David Condon Finds

I’ve been prompted for the longest time by Google to set up a proper cookie consent banner (CMP) that meets their requirements. For a while I got by with the basic one my Wix website offered, but eventually Google’s persistent reminders — and the reality of GDPR, GA4, and Ads — made it clear I needed to upgrade. I’ll be honest: price was the biggest factor in choosing a CMP. Most of them are in the same ballpark cost-wise, but the monthly visit allowances can vary wildly. As a small business, you need to know your estimated daily traffic all year round before looking for a CMP and always allow for growth when choosing a CMP platform.

When my puppy, Bud, first came home, he was the picture of excitement at mealtimes, tail wagging, eyes wide, and food inhaled at record speed. It was cute… until it wasn’t. During his “hoovering” phase, it was as if his stomach and intestines were squeezing inward, trapping his meal higher up in his chest & oesophagus and showing his ribs in minute detail. He’d look uncomfortable and bloated, and strange gurgling noises would come from him for a few minutes after eating. I put up with it at first, thinking it was just “puppy enthusiasm,” until one day he vomited straight after his dinner. That’s when I realised it was more than a quirk — it was a problem.

You can spend years working at something you love but sometimes it takes explaining it to someone else to see it clearly for yourself. That’s something I learned twice: first when I started teaching woodturning, and then all over again when I started blogging about it. Who knew it could be so difficult and  yet so simple at the same time?

What Went Wrong With My WordPress Blog Setup (And Why I Went Back to Blogger) When I decided to upgrade my blog to a shiny new WordPress site, I expected a bit of a learning curve — but not a full-blown disaster. What was supposed to be a simple migration from Blogger turned into a frustrating mess of DNS issues, vanished menus, broken templates, and a lot of wasted time. In this post, I’ll share exactly what went wrong with no fluff, how it snowballed into a full retreat, and why I’m back on Blogger for now. If you’re thinking of switching platforms, this might save you a few headaches. Be sure to read my post  Is Amazon Prime Worth it? after you finish here! Plain speak only!

When you're tight on space, every square inch counts - especially if you're running a small business from home. I needed a way to hang tools, other stock and packaging bits in a way that didn’t involve putting up more shelves or stacking more boxes on the floor taking up valuable real estate.  So, I put together a simple wall-mounted grid panel mostly using bits and pieces I already had lying around, a sheet of mesh I bought, plus a few Amazon extras. It didn’t cost much, took less than 2 hours to prep and install, and has made a massive difference to how I use the current space. The entire job cost about €60 and has cured a lot of headaches for me. Here’s how I did it, and how you can too. Be sure to check out this great post Game-Changing Amazon Tech and Accessories for Everyday Use after you finish reading here!

Why Isn’t Google Indexing Your New Blog? You’re Not Alone Have you set up a new blog recently? Are you struggling to figure out why Google hasn't crawled or indexed your new pages yet? You're not alone. I went through this same issue myself, and I decided to write this post to help and advise anyone else in the same boat. This post also applies to new website owners and has some helpful tips. Check out my other post  Blogging for Your Small Business: A Practical Guide  for tips and practical suggestions after you finish here!

Here’s what I learned when my entire blog urls disappeared from Google Search overnight and how I’m trying to fix it. I woke up one morning, logged into Google Search Console, and saw something that made my stomach drop, there were  ZERO pages indexed . My new Blogger blog wasn’t even a week old, but just the day before, 11 of my posts were indexed and starting to show impressions. Now? Gone. No warnings. No explanations. The only faint silver lining? GSC was now for the first time detecting all 26 URLs on my blog but none of them were indexed. Check out my other post  Blogging for Your Small Business: A Practical Guide for tips and practical suggestions after you finish here!

Thinking of starting a blog for your small business? I’ve been there and I nearly gave up before I even got going. Like many business owners, I kept hearing that blogging would help customers find me, improve my SEO, and bring people to my door. It sounded great… but I resisted it for years. I'm not a writer, or so I believed. The idea of blogging was intriguing though, and deep down I knew there was value in it – I just didn’t think I was the right person to write anything worth reading. My old school teachers would probably nod in agreement.  Check out this post  5 Amazon Buys I Didn’t Expect to Love  for some great ideas after you finish here.

 Aside from the Revitive Circulation Booster, I’ve tried several other things that help with foot pain and neuropathy symptoms. Some surprised me like socks and eventually even a grounding mat of all things. I’m not claiming miracles, just sharing what’s helped. I've spent quite a lot of money testing various things out, not for the good of humanity but for my own relief. Hopefully If I can help you avoid wasting time or money, then it’s worth writing this. So if you're curious about what’s worked for me, stick around and I’ll walk you through it. Check out this post  5 Amazon Buys I Didn’t Expect to Love  for some great ideas after you finish here.

After writing my first blog post about the Revitive Circulation Booster, (link at the end if you missed it) I thought readers might like an honest update based on a year (and more) of living with Peripheral Neuropathy. It’s been a tough journey, and if you’ve landed here, maybe it has been for you too. I’ve added three updates in total (listed below), written at key intervals to reflect real life progress, slip-ups, and tips that may help. This updated version first appeared on my original blog at davidcondonwoodcraft.ie. (linked below) and has been split up and rewritten for an easier read.   Check out this post  5 Amazon Buys I Didn’t Expect to Love  for some great ideas after you finish here.

You’d be surprised how often a simple mistake in a phone number causes delays. Every week I see customers enter their number incorrectly at checkout, sometimes just one digit out, other times so far off the mark you'd swear they were writing an IBAN! Most of the time, small businesses like mine can spot and fix the obvious ones. But sometimes we need to email you for clarification, which can delay your order being dispatched. This post will show you the most common phone number mistakes I see and how to fix them in 10 seconds flat.  Why not check out this post on Amazon Health & Fitness Products  for some great ideas after you've finished here

Places to Eat in Tralee During the Day I often get asked by my Airbnb Experience Guests about where to get breakfast in Tralee before their Experience starts in the morning — and once it’s over, the same question about lunch. It was something that never really occurred to me to research beforehand, so I’ve been caught out unprepared a few times. No longer though — I’m finally typing the keys on this Blog Post. If you’d like a bit of local knowledge, please read on. As someone who regularly hosts Airbnb Experience Guests and Woodturning Students, I get these questions all the time — and now I’m finally prepared to answer properly. This post is pulled together from my own experiences, with a few trusted recommendations from locals thrown in for good measure. Whether you're in town for a course, a short break, or just passing through, I hope this helps you find a great spot to eat during the day in Tralee.

 Is Amazon Prime Worth It in Ireland – or the UK? Short answer: Definitely worth it. Based on my years of experience as a Prime member and customer on the UK site, I can honestly say the perks, from fast shipping to exclusive deals; make it a smart choice, especially for people in Ireland and the UK. If you’re on the fence, keep reading. Still unsure after that? You can use one of my links below to sign up for a 30-day free trial—I doubt you’ll want to cancel once you see everything Prime offers. If you are looking to switch over from the UK site, make sure to read this post Switching over to Amazon Ireland . 

Why I Wrote This Post When the first symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy hit—those strange pin pricks in my feet, tingling in my legs, numb patches came out of nowhere—I was blindsided. I didn’t know what was happening, and like many people, I went searching for answers. If you’re feeling the same way, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I wrote this post: to share what I’ve learned, what I wish I’d known sooner, and maybe bring a bit of calm to what can feel like a really chaotic time. Because those first weird sensations? They were just the beginning... This updated version first appeared on my original blog at davidcondonwoodcraft.ie. (linked below) You might want to read another related post after with 5 Amazon products I swear by  which I didn't expect to love.

 SEO felt like a tangled mess when I first started my website. Every article said something different, every tool gave mixed signals, and I was left more confused than before I’d begun. If that sounds familiar, this post is for you. I'm not here to sell an expensive strategy — just to show you how I simplified my own SEO approach using a few basic strategies and a little common sense. This updated version first appeared on my original blog at davidcondonwoodcraft.ie. (linked below) While you're here, I’ve shared exactly why Google Ads can be so frustrating for small businesses in this open letter — worth a read if you’ve ever felt the same.