understand their needs, reading their emotions, ‘getting’ what they mean, and asking those questions that get them thinking in a different way. Those are the details that even with Artificial Intelligence, some people struggle to extract from their vast expertise.

Some of our best relationships are the ones we’ve built up from having a chat, connecting with people on an emotional level. AI won’t remember your kids’ birthday or your favourite coffee order! Empathy can really help people going through a tough time, humour when they’re ‘winning’ and sympathy when something hasn’t gone quite right.

A business is founded on people. People buy from your business, and it’s the people who make it what it is.

Humans can create ground-breaking campaigns based on their knowledge of you, your audiences, and your business’ history. And yes, computers and technology will always have a place in modern business, the thoughtful, hard-working, going-that-extra-mile attitude you can gain from a good agency is extremely hard to replicate.

Let’s talk…email hi@interdirect.co.uk or call 01908 422242.

Photo credit: FreePik

On Monday 16 October, World Food Day, some of the team from Interdirect headed to Campbell Park to support long-standing client Socius unload over 250 food cans from the back of a car. Why? It was all part of a Guinness World Record breaking attempt by the MK Food Bank.

The local charity, setup in 2004, has seen an unprecedented rise in demand over the last 12 months, and in an effort to increase their food stocks and to raise awareness of the amazing work they do across the city for families and individuals, they organised #MKCAN. An audacious attempt to smash the current Guinness World Record for the longest line of food cans.

Local businesses were encouraged to sign up and ‘adopt’ a section of the planned 10km route around Campbell Park, which sits in the very heart of Milton Keynes. Socius, who are currently, redeveloping the Saxon Court building in Central Milton Keynes as part of the planned MK Gateway development, took up the challenge with members of their team heading to MK from around the country, and two members of the ID team went along to support.

Each business or organisation adopted one of the 400 sections, each donating over 250 cans to ‘complete’ their section. After a long morning of measuring, counting and adjudicating – the result was finally announced at 2.30pm with the MK Food Bank officially being awarded the Guinness World Record with over 102,000 food cans being lined up.

It was a herculean effort from the local community with the donated cans shoring up the organisation’s stocks for the next 6 months, and one which our team was proud to be part of.

If you’d like to find out more about the MK Food Bank – go to https://mkfoodbank.org.uk/

Exciting rebrand for one of Milton Keynes’ most well-established agencies will bring the next level of PR, communications, and digital proposition to the city.

Interdirect is strengthening its proposition and rebranding as part of an ambitious growth plan as the business approaches its fourth decade in business.

 Along with a fresh new brand identity, Interdirect has promoted some of the key figures within its business to create a new leadership team and enhanced its offering by collaborating with trusted partners, who specialise in brand and creative marketing disciplines, complementing Interdirect’s offering.

This new approach is already delivering significant added value to existing clients, creating new opportunities for all involved.

Founded in 1995 by Nicholas Mann, Interdirect has been offering its clients invaluable service from PR and Communications to digital solutions and marketing, with a proactive, customer-centric approach that delivers successful campaigns and projects to brands across all sectors.

With a progressive attitude and appetite for innovation, Interdirect has a breadth of industry knowledge; it is renowned throughout the Milton Keynes business community and has a credible and valuable portfolio of long-standing clients, that it cherishes.

The new wave of Interdirect is being underpinned by a fresh rebrand and website which was launched this week. The distinct look clearly depicts Interdirect’s brand narrative, and the familiar fingerprint logo is being superseded by speech marks to symbolise the clarity the agency provides on digital communications.

Collectively, the agency’s team offers more than 140 years of expertise, and it is this experience that underpins Interdirect’s people-first, values-based culture that pulsates throughout the business.

Katie Jenkins, newly appointed Client Director, has 13-years-experience with the agency and is ready to help realise a new vision for the future of Interdirect.

Katie said:

“We’re a forward-thinking agency and this new brand and direction – taking more of a partnership approach – will allow us to offer brands a stronger proposition. This is thanks to the valuable knowledge that our team and our trusted partners offer to every project. We’re excited to see where the future takes us.”

Milton Keynes has long been thought of as a home of innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial savvy. So it was no surprise that a recent Picture This event included all three.

Held at the Sky Room at Milton Keynes Gallery, the event was the first of its kind in the city and came about through a collaboration between three city based agencies – Interdirect, Stratos and Wirebox.

An ideas event, it took visitors through the journey of producing a creative project and featured thought-provoking, expert speakers covering topics including Creative and Brand, Content and Film, Marketing, and PR and Online Comms.

The informal, social event attracted a number of like-minded individuals who all shared a passion for marketing, creativity and digital disciplines and the speakers balanced each other perfectly. It worked to give the audience a flavour of how collaboration can work perfectly and how integrating parts of each discipline into a business can help you push the boundaries and connect better with your customers.

The evening started with a talk on Creative & Brand from Stratos’ Marc Smiddy and Ryan Taylor from Wirebox. Marc started the evening off with an interesting talk on brand emotion – the importance of a brand creating a connection with its audience – which included a thought-provoking video about sportswear giants Nike (Have you ever seen Nike sell you their products by telling you anything other than how you’ll feel wearing them?) This was followed by a more technical discussion from Ryan who delved more into the ‘why’ of what a brand offers its customers.

Mat Finch, from Caffeine & Machine, then told the audience about the importance of clear and concise marketing strategies before Laura Alfred from Network Rail and Interdirect’s own Emma Scott gave an incredible insight into PR &Communications and the role of the leader in creating a brand consistency in vision.

The final speaker was Alex Lawrence from Clearhead, who spoke fantastically on the topic of producing content with a purpose that helps to tell a compelling story. The point of the evening was to show that individually, done well, these elements can drive a business forward but actually, we need to collaborate with others to be able to offer clients the ‘full package.’

It’s interesting to see how attitudes are changing in this space and how nowadays businesses aren’t seen as rivals but actually, fellow professionals that can be learned from and collaborated with. And actually, it’s OK not to be great at everything, as your specialism may be someone else’s weak point.

Interdirect is proud to announce that it will be working collaboratively with Stratos and Wirebox moving forwards and in the process offering customers a more complete business solution.

As for Picture This we’ll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment of this unique thought leadership event and hope that anyone reading this will be intrigued enough to sign up in the future.