After the three-week break, we have all the more news for you today: WordPress 5.3 is here, Matt Mullenweg gives his annual SOTW address, and WordCamp Stuttgart leads the way in terms of diversity and sustainability. We also take a closer look at the job prospects for web designers and explain how GDPR fines are calculated. And we have a new RB feature in store that many WPML users have been waiting for a long time.✌️

Will we even need web designers in the future?

Which web designer is not familiar with the slightly helpless feeling you get when you stumble across ads á la Your own website - do it yourself quickly and free of charge! It's easy to ask yourself "Is my profession dying out?" or "Will I even be needed in the future?" Sonja Hoffmann - herself a web and UX designer - got to the bottom of these questions. She describes her findings in this article.

What fines do you face for GDPR violations?

It is generally known that GDPR violations can result in fines of up to 10 million euros or two percent of annual global turnover. More serious violations can even result in double that amount. It was previously unclear how high the penalties would be in reality. The Data Protection Conference (DSK) has now published a concept for calculating fines. In our blog, lawyer Mario Steinberg explains how this calculation is made up.

WordCamp Stuttgart: Sustainable, diverse and full of inspiration

WordCamp Stuttgart 2019 was a complete success: with great sessions, goal-oriented discussions and a sustainable agenda. This makes the #WCSTG a real pioneer in terms of "green" camps. Raidboxes was present as a gold sponsor on all conference days. We reveal our personal impression of the camp with the topics WordPress, support, legal security and social responsibility in our recap.

WordPress

WordPress 5.3 aka "Kirk" is here
A new major WP update has been available since November 12. WordPress 5.3 is dedicated to accessibility, improves the design options in the block editor and brings the new "Twenty Twenty" theme. As with all major updates, we will automatically roll out WP 5.3 to all BOXES (without a fixed WP version) after 14 days. Of course, you can already update to the latest version manually.

Mullenweg's "State of the Word 2019"
If you make your living with WordPress, you should know roughly what is currently being worked on in the software and what big changes are planned for the future. An ideal source to find out is the annual "State of the Word" keynote by WP co-founder Matt Mullenweg. You can find a video of the entire speech here.

Online Marketing

Hello, BERT! What does the new Google update change?
Google has announced "BERT" with the words that it is the biggest update in the last five years and will affect one in ten searches. BERT is a so-called Natural Language Processing (NLP) model. The update is intended to help Google better understand language in order to achieve more relevant search results. Further information can be found here.

Being human in times of digital dehumanization
"Marketing is a newer word for propaganda. So how can I make sure that in this incredibly fast-moving digital age, I don't 'accidentally' propagandize for things that go against everything I believe in?" - Caspar Hübinger addresses this question and more in his WordCamp talk, which is very thought-provoking.

Raidboxes features

WPML multidomain: Bye bye language tag!
With our latest feature, we've finally tackled the topic of "internationalization" and integrated WPML multidomain. In just a few steps, you can now convert your BOX into a multidomain BOX and assign each language of your site its own domain.

E-Commerce

Requirements for international online trade
Special tax guidelines and obligations apply to cross-border shipping in e-commerce. So if you sell goods abroad (in the EU) with your online store, you should be aware of these requirements and comply with them. We show you what you need to bear in mind and what will change in the future.

WooCommerce themes: 7 tips for more sales & usability
A good web design is extremely important for WooCommerce. It determines whether your visitors stay in the online store. And whether they actually complete the purchase. What do you need to look out for when choosing your WooCommerce theme? And what are the most important themes? Our guide has the answers for you.