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Angie – Block 81

Block 81 Insights – Issue 24.03

Published 12 months ago • 2 min read

Block 81 Insights

Issue 24.03

2025-10-16 289, 2025

Howdy!

As you probably noticed, I’m a bit late sending this issue out. Between client commitments, side projects, a health scare (all is good!), and trying to enjoy the summer, this kept being put on the back burner. Such is life! 😊

In my last issue I briefly mentioned AI. It hasn’t stopped being something I think about on the regular. But here’s something to chew on: companies require so much power for AI that they’re now going down the treacherous path of nuclear power. 😬

In other news, in case you haven’t heard, there’s a whole saga with the ever popular WordPress involving the creator of WP and WPEngine, a WordPress specific hosting company. Accusations, egos, open source, and lawyers. Let’s just say it’s a concerning time for websites built on WordPress. More on that in the links below.

Hope last quarter was a good one and that this last quarter of 2024 (😮) is off to a great start!

Angie

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Maximizing Site Speed: Why It Matters and How to Achieve It

Website speed isn’t just a technical detail—it’s a critical factor for user experience, SEO, and overall site performance. As I’ve said before, a slow-loading site can frustrate visitors, leading to higher bounce rates and lower conversions. Search engines prioritize fast websites in search rankings which means a sluggish site could hurt your visibility online (i.e. search engine rankings). It’s not really hyperbole to say that a few seconds can make the difference between retaining a customer or losing them.

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Improving your site’s speed can involve various strategies, from optimizing images and minimizing code to leveraging content delivery networks (CDNs) that serve content quickly across regions. Mobile optimization is especially crucial, given the high percentage of users accessing websites via smartphones. And let’s not forget the amount of media any given page might have. That includes all those analytics scripts marketers love to sell website owners on—add enough of them to your site and you’ll see your site slow down.

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If you're unsure about your website's performance or want to explore ways to boost its speed, get in touch! Book a call with me here and and let’s make sure your visitors get the best possible experience from your website.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

How Accessibility Impacts Your Website and Business: Designing for All Users

Accessibility has been on my mind a lot, and for good reason: accessibility is about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, can navigate and interact with your website. This includes individuals with visual impairments, hearing loss, motor disabilities, and cognitive challenges. But here’s the kicker a lot of people forget: an accessible site means it’s easy to use for everyone the same way a wheelchair ramp can be used by anyone.

In addition to standards compliance (like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and user experience, accessibility can significantly impact your business’s bottom line. A more inclusive website attracts a wider audience, which can lead to increased traffic and higher conversion rates. Moreover, businesses that prioritize accessibility demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility, fostering goodwill and loyalty among customers who value inclusivity. I mean, that’s not a bad thing as far as I’m concerned!

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If you’re interested in learning more about making your website accessible or would like to schedule an accessibility audit, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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LINKS & HIGHLIGHTS

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​PDFs and climate change​

Got a lot of PDFs on your website? You might want to re-think them and have them converted to webpages—they can emit a ton of CO2.

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​Microsoft taps Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power AI​

The tech giant signed a major deal with nuclear plant operator Constellation Energy to buy power for its data centers from the energy company's Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant.

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​The messy WordPress drama, explained​

WordPress cofounder Matt Mullenweg is going after a rival hosting firm he says is ‘strip-mining the WordPress ecosystem.’

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​The latest on the WordPress fight over trademarks and open source​

A timeline of events on the WordPress / WPEngine saga.

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Angie Herrera

Designer / Developer
​Block 81​

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2000 NE 42nd Ave Ste D Unit 2281, Portland, OR 97213

Angie – Block 81

Custom Web Design & Development

Hey! I'm Angie, founder of Block 81—a web design and development studio that's been empowering businesses since 2003. After two decades of building websites that actually work, I've learned what drives real results (and what's just industry hype). As both a designer and developer, I help businesses create web experiences that connect with users and drive growth. Block 81 Insights delivers real-world strategies from the trenches of client work—no theory, no fluff—just proven approaches, project stories, and carefully curated resources for both business owners and web professionals.

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