Digital - ReadWrite IoT and Technology News Tue, 09 Jan 2024 18:54:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://readwrite.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-rw-32x32.jpg Digital - ReadWrite 32 32 Future-Proofing Your Website: Adapting to 2024 Web Technologies and Trends https://readwrite.com/web-technologies-and-trends/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 18:54:50 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=248316

Emerging web technologies are changing the way CTOs think about the websites of the future. Globally, forward-thinking companies understand the […]

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Emerging web technologies are changing the way CTOs think about the websites of the future. Globally, forward-thinking companies understand the need to adopt and adapt to tech advancements. They have to in order to reach consumers and carve out a competitive edge.

As AI and other tech advancements segue into public and private life, CTOs are under pressure to learn which tools and trends are relevant. They also have to keep an eye on the government’s first steps toward AI standards and laws so that they can use these tools safely and effectively.

Which Emerging Web Technologies Will Have the Most Impact in 2024?

The 2024 website trends are upon us, but which emerging web technologies will significantly impact CTOs and their teams?

Robotic Process Automation

The most overarching trend is arguably artificial intelligence. AI leads recent web development trends, which manifests in various forms. Robotic process automation (known as RPA), for example, refers to using AI solutions designed to enable faster processing of website and commerce data. Turning previously time-costly processes into automated tasks means teams can focus their energy on more creative projects.

Predictability = ROI

RPA solutions help companies predict and shape their user behavior with data. Businesses can quickly learn about what customers need and want, add new product listings or personalized customer service information, and fix errors without the need for downtime, apologies, or refunds. This connection to data makes website improvement far easier and allows businesses to instantly spot opportunities to increase ROI.

Unsurprisingly, the global RPA software market is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate of more than 55% and become a $70 billion industry by 2028.

What Are the Best Ways to Incorporate AI?

Knowing the latest web development trends and using them to transform your website are two different things. To make the leap, CTOs and their teams must connect emerging web technologies to their business goals via KPIs.

KPIs = Informed Decisions

Automation can only benefit your company if it helps you achieve your business objectives and make informed decisions. You could use RPA software for a variety of functions. This includes intelligent document processing, workflow streamlining, cost analysis, and supply chain management. But what are your priorities?

By creating a list of specific, trackable KPIs, you can identify which actions to take next.

For example, if you want to acquire more visitors to your site, automated tracking of organic traffic sources will help. If you want to engage visitors for longer on certain pages, tracking the bounce rate will show you what is and isn’t working.

Can CTOs Create Future-Proof Websites?

The next piece of work on CTOs’ plates is ensuring their organizations’ websites are adaptable to future tech advancements. Many challenges and hurdles can get in the way of using AI successfully in the long term, and CTOs need to be on top of these.

Alleviating the Tech Burden

Investing in technology and keeping up with web development trends isn’t easy. Some companies may run up large amounts of “tech debt” as they try to maintain and update their software. This debt can grow astronomically if CTOs let issues and bugs go unfixed. Minor problems become major, and systems become clogged with unstructured updates, undocumented changes, and messy code. If CTOs want to create future-proof websites that can take advantage of the latest in web development, they will need to stay flexible and be ready to invest in updates.

3 Innovative Strategies for CTOs in 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of 2024, CTOs can set their websites up for future success by harnessing AI and RPA solutions. Use these tools to enhance user experiences, personalize content, automate decision-making processes, and connect to KPIs to keep your strategies measurable and achievable.

Here are three strategies that could help CTOs find their way with 2024 website trends:

1. Task AI With Finding the Perfect Leads

Automated customer acquisition can expand and diversify a website’s user base. This helps businesses draw in leads and qualify them without a whole team working on this process manually.

Your AI platform can take massive amounts of data from customers and potential customers, identify patterns to segment groups of individuals by behavior, and predict how these people will react to different kinds of messages.

This strategy results in a customer acquisition process that converts strangers into paying customers more quickly and sustainably.

2. Make Customer Service Worth Talking About

AI can change customer service from a pain into part of your USP. Chatbots have received bad press in the past, but they are growing smarter and more individualized thanks to generative AI and its natural language capabilities. Implement chatbots to gain fast response times and more tailored problem resolution. Plus, the processing power of LLMs can take all the data around consumer behavior and preferences and turn it into predictions you can use to make products and projects that are more likely to do well.

3. Try a Headless CMS Architecture

Many trends in web development are designed to help CTOs manage life behind the scenes. Headless CMS is one of those trends that makes content management more scalable and customizable. It involves separating the back and front end of content-making, leading to enhanced flexibility, more options for new and innovative formats, faster and smoother loading times, and higher levels of security.

What Next?

As companies become more proactive in adopting emerging web technologies, they will need to track web development trends. Their priorities will keep shifting in order to maintain a future-proof website. In 2024, CTOs may turn their attention beyond technologies themselves and invest in eliminating tech debt, bolstering security processes, making their AI more personal, and customizing it to their needs.

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E-Commerce and AI: A Perfect Match — If Done Right https://readwrite.com/e-commerce-and-ai/ Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:58:17 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=246150 e-commerce and AI shopping online

As Thanksgiving Day’s record-breaking $5.6 billion in online sales heralds a new era in e-commerce, it also underscores an urgent need for businesses […]

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e-commerce and AI shopping online

As Thanksgiving Day’s record-breaking $5.6 billion in online sales heralds a new era in e-commerce, it also underscores an urgent need for businesses to embrace advanced technologies like AI.

With consumers increasingly turning to digital solutions, there is an opportunity for e-commerce to leverage AI for enhanced customer experiences and operational efficiencies.

This shift represents not just a trend but a forward-thinking imperative for those looking to stay at the forefront of the digital marketplace revolution.

One of the hottest e-commerce technology trends is AI, but some AI adoption challenges hinder implementation. AI applications in e-commerce must contend with a complex tech ecosystem of diverse tools, resources, and personnel. This complexity includes inventory management, demand forecasting, marketing, customer acquisition, retention, and customer experience. Adding AI tools to the mix adds more complexity, resource intensity, and execution risk.

The Benefits Are Worth the Effort

Yet, e-commerce is booming, and the risk is worth it because AI tools offer significant advantages. Whether a business seeks to enhance its marketing efforts, improve the customer experience, or even glean customer insights, AI offers exciting possibilities.

But e-commerce businesses must be ready to use it properly. For example, they must train AI tools on historical data for them to work effectively, but not all e-commerce stores have that data. Even if the stores do, they must safeguard the data to conform with privacy policies. This protects businesses from regulatory problems and reduces the likelihood of exposing sensitive information. Companies also need new personnel to integrate AI tools — particularly in data analytics, data science, and engineering.

Overcoming the Trust Barrier

Despite the benefits, it’s difficult for leadership in the e-commerce sector to have sufficient trust to green-light all these steps. If they don’t, however, their businesses will be at a disadvantage.

To bring e-commerce stakeholders around to adoption, it’s important to focus on solutions and benefits rather than just fancy features.

One benefit is delighting customers. AI can deliver personalized shopping experiences, and customers love that. It can even perform customer service via chatbots and virtual assistants, an aspect of shopping that a growing number of online customers expect. AI tools can also optimize inventories and prevent fraud. Additionally, AI systems are being used for marketing to predict trends, allowing business owners to plan effectively.

Streamlining the Path to AI Adoption

The best way to encourage AI adoption is to help stakeholders make informed choices. This can include offering tactics for data management and tips for recruitment and retention of experts.

E-commerce leaders must also consider due diligence. Testing is critical; no one should authorize an AI tool to go live without it. Collecting performance metrics on the AI system and reviewing them regularly is essential. Diligence also applies to legal and ethical matters, so leaders should prioritize this.

4 Key Strategies to Successfully Bring AI Into E-Commerce

For all the above reasons, AI is an excellent choice for many e-commerce businesses, but it’s often difficult to know how to get started. Here are several AI implementation strategies that can help:

1. Walk — Don’t Run

You don’t have to have a grand initiative at first. Just start with smaller AI integrations with minimal risks and clear benefits to customers. This way, you can get a wedge in the AI door without disrupting operations or worrying about major issues.

For example, AI-powered personalized recommendations are a great way to begin the process simply. Start with a single product category or customer segment to tune the AI service. Once you’re confident it works well in this limited case, you can start using it more widely.

2. Commit to Excellent Data Management

We live in a marketplace in which data is king and can accelerate your business decisions, so don’t ever skimp on robust data collection and management. This practice is critical in e-commerce generally, but AI can also help you leverage quality data in new and exciting ways.

More importantly, training AI tools on bad data will result in erroneous “insights” based on a false picture of your business and customers. These can lead to damaging executive decisions. In this way, you should use AI as an amplifier of whatever raw materials you start with, being vigilant to provide it with excellent data.

3. Build a Great Data Team

E-commerce leadership must consider their data teams as the pillars of their operations. Having a data analyst, data scientist, or data engineer on staff is becoming table stakes to running a successful e-commerce business.

The data team should be in place before the AI implementation strategy gets off the ground because data issues need to be fully worked out before AI systems can ingest the data. So, don’t rush this step. Make sure your business has scaled up to the point where you are generating quality data that gets into the hands of your data experts. Then, you can transition to bringing AI into the picture.

4. Keep a Customer-Centric Approach

AI is a general-purpose approach to computing. Because it can potentially do anything, it can feel overwhelming to know what you should be doing with it specifically. To simplify things, always think in terms of the fundamentals of customer needs and wants.

By mapping potential AI integrations back to their impact on your core customer experience and prioritizing those with the most direct effect on customers, you can ensure better ROI on AI investments.

Get Started on Your AI Journey Now

AI in e-commerce is an exciting new opportunity, but it can only benefit your company if you employ it effectively.

By starting slowly, emphasizing quality data management and security, and always focusing on the customer, you can give your business the best chance of success. So, start now — you’ll be glad you did.

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How to Safeguard Your Brand Against Economic Downturn https://readwrite.com/how-to-safeguard-your-brand-against-economic-downturn/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 23:09:34 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=242526 Safeguard Brand Against Economic Downturn

In times of economic downturn, it’s no surprise that marketing budgets are the first to get cut. The percentage of […]

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Safeguard Brand Against Economic Downturn

In times of economic downturn, it’s no surprise that marketing budgets are the first to get cut. The percentage of overall revenue allocated to marketing budgets dropped by 4.4% between 2022 and 2023.

The instability of the fluctuating economy over the past few years makes it difficult to plan too far into the future. Yet, brands must be forward-thinking to maintain business continuity. This often requires marketers to seek solutions that can proactively provide the greatest return on investment (ROI) to protect against external factors.

Finding this ideal balance can be tricky, but there are key steps brands can take to build a safety net that can keep them afloat.

Invest in owned assets

Consider marketing strategies in terms of a significant investment, like home ownership. If you invest in properties you own and control, the value you put into them continues to impact your life long after you’ve purchased the home or remodeled the kitchen. If you rent, you’ll get value for as long as you pay. Once you stop paying, most, if not all, of the value is lost.

Owned assets are your brand’s controlled property, technically and creatively. Think: your website, messaging, and blog content.

By investing resources in your owned assets, your brand’s visibility within managed and leveraged channels like Google search, social media, and, yes, even advertising will grow organically.

In short, if you expand your website and optimize your brand content, you can sustain continued, self-propelling value across channels.

Use behavior data to truly connect with consumers

Leverage multiple data sources to truly understand what your target audience is looking for and where they spend time. That way, your brand can prioritize what answers to provide and where to direct content efforts.

Activating consumer search insights includes conducting surveys, monitoring social engagement, collecting organic search intent, reviewing website traffic, and tracking third-party research.

When pulled together, this data accurately represents the information people are searching for at any given time, providing your brand with the tools required to deliver solutions where they matter most.

Stick to efficient spending

Efficiency is key.

Avoid falling into the trap of reliance on traditional strategies that deliver leads with limited returns. Smart, not necessarily common, strategies yield greater bang for your buck. Simple, yet effective, is the motto for the foreseeable future. It can lay the groundwork for your brand to expand if there’s an increase in your brand’s marketing budget.

The owned asset optimization (OAO) method includes expanding and optimizing your brand content. And the returns are impressive. The OAO approach has been shown to drive five to seven times ROI and 87% lower cost-per-acquisition compared to paid-only strategies.

An independent paid strategy can only go so far. Still, suppose your brand’s foundation, the channels you control completely, is optimized, strengthened, and visible. In that case, you can create a natural failsafe to protect assets like ads in the event of an economic downturn.

Take on a challenger mindset

Using audience data to create a direct-to-consumer (D2C) content strategy is valuable for brands. It enables brands to meaningfully connect with consumers, even when they don’t follow the same product distribution model as D2C challenger brands.

No matter their business type, enterprise brands can (and should) think of themselves as publishers pushing their content distribution model directly to consumers.

Leveraging data-informed content not only helps cut out the middleman and keep budgets low, but it also builds trusted relationships directly with its customers.

Consider global brands that sell through retailers, like Johnson & Johnson. Even though they aren’t D2C, these brands must still convince consumers that their product is the right choice when faced with dozens of options in-store. Publishing data-informed content online that’s optimized for visibility will help them achieve this drive, better brand trust, and support future purchasing decisions.

Prioritize consumer service over transactions

In a down economy, businesses and marketing departments aren’t the only ones stretching lean budgets—consumers are, too.

Instead of trying to create sales where they might not exist, focus on serving your audience, building trust, and earning their purchases before they have the money to spend with you. Building brand equity before and during economic downturns builds resilience.

This means your brand is better suited to maintain consumer awareness, market share, and differentiation from competitors. Implementing an OAO strategy reminds consumers that your brand exists and offers solutions they might need down the line.

Consumers who find brands that understand their needs, speak their language and share their values are likelier to stick with those brands through economic headwinds. By building content that delivers the most relevant value possible, you show audiences that you care enough about their needs to invest in fostering authentic relationships.

Featured Image Credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich; Pexels

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The Use of Digital Forensics in Divorce Cases https://readwrite.com/digital-forensics/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 06:51:13 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=243791 courtroom gavel digital forensics case

Technology in the legal field lets lawyers hold remote meetings and attend virtual courtrooms. Technological developments also impact family law, […]

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courtroom gavel digital forensics case

Technology in the legal field lets lawyers hold remote meetings and attend virtual courtrooms.

Technological developments also impact family law, especially with regard to divorce proceedings. Before modern forensics tools, authorities relied on physical documents to establish paper trails. Sifting through the paperwork was laborious at best. With digital tools lawyers are able to reduce the time and effort it takes to organize and analyze evidence.

Many divorce lawyers are hiring digital forensic experts to collect electronic data and find clues that may be useful to their client’s cases.

This article considers how digital forensics is used in the context of divorce proceedings.

What Are Digital Forensics?

Digital forensics encompasses the identification, extraction, examination and preservation of electronic information. Sometimes the information could be vital during investigations or litigations. The electronic data can be extracted from computers, cell phones, smart appliances, laptops, and other digital devices. The main reasons for using digital forensics in divorce proceedings include the following:

  • More evidence: Divorce attorneys can use digital forensics to gain insight into digital information.
  • Reveals motive: Digital evidence collected can enable lawyers to look into the minds of the divorcing parties. It can help unveil useful information on what they do, why, and how.
  • Overrides privacy and deletion: It can recover deleted files and information hidden behind privacy settings. This provides divorce attorneys with necessary information that they could admit in court to substantiate their client’s claims.
  • Establish credibility: Information collected can confirm the truthfulness of allegations made by divorcing parties. It enables divorce attorneys to establish the facts that they can use in building a robust and accurate case.

An important aspect of digital forensics is the analysis of metadata that contains detailed information about the underlying data that one cannot easily deduce just by looking at it at first glance. This is information about the data such as the author, creation date, and size of the file. Information from system logs, caches, deleted files, databases, and past hard drive activities can also provide additional clues.

Its Application in Divorce Cases

The extracted digital forensic evidence helps reveal many aspects of divorce cases and even affects their result. Electronic transactions like communication, finances and online activity provide valuable information on the attitudes, motives and interplay of concerned parties.

This information may help in issues like property or asset division, spousal support, child custody, and more as determined under the law, or by mutual agreement of both parties as part of the divorce settlement. Listed below are some of the ways digital forensics can influence divorce proceedings:

Tracking Whereabouts

Digital forensics experts can help lawyers ascertain the whereabouts of a marital couple by analyzing metadata associated with the social media posts of one party on location-based apps as well as other relevant information sources. It is through this that they are able to come up with appropriate time schedules which either support or refute some of the evidence presented in addition to supplying relevant data concerning vital divorce issues like child custody and maintenance. This could be particularly important when there is an injunction such as a court order that requires a parent not to remove their child across a specific zone boundary without the authority of the court

Proof of Infidelity or Misconduct

Social media data from individuals’ personal social media and email accounts, text messages and other sources can be retrieved and analyzed to uncover conversations, messages and photographs that could help reveal instances of adultery or other potentially harmful behaviors such as bad parenting habits, addiction, abuse, or harassment. It can also be relevant to child custody, spousal support or restraining orders and injunctions aimed at preserving the safety and well-being of parties involved in divorce proceedings.

Financial Irregularities

The parties to a divorce may choose to take measures to minimize their losses and make better claims on their divorce settlement including hiding some assets from the marital estate, downplaying their own wealth or exaggerating that of their spouse. These unfair practices can be revealed by digital forensics, providing for a more equal division of property and financial provision after the divorce. The digital footprint provides information about an individual’s assets, which include emails, bank statements, and other financial transactions. This data can help to locate hidden funds or properties highlighting any financial misrepresentation.

More importantly, digital forensics can identify financial irregularities that have gone undetected. Unreported assets and liabilities could serve as sufficient evidence establishing the other party’s financial irresponsibility.  This will also create a more comprehensive picture of the nature of the divorce case, allowing attorney’s to come up with a more effective legal strategy. The costs and time it takes to reach a proper settlement will also decline significantly.

In Conclusion

Divorce attorneys should never underestimate new technology in helping them win even the most complicated cases. Harnessing these tools can amplify a lawyer’s skills and raise their success rate. Decision-making becomes easier, and the outcomes more ideal.

Digital forensics can play an important role in divorce proceedings. It is important to follow the correct procedures when collecting electronic information. If you use invasive investigation methods that breach privacy rights, or obtain data by illicit methods such as spying or through unauthorized entry, then not only can this affect the admissibility of the gathered information as evidence, but it can also jeopardize the outcome of your case. To ensure a fair and just outcome, it is advisable to consult a divorce attorney who specializes in digital forensics.

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Tencent’s revenue boosted by gaming https://readwrite.com/tencents-third-quarter-revenue-boosted-by-gaming/ Sat, 25 Nov 2023 03:00:46 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=243239 Tencent's third-quarter revenue

Tencent Holdings, a leading Chinese technology company, has recently experienced a significant 10% increase in third-quarter revenue. This growth can […]

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Tencent's third-quarter revenue

Tencent Holdings, a leading Chinese technology company, has recently experienced a significant 10% increase in third-quarter revenue. This growth can be attributed to a resurgence in its gaming sector following the easing of regulatory restrictions previously imposed by the government. The company’s online advertising sales also rose due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed more businesses to adopt digital marketing strategies than ever before.

WeChat, a messaging platform, is also operated by Tencent — the world’s largest video game company. Tencent reported revenues of 154.6 billion yuan ($21.4 billion) for the quarter ending in September. This figure represents an impressive 29% increase compared to last year’s period, demonstrating the company’s continuous expansion and dominance in the digital entertainment industry. Tencent’s strong performance largely stems from its incorporation of innovative technologies and services across its platforms, which cater to the diverse and ever-changing needs of users around the globe.

During this period, Tencent’s domestic games revenue grew by 5%, bolstered by popular titles such as the multiplayer role-playing game “Lost Ark” and the shooter game “Valorant,” produced by Riot Games. In addition to the success of these titles, the company also benefited from increased microtransactions and in-game purchases, further contributing to overall revenue growth. Industry analysts predict that continued success for these flagship games and an exciting lineup of future releases could bolster the company’s domestic revenue even further in the coming years.

Tencent’s online advertising segment saw a notable 20% increase in revenues, while the company’s fintech division experienced a 16% sales growth.

The online advertising boom can be attributed to a rise in businesses investing in digital marketing and shifting towards targeted advertising practices. On the other hand, growth in the fintech division can be traced back to the integration of new payment methods and the increasing adoption of mobile banking services.

These significant expansions are also connected to wealth management services and online transaction enhancements. Consequently, more individuals and companies can now access and use sophisticated financial tools and resources, significantly contributing to the overall growth of the marketplace. Integrating digital platforms has also helped streamline transactions, making the process more efficient and convenient for users while encouraging further expansion in the sector.

Featured Image Credit: Burak The Weekender; Pexels.

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India shares digital code to lift up developing nations https://readwrite.com/india-shares-digital-code-to-lift-up-developing-nations/ Fri, 24 Nov 2023 22:30:25 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=243220 India shares digital code

In a major diplomatic move, India has launched the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository, a collection of open-source software code […]

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India shares digital code

In a major diplomatic move, India has launched the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository, a collection of open-source software code created by governments to accelerate digital development globally. This launch culminates India’s push for broader adoption of digital public infrastructure (DPI) — the concept that governments should open source their own digital platforms and architectures so other nations can build upon them.

According to a Nov. 23 The Register report, the repository contains code from 54 projects across 15 countries and the EU — the majority of which was contributed by India itself. Highlights include foundational platforms like India’s pioneering digital ID system Aadhaar, its real-time payments interface UPI which reaches nearly all of India’s 1.4 billion citizens, and India’s national cloud computing initiative. Other nations have shared code for digital tools in healthcare, education, smart cities, payments, and identity management.

Experts view open-sourcing India’s robust digital infrastructure stacks as an intelligent diplomatic move. At a basic level, it helps strengthen relationships with countries that adopt and integrate this code into their own systems. More broadly — it establishes India’s digital development model as an alternative to China’s massive physical infrastructure investments abroad.

The repository launch also featured India putting $25 million into a Social Impact Fund

The repository launch also featured India putting $25 million into a Social Impact Fund to provide financial resources and assistance to countries implementing these technologies. This directly serves India’s aims of positioning itself as a partner for developing nations lagging in digital capabilities. It also ties into the larger goal of spreading India’s model and standards for the digital economy abroad, just as it sets the stage to potentially lead cooperation on 6G networks through the present decade.

Critics contend India still struggles with effectively deploying advanced technologies at home, with programs like the $20 billion Smart Cities Mission lagging goals in transforming urban spaces. However, by open-sourcing tools that demonstrably succeed at a massive scale, like Aadhaar and UPI, India aims to show the building blocks exist for welfare systems and data-driven governance — if developing countries adopt and adapt them as a foundation.

Featured Image Credit: Darshak Pandya; Pexels.

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3 Ways to Take Advantage of Immersive Experiences for Businesses https://readwrite.com/3-ways-to-take-advantage-of-immersive-experiences-for-businesses/ Fri, 10 Nov 2023 04:36:23 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=242312 Immersive Experiences Business

No matter where your staff works from day to day, everyone can easily collaborate across teams — communicating fluidly, accessing […]

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Immersive Experiences Business

No matter where your staff works from day to day, everyone can easily collaborate across teams — communicating fluidly, accessing resources, finding information, brainstorming, and maintaining progress. This is possible thanks to advanced technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and machine learning (to name a few), which open the door to more immersive work experiences.

These innovations are coming at a crucial time, according to a recent study by Pew Research. This study showed that 53% of those who work from home at least some of the time report that the remote environment impacts their ability to connect with colleagues. And 41% of employees who work primarily from the office report that being around coworkers helps them feel more connected. While immersive technologies benefit remote workers, these technologies don’t just benefit office employees. They’re creating new experiences and opportunities for consumers and businesses at and below the enterprise level.

Immersive Experiences Benefit Businesses

Immersive technologies help to carve out a fresh, personalized user experience across the buyer’s journey. As customers engage with a variety of brands to buy from, we are in a new position to impact that experience in a positive way, on a broader level, and along many touch points. This customer experience revolution also expands opportunities for people with disabilities and physical challenges. Immersive experiences reduce the friction of going to a physical location to transact business, buy, or get product help. We’ve seen a massive improvement in how disabled individuals can engage in the same way able-bodied customers do.

An interesting example was using AR glasses with a hearing-impaired customer who needed help troubleshooting a product problem. The AR glasses enabled real-time visual transcription of the conversation with the product support team, making it possible for the customer to read and understand the full conversation. Imagine the frustration that experience eliminates for the customer and the sales associate or support team. Ultimately, the technology created an effective and satisfying experience for everyone.

Along with changes to customer experience, we are also seeing a rise in new entrepreneurs. This increase has fostered a user community-driven creator economy. More individuals have found they can effectively monetize their individual value in new ways. They are leveraging the same immersive technologies as mid- to enterprise-level businesses while partnering with others to deliver unique and compelling solutions to their clients. Together with the expanding B2B marketplace, entrepreneurs are operating within a globally open economy, creating new market niches and bringing to market products and services that are helping advance every industry.

3 Methods to Manage Immersive Technology Adoption

As the future of business begins to center on a variety of immersive aspects, any company that is not shaping strategy and investment with an immersive strategy and realistic investment will quickly find themselves behind in their industries. It’s a competitive must-have — just as when the internet was invented. With that in mind, let’s discuss guidelines on where to invest and prioritize for your organization.

1. Start with value-driven use cases delivering ROI.

We can probably all agree that immersive technologies are at varying stages of maturity. For instance, the metaverse is in its early stages, whereas AR and VR are well underway. The intersection of generative AI and virtual reality has enabled the creation of truly immersive experiences. Generative AI enables the interactive generation of VR environments based on user inputs. Before determining if and what technologies suit your company, identify use cases that deliver leadership value, innovation, and efficiency.

To identify suitable alternatives that leverage advanced technologies and shape immersive experiences, consider existing areas where you have known business challenges. For example, we’re seeing swift augmentation in the retail shopping experience. Amazon, Sherwin-Williams, and many housing businesses let you visualize any object, paint, or furniture in your space by using a “view in your room” feature. And glasses retailers, like Ray-Ban’s retail website, make it possible to virtually try glasses frames on your face.

In this environment and economy, it’s important to reap the early benefits and leapfrog the competition in the early adoption stages. While it’s realistic to expect organizational needs and technology to continue to evolve, focus early on low-hanging initiatives that drive quantifiable impact. In parallel, explore alternative business models that can drive large-scale business transformation, innovation, and revenue.

2. Secure stakeholder collaboration with a data-driven approach.

Ultimately, a data-driven approach and stakeholder collaboration can help identify the most suitable use cases for immersive experience technology. When creating and shaping change in any organization, it’s best to secure executive sponsorship from the leadership team. This further enables success in the scale and adoption of other new initiatives.

A recent metaverse study done by Wipro polled companies in the U.S., U.K., and Germany on how they viewed and were preparing for the metaverse within their enterprises. Eight out of every 10 respondents agreed the metaverse would enhance businesses by making them more immersive. This was an astounding level of cross-country alignment among many industries.

In the near future, advanced technologies will become core and critical to enterprise success. We will continue to see evolution as more industries test and discover what’s possible. Together, we’ll collectively dive deeper into the best ways to implement within various industries with an eye toward efficiency, revenue generation, and business growth based on experiences that transform customers into loyal followers.

The sooner your business plans for and adopts immersive technologies, the more opportunities you will have to outsmart and outpace the competition.

3. Establish a center of excellence and a foundational team.

Immersive experience delivery calls for the right people. It’s an intelligent strategy to establish a practice developer community with representation from tech power users across the technology stack who will foster the adoption of technology. While technology is critical to the success of immersive experiences, your people will ultimately drive its adoption and use within your business, together with executive leadership reinforcement.

Behind your foundational team, you need a center of excellence. The COE will enable different technology and business stakeholders to come together to develop strategy and direction. The COE can evangelize the potential of immersive technology with different business lines, helping them to identify the right use cases with high-value potential. The COE can also provide governance around best practices and guidelines during the development cycles.

As you’d imagine, the initial COE team becomes the foundation of your immersive business practice, representing teams from across the organization. This is your ground crew for accelerating solution development with your specific business needs in mind while enabling you to apply the desired strategy and implementation across the organization.

Start Your Immersive Journey

Don’t delay or fall behind. By prioritizing personnel development, identifying suitable use cases, and taking a proactive approach to implementation, businesses can harness the power of immersive experience technology and stay ahead of the curve. Early adopters will have a special advantage that latecomers will miss: the ability to leverage brand visibility and time to sharpen their approach. So, start now and prepare for an exciting time in the years ahead.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Photo by John Schnobrich; Unsplash; Thank you!

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Apple’s Attempt to Dodge EU Digital Regulations https://readwrite.com/apples-attempt-to-dodge-eu-digital-regulations/ Tue, 07 Nov 2023 19:15:42 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=242131 Apple EU Regulations

Apple endeavored to evade regulation under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) with the unexpected assertion that it provides […]

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Apple EU Regulations

Apple endeavored to evade regulation under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) with the unexpected assertion that it provides three separate web browsers, all called Safari. Despite the tech giant’s promotional materials emphasizing the consistency of Safari browsers across various devices, Apple argues that its browsers are unique from one another. In a bold attempt to dodge the restrictive measures of the DMA, Apple seeks to draw distinctions between the Safari browsers on its macOS, iOS, and iPadOS platforms. The company insists that these versions are essentially separate entities, hoping this distinction will help them sidestep regulations to prevent monopolistic practices in digital markets.

Apple’s multiple app stores and digital regulations

Additionally, Apple stated that it operates five distinct app stores and five different operating systems. The company aimed to show that, except for iOS, these components do not meet the European regulations’ usage threshold for oversight, thereby posing no risk to competitiveness — but Brussels didn’t buy it. Apple emphasizes that the other four app stores and operating systems are less dominant in the market compared to iOS, thus highlighting the absence of monopolistic behavior. The tech giant also claims that their inclusive approach supports the growth and innovation of various applications, promoting a healthy competitive environment in the industry.

European Commission’s enforcement of EU digital

In September, the European Commission subjected several large technology firms, including Apple, to the DMA, giving them half a year to conform to legal responsibilities intended to curb the influence of major tech platforms and promote a competitive market. As a result of these legal responsibilities, tech giants will be required to alter their business practices to ensure fair competition for smaller companies and overall market balance. The DMA enforcement aims to create a more diverse and innovative digital ecosystem, providing consumers with wider choices and healthier options.

Apple’s gatekeeper status

Apple was designated a gatekeeper in three primary platform services: iOS operating systems, App Store online mediation services, and Safari web browsers. Consequently, it is expected that, by March 2024, Apple will permit third-party app stores in Europe to function with iOS and browser engines other than Safari’s WebKit. This decision marks a significant shift in Apple’s long-standing policy of maintaining complete control over its ecosystem. As a result, developers and users will have access to a wider variety of apps and browser options, potentially ushering in a new era of innovation and competition in the European market.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Matheus Bertelli; Pexels; Thank you!

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10 Advantages & Disadvantages of Digital Marketing 2023 https://readwrite.com/10-advantages-disadvantages-of-digital-marketing-2023/ Wed, 25 Oct 2023 21:52:10 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=239402 Advantages and disadvantages of digital marketing

In today’s digitally-driven world, businesses increasingly turn to digital marketing as a fundamental strategy to reach their target audiences. Digital […]

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Advantages and disadvantages of digital marketing

In today’s digitally-driven world, businesses increasingly turn to digital marketing as a fundamental strategy to reach their target audiences.

Digital marketing offers many advantages to help businesses grow, engage with their customers, and stay ahead of the competition. It provides numerous benefits, but like any strategy, it also comes with its own set of challenges and disadvantages.

In this article, we’ll explore ten key advantages & disadvantages of digital marketing and why it has become a cornerstone of modern business success.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing has revolutionized how businesses promote their products and connect with customers. Understanding its advantages and disadvantages is crucial for effective strategizing. Here’s a brief overview:

Balancing these advantages and disadvantages is essential to create a successful digital marketing strategy tailored to your business needs and goals.

Advantages of Digital Marketing

01. Wider Reach:

Digital marketing allows you to reach a global audience. With the internet’s vast reach, you can connect with potential customers worldwide, breaking down geographical barriers and expanding your market.

02. Cost-Effective:

Compared to traditional marketing methods like print advertising or TV commercials, digital marketing is often more budget-friendly. You can choose from various cost-effective strategies, such as social media advertising or email marketing to suit your budget.

03. Targeted Advertising:

Digital marketing enables precise targeting. You can tailor your campaigns to reach specific demographics, interests, or behaviors, ensuring that your message reaches the right people at the right time.

04. Measurable Results:

Unlike traditional marketing, digital marketing provides detailed analytics and metrics. You can track the performance of your campaigns in real-time, allowing you to make data-driven decisions and optimize your strategies for better results.

05. Enhanced Customer Engagement:

Digital marketing encourages two-way communication. You can engage with your audience through social media, comments, and direct messages, building relationships and fostering customer loyalty.

06. Personalization:

Digital marketing enables highly personalized campaigns. You can use customer data to deliver tailored content and offers, making your marketing efforts more relevant and appealing to individual customers.

07. Flexibility and Adaptability:

In the fast-paced digital landscape, you can quickly adjust your marketing strategies to respond to changing trends and customer preferences. This agility ensures your campaigns stay relevant.

08. Improved Conversion Rates:

With targeted marketing and personalized content, digital marketing often leads to higher conversion rates. You increase the chances of turning leads into customers by reaching the right audience with the right message.

09. 24/7 Accessibility:

Your online presence is available 24/7. Potential customers can access your website, social media, or other digital platforms anytime, providing a consistent and always accessible point of contact.

10. Competing with Larger Businesses:

Digital marketing levels the playing field. Smaller businesses can effectively compete with larger competitors by leveraging digital marketing strategies, even with limited budgets.

Disadvantages of Digital Marketing

01. Overwhelming Competition:

The digital space is saturated with competitors, making it challenging to stand out. Businesses often find themselves in fierce competition for online visibility, which can lead to increased advertising costs.

02. Constant Algorithm Changes:

Platforms like Google and social media networks frequently update their algorithms. These changes can impact your digital marketing efforts, potentially affecting your organic reach and ad performance.

03. Ad Blocking:

Many users employ ad-blockers to remove digital ads from their browsing experience. This can result in lower ad visibility and reduced reach for businesses relying on display advertising.

04. Data Privacy Concerns:

Increased awareness of data privacy has led to stricter regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Adhering to these regulations can be complex and costly for businesses operating internationally.

05. Technical Challenges:

Managing digital marketing campaigns often requires technical expertise. For small businesses with limited resources, navigating complex tools and platforms can be overwhelming.

06. High Initial Investment:

While digital marketing can be cost-effective in the long run, setting up campaigns and creating quality content often requires a significant initial investment.

07. Short Attention Spans:

Internet users have short attention spans. Capturing and retaining their attention can be challenging, making it vital to create engaging and concise content.

08. Negative Feedback Amplification:

Negative comments and reviews can spread quickly online. Managing and responding to negative feedback is crucial to protect your brand’s reputation.

09. Fluctuating ROI:

Digital marketing results can be unpredictable. ROI can vary due to factors like changing consumer behavior, economic conditions, and evolving industry trends.

10. Technical Glitches:

Technical issues such as website downtime, broken links, or slow loading times can disrupt user experiences and harm digital marketing efforts.

Round Up:

Advantages & disadvantages of digital marketing are clear and compelling. It allows businesses of all sizes to reach a global audience, engage with customers personally, and achieve measurable results.

In today’s digital age, embracing digital marketing isn’t just an option; it’s necessary for businesses looking to thrive and succeed in a competitive marketplace. So, whether you’re a startup or an established brand, harness the power of digital marketing to propel your business forward.

Digital marketing undoubtedly offers numerous advantages, but it’s crucial to recognize its potential disadvantages as well. By understanding and addressing these challenges, businesses can develop effective strategies that maximize the benefits of digital marketing while mitigating its downsides. Remember that digital marketing is an evolving field, and staying informed and adaptable is key to success in the digital landscape.

Here’s a FAQ section for “Advantages & Disadvantages of Digital Marketing”:

Q1: What are the primary advantages of digital marketing?

A1: The primary advantages of digital marketing include cost-effectiveness, global reach, precise targeting, real-time analytics, and the ability to personalize content for specific audiences. It also offers a variety of channels to choose from, such as social media, email, and search engines.

Q2: What are some of the disadvantages of digital marketing?

A2: Some disadvantages of digital marketing include the potential for information overload, the need for continuous adaptation due to evolving technology, the risk of negative online reviews and comments, and the challenge of standing out in a crowded digital landscape.

Q3: How does digital marketing compare to traditional marketing methods?

A3: Digital marketing offers advantages over traditional marketing in terms of cost-effectiveness, targeting capabilities, and the ability to track and measure campaign performance. However, conventional marketing methods can still effectively reach specific audiences and establish brand credibility.

Q4: Is digital marketing suitable for all types of businesses?

A4: While digital marketing can benefit many businesses, its suitability depends on the target audience and goals. Small businesses, startups, and e-commerce ventures often find digital marketing highly effective, but some niche industries may still rely on traditional marketing methods.

Q5: Are there any privacy concerns associated with digital marketing?

A5: Yes, privacy concerns are a significant issue in digital marketing. Collecting and using customer data must comply with regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Marketers must be transparent about data collection and ensure data security to maintain consumer trust.

Q6: What are the best practices for digital marketing success?

A6: Best practices for digital marketing include setting clear goals, defining your target audience, creating high-quality and engaging content, using multiple digital channels, monitoring and analyzing performance data, and staying updated with industry trends.

Q7: How can businesses mitigate the disadvantages of digital marketing?

A7: To mitigate the disadvantages of digital marketing, businesses can invest in online reputation management, prioritize customer engagement and feedback, adapt to changing algorithms and trends, and seek professional guidance when needed.

Q8: What role does content marketing play in digital marketing?

A8: Content marketing is a vital component of digital marketing. It involves creating and sharing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and engage a target audience. Quality content helps establish authority, build trust, and drive organic traffic.

Q9: How can businesses measure their digital marketing efforts’ ROI (Return on Investment)?

A9: Measuring ROI in digital marketing involves tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, conversion rates, click-through rates, and customer acquisition costs. By analyzing these metrics, businesses can assess the effectiveness of their campaigns.

Q10: What are some common mistakes businesses make in digital marketing?

A10: Common mistakes in digital marketing include neglecting mobile optimization, ignoring SEO best practices, not segmenting their target audience properly, neglecting social media engagement, and failing to adapt to changing algorithms and trends. Avoiding these mistakes is crucial for success in digital marketing.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Pexels; Thank you!

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Product Design for SaaS Startups: Best Practices and Examples https://readwrite.com/product-design-for-saas-startups-best-practices-and-examples/ Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:00:52 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=234988 Product Design for SaaS Startups

I’ll start by taking you to the world of Startup X, a passionate team of entrepreneurs who believed they had […]

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Product Design for SaaS Startups

I’ll start by taking you to the world of Startup X, a passionate team of entrepreneurs who believed they had the next big thing in the world of software as a service (SaaS). They poured their hearts and souls into creating an innovative product fueled by the desire to make a difference in the lives of their target audience.

However, despite their best efforts, they struggled to gain traction. They faced the disappointment of seeing their hard work go unnoticed and the frustration of feeling like they were missing something crucial. That’s when they realized they needed help.

Do you find yourself and your project in a similar position? Pouring your heart and soul into a project only to see it fall flat? It’s disheartening, but sadly, this is one experience that many startup founders face. The good news is that there’s hope!

Startup X reached out to a product design services provider, and with their help, they were able to turn their fortunes around. The product design team helped them identify their users’ pain points and redesign the product to provide a more seamless customer experience. The impact was nothing short of miraculous.

I understand the struggles that come with being a startup founder. I know how it feels to be passionate about an idea and watch it struggle to take off. In this article, I’ll share some best practices and real-life examples of successful product design for SaaS companies. The goal is to create products that meet but exceed the expectations of your audience.

Why Is Design Important for SaaS?

Design plays a crucial role in the success of SaaS products, whether it is a SaaS application or SaaS website. It makes the product more user-friendly and can also help build trust with customers and differentiate the product from competitors in the SaaS market.

Research has shown that good design can impact a company’s financial performance!

According to a design study spanning 10 year conducted by the Design Management Institute, design-driven companies outperform the S&P 500 by 228%!

So, if you’re running a SaaS company, never skimp on design! Here are some more reasons why design is essential for any SaaS model:

1. User experience

The success of a SaaS software product largely depends on how well it meets the needs of its users.

Design helps create an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it easier for users to navigate the product and perform the desired actions.

A well-designed SaaS application can reduce the learning curve, enhance user satisfaction, and increase the chances of retaining customers.

  1. 2. Branding

The design of a SaaS product can help communicate the brand’s value proposition, personality, and identity.

A visually appealing and consistent design can help create a strong brand image and differentiate the product from competitors.

3. Functionality

Good design helps ensure a SaaS product is visually pleasing and functional. A well-designed product takes into account usability, accessibility, and scalability, which are all essential for a successful SaaS product.

4. Trust and credibility

A poorly designed software-as-a-service product can create a negative perception of the brand and reduce trust and credibility. On the other hand, a well-designed product can build trust and credibility with users, making them more likely to recommend the product to others.

How to Design a SaaS Product for Startups (A 6-step Approach)

To successfully design a SaaS product, you must understand your users deeply. Here is a 6-step approach that can help you achieve that:

1. Understand the User

A SaaS design done without the user in mind is an effort in futility! It’s the most reliable recipe for disaster!

Here are what to do on the journey to design a SaaS product to be able to understand your user:

  • Conduct user research: By doing this, you can better understand what your users need and what challenges they face. You can conduct user research through surveys, interviews, or usability testing. And it’s a great way to get direct feedback from your potential customers2.
  • Create user personas: User personas are fictional representations of your target users. They can help you understand their goals, motivations, and behaviors. Creating user personas can also help you design a product that meets the needs of your prospective audience.
  • Use data analytics: Data analytics can provide valuable insights into how users interact with your product. By analyzing user behavior and usage patterns, you should be able to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven design decisions.

2. Make an Appealing User Interface Design

  • The user interface is the face of your software-as-a-service product. And it’s often the first impression users have of your brand.
  • A well-designed UI can make it easy for users to navigate your product, complete tasks, and achieve their goals. In contrast, a poorly designed user interface can lead to frustration, confusion, and, ultimately, user churn.
  • Investing in UI design can also help differentiate your product in the SaaS market. By creating a unique and visually appealing interface, you can capture your audience’s attention and stand out in a crowded marketplace.

3. Best practices for UI design

When it comes to designing UI for your SaaS product, there are a few best practices to keep in mind:

  • Keep it simple: A cluttered and confusing interface can lead to frustration and user churn. Keep the interface simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate.
  • Prioritize user experience: Focus on creating an interface that meets the needs of your audience and provides a seamless customer experience. Conduct user testing and gather feedback to ensure your interface meets user needs.
  • Consistency is key: Maintain consistency throughout your interface regarding design elements, layout, and interaction patterns. This will help create a cohesive and familiar user experience.
  • Pay attention to visual design: A visually appealing interface can significantly impact the user experience. Use color, typography, and imagery strategically to create a unique and memorable interface.

Some examples of effective UI from top SaaS companies

Some SaaS software services have achieved great success through effective user interface design. Here are a few examples:

  • Asana: Asana’s UI design is clean, simple, and easy to navigate, making it a favorite among users. The design of the SaaS platform is consistent, with straightforward typography, whitespace, and a cohesive color scheme.
  • Slack: Slack is one of the best digital products on the market. Part of the reason is that the SaaS website is visually appealing, with a vibrant color palette and playful illustrations. The interface is intuitive, with a straightforward layout that makes it easy for users to find what they need.
  • Canva: Canva, a graphic design SaaS platform, has a visually stunning UI design with design that emphasizes the user’s creative output. The interface of the SaaS website is easy to use, with straightforward navigation and a consistent design.

By following best practices and drawing inspiration from effective user interfaces, you can create a SaaS platform with an interface that meets and exceeds user expectations.

Build a Seamless User Experience

User experience design is creating a user-centric product that meets user needs and goals, according to Techloging.com. A well-designed user experience can increase user engagement and drive customer loyalty. A SaaS UX design that is intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable can significantly impact user satisfaction, retention, and overall success.

Investing in UX design can also help differentiate your product from competitors. By providing UX that exceeds user expectations, you can create a memorable and positive experience, encouraging users to stay and recommend your product to others.

Best practices for UX design

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when making a seamless UX design for your SaaS product:

  • Conduct user research: Conduct user research to understand your audience’s needs, goals, and pain points. Use this information to inform your design decisions and create a product that meets user needs.
  • Create user personas: Create user personas that represent your targets. This can help you better understand your users and design a user experience that meets their needs and goals.
  • Prioritize usability: Prioritize usability by creating an easy-to-use, efficient, and intuitive product. Focus on building a user experience that allows users to complete tasks quickly and without confusion.
  • Feedback and guidance: Provide users feedback and advice throughout the customer journey. This can help users understand what actions to take next and reduce frustration and confusion.
  • Continuously iterate: Iterate and improve the user experience based on customer feedback and the most relevant data. This can help you create a UX design that evolves with user needs and expectations.

Some examples of effective user experiences

Some SaaS platforms have achieved great success through effective UX design. Here are a few examples:

  • Dropbox: Dropbox provides a seamless user experience by making it easy to store, share, and access files across devices. The user interface is intuitive, with straightforward navigation and feedback throughout the customer journey.
  • HubSpot: HubSpot provides a comprehensive user experience with marketing, sales, and customer service tools. The UI of the SaaS website is consistent, with a clean and easy-to-navigate design that prioritizes usability.
  • Zoom: Zoom provides a user experience that lets users quickly and easily join and host video meetings. The interface is straightforward, with clear instructions and feedback that guide users through the process.

Develop a Unique Brand Identity

As a SaaS startup, you’re entering a crowded and competitive market. And one of the best ways to stand out is by developing a solid brand identity that resonates with your targets.

Your brand identity is more than just a logo or a name. It’s the essence of who you are as a company. It sets you apart from the competition and helps you connect with your customers.

Think about it – when you hear the name “Apple” or “Google,” what comes to mind? Their brand identity is so strong that it’s immediately recognizable. And it’s helped them become some of the most successful companies in the world.

However, developing a brand identity isn’t just about creating a logo or picking out some colors. It’s about understanding your target audience, defining your values and mission, and creating a consistent voice and tone across all touchpoints. It’s about building trust and connecting with your customers beyond just your product.

By developing a strong brand identity, you can differentiate yourself from competitors, build brand loyalty, and establish a unique and recognizable presence in the market. So don’t underestimate the power of a well-crafted brand identity – it could be the key to your success as a SaaS startup.

Best practices for developing a brand identity

Here are some best practices to consider when developing a brand identity for your SaaS platform:

  • Define your brand values: Define your SaaS business model, brand values, mission, and vision. This will help you create an authentic brand identity that resonates with your audience.
  • Understand your target audience: Understand your target’s needs, preferences, and pain points. This can help you create a brand identity that speaks directly to them and differentiates you from competitors.
  • Choose a brand name and logo: Choose a brand name and logo that are memorable, distinctive, and easy to recognize. Ensure your brand name and logo align with your brand values and messaging.
  • Develop a brand voice and tone: Develop a brand voice and tone that aligns with your brand values and resonates with your target audience. Use this voice consistently across all marketing materials and communication channels.
  • Create brand guidelines: Create brand guidelines that outline your brand identity elements, including color palette, typography, imagery, and tone. Ensure that these guidelines are followed consistently across all touchpoints.

Some examples of effective brand identities

Below are examples of SaaS products that have developed effective brand identities:

  • Slack: Slack has developed a brand identity that is playful, friendly, and approachable. The brand name and logo are simple and memorable, and the brand voice and tone are conversational and engaging.
  • Mailchimp: Mailchimp has developed a brand identity that is playful, colorful, and distinctive. The brand name and logo are memorable and easily recognizable, and the brand voice and tone are fun and approachable.
  • Canva: Canva has developed a brand identity that is creative, inspiring, and empowering. The brand name and logo are simple and memorable, and the voice and tone are upbeat and enthusiastic.

How to design SaaS UX?

SaaS UX is about making your SaaS software or website as easy and enjoyable as possible. Following these tips, you can create a SaaS UX that your users will love.

  • Put the user first: Always keep the user in mind when designing your SaaS UX. What are their needs? What are their pain points? How can you make their experience as easy and enjoyable as possible?
  • Keep it simple: Don’t overload users with too much information or features. Focus on the most important things and ensure they are easy to find and use.
  • Use clear and concise language: Avoid jargon and technical terms that users may not understand. Use plain language that is easy to read and understand.
  • Use consistent design elements: Use the same fonts, colors, and icons throughout your software-as-a-service user experience. This will help create a cohesive and user-friendly experience.Test your UX with users: Get feedback from users early and often. This will help you identify any usability issues and make improvements before you launch your SaaS product.

Design for Scalability

Imagine you’re building a SaaS product. You’ve put in the hard work, and it’s starting to take off. You’re getting more users, more traffic, and more demand.

But as your product grows, so do the challenges. How do you keep up with the increasing demand? How do you ensure that your product is always available and reliable? And how do you do all of this without breaking the bank?

The answer is to design your product for scalability.

So, what is scalability?

Scalability is the ability of a system to handle increasing demand without sacrificing performance, reliability, or user experience. In other words, your product can grow without breaking.

Factors that ensure scalability

Several factors contribute to scalability, including:

  • Design: The way your product is designed can have a big impact on its scalability. A well-designed product will be easy to scale, while a poorly designed product will be more challenging.
  • Infrastructure: Your product’s infrastructure can also impact its scalability. A scalable infrastructure can handle increasing demand, while a non-scalable infrastructure will not.
  • Processes: The processes you use to manage your product can also impact scalability. A well-defined and efficient process will make it easier to scale your product, while a poorly defined or inefficient process will make it more challenging to scale.

How to design for scalability

There are several things you can do to design your product for scalability. Here are a few tips:

  • Use a modular design: A modular design is where the product is broken down into smaller, independent components. This makes adding new features, fixing bugs, and scaling the product easier.
  • Use cloud infrastructure: The cloud infrastructure is a scalable and reliable way to host your product. There are several different cloud providers to choose from, so you can find one that meets your needs.
  • Use load balancing: Load balancing is a technique for distributing traffic across multiple servers. This helps to ensure that your product is always available, even if there is a sudden increase in demand.
  • Use a scalable data storage solution: A scalable data storage solution is a solution that can handle large amounts of data. This is important for products that collect a lot of data, such as social media platforms or e-commerce sites.
  • Automate repetitive tasks: Automating repetitive tasks can help to improve efficiency and reduce the risk of human error. This can free your team to focus on more critical tasks, such as developing new features and improving the product.

Measure for Success

So, how do you know if your SaaS design project is successful?

It’s a question that every SaaS startup founder or product manager wants to be able to answer with confidence. After all, you’ve put a lot of time, effort, and money into building your product, and you want to ensure that it’s meeting the needs of your users and generating revenue for your company.

SaaS startups can track several key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of their product design projects. Some of the essential KPIs include:

  • Monthly recurring revenue (MRR): MRR is the total revenue a company generates from its monthly SaaS subscriptions. MRR is a crucial metric for measuring the growth of a SaaS business.
  • Customer churn rate: Customer churn rate is the percentage of customers who cancel their monthly SaaS subscriptions. A high customer churn rate can indicate problems with the product or that the company is not effectively marketing its product to potential customers.
  • Customer acquisition cost (CAC): CAC is the money a company spends to acquire a new customer. A high CAC can indicate that the company is spending too much money on marketing or its inefficient sales process.
  • The average revenue per account (ARPA): ARPA is the company’s average revenue from each customer. ARPA can be used to measure the profitability of a SaaS business.
  • Customer lifetime value (CLV): CLV is the total amount of revenue that a company expects to generate from a customer throughout their relationship with the company. CLV can be used to measure the long-term value of a SaaS customer.

Tools for measuring success

In addition to tracking KPIs, SaaS startups can also use various tools to measure the success of their product design projects. Some of the most common tools include:

  • User surveys: User surveys can be used to gather user feedback about the product and its features. This feedback can improve the product and make it more user-friendly.
  • A/B testing: A/B testing compares two different versions of a product or feature to see which one performs better. This can improve the product’s conversion rate and increase the number of new users who sign up for a free trial or purchase a subscription.
  • Heatmaps: Heatmaps represent how users interact with a website or app. This information can be used to identify areas of the product that are confusing or difficult to use.
  • Session recordings allow you to watch a video of a user interacting with your product. This can identify areas of the product that are frustrating or difficult to use.

FAQs

How to build a SaaS product architecture?

The standard procedure needed to design a SaaS product architecture includes the following:

  • Define your goals and requirements. What do you want your product to do? Who are your target users? What are their needs?
  • Choose the right technology stack. What programming languages, databases, and cloud platforms will you use?
  • Design your architecture. How will your SaaS product be structured? What are the different components? How will they interact with each other?
  • Implement your architecture. Build your software using the technologies you’ve chosen.
  • Test and deploy your product. Make sure it works as expected and that it’s secure.
  • Monitor and improve your SaaS product. Collect feedback from users and make changes to improve the product over time.

That’s it! Following these steps, you can build a SaaS architecture to help you achieve your business goals. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:

  • Use a cloud-based platform. This will make it easier to scale your SaaS product as your user base grows.
  • Use microservices architecture. This will make your service more scalable and resilient.
  • Implement security measures. Make sure your SaaS design is secure from unauthorized access.
  • Monitor your SaaS product. Collect data on how existing and new users use your SaaS application or website and make changes to improve the user experience.

Conclusion

Creating a successful SaaS startup product can be challenging. I’ve helped you navigate the twists and turns of the product’s design with a deep understanding of your users.

By identifying the pain points of your target customers and creating a product that addresses their needs, you can now make a seamless user experience that will set your startup apart from the competition.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!

 

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A Successful Digital Transformation Starts (and Ends) With People https://readwrite.com/a-successful-digital-transformation-starts-and-ends-with-people/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:00:54 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=239777

Since the onset of the pandemic, organizations across the world have drastically accelerated their digital transformation timetables to remain relevant and […]

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Since the onset of the pandemic, organizations across the world have drastically accelerated their digital transformation timetables to remain relevant and keep employees engaged amid changing market dynamics. However, many have failed to fully achieve the business outcomes enabled by successful digital transformation.

At a time when competition in every industry is stronger than ever, that’s a major missed opportunity.

The Reason Behind Transformation Failures

In order to reap the full benefits of digital transformation, it is important to align skills, operations, knowledge, and culture to leverage digitalized work habits and new technologies. Research shows that a lack of this alignment, or digital maturity, is one of the most critical factors in determining why so many organizations fail to meet their digital transformation goals.

The good news? Achieving digital maturity is well within reach for organizations that are willing to put in the work.

What Is Digital Maturity?

Digital maturity is the ability to adapt people, experiences, and businesses to new platforms and tools in order to maximize the value that is created through successful digital transformation. As your transformation ramps up, it’s vital to get a realistic temperature of the digital maturity within your organization so you can avoid common pitfalls.

The more mature your organization’s digital culture is, the more likely it is to succeed in full-scale transformation. Attaining digital maturity means your company can adjust to changes quickly, avoid costly technical delays, and see improved operations alongside heightened efficiency.

Putting People First — Always

So what’s the secret to attaining this optimal level of maturity? First and foremost, establishing a digitally mature culture requires a shift in mindset and the implementation of practical strategies. Organizations must prioritize people over technology and create an environment that enables both employees and the business to thrive.

The benefits of establishing a digitally mature culture include enhancing employee satisfaction and engagement, improving retention rates, and reducing attrition. A people-first approach also attracts top talent, particularly among younger generations who expect organizations to have digital maturity.

The Far-Reaching Effects of People-Centricity

By fostering an environment that values employees and leverages technology effectively, organizations become more attractive to prospective employees. And those that don’t prioritize this type of people-first approach? They will lose out on top talent.

Beyond the obvious employee satisfaction metrics, a people-centric culture promotes growth and encourages continuous learning, all while enabling employees to adapt to change more effectively. This agility drives innovation, productivity, and competitiveness in the digital landscape.

Evaluating the Characteristics of a Digitally Mature Culture

Let’s look at the ingredients that bring a successful digital transformation to life. It’s helpful to evaluate these four characteristics to see where your organization’s digital maturity stands:

Innovation: You should take into consideration how easy it is for your current employees to generate and implement creative ideas. It is critically important to foster a culture that truly encourages and rewards innovations. Make sure that you have the platforms and the resources needed for employees to contribute their ideas. And remember to “decriminalize” so-called failures. Great ideas require plenty of trial and error.

Flexibility: You will need to evaluate the flexibility of your organization and how well it adapts to change so you can determine if there is room for adjustments and if you have the ability to request additional time. It’s important to promote an environment that strives for successful digital transformation and an advanced digital culture — one that encourages employees to adapt to new processes and technologies.

Collaboration: Assess if you’ve created an atmosphere that is conducive to collaboration among all team members. Your organization should encourage open communication and knowledge sharing to keep everyone moving in the same direction. This extends to leadership as well; leaders should be transparent about the company’s digital transform strategy and be open to answering questions and considering new ideas from employees.

Continuous learning: Encouraging ongoing education and training in the digital transformation journey is crucial. Evaluate if you have the proper resources and processes in place to do so. You want your employees to regularly engage in various types of learning to ensure they have a clear understanding of the digital culture, processes, and technologies used within your organization. Fostering this type of culture also shows employees that you are invested in their growth, increasing satisfaction and the ability to attract new talent.

How Organizations Can Ensure Successful Digital Transformation

There are several strategies you can implement in order to make your digital transformation successful while prioritizing your people. The most effective strategies include the following:

1. Take a Bottom-Up Approach.

Your employees play an integral part when it comes to implementing a successful digital transformation. For this reason, it is in your best interest to implement a bottom-up approach and allow all employees to play an active role in the process right from the beginning. When everyone is onboard and rowing in the same direction, the destination becomes a lot easier to reach.

2. Recognize Your Current State of Digital Maturity.

It is important for you to assess how digitally mature your organization is. There’s no need to sugarcoat the findings. Be realistic. Determining the current maturity level among your employees can help you hone in on the organization’s acceptance and willingness to make the necessary changes. A great way to do this is to survey your employees: What do they want from your digital transformation? How are they engaging with new processes? Taking the pulse of the organization provides valuable feedback needed to make future adjustments.

3. Overcome Resistance to Change.

One of the biggest challenges to successful digital transformation is gaining buy-in from those who are wary of the transition. However, overcoming this resistance to change is key to ensuring you are able to make the transformation work. One of the best things that you can do to help overcome such resistance is to create a support system for staff and leadership. Create an environment of open communication where you can discuss how digital maturity can be viewed as an opportunity instead of a threat. Emphasize the end goal if necessary; the company’s vision is X, and improving digital maturity is the way to achieve that.

Make no mistake, implementing these strategies does take dedicated time and effort. But doing so can help to ensure your organization is prepared to prioritize and support employee engagement amid constant change. Following the above steps will do wonders for enhancing your digital maturity and, ultimately, make your digital transformation more successful. There’s no better time to act than now.

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Digital PR: Building an Online Reputation and Boosting Visibility https://readwrite.com/digital-pr-building-an-online-reputation-and-boosting-visibility/ Sat, 16 Sep 2023 16:00:24 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=233846 Online Reputation and Visibility

In today’s hyper-connected digital world, businesses and individuals find themselves navigating a complex web of online interactions as the social […]

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Online Reputation and Visibility

In today’s hyper-connected digital world, businesses and individuals find themselves navigating a complex web of online interactions as the social benefits of internet usage far outweigh the negatives. With more than half of the world (60%) now using social media, the way people and businesses connect with each other has undergone drastic change.

Brands must now establish their presence in the digital space to stay competitive and relevant. Enter Digital PR, a strategic approach that combines traditional PR principles with digital media channels to reach a broader audience. It is a crucial tool for building an online reputation and enhancing visibility.

In this article, we will explore the significance of Digital PR, how it can help modern businesses, and various strategies to leverage its potential effectively.

Related: How to Make the Most of Your Public Relations

Why Digital PR Can Be a Game-changer for Your Business

In today’s day and age, having a strong online presence is a non-negotiable factor for success. Digital PR helps you achieve exactly that by using the digital landscape’s power to elevate your brand to new heights. Here’s how it can benefit your business:

Related: Why a Good Digital PR Strategy Is So Important

Boosting Visibility and Reliability through Media Outreach

According to AdWeek, 63% of adults actively talk about various products and services online, and 81% of adults read what people have said or posted about products and services. This highlights the importance of having a good digital PR strategy in place. Media coverage has always been essential for brands seeking to gain exposure, and Digital PR opens up new avenues for media outreach. Press releases, thought leadership articles, and expert interviews published on authoritative websites could significantly boost visibility and increase reliability.

Social Media Amplification

Social media is the heartbeat of the digital age, and Digital PR excels at leveraging these platforms. A survey reports that 76% of consumers look at a business’ online presence before physically visiting it. A good social media presence helps attract and retain interested customers.

Engaging with your audience on social media can foster brand loyalty, address concerns, and promote positive sentiment. Responsiveness and engagement on social media can also directly impact your brand’s reputation and online visibility.

SEO and Digital PR Synergy

Starting with SEO can be highly beneficial when looking to enhance your public relations and overall brand image. Although these two aspects may initially appear unrelated, they are closely interconnected.

PR and SEO cater to the same segment but differ in approach. PR focuses on creating appealing content to resonate with consumers, while SEO customizes content to achieve higher rankings and improve online visibility compared to competitors.

They both complement each other in the quest for online prominence. High-quality backlinks from reputable websites, earned through Digital PR efforts, are highly valued by search engines. Google considers backlinks one of the most important factors in its ranking.

Hence, by optimizing content for relevant keywords and securing valuable backlinks, Digital PR enhances your online visibility organically.

Related: Why Combining Public Relations and SEO Will Propel Your Business in Today’s Digital Landscape

Navigating Online Crises

In the digital landscape, crisis situations can escalate rapidly. Misinformation and negative sentiments can spread like wildfire, potentially harming your brand’s reputation.

Digital PR equips you with the tools to respond effectively to crises, manage online narratives, and minimize reputational damage. It helps you stay ahead of the narrative, taking control of the conversation surrounding your brand. By engaging in transparent and timely communication, Digital PR enables you to address concerns, correct inaccuracies, and reassure your audience.

Measuring Success with Data

Unlike traditional PR, Digital PR provides a wealth of data and analytics to gauge the success of your efforts accurately. Metrics such as website traffic, social media interaction, and media mentions provide vital information about the performance of your campaign. By analyzing these metrics, you may fine-tune your plan to achieve more significant results over time.

By utilizing these metrics, you can evaluate your performance and receive valuable feedback to enhance your brand’s image.

Effective Digital PR Strategies to Leverage

To harness the full potential of Digital PR, consider implementing the following strategies:

Storytelling: Craft compelling narratives that resonate with your target audience and evoke emotions. Human-centric stories are more likely to be shared, expanding your reach organically.

Influencer Partnerships: Connect with influencers in your industry to spread your brand’s message and reach a larger audience.

Content Distribution: Use a variety of digital channels such as blogs, social media, and online magazines to distribute your content efficiently.

Online Events: Host webinars, virtual conferences, or live streams to engage your audience and establish thought leadership in your field.

Data-Driven Insights: Leverage data and market research to support your PR campaigns and position your brand as an authoritative source of information.

Related: Break Through the Noise: 5 Hacks to Boost Your Public Relations Efforts in a Noisy Digital World

Combining Traditional PR Strategies With Digital Media Channels

Traditional and digital PR share the common objective of creating a favorable brand image, but choosing between the two depends on your target audience and the approach that produces the best results.

Building a solid online reputation and increasing visibility are critical for business success in the digital era.

Digital PR offers a strategic and data-driven approach to achieving these goals. By combining traditional PR principles with digital media channels, brands can create meaningful connections with their audience, navigate online crises, and stand out in a competitive landscape. Its ability to harness the power of online platforms, social media, and data analytics makes Digital PR an indispensable tool for modern businesses looking to thrive digitally.

Embrace Digital PR as your key to building an influential online reputation and establishing a lasting digital presence.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Pixaby; Pexels; Thank you!

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How Owning a Digital Agency Helps with Paying Less Taxes https://readwrite.com/how-owning-a-digital-agency-helps-with-paying-less-taxes/ Thu, 07 Sep 2023 16:00:50 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=237475 Owning a Digital Agency

The world of digital agencies is dynamic and ever-evolving. And in 2023, many agency owners are tightening their belts and […]

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Owning a Digital Agency

The world of digital agencies is dynamic and ever-evolving. And in 2023, many agency owners are tightening their belts and battening down the hatches as a recession looms. As the owner of such an agency, you can leverage various tax strategies to optimize your financial situation. Several avenues are available to savvy business owners, from investing in tax-advantaged assets like websites to hiring family members under a family management company. This article delves into four such strategies, including the Augusta strategy and the use of Section 125 of the IRS code, while also offering cautionary advice for each.

1. Investing in Tax-Advantaged Assets: Websites

Websites, in many cases, are considered intangible assets. The IRS permits the amortization of certain intangible assets, allowing business owners to deduct the asset’s cost over its useful life. As a digital agency, you’re uniquely positioned to continually reinvest in and develop new websites, which can potentially bring about substantial tax advantages.

Cautionary Advice: It’s crucial to consult with a tax professional to determine the correct amortization period and ensure that the websites you’re investing in are indeed eligible. Failing to assess these factors accurately can lead to potential complications with the IRS.

2. Hiring Family Members Using a Family Management Company

A popular tax-saving strategy among business owners is to hire family members through a family management company. This can lead to income splitting – effectively shifting income from higher tax brackets (yours) to lower ones (often those of younger family members). Plus, wages paid to family members are tax-deductible for the business.

Cautionary Advice: Ensuring that the wages paid are reasonable for the services provided is paramount. Overcompensating a family member can raise red flags. Additionally, ensure that the family member is genuinely performing a service for the company. Fictitious roles can lead to audits and penalties.

3. The Augusta Rule Strategy

The Augusta rule, originating from a tax court case involving the Masters Golf Tournament, permits homeowners to rent out their homes for up to 14 days a year without reporting the rental income. Digital agency owners can rent their personal residences to their agency for events, meetings, or retreats and receive tax-free rental income.

Cautionary Advice: While the Augusta strategy is a unique opportunity, there are specifics to be aware of. The rental rate must be fair market value. Moreover, you’ll need a legitimate business reason for the rental, and proper documentation, including rental agreements, is necessary. Ensure the rental doesn’t exceed 14 days in a tax year.

4. Using Section 125 to Offer Pre-Tax Health Benefits

Section 125 of the IRS code permits businesses to offer their employees a chance to receive certain benefits on a pre-tax basis. This means employees can lower their taxable income so that the business can reduce its payroll tax obligation. A popular choice under this section is the establishment of a cafeteria plan, allowing employees to pick and choose among various benefits, including health insurance.

Cautionary Advice: Setting up a Section 125 plan requires compliance with specific rules and regulations. Regular testing to ensure the plan doesn’t favor highly compensated employees over others is crucial. A failure to meet these requirements can result in the plan’s disqualification, leading to significant tax implications.

In Conclusion

Owning a digital agency offers numerous avenues to optimize your tax situation. Investing in websites, employing family members, leveraging the Augusta strategy, and utilizing Section 125 of the IRS code can unlock many financial benefits. However, as with any tax strategy, it’s crucial to proceed with caution and the guidance of a tax professional. Missteps can lead to penalties and unwanted attention from the IRS. By navigating these strategies wisely, digital agency owners can position their businesses for financial success while enjoying the perks of strategic tax planning.

Featured Image Credit: Kindel Media; Pexels; Thank you!

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Leverage Automatic Call Distribution to Improve Customer Experience https://readwrite.com/leverage-automatic-call-distribution-to-improve-customer-experience/ Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:00:13 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=231674 Automatic Call Distribution

Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) is a technology that helps businesses direct incoming calls to an appropriate agent or department based […]

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Automatic Call Distribution

Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) is a technology that helps businesses direct incoming calls to an appropriate agent or department based on a predefined set of rules. With this advanced technology, companies can improve. Customer experience by reducing wait times, increasing call resolution rates, and ensuring customers are connected to the right agent who can help them. It also helps businesses manage high call volumes and improve customer service.

Architectures of ACD and IVR systems

The key feature of an ACD system is to direct the customer calls to specific agents on their availability and skills. This way, customers don’t have to wait on call for long periods. Moreover, it assures the customers that customer service is a priority for businesses and tries to maintain a lasting relationship with them.

Talking to a knowledgeable and friendly agent is essential to customer service. Thus, businesses provide the required expertise to their agents to strengthen customer relationships. ACD systems also provide customer data so that issues generally faced by customers are resolved earlier. This helps reduce customer complaints to a large extent.

On the other hand, businesses have IVR (Interactive Voice Response) that works in collaboration with the automatic call distributor. Thus, the IVR system functions as a gateway to the ACD system. Together, they enable agents to provide more personalized customer services.
Therefore, if a contact center uses an IVR system for customer service, an ACD system provides enhanced functionality to enhance customer experience.

How can ACD Systems Improve Customer Experience?

Businesses’ primary objective in adopting a call management system is to make processes smooth and effortless for both customers and agents. This begins with finding the right agent for every customer with short waiting periods. An ACD system is equipped with numerous features, more than call routing.

Let us explore the article to learn how Automatic Call Systems can improve the customer experience.

Maximum Agent Productivity

With automated call routing, businesses ensure that customer calls are equally assigned, and agents work to their highest potential. Additionally, they can keep track of agents’ performance and give feedback with call monitoring.

Furthermore, analytics gives businesses an insight into the average call durations, calls attended in a day, queries resolved, etc. This helps businesses chart customer service strategies.

Cloud-based ACD software enables cloud contact center teams to work from any corner of the world, even in difficult situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Faster and Personalized Services

Call recording and CRM integration help agents resolve issues based on the caller data saved in the database. Therefore, customers spend less time explaining the context of their questions and complaints. The call queuing feature enlists callers waiting to interact with agents. The list can be further split to prioritize VIP customers over other callers. This helps businesses to achieve extreme customer satisfaction and retention of loyal customers.

Real-time Training for Agents

Call barging and whisper coaching methods are used to train agents while they are on call with customers. Managers can join calls in between if they think the agents cannot solve customer queries. The call continues with the customer without realizing that the manager is part of the call.

Improved First Call Resolution (FCR)

FCR is an essential parameter in examining the success of contact centers. Valuing their customer time is an integral part of a good customer experience.

Customers value businesses that resolve their problems in one go without following up with multiple calls. Some ways to fix this problem are connecting customers per their preferred language, reducing the waiting time, providing clear instructions, and automating call routing. These improvements thus help to enhance customer satisfaction.

24/7 Customer Service

Automatic Call Distribution has enabled customers to engage 24/7 without hiring extra agents at the contact centers. When IVR and ACD systems collaborate, businesses can offer 24/7 services to customers.

The IVR welcomes and records their message if a live agent cannot take a customer call. With an automatic callback, customers are notified about the estimated callback time and scheduled for a call as soon as an agent is available.

In some cases, pre-recorded messages independently help customers, cutting the need to speak to a representative.

Capacity Planning

ACD call center software keeps track of call volumes over time and uses this data to forecast future call volumes. This helps call centers effectively staff them by planning the required number of agents for any given day, week, or month.

Queue Callback

This feature lets customers select an option that lets them hang up and wait for an agent to return their call. This reduces pressure on agents to give half-hearted answers to take the next call and makes customers more comfortable waiting to be helped.

How can Fonada help you in ACD?

Fonada’s automatic call distributor (ACD) is known for its exceptional features, which include:
Empower business users with a user-friendly and intuitive interface to create and maintain skills-based routing flows that align with changing business needs.

Matching customers to suitable agents in intelligent routing that matches customer requests based on skills, natural language analysis, and AI-powered behavioral profiles.

Personalized customer experience by making customer data available for data-driven routing and personalized interactions for a better customer experience.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, any business’s ultimate aim is customer engagement and satisfaction. Agents will have a systematic work structure by collaborating new modern technologies like ACD and APIs in the contact centers. They can focus entirely on providing services rather than dealing with technical challenges.

Apart from scalability and cost savings, this software offers numerous other advantages that can help improve business operations.

Advanced features like auto-attendants, call recording, and virtual hold music are available with cloud call center solutions to enhance customer service. Additionally, businesses can benefit from robust reporting and analytics tools, which aid in tracking key performance indicators and making data-driven decisions about their operations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Antoni Shkraba; Pexels; Thank you!

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Leveraging Google Trends and AI to Create Viral Content https://readwrite.com/leveraging-google-trends-and-ai-to-create-viral-content/ Tue, 15 Aug 2023 18:00:21 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=234127 Data to Create Viral Content

By definition, viral trends are fleeting. But hopping on them at just the right time can yield massive, long-lasting success […]

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Data to Create Viral Content

By definition, viral trends are fleeting. But hopping on them at just the right time can yield massive, long-lasting success in marketing a product, brand, or service.

With an estimated 328.77 million terabytes of data created each day, it can be difficult for brands to find unique ways to reach and be remembered by potential customers. But brands have a greater chance of making a lasting connection if they can meet customers where they are and appeal to their interests.

Thinking about and connecting with future customers who might not yet be aware of your brand can help increase the likelihood that they will turn to you when ready to buy. This is where leveraging media trends, pop culture, and other global topics comes into play. By taking a trending topic or event and figuring out how it becomes relevant for your brand, customers are more likely to remember you the next time they need a solution.

While participating in every trend may seem tempting, brand alignment is crucial in developing a successful marketing campaign.

So how can brands leverage trends to attract potential customers?

Be creative with your content. Start by opening your mind to the potential ways your brand’s solutions can join the conversation and take it to the next level by leaning into your arsenal of assets to explore trends with less restriction than you might have to exercise with paid or earned media.

Google: Your Always-on Focus Group

When mapping out a brand’s audience and needs, Google is a valuable asset in a marketer’s toolkit. It is incredibly accurate in its ability to reveal the current demands of real people searching for solutions at any given time, so Google serves as your always-on focus group.

Successfully harvesting Google’s sophisticated search data allows brands to develop better consumer behavior insights, add depth to their customer profiles, build a more engaging customer journey, and create authentic consumer connections. They can strengthen strategies and drive meaningful business outcomes when paired with other consumer research and insights.

Understanding consumer search data is a critical step for brands to gain the insights necessary to build relationships with consumers by gaining their trust, building a connection, and establishing authenticity, which will help convert prospects into customers.

Identify Trends That Fit Your Brand

Brands that successfully identify what content and topics target consumers are reading about, searching for, and discussing, can capture more attention in real-time. However, it’s critical to use data in this identification, not just gut feelings. Marketers risk allowing their strategies to be based on siloed personal opinions without actionable consumer insights. Google Trends, for example, provides brands with an evolving supply of organic search data, revealing an unfiltered landscape of their audience’s pain points, interests, and curiosities.

This collection of accurate data provides a real-time snapshot of current trending topics. What would Google Trends reveal in a search today? Two of the most popular concepts right now: AI and Barbie.

While brands have managed to successfully leverage one or the other, combining two trending concepts (when it’s relevant for your brand, of course) will create a more significant opportunity for brands to reach larger, more diverse audiences.

By producing fun, timely content that aligns with consumer interests, brands can build a large library of content to be used across multiple channels, including their websites, targeted earned media opportunities, email newsletters, social posts, and organic searches to maximize the value of each asset.

Let’s look at an example.

It’s a Barbie and AI World

Data collected over the past five years shows the term “Barbie” peaked in search interest the week of Dec. 23, 2018, with just over 1.9 million searches. This was around the same time as the announcement of a same-sex Barbie couple and a video of actor Jason Mamoa reading out the “Barbie Girl” lyrics during the Aquaman press tour.

Ahead of the Barbie film’s release in July 2023, Barbie-related Google searches peaked at 5.4 million from March 25 to April 21. Following the release of a teaser trailer on April 4, the term “Barbie” yielded 2.2 million searches that week alone.

Quite literally painting the world in various shades of pink, the marketing rollout behind the Barbie film has left a mark in nearly every industry.

While makeup, fashion, and decor align more closely with the Barbie image on the surface, vacation rentals, insurance companies, and video game console manufacturers have found clever ways to connect with the film and its audience, organically continuing the film’s marketing momentum.

Barbie has even made its way into the tech space. Looking up the word ‘Barbie’ in Google generates a flash of starbursts and casts a pink tint over the search results page. Combined with AI, another trending topic, more brands and consumers have found ways to join in the fun.

AI-powered art has led to wide adoption of the technology on social media. The popular Barbie selfie generator overlaid users’ images and personalized taglines over the movie poster. TikTok users took it a step further by bringing a different third-party filter to the app that completely transforms the user into a Barbie character. AI also led to new, realistic iterations of Barbie’s dreamhouse to show what the dollhouse might look like in different states across the U.S. or when designed by famous architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Zara Hadid.

Recognizing the popularity of both topics is the first step for brands to join a trend. The next is figuring out if it makes sense for your brand to connect with both issues and, if so, how to apply AI technology to the mounting interest in Barbie. By using generative AI to add Barbie’s touch to selfies and architecture, brands were able to identify places where audiences could easily assimilate into the narrative, connecting them to consumers while also building brand awareness.

While joining in trends might not lead to direct conversions, brands become more memorable and visible by inserting themselves into current interests and generating related content. This connection invites consumers to build trust with your brand before joining the buyer’s journey.

Try Out Different Trends

Once your brand has identified relevant trends, brainstorm opportunities for content creation. Consider topics like record-high temperatures, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Meta’s launch of Threads. How can your brand take advantage of the interest surrounding these topics?

First, create owned assets related to this consumer interest data. This might include a blog post discussing protecting your products in extreme heat or generating images of what it might look like to host a world cup game with star players in Barbie Land.

Next, share this content on social media, in ads, or email campaigns to grow your content as managed assets. Invite your followers to provide tips or insert their own likenesses for added engagement. Finally, work with influencers or news organizations to develop additional content. Leveraging influencers and their followers can result in a viral moment that leads consumers back to your brand.

While consumers research brands to find more information about products, services, and other offerings they may need now or in the future; they place a greater emphasis on forming relationships with authentic brands they can trust.

If your brand can become a part of their daily lives by offering them engaging content that appeals to their interests each day—and shows that your brand is engaged with the latest trends — consumers will be more likely to build a connection with your brand and look to you when they are ready to enter the buyer’s journey.

Featured Image Credit: Anna Shvets; Pexels; Thank you!

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Key Developments and Trends in the Internet of Things (IoT) https://readwrite.com/key-developments-and-trends-in-the-internet-of-things-iot/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 19:00:34 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=230106 Developments in IoT

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) continues its expansion across the economy, reshaping whole industries. Current trends are expected to continue, and some […]

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Developments in IoT

The Internet-of-Things (IoT) continues its expansion across the economy, reshaping whole industries. Current trends are expected to continue, and some new trends will emerge. The IoT is likely to enter the healthcare industry and continue to expand in the remote work sphere. More IoT applications are expected to provide benefits through higher productivity and efficiency. This article considers the top 10 trends in IoT technology and its impact on the world.

More active penetration of IoT into the retail sector

E-commerce has been growing immensely, winning its market share in the retail industry. Due to globalization and technological developments, the retail industry has shifted dramatically from brick-and-mortar supermarkets and malls to online shopping or e-commerce. In the coming years, we are likely to see even more innovation in the sector sparked by the development of the IoT. Amazon is about to offer a model of fully integrated supermarkets. Automation of the spread of the IoT is expected to continue and even accelerate in the upcoming years.

More growth in remote working driven by the IoT

One key trend related to technology is the rise of remote working. An increasing number of companies shifted to remote work. However, productivity suffered due to the shift to remote working, and communication issues resurfaced. This is where the IoT comes in. Many companies already apply the technology, and the trend is not limited to tech companies. The IoT allows businesses to increase efficiency and productivity through more cooperation and better operations control because of increased automation.

The IoT and healthcare sector

Another trend associated with the IoT is its increasing influence on the healthcare sector. Last year the technological revolution expanded in the industry due to new and unprecedented challenges in the healthcare system. This is represented by increased automation in the sector. Next year we will likely see the continuation of the IoT spread into medicine. This may include more automated medical devices and innovative data management. Therefore, investment in the IoT in health care will likely substantially increase in the years ahead.

The rise of “smart building” technology in the construction industry

The construction industry is also likely to be affected by the IoT. In addition to 3D models, the IoT is expected to transform industrial operations and change safety standards. Next year we are more likely to see a shift in the industry toward more worker health and safety. The IoT is expected to help construction companies create a more protected environment without hurting financial results. New technologies will comply with strict work safety standards and will be cost-efficient at the same time.

IoT and the Smart City

The concept of “smart city” is getting more popular today. More and more cities have embarked on this idea and invested heavily in smart city projects. The concept is closely related to the IoT, which can be used to monitor traffic or public transport effectively. In addition, the IoT can handle sustainability, which is also part of the Smart City. The IoT can monitor and run electricity in homes to improve efficiency and accelerate the use of smart homes. Furthermore, the concept is in its early years of development. Even more progress will likely occur as more digital solutions will appear further to improve the IoT and the Smart City concept.

Edge computing and the IoT

Edge computing is another trend likely to happen in the coming years. The edge is also associated with the IoT and big data, specifically. The IoT will help accelerate the development of edge computing and its use in data management and cloud space. Edge computing will enable electronic devices to gather and analyze the data they possess instead of exchanging with clouds, thereby improving speed and reducing costs. The IoT is an integral part of the trend in edge computing.

IoT and the big data

Another trend to see is the rise of big data driven by innovations and the growing applicability of the IoT. The influence of the data has already increased massively over the last decade. This trend will likely continue and intensify in the coming years. In this case, the IoT is the engine of the data revolution that drives growth and expansion by powering new devices and facilitating big data gathering and data management.

More expansion across industries

The IoT emerged from smart homes and smartwatches, but its applicability is not limited to only electronic futures from the electronics industry. The IoT is likely to expand in other industries and bring more innovations. Furthermore, the macroeconomic instability in the aftermath of the pandemic and increased pressure on healthcare will bring more innovation to the industry. The same is true for other industries, as more competition will ignite the spread of the IoT across the economy.

The exponential expansion of “smart homes” that is driven by IoT

Millions of smart home devices are already, and this trend is expected to continue. The IoT is almost everywhere in the space. Whether it is Alexa, Nest, or any other device used in the smart home, it is driven by the IoT. Next year will probably bring even more speed and innovation to the sector.

The IoT and digitalization

The IoT is closely related to digitalization. Over the last decade, the digital economy has flourished spectacularly. This trend is expected to continue in the future. The IoT is almost a perfect solution for building digital twins. The trend for more digitalization will likely continue in engineering, construction, and architecture.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Pexels; Thank you!

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Maximize These Human Traits to Work in Harmony With AI https://readwrite.com/maximize-these-human-traits-to-work-in-harmony-with-ai/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 22:40:25 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=232857 Maximize Human Traits

Well before ChatGPT gained widespread recognition and became a well-known entity, I shared the stage with Nicholas Thompson, then editor-in-chief of Wired. During […]

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Maximize Human Traits

Well before ChatGPT gained widespread recognition and became a well-known entity, I shared the stage with Nicholas Thompson, then editor-in-chief of Wired. During his presentation, Thompson stated that he believes AI will replace 20% of all occupations by 2030.

At the time, this declaration seemed outlandish. How could a robot replace 1 in 5 workers? But today, this outcome is far from fiction. Just look at IBM, which recently announced that it expects 30% of its noncustomer-facing workforce to be displaced by AI over the next five years.

Don’t Fear AI

The future is here, and for the first time in history, it’s highly skilled labor at risk of losing jobs to robots. But even with the uncertainty it brings, I do not believe AI should be treated as our enemy. In fact, just the opposite.

Workers should embrace AI because it’ll take over the tedious, repetitive parts of our jobs, freeing us up to leverage the skills that make us uniquely human: creativity, intuition, empathy, and imagination.

Here’s why capitalizing on these human traits is essential to work in harmony with AI:

Creativity

Thanks to Amazon Prime, a constant stream of cardboard boxes clogs up my recycling bin. But what is a nuisance today once was an outlet for endless creativity.

To a 6-year-old, a box can be anything: a castle, a rocket ship, a fort, a kitchen. At this age, our creativity knows no bounds. But then we go to school and work, and most of us are told, “You’re not creative,” or “Leave those ideas to the creative team.” And over time, we end up believing we’re not creative.

But creativity is more than the ability to paint or play music. It’s the ability to solve problems in unique ways.

To connect seemingly unconnected ideas. A skill that AI will struggle to master with its linear thinking, no matter how advanced it gets.

Intuition

Have you ever experienced the sensation of someone’s eyes fixed on you from across a coffee shop, only to look up and meet their gaze? How did you know they were looking? Intuition: A survival engine hardwired into our inner “reptilian” brain that drives our subconscious. Think about the decisions you make every day. The dress you wear, the restaurant you visit, the music you listen to. These are not rational decisions made by your outer, conscious brain but by your inner, subconscious brain.

While our outer brain allows us to synthesize all the big quantitative data in front of us to find core insights, our inner, intuitive brain enables us to take all that data, match it up with our qualitative findings, and take the leap toward action. And it’s this symbiotic relationship between our inner and outer brains that makes humans uniquely capable of uncovering massive innovation. Though AI will undoubtedly be able to help us parse through data, it will struggle to have those “gut feelings” that connect data and insights in unique ways that unlock hidden potential.

Empathy

Empathy is one of the most important emotions to create buy-in for your ideas. The writers at Pixar are excellent at using empathy to connect with their audience. In “WALL-E,” audiences worldwide empathized with a voiceless robot. Why? Because at the beginning of the film, there’s a scene where WALL-E watches a clip from “Hello, Dolly!” In his eyes, the audience sees that WALL-E wants to be loved more than anything. And that’s a feeling we all can empathize with, even if it’s coming from an animated robot.

Empathy empowers you to look past the data and deeply engage with others’ experiences, enabling you to speak about what truly matters to them.

The shared human experience drives it — something AI will struggle to understand.

Imagination

When President John F. Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade,” he didn’t have any idea about how it would be achieved. Had he possessed a robust knowledge of space travel, he might not have given this iconic speech, choosing instead to believe that a moon landing was impossible. But he led with his imagination and believed the U.S. had the people, resources, and willpower to achieve this audacious goal. And he was right. His declaration was so profound that it gave birth to the phrase “moonshot thinking.

Humans are engineered to dream. AI, on the other hand, educates itself on reality, things that have already happened in the past. It lacks the human imagination, which is precisely what’s needed to push humanity forward.

Working With AI in Harmony

As AI becomes more intelligent, we must become more creative, intuitive, empathetic, and imaginative.

Instead of taking your entire job, proactively find ways to let AI take over the mundane, repetitive, and time-consuming tasks, so you can redirect your energy on delivering a human touch to your role.

While AI might one day replicate these core human traits, I don’t believe that day is coming anytime soon. The coming decade belongs to those of us who can leverage these uniquely human skills to disrupt and innovate the next wave of incredible discoveries. The good news is that you don’t have to learn anything new. These traits have been with you all along. You just need to find them.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Toa Heftiba; Unsplash; Thank you!

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9 Ways to Improve Your Online Presence in 2023 https://readwrite.com/ways-to-improve-your-online-presence-in-2023/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:47:59 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=230057 Improve Your Online Presence today!

Establishing a robust online presence is imperative for businesses seeking sustainable growth and increased visibility in the ever-evolving digital landscape. […]

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Improve Your Online Presence today!

Establishing a robust online presence is imperative for businesses seeking sustainable growth and increased visibility in the ever-evolving digital landscape. This comprehensive guide will outline eight crucial steps every business should undertake to improve its online presence. By implementing these strategies, you can position your business for success and outrank competitors in the digital realm.

1. Develop a User-Friendly Website

To captivate online visitors and enhance their browsing experience, it is paramount to have a well-designed and user-friendly website. Ensure your website is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and optimized for various devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Incorporate intuitive menus, clear calls-to-action (CTAs), and visually engaging elements to guide users seamlessly through your website’s content.ll

2. Create a Visual Aspect That Leaves a Lasting Impression

A visually captivating logo and a well-defined brand color scheme are vital to establishing a solid and memorable brand identity. Let’s explore how incorporating these visual elements can enhance your online presence.

Design an Eye-Catching Logo

Your logo visually represents your brand and can leave a lasting impression on potential customers. It should be unique, easily recognizable, and reflective of your brand’s values and personality. Consider the following principles when designing your logo:

  • Simplicity: Aim for a clean and uncluttered design that is easily understandable.
  • Memorability: Create a distinctive and memorable logo, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
  • Relevance: Ensure your company logo aligns with your brand’s identity, industry, and target audience.
  • Versatility: Design a company logo that can be scaled and adapted for various platforms, including websites, social media profiles, print materials, and signage.

Select an Appropriate Colour Scheme

Colors evoke emotions and play a crucial role in brand perception. Choose a color scheme that resonates with your brand’s values, personality, and target audience. Consider the following factors when selecting your brand’s color palette:

  • Brand Identity: Determine the emotions and qualities you want your brand to convey. For example, blue can signify trust and professionalism, while yellow can evoke feelings of energy and optimism.
  • Audience Preferences: Research your target audience’s preferences and cultural associations with colors. Different colors can have varying meanings across different demographics and cultures.
  • Color Harmony: Select a harmonious combination of colors that work well together and provide visual cohesion. Consider using color theory principles such as complementary, analogous, or monochromatic color schemes.

Investing in a well-designed logo and a thoughtfully selected color scheme can enhance your brand’s recognition, establish a consistent visual identity, and leave a lasting impression on your target audience.

3. Implement Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Strategies

Enhancing your website’s visibility in search engine results is crucial for attracting organic traffic. Optimize your website using targeted keywords relevant to your industry and niche. Furthermore, conduct thorough keyword research to identify high-value keywords your target audience will likely search for. Incorporate these keywords strategically within your website’s content, meta tags, URLs, and headings to increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.

a. Conduct Keyword Research

Keyword research is the base of successful SEO. You’ll want to identify words you will use throughout your content that are relevant to your customers and align with your industry. Check if your target audience uses search to find what they want.

Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Moz Keyword Explorer.

b. Optimise On-Page Elements

On-page optimization involves optimizing various elements within your website to make it search engine-friendly and user-friendly. Pay attention to the following elements:

  • Title Tags: Craft unique, concise, and keyword-rich title tags for each page. Place the primary keyword towards the beginning of the title tag to maximize its impact.
  • Meta Descriptions: Write compelling meta descriptions summarising each page’s content. While meta descriptions do not directly impact rankings, they influence click-through rates (CTR) and can drive more traffic to your website.
  • Headers and Subheadings: Organise your content using headers (H1, H2, H3, etc.) and subheadings to improve readability and help search engines understand the structure of your content. Incorporate relevant keywords in these headings to signal the content’s relevance.
  • Then, URL Structure: Create user-friendly URLs that are concise, descriptive, and include targeted keywords. Avoid using numbers, symbols, or generic parameters in your URLs.
  • Keyword Optimization: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout your content, including in the opening paragraph, headings, subheadings, and body text. However, avoid keyword stuffing, as it can harm your rankings.

d. Build High-Quality Backlinks

  • Earning high-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites is a fundamental aspect of SEO. Backlinks act as votes of confidence and signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy and valuable.

4. Create High-Quality and Engaging Content

Content is king in the digital realm. Producing high-quality, informative, and engaging content is a powerful way to establish credibility, attract visitors, and encourage repeat visits. Develop a content strategy that aligns with your target audience’s needs and interests. Moreover, regularly publish blog posts, articles, videos, infographics, and other forms of content that offer value and keep your audience informed and entertained.

5. Build a Strong Social Media Presence

Harness the power of social media platforms to amplify your online reach and connect with your target audience. Create and maintain active profiles on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, depending on your business type. Regularly share compelling content, engage with your followers, and foster meaningful conversations to cultivate a loyal community around your brand.

6. Leverage Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing has emerged as a potent strategy to expand your online presence and reach new audiences. Identify influential personalities, bloggers, or industry experts whose values align with your brand’s identity. Collaborate with them to create content, reviews, or endorsements highlighting your products or services. By leveraging the influence of these individuals, you can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and credibility.

7. Harness the Potential of Email Marketing

Email marketing remains a highly effective tool for nurturing leads, fostering customer loyalty, and driving conversions. Build a subscriber list by offering valuable incentives such as exclusive content, discounts, or free resources.

Craft engaging newsletters, personalized offers, and automated email sequences to deliver relevant and targeted messages to your subscribers. Segment your email list based on user preferences and behaviors to enhance the effectiveness of your campaigns.

According to oberlo.com (Email has made its way from simple messages between academics to widespread global usage. In 2022, the number of email users worldwide was forecast at 4.3 billion (Statista, 2021). This figure is set to grow to 4.6 billion in 2025, making up more than half of the expected world population.

8. Optimise for Local Search

For businesses with a physical presence, optimizing for local search is essential. Claim and optimize your business listings on prominent online directories such as Google My Business, Bing Places, and Yelp. Ensure that your business information, including name, address, phone number (NAP), and operating hours, is accurate and consistent across all platforms. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, significantly influencing local search rankings.

9. Analyse and Adapt

Tracking and analyzing your website’s performance and user behavior is crucial to continually enhancing your online presence. Utilize analytics tools such as Google Analytics to gain insights into key metrics like website traffic, bounce rate, conversion rate, and user demographics.

Also, Identify areas of improvement, experiment with different strategies, and adapt your approach based on data-driven insights to optimize your online presence effectively.

Conclusion

In today’s digital landscape, businesses must prioritize their online presence to thrive and surpass competitors.

By following these eight essential steps – developing a user-friendly website, implementing SEO strategies, creating high-quality content, building a solid social media presence, leveraging influencer marketing, harnessing the potential of email marketing, optimizing for local search, and analyzing and adapting.

you can strengthen your online presence, attract a larger audience, and achieve sustainable business growth. Embrace these strategies and unlock the immense potential of the digital realm for your business.

Featured Image Credit: Monster; Pexels; Thank you!

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Top 10 Web Development Companies In USA 2023 https://readwrite.com/top-10-web-development-companies-in-usa-2023/ Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:48 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=224561 Top 10 Web Development Companies In USA 2023

As internet availability has grown, companies have realized why it is necessary to have and maintain an online presence—pointing to […]

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Top 10 Web Development Companies In USA 2023

As internet availability has grown, companies have realized why it is necessary to have and maintain an online presence—pointing to the need for companies to embrace online marketing, social media, and other forms of online connection. A website plays a pivotal role when bridging the gap between businesses and customers.

A well-designed, functional, smooth website with customer reviews can grab the most clients’ attention compared to a business that doesn’t have a website. Here, a website opens the door for clear communication between the company and its potential clients.

Website creation is now one of the topmost priorities for all types of businesses. If you’re a business that wants to take the next step and launch a website but needs help finding where to start looking for a top web development company in the USA, this blog will significantly help you.

List of Top 10 Web Development Companies in USA 2023

1. eSparkBiz

eSparkBiz - Leading Web Development Company

Regarding information technology, eSparkBiz is easily one of the market leaders in the industry. Situated in the United States, eSparkBiz CMMI Level 3 accreditation and ISO 9001:2008 certification. They’ve been around for nearly a decade, and their industry knowledge is comprehensive. With their top priority being financial success, customer gratification, and developing long-term relationships, it is no surprise that their user rating is as high as 95%. Positive reviews from CEOs of various companies can be found on Clutch and HubSpot.

Working with them is a breeze because of their team of specialists that see your project through from inception to completion. To attract and retain a talented development staff, they use cutting-edge resources, code agilely, and provide many career paths. On top of that, there’s the option for the 15-day FREE trial, which lets you test the services you’re getting. eSparkBiz has much to offer for those looking for the best services on a pocket-friendly budget. Their

Provided Services:

Services include but are not limited to UI/UX backend frontend, AI & AR/VR, ML, and DevOps experts.

2. Techugo

Techugo

Techugo was established in 2015 and is based in the United States. However, with several branches in India and Dubai, they can handle offshore operations with ease and efficiency. With over 120+ IT professionals, this IT firm can head the market leaders. But when it comes to creating custom mobile app development, Techugo has an unparalleled service.

In just 24 months, Techugo has provided reliable and easy-to-use mobile app solutions for medium and big businesses in healthcare, telecommunications, retail, banking and finance, food and online shopping, and business sectors. From Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Airtel to Godfrey Phillips, StyleMatch, India TV, and StyleMatch – Techugo is spreading its branches all across.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are mobile app development, web design, software development, and quality assurance management.

3. LanternSol

lanternsol

Next on our list of top web development companies in USA stands the IT company LanternSol. The company is committed to serving a global client base and achieving business excellence. As per the reviews, the company is very good at providing market-focused, web-based IT solutions and digital marketing solutions tailored to each client. The company has a team of developers, designers, and project managers who are highly motivated and efficient. They have experience building rich websites and delivering e-commerce, healthcare, and ERP solutions.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are Web Development, PPC, Video, SEO, Email Marketing, Branding & Design, and audit.

4. Computools

Computools

Computools was founded on the premise that companies of varying sizes can benefit from high-quality software development services. The group is helping many renowned firms worldwide with innovative technical solutions. The company is more than capable of handling and assisting both new and established small and medium-sized enterprises. This one can be the best option for startups and those looking for pocket-friendly software solutions.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are IT consulting services, product development services, web development services, enterprise software development, UX/UI design services, and AI development services.

5. OweBest Technologies

OweBest Technologies

Next on the list of top web development companies in USA 2023 is Owebest Technology, with its headquarters in India and sales offices in the United States, Canada, and Dubai; it is pretty popular as a leading provider of custom software, mobile app development, and website design and development services.

Decision Analysis and Resolution, Integrated Project Management, Organizational Process Design, Organizational Training, and many more are all part of the processes that make up the bullet list. The organization uses reliable methods to guarantee that all its projects are completed on schedule while maintaining strict quality requirements.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are Website Development Services, Mobile App Development Services, ERP Software Development, Blockchain Development Services, SaaS Services, Enterprise Application Development, CRM Development, and Custom Software Development.

6. Utility

Utility

Utility collaborates with cutting-edge businesses, from sole proprietorships to multinational conglomerates, to produce breakthrough mobile and web applications. The utility was established by digital industry veterans who have worked on both the client and agency sides at places like McCann Erickson and Major League Baseball. The team includes leading software developers, designers, and strategists for digital products.

The utility is a full-service mobile product design and development organization specializing in creating apps and other mobile-centric enterprises. The utility was founded by digital industry veterans who have worked on both sides of the table and are in the spotlight at places like McCann Erickson and Major League Baseball.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are Programming for Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android, Microsoft’s Windows Phone, Mozilla Firefox OS, Opera, and various other web-based browsers and operating systems, creating mobile games, and designing user interfaces

7. Aryavrat Infotech

Aryavrat Infotech

To help their clients turn their ideas or businesses into high-performing enterprises, the professionals at SF-based Aryavrat Infotech Inc. use software development and advisory services. The organization has built a solid clientele in many nations, including the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Singapore, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Australia.

The company’s priority is helping its customers gain a sustainable competitive advantage through increased dependability, speed, and agility. Aryavrat Infotech Inc. helps its customers make their businesses better together.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are Web Application Development, Mobile Application Development, Desktop Application Development, Product Engineering, Software Consulting, IT Recruiting & Training, Salesforce CRM, and IT Business Development.

8. Major Tom

Major Tom

Major Tom is the latest generation of digital marketing, a comprehensive firm designed to help businesses succeed in today’s competitive environment. The company consists of experts from around the globe who are experts in their fields to form the best possible team.

Since 2000, they have provided services to our partners from our three locations in New York, Toronto, and Vancouver. Moreover, the company has incorporated the strategic expertise of a prestigious consulting firm with the practical experience and cutting-edge tools of a pioneering advertising firm. In July 2018, 6S Marketing and Drive Digital merged to form what is now called Major Tom.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are WordPress Development, Custom Web Development, Digital Strategy, Content Marketing, Social Media, UX/UI Design, Digital Strategy, and eCommerce Development.

9. KeyIdeas Infotech

KeyIdeas Infotech

Next on our list is the top 10 web development companies — KeyIdeas. It is a world-class digital agency in Delhi NCR, India, and Orlando, Florida, USA. It is an IT services company that has won awards and focuses on making web and mobile apps. Customers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Europe, Australia, and Asia have used these services for over ten years.

They have been called the best mobile app development companies by GoodFirms, CrowdReviews, Clutch, and other review sites. The company started in 2007 as a small business specializing in making software. Since then, we’ve grown into a full-service web design company with many products and services.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are mobile app development; e-commerce website development; user interface and user experience design; and online marketing.

10. Auxesis Infotech

Auxesis Infotech

Auxesis Infotech creates digital platforms that bridge the gap between humans and machines. Engineering prowess forms the backbone of the company’s operations. Auxesis Infotech creates digital products that will stand the test of time because of their decades of design and industry experience. The company helps businesses gain a competitive edge by focusing on innovation, user interaction and engagement, and time-to-market. They have access to cutting-edge technologies, they have gained customers worldwide who need advanced software solutions to solve their most pressing problems in a way that is both modern and easy to use. With the help of a committed, experienced, and professional design team of carefully chosen experts, you can finish your project on time.

Provided Services:

The main offerings are Product Design Strategy, Digital Design & Branding, UI/UX Design Audit & Consulting, Web Development, Mobile App Development, Web Development, and Mobile App Development.

Conclusion

A good website is crucial because it connects your business and your customers. After all, your website is always there to represent your business, even when you’re not there. It encourages customers to do business with you whenever and wherever they want.

A website is always good for your business because it makes users more interested and increases sales. Here is a list of the top web development companies in the USA specializing in creating bespoke corporate websites and applications.

Please read up on these companies and learn about them — then choose the one that suits your requirements.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!

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Best iPhone Chargers of 2023 https://readwrite.com/best-iphone-chargers/ Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:00:09 +0000 https://readwrite.com/?p=226232 best iphone charger with minimalistic red background

Many companies featured on ReadWrite partner with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and in-depth research determine how products […]

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best iphone charger with minimalistic red background

Many companies featured on ReadWrite partner with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and in-depth research determine how products may be selected and ranked. Learn more about how we make money.

As we continue through 2023, the iPhone has become an essential part of our lives, serving as a communication device, a camera, a music player, and more. However, even with the advancements in battery technology, the need for a reliable and efficient iPhone charger remains paramount. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one. That’s why we’ve done the research and compiled a list of the best iPhone chargers of 2023, taking into account factors such as charging speed, compatibility, durability, and portability. Whether you’re looking for a fast charger for your iPhone 13, a wireless charger for your iPhone 12, or a portable charger for on-the-go use, this article has got you covered.

Table Comparison of All Options

Charger Model Type Charging Speed Compatibility Durability Portability Price
Juusmart iPhone Fast Charging Wired 20W iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro 8/10 6/10 $20.99
Anker USB C, 735 Wired 20W iPhone 12 and later, iPad Pro 9/10 7/10 $25.99
iWalk Leopard Charger Wired 20W iPhone 12 and later, iPad Pro 7/10 8/10 $21.99
Apple MagSafe Charger Wireless 15W iPhone 8 and later, AirPods 9/10 8/10 $39.00
UCOMX Nano 3 in 1 Wireless Wireless 15W iPhone 8 and later, AirPods, Watch 8/10 6/10 $39.99
Antmz Charging Station Wireless 10W iPhone 8 and later, AirPods, Watch 7/10 7/10 $33.99
Yootech Wireless Charger Wireless 10W iPhone 8 and later, AirPods 7/10 8/10 $13.99
REDKJY Wireless Charging Station Wireless 10W iPhone 8 and later, AirPods, Watch 6/10 7/10 $28.99
KKD Portable Charger Wired 20W iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro 7/10 9/10 $19.99
iWalk Small Portable Charger Wired 20W iPhone 12 and later, iPad Pro 8/10 9/10 $24.99
Miady 2-Pack Portable Charger Wired 20W iPhone 12 and later, iPad Pro 8/10 7/10 $27.99
Miiso Ultra Slim Battery Pack Wired 10W iPhone 8 and later, AirPods 6/10 9/10 $14.99
iWalk Portable Charger Wired 10W iPhone 8 and later, AirPods 7/10 8/10 $19.99

Note: The ratings for durability and portability are subjective and based on personal opinion. Prices may vary depending on the retailer and location.

Best iPhone Fast Chargers

juusmart iPhone Fast Charging Charger

juusmart iphone charger

The juusmart iPhone Fast Charging Charger is an efficient and reliable charger that offers a 9/10 rating for its fast charging capabilities and multiple safety features.

Features:

  • Fast charging capabilities
  • Multiple safety features
  • Compact and lightweight design

View on Amazon

Anker USB C, 735 Charger

anker iphone charger

The Anker USB C, 735 Charger is a powerful and reliable charger with a rating of 9/10.

Features:

  • Fast charging with up to 45W of power
  • Compatible with USB-C devices
  • Includes a 6ft USB-C to USB-C cable

View on Amazon

iWalk Leapard Charger

iwalk leapard iphone charger

The iWalk Leapard Charger is a reliable and efficient charging device with a rating of 8/10.

Features:

  • Compatible with most Apple devices
  • Fast charging capabilities
  • Lightweight and portable design

View on Amazon

Best iPhone Wireless Chargers

Apple MagSafe Charger

apple magsafe iphone charger

The Apple MagSafe Charger is a reliable and convenient charging solution for Apple devices, rated 9/10.

Features:

  • Magnetic connection for easy alignment and disconnection
  • LED light to indicate charging status
  • Overcharge protection for safe charging

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UCOMX Nano 3 in 1 Wireless Charger

ucomx iphone charger

The UCOMX Nano 3 in 1 Wireless Charger is a convenient and efficient charging solution, rated 8/10, with features such as:

  • 3-in-1 charging capability for Qi-enabled devices
  • Fast charging technology
  • Sleek and compact design

View on Amazon

Antmz Charging Station

 

The Antmz Charging Station is a convenient and efficient way to charge multiple devices at once, rating 8/10.

antmyz iphone charger

Features:

  • Charges up to 4 devices simultaneously
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Built-in surge protection for safety

View on Amazon

Yootech Wireless Charger

yootech iphone charger

The Yootech Wireless Charger is an efficient and reliable way to charge your devices, rated 8/10.

Features:

  • Qi-certified and compatible with all Qi-enabled devices
  • 7.5W fast charging for iPhone Xs Max/XR/XS/X/8/8 Plus
  • 10W fast charging for Samsung Galaxy S10/S10 Plus/S10E/S9/S9 Plus/S8/S8 Plus/Note 9/Note 8/S7/S7 Edge/Note 5

View on Amazon

REDKJY Wireless Charging Station

redkjy iphone charger

The REDKJY Wireless Charging Station is a convenient and efficient way to charge multiple devices at once, with a rating of 8/10.

Features:

  • Supports up to 4 devices at once
  • Fast charging with up to 10W of power
  • Compatible with all Qi-enabled devices

View on Amazon

Best iPhone Portable Chargers

KKD Portable Charger

kkd iphone charger

The KKD Portable Charger is a reliable and powerful device that allows you to charge your devices on the go, rating 8/10.

Features:

  • Compact and lightweight design
  • High-speed charging
  • Multiple USB ports for simultaneous charging

View on Amazon

iWALK Small Portable Charger

iwalk iphone charger

The iWALK Small Portable Charger is a convenient and powerful device that can charge your devices on the go, rating 8/10.

Features:

  • Compact and lightweight design
  • High capacity of 10000mAh
  • Dual USB ports for simultaneous charging

View on Amazon

Miady 2-Pack Portable Charger

miady iphone charger

The Miady 2-Pack Portable Charger is a reliable and convenient way to charge your devices on the go, rating 8/10.

Features:

  • Dual USB ports for simultaneous charging
  • Built-in LED flashlight
  • Compact and lightweight design

View on Amazon

Miiso Ultra Slim Battery Pack

miiso iphone charger

The Miiso Ultra Slim Battery Pack is a sleek and powerful portable charger that is perfect for on-the-go charging, rated 8/10.

Features:

  • Ultra slim design for easy portability
  • High capacity 10000mAh battery
  • Dual USB ports for simultaneous charging of two devices

View on Amazon

iWALK Portable Charger

iwalk iphone charger

The iWALK Portable Charger is a convenient and reliable way to charge your devices on the go, rating 8/10.

Features:

  • Compact and lightweight design
  • High capacity battery
  • Built-in USB port for charging multiple devices simultaneously

View on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q2: How do I choose the best iPhone charger for my specific device?

A2: To choose the ideal charger for your iPhone, consider factors such as charging speed, cable length, portability, durability, and compatibility with your iPhone model. The article “Best iPhone Chargers” will guide you through these factors and help you make an informed decision.

Q3: Are all iPhone chargers compatible with every iPhone model?

A3: No, not all chargers are compatible with every iPhone model. Compatibility depends on the iPhone model, charging cable, and power adapter you are using. The article provides details on which chargers are suitable for specific iPhone models.

Q4: What is the difference between a wired charger and a wireless charger?

A4: A wired charger connects to your iPhone via a charging cable, typically a Lightning to USB cable. A wireless charger, on the other hand, allows you to charge your iPhone without connecting any cables. Instead, it charges your device through electromagnetic induction when placed on a charging pad or stand.

Q5: Are wireless chargers faster than wired chargers?

A5: Although wireless chargers are increasingly popular due to their convenience, wired chargers usually provide faster charging speeds. However, some high-end wireless chargers do offer fast-charging capabilities comparable to wired options.

Q6: What is fast charging, and are all iPhone chargers capable of providing it?

A6: Fast charging is a feature that enables your iPhone to charge more quickly by delivering higher power output. Not all iPhone chargers support fast charging; it usually requires specific power adapters and cables. The article will outline which chargers offer fast charging and what you will need to use this feature.

Q7: Are third-party chargers safe to use with my iPhone?

A7: While many third-party chargers are safe and effective, always opt for products from reputable brands with positive customer reviews. It is recommended to choose MFi-certified chargers (Made for iPhone) to ensure proper functionality and avoid potential damage to your device. The “Best iPhone Chargers” article will include certified options to consider.

Q8: How can I extend the life of my iPhone charger?

A8: To prolong the life of your charger, always unplug it by holding the plug rather than pulling on the cable, avoid bending or tightly wrapping the cable, and keep it away from extreme temperatures, moisture, and direct sunlight. Proper storage and gentle handling will help maintain its performance and durability.

Q9: How did ReadWrite rank the chargers?

A9: The article ranks the chargers based on factors such as charging speed, durability, compatibility, practicality, and customer reviews. It intends to provide a broad list of high-quality chargers to suit different preferences and requirements.

 

 

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