Open Formula

We’re pleased to share that Open Formula launched the newly rebuilt website for Dovecliff Hall Hotel in January.

The previous site had been running on a bespoke theme that was becoming increasingly difficult and costly to update, and it no longer reflected the quality and prestige of the hotel, restaurant, and events venue. The project focused on a full visual refresh and a move to a more flexible, future-proof platform.

We delivered the core redesign and full technical rebuild using the Avada WordPress framework, chosen for its stability, regular updates, and long-term support. During the final stages, the client team also added further content refinements and page updates ahead of launch.

We continue to provide managed WordPress hosting and technical support to keep the platform running smoothly as the site evolves.

Open Formula — Boosting local business with websites that work.

Quick one for fellow local business owners…

Did you know some big organisations can’t always view newer or lesser-known websites?

A client’s website of ours was working perfectly in the real world, but a large UK organisation couldn’t access it on their internal network because the site was showing as “Uncategorised” in certain security filters.

This isn’t a website-build problem.

It’s usually a corporate cyber security rule that blocks any site that hasn’t been formally classified yet.

If you ever sell to larger companies, public sector, or enterprise buyers, this is worth a quick check — because the last thing you want is to be in a meeting and your site won’t load.

You can check your website here:
Cisco Talos:
https://talosintelligence.com/reputation_center/
FortiGuard:
https://www.fortiguard.com/webfilter
Broadcom Site Review:
https://sitereview.broadcom.com/

If your site shows as “Uncategorised”, you can submit a review and suggest the right business category.

It’s a small thing, but it can remove a surprising barrier to bigger work.

Philip, Open Formula

You’ve been told there’s a new shop that sells your favourite brand… but when you follow the directions, you can’t find it!
Frustrating, right?

That’s what a 404 error feels like online. It happens when someone clicks a link to a page that doesn’t exist – maybe it’s been deleted, renamed, or linked wrong.

Why it matters:

Visitors get frustrated and may leave.

Google sees it as a bad experience, which can affect your rankings.

Three quick fixes:

Check for 404s – In WordPress, you might see them in your admin area if you’ve got an SEO plugin. Wix or Squarespace users can check their dashboard/analytics for “broken links” or “page not found” reports.

Fix or redirect – Update the link or point it to a relevant page.

Add a friendly custom 404 page – Guide people back to useful content instead of leaving them stuck.

Spending just a few minutes on this can mean better Google rankings, happier visitors, and fewer lost opportunities.

Philip Levy – Open Formula – Boosting local business with websites that work!

Is your website protected from spam attacks like this?

This week, I helped out a company I support with their client websites. One of the sites they host was suddenly hit by a flood of spam — over 300 contact form submissions per minute.

It was a classic bot attack:

The inbox was overwhelmed

The domain was at risk of being blacklisted

Real enquiries could have easily been lost

We acted fast:

Blocked the IP address behind it

Added Google reCAPTCHA to stop bots

Set up rate limiting on the form to prevent abuse

This kind of attack can happen to any business website — big or small. If your forms are unprotected, bots will find them eventually.

If you’re a small business owner and not sure if your site has proper protection in place, I can help.

At Open Formula, I offer managed WordPress hosting and hands-on support — keeping websites running smoothly, securely, and performing at their best.

Feel free to drop me a message if you want to check whether your site’s secure — always happy to take a look.

This week our latest website was formally launched for our client, Cureton Consulting.

We worked with Karen at Cureton Consulting to find the right style for her website to ensure it reflected her and her business.

We were also able to combine 3 existing websites into one which gives a better customer journey, saves admin and of course, saves costs.

You can see her new website at https://curetonconsulting.co.uk/

It’s up for grabs this week again the coveted BFB 60 seconds trophy! Who will go home with the accolades? To find out more book online today.
https://businessfocusburton.co.uk

Social Media Lounge Live Another Date Added ! One Chance to make a First Impression. Craft a 'wow' LinkedIn profile to attract and engage!

Staffordshire Session – Thursday 27th June 2024 – Branston Golf and Country Club Burton Rd/Faldo Close, Burton upon Trent, Burton-on-Trent DE14 3DP 9.30-11.30