Reading Room

Home of the downright inquisitive.

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Is your Umbraco site future-ready? – Free Webinar

With evolving security threats, tighter compliance requirements, and the accelerating pace of digital transformation, keeping your Umbraco site secure, high-performing, and adaptable has never been more critical.

📅 Wednesday 24th September
⏰ 10:00am – 10:45am BST

Join us for a free 45-minute expert-led webinar featuring:
•James Carter, Lead Umbraco Developer at Reading Room
•Richard Metcalfe Metcalfe, Business Solutions Lead at Reading Room
•Frederik Klerens, Partner Manager at @umbraco

You’ll discover:
✅ The latest security considerations for Umbraco sites
✅ Best practices for performance optimisation and scalability
✅ Why upgrades are critical for resilience
✅ How to prepare your platform for future digital demands

Whether you’re shaping strategy, driving growth, or responsible for technical delivery, you’ll walk away with practical actions and a clear roadmap to keep your Umbraco platform secure, reliable, and future-ready.

👉 Secure your free spot today: https://t.co/92d85U3VM5

#Umbraco #DigitalAgency #FreeWebinar #DigitalSecurity

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

🚀 Meet James, our new Strategist!

James joins our Marketing & Communications team, bringing experience across client services, campaigns, and strategy, after previously having worked for our sister agency Fat Media, back in 2019.

He's brings a true passion for creative, marketing, and technology, and is an expert in combining these to deliver impactful results.

Welcome back to the team, James! 👋

#MeetTheTeam #DigitalStrategy #MarketingStrategy #DigitalTransformation

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

👀 The results are in...

We’re excited to share that Reading Room has won the Digital Transformation Award at this year’s Greater London Business Awards! 🏆

It’s a real honour to be recognised for the work we love doing - helping organisations rethink, rework and improve the way they deliver digital experiences.

A massive thank you to our team, our brilliant clients, and the organisers for making it all happen. 💛

#GreaterLondonBusinessAwards #DigitalTransformation #DigitalExcellence @bawardsuk

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

🧠 Google’s AI Mode is rolling out in the UK. What does it mean for SEO?

From July 29th, search as we know it changes, again. No blue links. No organic listings. Just AI-powered, conversational results.

So what does that mean for visibility, clicks, and content strategy?

In our latest blog, we explore:
✅ What AI Mode actually is (and how it differs from AI Overviews)
📉 What we’ve learned from the US rollout
🧭 Why traditional SEO metrics might not cut it anymore
📊 How to adapt your content to stay visible in AI results

For SEO leads, marketers and content teams, this is your next big shift.

👉 Read the full article: https://t.co/XCmwyU49p6

#SEO #AI #DigitalMarketing #GoogleSearch

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

🔧 Thinking about upgrading your @umbraco website? Take a look at our free guide.

Whether you’re on version 7, 8, 9 or even 10, the path to a faster, more secure, and future-ready CMS might feel complex - but it doesn’t have to be.

In our jargon-free guide we help digital leaders make sense of the upgrade journey, and provide practical advice, version comparisons, and solutions to common challenges.

In the guide, you’ll find:
✅ A clear breakdown of what’s new in Umbraco 10–16
✅ Risks of staying on legacy versions (and how to manage them)
✅ The biggest upgrade challenges (and how we solve them)
✅ Our proven step-by-step upgrade process
✅ What to expect after the upgrade

💡 Whether you’re exploring your options or already planning your migration, this guide will help you make confident, informed decisions.

📥 Download the free guide here: https://t.co/9F0snilOVx

#Umbraco #UmbracoUpgrade #WebDevelopment #UmbracoPartner

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

🚨 AI is changing how people find your content - is your website ready?

Tools like @OpenAI's ChatGPT and @Google's AI Overviews are constantly scanning the web - using your website content to help generate their answers. If your content is visible to AI, it can significantly boost your reach and search performance. But if sensitive content from your website is being used, it could put your business at risk.

Thanks to new controls from @Cloudflare , you can now decide exactly what content is visible to AI, and what stays protected. This means you can:

✅ Boost visibility and performance of high-impact content.
🔒 Shield sensitive, strategic, or members-only information.
💰 And even monetise high-value content - making AI pay to use it.

In our latest blog, we explore how to strike the right balance and share a four-step action plan to get ahead.

👉 https://t.co/jxS9rlz86M

#AIsearch #Cloudflare #ContentStrategy #SEO #DigitalStrategy

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

What’s next for Umbraco? We found out at Codegarden 2025 🚀

Our team headed to Odense for the 20th anniversary of @umbraco Codegarden - an event that delivered on innovation, collaboration, and a bold vision for the future of digital platforms.

So, what stood out?

✨ AI-powered CMS management is now real, thanks to the new MCP Server
📦 Umbraco Compose introduces a central hub for pulling in structured content
⚙️ Core CMS enhancements will make sites faster, more scalable, and easier to manage
📅 Plus, with Umbraco 17 and XLTS coming later this year, long-term stability and support just got a major boost.

In short? Umbraco is growing with the needs of ambitious organisations, and as Umbraco Platinum partners, we’re here to help you make the most of it.

👀 Check out our full Codegarden recap here: https://t.co/qd17njknYl

#Umbraco #Codegarden2025 #OpenSource #DigitalTransformation

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

Not 1, but 2 new Umbraco MVPs at Reading Room! 🎉

We’re so excited to share that James Carter (Lead .NET Umbraco Developer), and Richard Metcalfe (Business Solutions Lead) have both been recognised as @umbraco MVPs at this year’s #Codegarden 🏆

The MVP title is awarded to individuals who go above and beyond to shape and support the Umbraco community, from sharing knowledge to influencing the platform’s direction.

James (Left) has made a huge impact maintaining 10+ Umbraco packages and creating tools that make life easier for developers, and Richard (Right) has been a driving force in the Umbraco community this, from leading the Manchester Meet-up, to championing Umbraco Cloud.

As Umbraco Platinum partners we’re thrilled to see both Rich and James being recognised for their dedication to the Umbraco community 👏

#Umbraco #UmbracoMVP #Codegarden2025 #DigitalTransformation

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

We've touched down at Umbraco Codegarden 2025 🚀

It's hard to believe this year is Codegarden's 20th anniversary - and the vibe here in Odense is as vibrant as ever!

Our .NET team, including Richard Metcalfe, Simon Edwards, James Carter, and Angela McDonnell, are already diving into workshops, keynotes, and the annual business summit. It’s the perfect place to catch a glimpse of the latest features, roadmaps, and upcoming releases.

As Platinum Partners, it's our job to be one step ahead, so keep an eye out for some exclusive insights appearing next week 🤩

If you’re here too, keep an eye out for the team, and come say hello! 👋

#Codegarden2025 #Umbraco #DigitalTransformation #OpenSource @umbraco

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

The real cost of 'locked-in' digital platforms is starting to show 👎

Rising licence fees. Usage caps. Less control, more complexity. For organisations under pressure to scale and stay secure, the digital estate is starting to feel less like an asset and more like a risk.

However, open source options put you back in control.

✅ No licence fees
✅ No vendor lock-in
✅ No forced roadmaps
✅ No locked features
⭐ Just freedom to build, flex and adapt on your terms.

In our latest blog post, we explore how switching to an open-source CMS platform like @umbraco, @drupal or @WordPress can allow your platform to grow and evolve on your terms.

🔗 Take a look: https://t.co/GSiH6vbLSa

#OpenSource #Drupal #Umbraco #CMS #WebDevelopment

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

Today we’re looking bold in yellow for a brilliant cause! 🌼

In support of our client Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the Reading Room team (+ pets 🐶) have embraced #WearYellowDay, the brightest fundraising day of the year.

For every team member who's joined in, we’ve made a donation on their behalf, to help raise money for the vital work CFT do supporting those affected by cystic fibrosis. Wearing yellow really can brighten someone’s day ⭐

If you would like to donate, you can do so via our fundraising page: https://t.co/7P0kdoLe5d

#WearYellowDay #CysticFibrosis #CFWeek #Fundraising @cftrust

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Here’s the link to access our Membership Digital Transformation Toolkit: 👉 https://t.co/EOL2pxpbCv

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

What does digital transformation actually look like for membership organisations? 🤔

For many membership organisations, knowing how to evolve digitally can feel overwhelming. Barriers such as balancing varying priorities across the organisation, not knowing exactly what your members want, and struggling to prioritise which areas to focus on first, can make digital transformation seem impossible.

That’s why we’ve created our Membership Digital Transformation Toolkit - a set of practical resources to help you take those first steps with confidence.

Inside, you’ll find:

✅ Our 9 Steps to Digital Transformation guide, with a clear framework exploring how to align digital priorities with strategic goals.
✅ Interactive Digital Prioritisation Scorecard, with thought-provoking questions and a clear scoring system, to challenge assumptions and help you prioritise.
✅ Top tips for uncovering what truly matters to your members, with real-world examples from UK Coaching.

If you’re looking to make sense of digital transformation, and want to kickstart the process, we’ve added the download link in the comments ⬇️

#MemberEngagement #MembershipOrganisation #DigitalTransformation #DigitalStrategy

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

Take a look at our Membership Toolkit: https://t.co/EOL2pxpbCv 🌟

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

A fantastic day at Memberwise #DX2025 🤩

Yesterday our team made their way back to Hammersmith for a day of all things member engagement, retention, and digital transformation 🚀

Along with chatting to many lovely attendees at our stand, we also delivered two industry expert talks, exploring how to prioritise digital for maximum ROI, and how @umbraco can help membership organisations cut costs and complexity.

A huge thank you to @MemberWise Network for once again organising this incredible event, and to the attendees who came to say hello!

🔗 Didn't get the chance to attend? Take a look at our Membership Toolkit for all the resources you need to kickstart your digital transformation journey - find the link in the comments below ⬇️

#MemberPortal #Membership #MemberEngagement #MemberAttraction

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

We're thrilled to welcome Rich Metcalfe to the Reading Room team as our new Business Solutions Lead! 🌟

Rich is no stranger to Reading Room, having previously worked at our former sister agency Fat Media, and he brings a real passion for new business development. In this new role, he’ll be driving new business opportunities, shaping proposals, and delivering digital solutions that create real, measurable impact for our clients.

Welcome (back), Rich — it's our pleasure to have you on board! 👏

#NewStarter #BusinessDevelopment #DigitalSolutions #WelcomeToTheTeam

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

Transforming a membership website can feel like a daunting task - but it doesn't have to be 🧐

We know the fears: CRMs too complex to untangle, legacy content everywhere, and teams already stretched thin. For membership organisations, digital transformation can feel daunting, but with the right strategy, it's possible to modernise your digital experience without causing panic 🚀

In our latest blog, we share a blueprint for transforming your membership platforms whilst minimising risk, enhancing member engagement, and setting the stage for sustainable growth.

🔗 Take a look to find out more: https://t.co/Cqn2F7XHC0

#MembershipOrganisations #DigitalStrategy #DigitalTransformation #CRMIntegration #UXDesign

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

We’re excited to be joining the conversation at MemberWise Digital Excellence 2025 - delivering two talks focused on what really moves the needle for membership organisations.

🎯 Talk 1: Prioritising Digital for Maximum ROI
Where do you start when everything feels important? This session will explore how to invest in the right digital touchpoints to deliver real value, for your members and your organisation.

💡 Talk 2: Cutting Costs & Complexity
A deep dive into how British Safety Council are simplifying operations and enhancing ecommerce using Umbraco Commerce and Engage — without sacrificing quality or control.

Whether you're refining strategy or looking to start from scratch, both sessions will offer actionable insight to help you make your digital portfolio work harder (and smarter).

📍 15th May, Novotel London West, Stand B4

#Membership #DigitalTransformation #Umbraco #MemberWise

[Reading Room @ReadingRoom]

Looking to develop a digital platform that fully supported their mission, British Safety Council asked us to create a dynamic, user-centric online experience for their members. 💻 👤

We delivered a refreshed site with an intuitive structure, stronger content hierarchy, and an improved design that makes it easier for users to find essential training, audits, and health and safety resources. 🎯

Now, we’re very excited to continue the journey with BSC — providing ongoing support across SEO, content, and paid media to help them extend their reach and impact even further.

👀👉 Learn more about our work with British Safety Council here: https://t.co/lgY2etkVEB

#CaseStudy #DigitalTransformation #UX #SEO #ContentMarketing #PaidMedia