Eric Karkovack

Pennsylvania

I design & develop using WordPress, I write (@speckyboy, @thewpminute), I parent, I talk a lot. Find me elsewhere: https://t.co/i5RkDBUBTR

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Articles

How to Use AI to Enhance Your WordPress Blog — Speckyboy

1 week ago | speckyboy.com | Eric Karkovack

Blogging is still at the heart of WordPress’s strengths. The content management system (CMS) started as a blogging platform and continues to shine. Its goal is to democratize publishing, after all. Those old-school roots are still evident. However, new technologies are here to help you take your blog to the next level. We’re talking (of course) about artificial intelligence (AI). AI tools can make blogging easier and more efficient.
How to Combat AI Bot Traffic on Your Website — Speckyboy

1 week ago | speckyboy.com | Eric Karkovack

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are becoming a staple for web developers. We use them to write and troubleshoot code, analyze data, and more. We’re finding new uses for these models every day. The downside is in how AI models gather information. They scrape the web and index the data. For instance, AI doesn’t “know” WordPress without first indexing related documentation, tutorials, and code snippets. It doesn’t conjure answers out of thin air. There are a few issues with this.
How WordPress Agencies Can Improve Site Building Efficiency — Speckyboy

1 week ago | speckyboy.com | Eric Karkovack

WordPress Agencies and freelancers frequently juggle multiple projects. For example, building two or more websites at once. It’s not uncommon to find yourself repeating the same processes. It slows progress and places more burden on your schedule. Efficiency is the antidote to this kind of chaos. It’s all about finding the right tools and techniques for getting more done with less effort. Thankfully, there are plenty of options out there for busy developers.
How to Discuss Price Increases With Your Freelance Clients

1 week ago | thewpminute.com | Eric Karkovack

Hey! Are you following our podcast in your favorite app? Add us by clicking one of the links. Apple – Spotify – Google – Overcast – Pocket Casts – RSSThe web was once a bastion of free and cheap things. Free tools and services catering to professionals and novices were abundant. And even things that cost money were relatively affordable. This climate has been a boon to freelancers, agencies, and clients. WordPress and its ecosystem are prime examples of this in action.
An Inside Look at StellarSites

1 week ago | thewpminute.com | Eric Karkovack

In this episode of the WP Minute+, Matt sits down with Matt Cromwell to discuss the newly launched StellarSites, a major initiative from StellarWP that repositions the brand as a direct-to-customer platform provider. Designed to compete with modern website builders while preserving the flexibility of WordPress, StellarSites bundles the best of StellarWP’s tools, including Kadence WP, SolidWP, GiveWP, LearnDash, The Events Calendar, and more.
Learn How to Display WordPress Custom Field Data With Blocks — Speckyboy

1 week ago | speckyboy.com | Eric Karkovack

Custom fields are among WordPress’s most powerful features. They allow us to customize the front and back end of a website, and there are all manner of creative uses for them. Everything from displaying niche content to changing page layouts based on field values is possible. Traditionally, using custom fields meant navigating obstacles. They require coding knowledge or a plugin to render field data. Implementing them can be time-consuming and out of reach for some users.
Evolution of a WordPress Agency

2 weeks ago | thewpminute.com | Eric Karkovack

In this episode of the WP Minute+ Podcast, Matt speaks with Ross Johnson, founder of 3.7 Designs, about what it’s like to run a WordPress agency for nearly 20 years. Ross shares the lessons learned from starting his agency in the early 2000s, evolving from general web design to custom WordPress development, and ultimately shifting toward modern workflows with block-based builders and recurring revenue models.
8 Best Free Security WordPress Plugins — Speckyboy

3 weeks ago | speckyboy.com | Eric Karkovack

Keeping your website secure is a 24/7 job. The right tools help keep watch – even when you can’t. They could be the difference between a hacked site and business as usual. WordPress security plugins are one part of that equation. Along with quality hosting and users practicing secure habits, a plugin can thwart common attacks. They act as the last line of defense against hackers. Adding an extra layer of protection is important, as WordPress is a preferred target due to its popularity.
Can AI Help WordPress Freelancers Make More Money?

3 weeks ago | thewpminute.com | Eric Karkovack

Hey! Are you following our podcast in your favorite app? Add us by clicking one of the links. Apple – Spotify – Google – Overcast – Pocket Casts – RSSFreelancers have plenty of options for leveraging artificial intelligence (AI). It seems like a new tool or five comes out each week. And that doesn’t include existing products with bolted-on AI features. The hype train has morphed into a rocket ship. This is great for OpenAI and other product makers, as they rake in cash and tons of publicity.
A Quick Guide to Escaping PHP Data in WordPress — Speckyboy

3 weeks ago | speckyboy.com | Eric Karkovack

Adding custom code to your WordPress website is powerful. You can add virtually any type of functionality. That’s great – but it also comes with responsibility. The output of your code must be secure. Otherwise, a malicious actor could take advantage. For example, they could execute a rogue JavaScript or PHP snippet to spread malware. It puts users at risk and is a mess to clean up. Thankfully, WordPress provides a way to prevent these sorts of attacks.