Vincent Sevilla

Stories By Vincent Sevilla

• 

  0

  Apps

  Apps By Vincent Sevilla

  The Value of Mobile Apps for Startups

  In 2012, the amount of Internet data accessed from a mobile device increased to as much as 12 times compared to mobile Internet usage back in 2000. It has come to the point where the use of mobile devices has become a big part of modern culture. Check out your Facebook chat box and you wouldn't be surprised to find that many of them are accessing their accounts from a mobile device. In fact, four out of five people access their Facebook accounts through their mobile devices (the same goes for Twitter) in 2013. Along with the widespread use of mobile devices came the use of applications that are tailored for it. In 2013, the mobile app industry generated an estimated amount of $25 billion in revenue, which was 62% higher than the previous year. It is clear that mobile applications are taking the world by storm. The question now is how businesses (especially small- and medium-sized ones) can benefit from its use. Mobile apps are no longer just for entertainment purposes, as developers have created such programs that prove to have significant commercial value. They can now be used in a myriad of areas, such as e-commerce, management tasks, and marketing. Let's have a run through of how the usage of applications can help in a startup company's growth: Mobile apps make administrative tasks easier It is a known fact that many startups have fewer employees than they would ideally have. This then means that the workloads are heavier, since there are only a few of you who would be working on them. Everyone needs to effectively manage their time (especially the higher ups), since any delay on the deliverables would surely cause a domino effect that could potentially jeopardize your small group's workflow. Unfortunately, as everyone is practically jumping between tasks, it's highly probable that someone could forget about a crucial meeting, report, or materials for a presentation. This is where mobile apps come in as these programs provide utility that could help lessen the load and keep everyone stay on track: Evernote Brilliant thoughts are fleeting. Have you ever had those eureka moments but lost it forever because you didn't have a pen and paper on hand? Worry no more. Evernote allows users to store and organize photos, texts, and voice recordings, then sync the data to a desktop or other mobile device. This way, you can get back on those spontaneous ideas you had when you get more time to ponder over them. Expensify Are you having a hard time keeping track of earnings or costs to be reimbursed? Expensify can make that easier that for you. It allows users to record their entire costs and earnings on its dashboard. It is also worthy to note that it allows users to scan receipts with their mobile devices for faster documentation. Hootsuite One of the tasks done in a startup is handling its social media accounts. While it could be a fairly light task, there are times when the workload is just too much. There will be times when you won't have time to attend to your company's social networks. Hootsuite fixes that problem as this app can set your status updates and tweets in advance. You can do these things in advance during those rare slow days in the office. If This Then That (IFTTT) This particular app (IFTTT) lets you connect different channels to one another to perform the same action. For example, if you change your Facebook profile picture, then your Twitter's profile picture will change into that one too. When you upload a particular picture on your Instagram, you can set it to automatically go to your Dropbox. ClockShark We all know that sorting paper time sheets is a waste of resources and very time consuming. This fee free time tracker app could help you track time, location, job costs, and most importantly it can get rid of paper time sheets. Mobile apps allow easier collaboration Collaborating during work brings about best results since solutions to problems would be suggested from different points of view. Not everyone is granted the luxury of being present in every department meeting, especially if the nature of their occupations requires them to be on-the-go. Luckily, wireless Internet access and applications allow people to virtually collaborate despite the physical barriers. Basecamp Asana Trello These three applications (Basecamp, Asana, Trello) allow end users to post tasks on a virtual bulletin board. Every user who is a "board member" is given the authority to put up tasks (in text) and move them from "to do", "doing", to, "done". Skype This particular application (Skype) allows users to engage in group chats and video chats. This is great for conducting interviews with someone far away, since you could hear and see each other like you could when face-to-face. Mobile apps provide an alternate channel for transactions One of the problems e-commerce sites face is that its modes of transactions may not be all that appealing to their audience. Many online stores have established wire transfers and credit card payments for consumers to deal with their transactions. However, some people may prefer methods that you may not be prepared for, such as cash on delivery and shipping. Moreover, some of your audience may not have credit cards, rendering them unable to buy from you even if they want to. This then could lead you to lose potential sales. Fortunately, PayPal allows a payment method where transactions could be tracked (that's why people trust it) and doesn't require a credit card. Use of its service, however, requires a fee from the beneficiary (merchant). Mobile apps are powerful engagement tools One of the best things about mobile applications is that they can simplify things. Some of the branded mobile apps that end users like a lot are electronic loyalty cards. These e-cards set them free from the hassle of carrying loads of loyalty cards in their wallets that make them bulky. Moreover, these applications are usually one of the first things they will see (or access) on their mobile phones. Most applications are strategically placed on a device's background, making it easily available for use with a touch. As for the entrepreneur, they acquire certain perks once their prospects start using their apps: You now have a direct communication line with your consumer. You can send out new promos and offers to them through the application in real time. It's bound to be viewed since almost everyone carries their mobile phone everywhere. Since you own the app, all its stored data belong to you. This then gives your business development opportunities. You can look at certain metrics to determine which of your brand messages bring the highest conversion rates or in-store visits. Being able to see the results of your tactics puts you in the perfect position to make improvements since they're based on hard stats. Overall, mobile apps' capability of making things more convenient for both you and your audience is exactly why you should use it. The best businesses are the ones that could adapt to the fast changing times, and one of the good things about startups is that they are flexible. Use this to your advantage to ensure growth.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More
• 

  0

  Reviews

  Reviews By Vincent Sevilla

  App Review: Making Creative Music with SoundBow

  Among different music apps available for iOS and Android OS, SoundBow is one of the most interactive and creative apps to have come along. This app has a simple, minimalist surface of predetermined notes. All you have to do is draw your music along the vertical lines of notes. The notes themselves are also movable, allowing you infinite choices on your instrumentation. For musicians and non-musicians alike To the classically-trained musician and to the musician with the gifted ear, SoundBow is capable of producing looped sounds that can compliment any piece of music, as long as the rules of tonality, rhythm, and harmony are followed consistently. To the non-musician, creating music with SoundBow is also possible with experimentation. As a visual guide in sound, this app delivers insights to those who have little experience in the area of music. Since it has an easy-to-use interface, anyone will be able to get the hang of it in a short time. Educational for all SoundBow provides the user a clear idea between the relationships of evenly-spaced vertical lines that represents notes, as well as the free-form shapes the user is drawing to connect the said vertical lines. This gives the user a clear insight on how a conductor orchestrates instruments and harmonies. In classical training, everything has to be even and every rule in the tonality rulebook obeyed, which will result in evenly-drawn lines shaped with peaks and valleys. For the non-musician, rules are meant to be broken. With practice and random placement of notes and drawings, experimental sounds could then be processed. Creating a Multimedia Production Here are a couple of ways users can create multimedia productions using this app: Create multi-track harmonies. With mastery of SoundBow, one can create layers upon layers of multi-track harmonies. Multi-tracking is the process of laying two or more individual tracks to give the illusion that more than one person is playing at the present. Looping is the process in which a selected portion of a recording gets played again and again. By combining these two processes, one can produce a one-man looping band. Create a visual multimedia show. With basic video and sound editing skills, a SoundBow user can then proceed to make a visually-stimulating show. Just connect your Android or iOS device to a projector, play your project, and blow your audience away. With its sheer simplicity and easy-to-understand graphics, SoundBow is one of the most intuitive, interactive and creative apps today. This app's success is enough for it to win the FWA Mobile of the Day aware in July 27, 2012. Considering its unique approach on providing visual references for music, SoundBow is both intellectually stimulating and enlightening for the music lovers out there.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More
• 

  0

  AI

  AI By Vincent Sevilla

  5 Things a bot can do for your eCommerce business

  The phrase, "There's an app for that," has never been more true. Chatbots are programs that facilitate e-commerce on messaging platforms, simulating the conversations between businesses and their customers. Whether you're looking to run your own travel agency, you can use bots to make your business run smoother. And the sky's the limit when you think about how many tasks, orders, and clients your bots can handle at a time. Some of the biggest names in instant messaging software, such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat have gotten a head start on the conversational commerce game, helping companies like yours conduct business. As bots become more useful for entrepreneurs, developers are coming up with more ways to implement them. They can develop bots for your business to help customers search and choose products, resolve customer service concerns, and follow up on orders. For inbound marketing strategies, online marketers have plenty of tools to choose from. Although Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform, messaging apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Snapchat showing heavy penetration and worldwide engagement, it's clear that people use messaging apps more than social media. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg admitted that messaging "is one of the few things that people do more than social networking." By not tapping the versatility that chatbots offer, and by not engaging the millions of potential customers through instant messaging, you're leaving plenty of money on the table. Here are a few things bots can do for you. Sales and Customer Support A chatbot can run point on all incoming visitors to your online store, and once they get there the chatbot can perform several tasks, such as: Initiate conversation. Field detailed, specific questions about products. Recommend options, accessories and alternatives. Collect your customers' contact information, and send it to your preferred CRM. The level of authentic human interaction, that is, whether your chatbot runs these tasks automatically, or simply assists your CSRs, is up to you. Spring's Personal Shopping Assistant is an example of a chatbot integrated well with Facebook Messenger, making use of product photos and comparison tools to make the shopping experience highly personal. Another app, Operator, functions as a request network or concierge desk. Able to execute any shopping-related request from concert tickets, interior design, to products that require professional expertise; Operator is looking to "unlock the 90% of commerce that's not on the Internet". Meanwhile, Kik has its own bot store, serving millions of customers for brands such as Sephora and H&M. Research and Analytics Assistant As an e-commerce business, your ability to maximize the traffic through your sales funnel is crucial to your success. Even though your website and app may both have analytics, your instant messaging software doesn't. The solution: chatbots give you the capability to assess your online sales performance based on the quality of the conversation. Personal Marketing Assistant You can implement bots in several different divisions, from marketing and operations, to public relations and branding. Shopify.com has a virtual assistant chatbot, namely Kit, which can do all sorts of tasks, to name a few: Create accurate, targeted Instagram and Facebook ads, Post new products to your Facebook page, Send personalized 'Thank You' emails, Create business reports to help you assess sales performance, Make ads out of 5-star customer reviews. Also users/visitors/customers can easily recognize your brand identity design. Send Subscription and other Automated Messages Perhaps your marketing campaign might have weekly or monthly mailers that feature your latest items or upcoming sales. How's that working out for you? A lot of promotional and marketing emails end up in the Spam box, so you might want to consider an alternative. Since people spend more time on their messenger apps than email anyway, you can use chatbots to send the same information to your clients via instant messages, short and sweet. And your customers will be able to place an order with a simple reply. Facilitate Payments Snapchat's virtual wallet bot Snapcash allows users to maintain a debit account on their app, which gives them the liberty to send money to friends as easily as they would send an instant message. Retailers such as Lancome and Target are already on board with this. Facebook also has its own bot system for handling peer-to-peer money transfers, which you can use to improve the online shopping experience for your customers. When we chat with someone on instant messaging apps, it used to be a foregone conclusion that we're talking to a real person. And virtual assistant tasks were tedious and vulnerable to human error. But bots are becoming more competent at handling the e-commerce tasks you need them to do. The best part is they can multitask in batches, freeing up time for you to focus on more important things. It's up to you to put them to work.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More
• 

  0

  Buying Guides

  Buying Guides By Vincent Sevilla

  A Beginner's Guide to Creating a Digital Storefront

  For many people, online shopping is the de facto way to get shopping done. E-commerce is growing, not only in the number of shoppers, but also in the number of merchants and retailers looking to get in on the action. If you're new to e-commerce or just barely getting things set up on your website, then the words "digital storefront" might sound like an intimidating challenge. We hope the checklist below helps ease the process for you. Appearances Matter Start with the basics. You need a logo, contact information, an About page, and a menu that can point your customers toward all of these things. Then, build upon this framework: add photos and features, and a sidebar for links to your social media pages. If you already have some experience with web design, WordPress is an excellent option when it comes to personalization, customization and even optimization like speeding up your WordPress website. if you're completely intimidated by design, there are plenty of content management systems (CMS) available to integrate into your online store. Choose the one that best reflects your products and your target market. Easy-to-Understand Interface and Clear Navigation If you walked into a department store or supermarket without labeled aisles and areas, shopping would be tedious aggravating. The same applies to your website. Making your website easy to use is essential, especially with your landing page. Remember that the first page your customers encounter will make the first impression. Don't neglect mobile browsers, either. You should also consider having a version of your website that works well on phones and tablets. Again, keep the interface and navigation in mind, since customers navigate web content on their mobile devices differently than they would on a computer. Formatting Should Guide Your Customers If you want to emphasize the importance of certain things on your site, increase font size and place them above the fold (i.e. visible upon landing, without having to scroll down). Use icons, illustrations, and colors to make things stand out, giving clues to the user about their importance. Of course, make your messages clear. Your customers should understand what exactly you want them to do, whether it's "Add to Cart," "Learn More," or "Visit Our Store." Sophisticated, Prominent On-Site Search If you went to a department store that didn't have an information desk, or clerks who didn't know where to find things, you probably wouldn't come back. The same applies for your online store. Make sure that the Search window is a function that appears on every page of your website, and that it's working correctly. State Your Payment Options on Every Page Let's say you're at the checkout counter with a cart full of groceries. You pull out your debit card only to hear, "Sorry, we can't accept that here." Aggravating, right? If you had known beforehand, you would've come prepared. Just like on-site search, payment options should be visible on every page. This reminds your customers what methods of payment are acceptable, such as online payments, credit cards, money transfer, and others. Most likely, your customers have a payment strategy in mind, and that strategy may be what matters most in whether they choose to shop with you. And you wouldn't want them to find out at the last step that they can't shop at your online clothing store, and leave their shopping cart abandoned. Make Use Of The Pop-Up The pop-up is a tricky tool. It can be useful to some, and distracting to others. It's more than just a necessary evil. It's a great way to get quick information, and for your shoppers, it's a great way for them to stay connected. Don't be afraid of it. At the same time, you wouldn't want the pop-up to deter your customers from their shopping experience. The frequency and duration of pop-up windows, whether they're messages, calls-to-action, or anything else, is up to you. Ensure and Guarantee Security Security and data safety are not to be taken lightly; one breach could be disastrous for small and up-and-coming businesses. Use SSL certificates, and make sure that you state your terms and privacy policies clearly on every page. Be sure to assess your site's security functions regularly, making sure that everything is updated and working properly. Once you're confident with your security checkpoints, streamline your checkout and payment process to inspire confidence in your shoppers. If they feel that their money is protected, you're good. Research Best Practices and Other Resources There are a number of tools you can use, whether you choose to sell clothes online, peddle collectibles, or hawk used car parts from your e-commerce store. Square: Square has built-in marketing tools, and integration with social media platforms to aid in marketing and promotions. Shopify: With hundreds of powerful features, services and plugins to run both back-end and front-end processes, you can use Shopify to create a fully-functional online store that resonates with your clientele. eBay: Building an eBay Store allows you to create a web presence and sell on mobile without having to worry about managing or hosting a site on your own. Think of other ways your online store reflects the brick-and-mortar stores of the physical world, and let us know how you've improved your storefront. Leave us a comment below.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More
• 

  0

  Apps

  Apps By Vincent Sevilla

  The Future of Web Design and Advertising in Popular Mobile Apps

  I remembered the time when my parents gave me my very first cellphone. It was as big as my palm, as thick as a soapbox, and only had two functions: call and text. Of course I was ecstatic, and immediately told my friends about my new "gadget" and we began sending text messages with one another nonstop. It was a simpler time, back then, and the only innovation I thought cellphones would provide in the future would be better ringtones, probably cute emojis, and better casings, because the outer appearance was everything. Today, however, this particular handheld device has exceeded my expectations and has become one of the most used inventions in the 21st century. Ever since cellphones where given the ability to access the internet, a lot of people, both casual users and company owners, have become aware of its prowess and began intertwining this device with a person's daily life. Although there are cases that state that this kind of innovation has generated some negative rep, like the dependence of the World Wide Web, majority of its effects have significantly impact the way we interact with the world. With its high speed access, easy-to-carry size, and various and versatile features, it has driven a lot of companies and digital elements into modernization – especially in the realm of web design. Normally, when one thinks about web design, the idea is confined in the screens of laptops and computer monitors; but after cellphones have been fashioned to operate like these two machines, web designers needed to figure out how to display webpages in a minimized and easy-to-read manner. There are three types of mobile web design methods designers can choose from namely: Responsive Web Design – Wherein the appearance of the website is homogenized and instantly fits the dimension of any given device and generates a constant user experience. Mobile Website – Webpages that are specifically created to couple with the device's strengths and limitations. Native App – Software that are made to compliment the phone's features, have particular operating systems, and must be downloaded through an OS store, like Google Play, in order to use it. With these three options at the table, web designers are able to manipulate a user's online (and even offline) experience. One must remember however, that web designers are not the only ones affected by the mobile phone's evolution. Advertisers also need to adapt and change their marketing strategies when it comes to this device. According to 2createawebsites.com, when it comes to digital advertising, mobile devices have been generating faster and better results. It can be said that because of the device's targeted audiences and software – such as gaming, recreational and social media apps – advertisers are able to inject their products in the subtlest of ways. They, however, need to follow the dimensions of the given device and focus on how the user interacts with their ads. For example, whenever I have completed a level in one of my mobile games, an ad for another game will suddenly show up. Now, although it can get pretty annoying, it is actually a smart way to get my attention. Even if I am not interested in downloading that particular app, it has received a fair amount of exposure before I have even clicked on the "x" button. Inclined to mobile advertisements, advertisers always need to make sure that what they set out into the World Wide Web must be responsive. Personally, I do not like it when an ad is too small to read or too huge that it is completely occupying my entire screen. They just create and unsatisfying internet experience. So, if advertisers want to perfectly capture their target audience's attention, they have to incorporate the size of their ads with the available dimensions that is provided by the mobile device. This includes the photos they use, their tagline or content, and the like. By doing so, it will be easier for the internet user to appreciate the ad and at the same time, create an aesthetically pleasing page, because every element on the page compliments each other and is well-balanced. Also, it gives advertisers a chance to familiarize themselves with the newest methods of displaying their ads. With the various devices coming and going, the pace of web designing and advertising is ever changing. However, by utilizing the different methods of presenting the webpage, designers and advertisers will be able to give their users the perfect internet experience, be it through their mobile device or computer screen. Now, if you are a web designer and/or an advertiser and are having difficulty with creating a working website or landing page, do not fret. With the available resources today, learning how to build a quality website has become easier, so feel free to give it a go.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More
• 

  0

  News

  News By Vincent Sevilla

  Difference between Responsive Web Design & Mobile Web Design

  We often hear the term "responsive web design" being thrown around a lot these days – sometimes in contrast to mobile web design. However, what exactly differentiates the two from one another. Both types of designs primarily place their focus on the user, but have a few pointed differences that have to be defined if you want to accurately depict them in the right context. Responsive Web Design Defined With Google stepping up the priority of good user experience, creating a web design that primarily caters to the audience can certainly get you into the good graces of the search engines. And we aren't just talking about the inner working of a site's SEO. When talking about responsive web design, we refer to the optimization of a website in terms of its interactive design and how it facilitates the ease in which it can be viewed. A responsive website is one that has easy to read fonts and can be navigated with little difficulty. Because it highlights optimized user experience, it can usually be accessed across multiple devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones, with very little change in the experience. This is the reason why most people usually interchange the definitions between a responsive website and a mobile website. Responsive Web Design vs. Mobile Web Design While it is entirely possible to call a mobile website responsive, not all mobile websites necessarily have this quality. Having a responsive website means that the design itself places the user's experience in the forefront and prioritizes the ease of use and interactivity. Apart from this, there are also some other differences that differentiate the two. Domain Some mobile websites are created on a totally different domain to separate the mobile experience with those from other devices. This is usually seen on a URL structure that has this format: "m.mobiledevice.com". Responsive websites on the other hand usually stick to one domain and all changes are dynamically kept within this URL. Site Rendering Since mobile sites are usually created on a separate domain, they usually have their own viewing resolution that is relative to smaller devices like mobile phones and tablets. This custom viewing experience is unique to mobile users and primarily caters to these devices. In contrast, responsive designs usually use specialized code that automatically adjusts to the type of device the site is being viewed on. While this kind of flexible design makes it easier to adjust to a myriad of devices, the cost of creating such a design might be higher than creating a customized copy of your site for mobile. Link Equity Taking a look at how mobile sites are sometimes separated from its main domain, any link equity received on the mobile site is naturally not counted towards the main site. Compared to responsive sites, since these just make minor tweaks in the back end to modify how it is viewed across devices, it still funnels all the link juice into one domain and gets to keep everything the way it is. Speed An argument can be made that responsive websites tend to load slower compared to mobile designed websites. This is because of the amount of code that it normally has to process, especially if site owners want to add CSS Media Queries code into it. The amount of webpage elements will bog it down compared to a striped down mobile website, especially if the mobile site does things on a "load it when necessary" basis. Forward Thinking Mobile sites tend to take into account the current generation of devices. However, as technology continues to advance, further revisions need to be made to adjust for these changes. Alternately, responsive websites makes use of code that does not change as easily to enact any dynamic changes done on it. This can result in responsive websites becoming more future ready compared to mobile designed sites. So Which Is Better? So here comes the big question: which is a better investment for your website – a mobile website or a responsive one? Before we answer that question, it would be best to look at two things: your audience and the goals of your website. Based on your website's analytics data, you can easily see where your traffic is coming from. If you find that your audience is mostly on the go, then you might want to take a look at creating a mobile website that primarily caters to your users. Making a layout that encapsulates all the key points of your site and delivers it as succinctly as possible is a great way to go, especially if you're looking into increasing the amount of impressions and clicks your site gets over time. Also, try to take into account the amount of time and effort it takes to redesign an existing site to a more responsive interface. While it may be easier to create a responsive website from scratch, if you already have a website that you want to convert, then you'll need an experienced coder and designer who can make the appropriate changes. In either case, the main consideration for both types of websites is still the end-user. As long as you are able to give your audience a seamless and efficient user experience, then you know that you are going down the right path. Which do you think makes for a better site design? Please let us know in the comments section below.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More
• 

  0

  News

  News By Vincent Sevilla

  Why CTAs Are A Must Have For Websites

  Keeping internet users on a webpage is easier said than done. The realm of the World Wide Web is huge and limitless, and with that in mind, it can be said that in order for websites to continually nab their audience's attention, they pages, content, and offered user experience must be unique. As an avid user/visitor of the internet, I can say that this thought does ring true. Although I do enjoy reading articles or posts that are filled with extensive and complicated information, I easily get bored once I have reached a certain number of words. Once my interest meter drops, I instinctively open up a new tab, search for another subject to read, and unceremoniously close the previous one. That is why I do appreciate websites that keep me entertained with their short and sweet (and sometimes even elaborate) posts, because my mind is constantly learning something new. However, this kind of method does not work with all websites – especially to those who cannot help but post long winding information. Personally, I think that the best way websites can keep their users glued to their pages is by forming a bond through interaction; and one great way to do it is by placing a call to action in the content. What is a Call to Action (CTA) Button? The call to action button has been on most websites for a very long time. Be it a banner or a hyperlinked text, the goal of this button is quite simple: to encourage internet users click them. In the perspective of the internet user, these elements make it easier and more manageable to navigate through the site. However, in the terms of SEO, the call to action button has more than one role. Helps Boost Content CTAs bring users to other pages that exist within a website. The ultimate goal is to lengthen the audience's retention span, this nifty button will lead them to content that they have never seen, and at the same time, increases the traffic of the website. Generates Conversions Since these buttons are quite difficult to ignore, it is highly likely that interested users will click on them once they get a chance. From closed and/or potential leads to an increase of site traffic, CTAs will definitely give websites the conversions they need. Entice their Users to Click For websites that are business in nature, CTAs give them the opportunity to promote themselves to their audience. Be it an event that they are hosting or a once in a lifetime promo, it will be certain that once their users are interested with what is offered, they will click away. How to Create the Perfect CTA Button With the many benefits CTAs have to offer, a lot of companies have utilized this tool to improve their website's design and performance. However, the formula for creating the perfect button is not that simple. There are many factors web designers must consider when creating a call to action button, so, after the website has been created, they must look into these following aspects. Level of Persuasion CTAs are not supposed to be boring. They are supposed to evoke the audience's interests, but at the same time, present the material in a fun and energetic manner. No one wants to be bossed around in a mean or rough voice. So, in order to create a persuasive CTA, the button must have the following characteristics. Must be Compelling Presents a Sense of Urgency Action-Oriented Written in First Person (for a more personalized touch) Color Although web designers have access to every shade and hue, it does not give them the freedom to mix and match every color palette imaginable. Some colors, like red, are not as inviting as the color blue, while writing the message with a bright color, like yellow, and placing it over a white background is impossible to see. Color is an important aspect when it comes to CTAs. So, when it comes to choosing the shades, designers should consider using tones that complement one another, or consult the color palette of their clients. Size Of course these buttons need to be seen. However, it should not overcrowd the webpage nor should it be too small and become seemingly invisible. The main purpose of these CTAs is for it to be clicked by the users, so sizing up the button, just enough for the targeted audience to notice, should be enough. Location Depending on what the website offers, the location of the CTA will matter. For example, users who love to shop online need to be able to see the "shopping cart" image/button to confirm their orders. This CTA should not be placed near the products because shoppers can accidentally click on it and purchase the item without even knowing it. It is better to place it below or above the shopping window, so that they will be able to see it before and/or after they have picked their items. Content CTAs only reveal a certain amount of information to the audience. If they say too much, then the purpose of it being on the webpage is voided, while saying too little will confuse the users. Keeping it short and sweet but, at the same time, informative, will give internet users enough material to know what exactly they are getting themselves into. With the help of CTAs websites will be able to operate in their full potential. Because of its interactive, witty, and yet, straight to the point nature, internet users will be able to stay on the sites longer because they know that what they are looking for is somewhere within the website's contents. It will give internet users an easier time to navigate within the pages, which translates to better leads and higher traffic rates. Finally, by having these buttons displayed in the webpages, internet users will feel a sense of immediate interaction between them and the site thus, generating a very unique internet experience.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More
• 

  0

  Streaming

  Streaming By Vincent Sevilla

  Why live streaming is a game changer for your business

  How many times have you dropped something to watch late-breaking news on the television or hurried to the site of an ongoing drama? People get a sense of urgency when they see or hear about something that is happening now and might miss if they don't hustle, as opposed to anything they know they can see anytime they want. This "now or never" impulse is what live streaming videos focus on, given that the current crop of online users have a short window of attention. Attention rather than convenience is the name of the social media game for many businesses, and it is currently the best way to tell your brand's story. The good news is, raw footage of real-time events is easy to produce with so many free apps feeding the frenzy, including Facebook but particularly Snapchat. Live streaming benefits for small businesses Real-time People want to be where events are happening, but that is not always possible. The next best thing to actual physical presence is to view an event as it is happening. You can still garner the exposure you want for your events through likes and shares, and geographical location is not a barrier. It also engenders a feeling of "wish I was there" among your live streaming audience, which will motivate them to go to your next event. Cost effective​ The beauty of live streaming is there is almost no cost to you aside from bandwidth, and you have a measurable document of your efforts. Many network service providers are providing business with bandwidth at low cost to keep up with the demand. All you have to do is make sure your camera captures high-quality videos. Simple The whole point of live streaming is to show what it is happening in all its raw glory. You don't have to hire anyone to take the video or edit it, so anyone can post a live stream video. Find a platform to set up your stream and you should be up and running in less than 20 minutes. Engaging One of the tenets of brand marketing is to humanize the business to engage their audience more. Live streaming does this effortlessly. You can cash in on your audience's appetite for the right now by integrating a chat box into your stream so you can respond to them in real time, or posting surveys or polls to gather their feedback for later. Wide reach As mentioned earlier, live streaming allows some segments of your target audience that may not be physically present to participate actively at an ongoing event. This gives them the opportunity to feel they are part of the process, especially if you make sure they can engage with you through chat, surveys, or polls. Now that you know the reasons why you should use live streaming for your business, here are tips on ways on how to do it. Show them the event​ If you have your own event or participating in an exhibit or convention, you can stream the interesting bits of what's happening to your audience by walking around and showing it to them. You can engage them more if you get their feedback on what they want to see and hear. Have a running commentary on what you are seeing to make it a more comprehensive experience. Take special note of announcements and new product releases. Interview people A good way to keep your video content fresh is to talk to people onsite. It could be at an event when you interview an employee or a client, or get the opinion and feedback of other people at a certain site or event. It gives you and your audience a fresh perspective. You can make your interviews consistent with your brand by asking questions that reflect the content on your website. Give them an insider's look You don't need an event to show one. You can give your audience an inside peek at how you do business, especially if you make your own products. If you offer a service, you can also show them how you do it. Give them a behind-the-scenes look into your business, and they will have a better appreciation of your products or services. Offer training You can also conduct how-to sessions for some things that you do. For example, if you make business cards, show them how you create a certain effect using Photoshop or other editing software. You can also illustrate the difference between offset and letterpress printing. The point is to show your audience something they might be interested in knowing about your business, and be available to answer their questions. Go on the line​ An alternative or offshoot to training is to host a question and answer segment on your website. Post a topic for each one so your audience will know what will be under discussion. You can use posted comments and questions to formulate your topics. Have a regular schedule for this, such as daily or weekly so your audience knows when they should be online. The segment doesn't have to be very long, and it should have a relaxed format. Think of it as a chat session with your target market. It establishes your business as a human enterprise, and establishes you as an expert on the subject. Conclusion Live streaming videos is the next best thing as having your audience in front of you in person. Surveys show that live streaming is garnering far more engagement than television, which means you can create and strengthen your brand identity to an engage audience far more easily than video-on-demand, or other forms of brand marketing. What do you think about that? Leave your comments and questions below. It may just be the subject of our next live stream video! Also if you don't have a website you could always build one. All you need is a domain name, hosting and a website builder like WordPress. There are lots of helpful sites with step-by-step tutorials on how to build your own website that you could use to build a website.

  By Vincent Sevilla Read More