DevelopmentInsightsMartech

Most Notable SEO Trends That We Will See in 2019

on December 20, 2018

In the present day, it’s impossible to imagine a business without a strong online presence. Now, the term strong online presence is, in this day and age, almost synonymous with a strong search engine rank. Sure, social media presence also plays a huge role in one’s brand presence, yet, a potential customer is still more likely to look you up in a regular Google search than to try and find you on Facebook or even LinkedIn. With that in mind and without further ado, it’s important that you keep up with your SEO efforts in 2019, as well and there are several suggestions you need to take into consideration.

1. Featured snippets

Google rank and position in search engines are a huge deal for users, yet, getting positioned on featured snippets is an even bigger deal. This is due to the fact that featured snippets appear above the first organic search results, thus occupying the so-called Position 0. In other words, in theory, it’s even better to get on featured snippets than to get the position one, even though these two things aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive (they often go hand in hand).

As for getting there, there are several things you need to know. For instance, instead of going with the generic keyword phrases, you need to make keywords that start with traditional question formats like “How to”, “What is” and “How to do”. This is the most common way in which people ask questions, so, you need to format your content in this way.

The problem with this lies in the issue of competitiveness, due to the fact that the majority of your niche might aim to do the same. Nonetheless, with the right strategy and methodology, you can get ahead of them. For instance, you can go to a popular Q&A portal for your industry and the chances are that people there ask the same question over and over again. In this scenario, it isn’t that hard to imagine them repeating this question on google. This is just one hint that could put you well ahead of your competition.

2. Video marketing

The next thing you might have noticed recently is the fact that Google tends to feature more and more videos in its search results. Since June, there’s a three-video display that provides you with one more way to get through to your audience. In other words, now you have one more reason to commit to a video marketing and get your content to the top. This, paired with a traditional SEO and a position in Google Snippets can truly put you at the head of the industry. This will increase your traffic and give your brand some much-needed legitimacy.

In order to get there, you need to learn a thing or two about the YouTube SEO. As always, the starting point needs to be keyword research. Once you’re done with this, you need to ensure that people who actually click on the video decide to stay. For this, you need an attention-grabbing thumbnail and high-retention content. As soon as this is over, you can continue with YouTube on-page optimization. We’re talking about title, tags and similar metadata. Lastly, you need to promote your content on various platforms.

3. White label SEO

Another trend that will shake the world of SEO to the core is the growing importance of the phenomenon of white label SEO. You see, even though some people may boast with the ability to handle their SEO as a DIY project, the truth is that the effectiveness of this project never comes even close in quality to what an expert could achieve. In fact, with Google adjusting to the existence of SEO, the quality standards are getting higher and higher. This means that even the most basic of SEO projects now require a great number of skilled specialists. The concept of white label allows several minor companies to team up in order to create a holistic set of SEO services.

In fact, some companies like SEO Reseller Hub, specialize in white label services and are ready and willing to act as silent partners. This means that they have a primary deal with another SEO company for which they do a part of SEO services, yet, have no contact with the actual client. The client in question doesn’t even have to know that they’re involved in the process. Earlier on, we’ve talked about DIY SEO. Well, even individuals can use these services and let the white label SEO company handle some aspects that they’re ill-equipped to undertake on their own.

4. Producing quality content

This is the one trend that’s been consistently relevant for years and years and such a thing is unlikely to change in 2019 either. Namely, producing quality content is something that’s incredibly important for your SEO, seeing as how it boosts brand loyalty, duration of visit and your online presence, in general.

The problem with this particular tip lies in the fact that there’s no shortcut around it. You need to spend more time writing, scripting and editing, self-improve, test, and research your audience. You need to practice using storytelling techniques in content creation and find a way to put your audience in focus. Moreover, you need to find a way to make your content provide value to your audience. Sometimes, it’s the fact that they learn something new. At other times, it provides valuable information on the product they intend to buy/service they intend to use (review). Then, sometimes it’s all about creating an entertaining piece of content for the amusement of your audience.

In conclusion

While the above-discussed list doesn’t really have anything completely new to it, however, search engines are evolving and changing every single year. This is something that every SEO expert has to get accustomed to, sooner or later. Having experience from previous years will give you a head start, yet, there’s still a lot of new features and factors to get accustomed to. Nonetheless, if you’ve followed 2018 SEO trends, so far, the adjustment process shouldn’t be that hard.

DevelopmentSaaS

How Scrum Became the Dominant Agile Approach

on December 19, 2018

The term “Scrum” was first introduced back in 1986. At the time, very few people suspected that what seemed like another buzzword would go on to blow other methodologies out of the water. And just so there is no misunderstanding: there is no shortage of other agile frameworks out there. So, what are the main reasons behind this meteoric rise?

The reasons are many and as covering all of them would take up an entire book, we will focus on the most impactful ones today.

Keeping it simple

One of the main selling points of Scrum is the fact that it has a very simple and fixed and limited set of roles, tools (artifacts), responsibilities, and events (ceremonies) that give structure to software development. For example, there are only three roles to begin with— Scrum Master, product owner, and development team.

It is actually quite interesting to find out that many Scrum naysayers mention how Scrum is too complex or rigid, when in fact it only provides a very limited number of guidelines.

Scrum has been consciously pared down to the very basic roles, responsibilities, events, and artifacts that interact so as to provide a framework for delivering valuable software. The teams are actually encouraged to build on this and to find the best ways to make Scrum work for them.

How it plays out in practice

Furthermore, Scrum increases team velocity, collaboration, and creative thinking. It equips you with everything you need in order to face practical issues and shifting requirements that arise during the project. Change is not only accepted but embraced and planned for. Meetings happen on a daily basis and progress is openly discussed. In this stage, it is common to see team leaders using visual tools such as Scrum boards and visual charts.

Scrum also values transparency over everything, allowing the entire Scrum Team full insight into how they are doing, whether there are areas in which the team can improve. Through inspection and adaptation, the team can find new ways of doing things and identify parts of the product that no longer hold any value and that can be put on hold or abandoned altogether. This significantly reduces waste in the development process.

Along the similar lines, incremental software releases also help in tackling different problems on the go. Namely, Scrum lays the groundwork for early and continuous delivery of software releases and encourages heavy user involvement. Feedback is gathered not only from end users, but stakeholders and customers as well. As a result, developers are able to assess product performance and see how well it matches market needs and expectations.

Moving out of software development

While Scrum began its life in software development, over the years, it has been applied in a number of different industries and business fields – from manufacturing to marketing, from healthcare to HR and more. In fact, if you want to run a business more efficiently, Scrum can be something that you can try out for fit.

This is enabled by Scrum’s underlying structure which is based on common sense and pure empiricism which can be applied to any kind of a team and organization. Scrum simply provides you with certain mechanisms to inspect your work and adapt how your team operates based on those findings.

In other words, Scrum is great at shining light on areas of your organization that might require improvement. This applicability of Scrum to industries other than software development has also contributed to its ever-increasing popularity.

Still not a silver bullet

It should be obvious by now that Scrum is no fad. It has an impressive track record for teams as small as several developers, but also organizations with hundreds of employees.  If you do not believe us, check out a huge body of documented use cases. Likewise, note that you can tap into a whole ecosystem of standardized certifications and educational resources to overcome the learning curve. Additionally, you can take advantage of free scrum software like VivifyScrum that can help support your team.

That being said, Scrum is not for everyone. It may take a while for newcomers to grow accustomed to Scrum and those who are used to “command and control” culture are likely to find themselves on unfamiliar ground. Therefore, you need to know what you are getting yourself into (read the Agile Manifesto) and ensure this methodology suits current work styles and flows.

Conclusion

For better or worse, Scrum is the king of agile approaches. This coveted position has been secured largely thanks to a fine blend of performance and simplicity.  Ready to use right away, this methodology features fixed-length iterations (sprints) and a limited set of rules. Among other things, it allows you to juggle a variety of priorities, track progress, improve collaboration, and receive invaluable feedback.

Development teams are able to exhibit a high level of flexibility and communicate openly and regularly without compromising the end result. Everyone is on the same page, has a sense of real progress, and is focused on the set goals. Consequently, the organization as a whole benefit and becomes versed in accommodating changes impediments.

InsightsSaaS

List Of The Most Desirable Apps For 2019

on December 17, 2018

You require a certain degree of seriousness before you decide to start your mobile business application. If you can amass it, then the time is perfectly ripe to begin, as app development offers profound business opportunities. According to analyses conducted by relevant bodies, the sales of smartphones are increasing day by day. It further explains that the number of people involving in digital interactions on a regular basis is also increasing continuously. However, before contacting some of the best app development organizations, you have to think about the type of application that will bring in profits and revenue, while engaging more users in a short period.

  1. Transportation applications

Traveling is essentiality that people want to be sure of before stepping out of the house. Your mobile app development company in India can help users decide on the right public transportation mode. The selection can be according to convenience, economy or time-saving facilities. Offline services attract more users than online ones, and you can exploit that feature to draw in customers.

 

  1. Dating applications

Researches are pointing out that the smartphone is the reason behind people becoming lonely. With a mobile application that allows a user to communicate with likeminded and interesting people, your business can race past others in no time. Your app can import users from some of the existing media platforms via a system that lets two people search out partners based on compatibility.

 

  1. Task management applications

If there is an application which users can utilize to manage tasks and make plans, then it allows the user to maintain motivational levels. A unique app like this one will remind the user of daily chores like setting up alarms, informing about housework, examinations, workouts, and others.

Source – Pixabay

 

  1. Food delivery applications

When guests are only a few kilometers away from the doorstep, preparing meals in time gets tough. That is why food delivery apps are so much in demand these days. If you can create an application for grub delivery, then there is a possibility of it achieving success in an instant. Users always appreciate applications that ensure fast delivery of food from renowned and favored restaurants.

 

  1. Job hunting applications

A rather unusual idea for an app but has the potential to succeed, job search applications are essential in today’s time. It will be a marketplace where employers and job seekers can come face-to-face. Go to an application developing agency for the creation of this dream smartphone application. Entrepreneurs also use online platforms to hire full-timers or freelancers.

Source – Pixabay

 

  1. Emergency applications

A sudden and unpredictable emergency can ruin a day at any time. So, a disaster, terror or emergency warning app can be a brilliant idea. There are already multiple apps regarding coverage of unforeseen and unfavorable situations. These apps have an alert function which prepares you to face a disaster or inform relatives and loved ones. Such an application can also notify the police, fire departments, hospitals, and others.

 

  1. Gifting applications

The busy and hectic life of today doesn’t allow a person time for purchasing gifts for loved ones. An application can let you send flowers, gift cards, toys and other goodies with a single touch. It will be quite a surprise for the recipient or receiving a gift without any prior information. A user can connect to the application and select gifts, flower bouquets, chocolates, and other special items.

 

  1. Reservation applications

You aren’t always in a mood to go out for dinner, and when you have it, you can’t afford to spoil it. Most reputable and renowned restaurants remain full almost every day, and prior reservations are the only way to grab a bite. An app which allows a user to book a table with multiple options can be successful in no time. It is one such app that will have a design to meet necessities of unexpected dinner outings.

 

  1. Holiday planning applications

Now that the internet is bestowing uninterrupted knowledge and information, many people utilize holidays by planning trips. You can think about app developers to prepare an application for you that will let a user plan vacations. Such an application can contain reliable audio information that anyone can listen to. It can also have facilities like searching for restaurants, bars, taxis, buses entertainment modes, etc.

 

  1. Fitness applications

As mentioned before, the internet is the all-knowing digital partner of everybody currently. As a result, many people are finding out the pros of fitness and good health. Just as it is difficult to go to a shop to purchase a gift, finding out time to visit gyms is also negligible. For that reason, fitness applications of today are one of the favorite choices of youngsters. These apps encourage users to pursue goals of fitness, health or bodybuilding.

 

  1. VR/AR applications

There are mobile apps that companies develop based on a VR system. A user can click a picture of the interior that will undergo revamping and then compare the different objects, colors, backgrounds, or for adding an amenity like furniture. With an AR app, a user can scan a room with a smartphone camera and place the selected items to decide on the style and compatibility.

Source – Pixabay

 

Best ideas

Given above are some of the best ideas for applications in the upcoming year. As mentioned before, more and more people are relying on smartphones with every passing second. It is quite understandable that a significant number of users will join in the squad in the upcoming years. For people who find mobile applications puzzling, this article should clear everything up. After all, without knowledge of different application types, it will be almost impossible to start the business you wish to open. This topic will expand your understanding of the multitudes of applications that are flooding the smartphones of users. You also have to consider going for such applications that the customers are currently seeking. The wrong one can lead to a complete waste of your investment.

Martech

5 Advanced Methods to Promote Your Startup in 2019 (+ Bonus Tip)

on December 12, 2018

So you’re starting up your business! Congratulations. While you must be thrilled at what lies ahead for your business, you also are probably a little nervous. I know that there is a lot to think about, but don’t forget the most important part of owning a business: marketing and promotion. While this might not be on the top of your list, you need to make promoting your business a priority. The best thing you can do to promote your business is by creating engagement as well as trust. Here are five advanced methods to promote your new startup.

1. Create A Website That Sparks Conversation

The most successful businesses have websites that are filled with landing pages. Don’t just create one landing page for your website, create many. Each landing page is a source to create new conversions and leads, so create as many as your site allows you to without looking spammy, as the team at Marketing Masterminds explains. Here are more reasons to create (many) landing pages on your business’s website:

  • Landing pages help organize a website.
  • Landing pages spark conversation.
  • Landing pages create an increase in leads.
  • Landing pages allow more variety in your website which will lead to more conversions. This can also lead to longer time on site, which helps SEO in several ways.

Overall, creating more landing pages will lead to more conversions as well as a higher rank in Google.

2. Create Valuable Content With An Authoritative Voice

The only reason anyone goes on Google is to search for something. Maybe they want a recipe, or perhaps a personal chef. If your business has a website (which it should), you need a blog that publishes regular content that is valuable to its readers. It needs to have some relativity to your business and needs to have an authoritative voice. If your blog posts are written by experts who have an authoritative voice and lots of valuable insights to share that are backed by statistics, your content will surely rank higher on Google. Not only will you have valuable content, but your trust score will also go up as people trust experts in their field to provide accurate information. When reading an informative piece of content, you can always tell if the writer has confidence in their writing or not.  You can take an educated guess on if they actually know what they are writing about and if they took their time writing the article for their readers. Look at it this way: When you see a piece of content that is generic, short, and quickly thrown together are you going to waste your time and finish reading it? Probably not. When you have generic content, website visitors will leave your site quickly, which means that bounce rate will skyrocket and your website won’t rank well. Make sure all of your content is valuable and well-written. One more tip when creating content: It’s incredibly important to select the right keywords! Certain keywords are very hard to rank for, especially when you are a startup business just making your way into the online world. Find keywords that are easier to rank for but still relevant to your business.

3. Always Question Your Promotional Ideas

The best marketers go against the grain and come up with fresh, new ideas. Before doing what everyone else does, make sure that your idea right for your business. Don’t be afraid to take (small) risks and be different from everyone else. For Example: If every commercial during the Super Bowl was the same, would people look forward to the Super Bowl commercials? Probably not. Get (a little) risky and you have a bigger chance of getting noticed. Come up with new, fresh ideas to get people to come to your website and stay on there.

4. Develop Genuine Relationships With your Customers and Potential Clients

Trust score, personal touch, and user reviews will still be important in 2019. In fact, being personable will be more important than ever in the business world as people are having a harder time trusting businesses, especially when purchasing online. If potential customers have “trust issues” when they visit your website, or if you aren’t getting personal enough with your current customers, your business could tank fast. To measure your website’s “trust flow”, you can use Monitor Link’s  Free Backlink Checker tool Some ways to earn a higher trust score:

  • Gain backlinks from websites with a high trust score.
  • Make yourself available to your customers by phone, email and social media. Add a chat feature if you can to your website.
  • Don’t hesitate to make customer service your #1 priority. Do not use chatbots to answer questions.
  • Ask your customers for reviews, testimonials, and suggestions.
  • Make sure your emails are professional (This also means that you could send the emails with a professional email client for Windows or Linux).
  • Most importantly, be yourself.

5. Choose The Right Social Media Networks and Define When The Best Time To Post Is

Social media is important and will always be important. However, social media trends are constantly changing. This section will help you choose the right social media platforms and advise you on how to use social media to your business’s advantage. Depending on your business, here are the (popular) social networking sites that you should consider marketing your brand on:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

Other Sites You Should Consider Branding On:

  • Google+
  • Google My Business
  • TripAdvisor
  • SnapChat
  • Facebook Messenger
  • Yelp

Once you choose which of these websites you would like to create a business page/listing on, the next step is to start creating excellent content to gain new followers. Most of these websites also offer ads for your business to purchase to help build a social media following. Here are some more ideas to build/maintain great social media profiles:

  • Offer a free trial/service/small product in an ad.
  • Post at the best time of the day for that social media site. You can find the best times to post on social media listed by website on Hubspot.
  • Use the correct hashtags to gain followers. You can even use one’s for various days of the week such as #ThursdayThoughts.
  • Pick a branded website hashtag.
  • Hold a contest to get brand awareness. Make sure they have to participate somehow much as follow your page in order to be entered in.
  • Reach out to influencers and like and share their content often. The more you do this, the more likely that eventually, they will return the favor.
  • Get a persona! Share pictures of your office, even your pet! The more personal you get, the more people will trust you and “like” your business.
  • Link to your social media accounts everywhere such as your website and newsletters.
  • Connect with similar businesses and cross-promote each other’s content and products.
  • Use humor and share fun games! Ask riddles, share jokes and create fun content like books and crossword puzzles.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Leave any Rock Unturned

No businesses can survive without customers.  You probably have all sorts of processes in place to ensure a customer emails are all address in a timely manure but missed phone calls typically don’t have any procedures in place. The Bottom Line: Startups cannot afford to miss any customer. Cross-checking who called from an unknown number is a daily routine for most startup owners.

Summary

Now I want to turn it over to you: Which of these steps from today’s guide are you going to experiment with first? Are you going to develop a relationship with your customer or connect with fellow business owners on social media? Leave a comment below and let us know if you have any advanced startup tips you want to share!

Martech

Basic Tips to Hire Mobile App Developers to Create App for Your Business

on December 11, 2018

Mobile app industry is becoming competitive day-by-day. Every new day a new app is being developed and launched. In fact, mobile apps have become a necessary part of every conceivable business. Be it a salon chain or a local coffee shop, today every brand and business has its own app to let their customer book an appointment or order a latte.

Reason? – Well, right now, mobile apps are the easiest way to attract & engage customers, new as well as old ones. Plus, mobile app offers such a platform where you can manage a variety of your business processes at your fingertips. For example, you can earn extra revenue through in-app advertising, offer promos & discounts to attract a whole new audience, and more.

In short, creating a mobile app for your business, no matter small or big can be definitely beneficial. And since you’re reading this article, I’m assuming you already made the decision to make an app for your business.

So, in this article, I’ll be sharing the basic tips on how to hire mobile app developers and create an app for your business.

Basic Tips to Hire App Developers

First of all, there’s no shortage of mobile app developers for hire around the globe. But, finding the right ones will still seem like finding a needle in a haystack. And let’s be honest! – You just cannot allow any random stranger to develop your business app.

So, before you start your quest, you must keep in mind the following tips.

1 – Know The Basics

First of all, check which platforms are there and decide on which platform you would like to make an app for your business? Find out how much will it cost to develop an app (even approximately) and who would be the users of your mobile app?

Knowing these things beforehand will definitely help you have a clear vision and goal for your mobile app.

2 – Experience Matters the Most!

You wouldn’t want a doctor, fresh out of college and with no experience, to perform your knee surgery. Similarly, you also don’t want to hire a mobile app developer with no experience to work on your critical app project.

Experience matters a lot in this arena, especially if you want to develop an app for iPhone. And if you’re targeting the iOS platform, you need to hire iOS app developer who has at least 4-6 years of experience. Though he or she doesn’t need to be the top-level expert, they must have worked on a couple of projects. 

3 – Check What Their Past Clients Have to Say

Whether you hire a freelancer or an agency, you must seek feedback on their work from their previous clients. While you won’t be able to connect with every client personally, but you can still peep into their websites for client testimonials or better yet, get on the B2B review platforms for details.

Clutch & GoodFirms, for example, are the best market research and review platforms available today. And the process that they follow makes sure that no fake review is given and a transparent profile is shown to the buyers.

4 – Discuss & Decide about the Engagement Model and Payment Method Beforehand

Do not hire mobile app developers either freelancers or from an app development agency that does not have a proper engagement model. After all, you want to know why are you being charged a certain amount of money and not just how much.

Therefore, prefer to hire an app developer or a company that has multiple engagement models that allows you to either pay in monthly installments or pay per milestone completion.

5 – Lastly, Make Sure Your App is Delivered After Relevant Testing

You don’t want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on creating and launching an app that is buggy, right?

So, cross verify that your hired developer or agency have fixed all the bugs before final delivery. And if they don’t provide proper mobile app testing services, simply move out!

Also, in case the bugs are discovered only after the launch either by you or your users, have the developer fix it immediately. In fact, it’s best to prefer a developer or a team who provide post-launch support for a considerable amount of time.

Conclusion

There is no clear evaluation process for hiring mobile app developers. And whether to hire a freelance app developer or a mobile app development company completely depends on your preferences, budget, complexity, and urgency.

But before you choose, make sure to agree on a clear set of payment terms and communication tools you’ll use to interact on daily basis. And remember, hiring in-house mobile app developer(s) is a costly affair, and opting for an outsourcing agency will be definitely more reliable.

Lastly, if you feel that your app idea must be confidential, don’t hesitate to ask to sign an NDA contract. Don’t let anything slip. Good luck!

Author

Shahid Mansuri Co-founded Peerbits, one of the leading Software development company in USA, in 2011 which provides Blockchain app development services. His visionary leadership and flamboyant management style have yield fruitful results for the company. He believes in sharing his strong knowledge base with concentration on entrepreneurship and business.

Web: https://www.peerbits.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shahidmansuri
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mansurishahid

DevelopmentMartechProducts

Hi-Tech is Making its Way into High-End Rentals

on November 29, 2018

The concept of IoT is no longer foreign to the most of us. While homeowners have had the liberty to experiment with house automation, latest gadgets, and voice-activated devices, renters have been more restricted when it came to their living space. But leave it to investors and developers to come up with intelligent ideas that cater to the increasingly bold housing needs of a new generation of smart renters. While some smart home technologies were in development even before Bill Gates published The Road Ahead in 1995, The Internet of Things has enabled many aspects of the smart home to become reality.

Shifting focus to automation and a new generation of renters

Hi-tech rentals from Bloomington, Indiana to New York City have now become reality due to increasing demand in home automation from a fresh demographic entering the real estate market. With 20-somethings looking for apartments for rent, the spotlight is no longer on classic amenities like indoor swimming pools and gyms. The housing industry is rapidly catching up with the new wave of smart amenities that any tech-savvy young renter finds appealing when looking for their first home.

It comes as no surprise that developers now focus on innovations designed to rethink residential amenities that match the lifestyle of potential renters in the current market.

Mobile apps at the front and center of the IoT landscape

IoT has come a long way from long tangled wires and hard code. The increasing use of mobile apps has drastically changed the entire connectivity experience in a relatively short time span. Millennial-geared apartment technology is slowly becoming the norm when incorporating smart home systems to rentals. Cities like New York, San Francisco or Portland are already offering smart alternatives to those looking for a rental in an app-controlled apartment building.

A good example is Portland’s IOTAS, which is based on an adaptive system that allows the app to better understand your habits and create patterns based on your personal preferences. Through the app, renters have the possibility of controlling lights, outlets, switches and motion sensors around the house. Other app-based technologies like Dwelo allow renters to adjust their thermostat, close or open doors, turn lights on or off and operate appliances throughout the house. It’s a matter of selecting the right mobile app that suits each renter’s daily needs.

Voice-activated devices experience surge in user popularity

Voice-activated features are becoming the standard for the rentals of tomorrow, especially in urban hubs. This trend can be attributed to the popularity of devices like Amazon’s Alexa, particularly among the younger demographic. Virtual assistant-type devices are in high demand and are already featured in recently-built luxury apartments. For example, 120 luxury units in Jackson Park come with voice automation for lights and switches, a smart thermostat that can be adjusted through voice command, and smart appliances and entertainment systems controlled through Amazon’s Echo Show. All this smart comfort comes at a price – the monthly rent for one of the 1,871 apartments that showcase such features goes up to $10,000.

At the core of all this drive for innovation lies a new type of renter for whom convenience goes hand in hand with aesthetics and efficiency. Technological developments are moving at such a rapid pace that it’s essential for the real estate industry to keep up. As they evolve, smart apartments incorporate everything new and dynamic that the housing sector has to offer, while also proving to be cost-efficient. And we are here to witness it.

DevelopmentMartech

How Your Business Can Introduce A Multi-Cloud Strategy

on November 29, 2018

As we head towards 2019, most businesses will continue to use the multi-cloud strategy approach and will harness the exceptional benefits of available cloud service providers to drive their business forward. With this trend only set to grow, this will be a decision that many IT decision makers will be looking to take. However, businesses need to understand what these clouds can do for them as this will allow you to better manage your strategy effectively to use each cloud’s amazing benefits. Here, we are taking you through how your business can introduce a multi-cloud strategy and its benefits.

Business Benefits To A Multi-Cloud Strategy

There are lots of amazing benefits to be had from implementing a multi-cloud strategy with the main one being that you will no longer be constrained by just one framework across your whole business. When you invest in multi-cloud strategies, every department will have the ability and flexibility to choose the service that is going to work best for them and what exactly they need. This also means that your business does not have to worry about being locked in with just one single vendor, as this can potentially leave your business at risk of being exposed to lots of different problems such as changes in their service or price hikes. When you invest in lots of different multi-cloud providers the business will the choice about where they are going to run cloud workloads, and this will give them the tools they need to try and minimize extra costs.

What’s more, using this type of strategy also means that you can get added geographical flexibility when handling data. When using all the leading cloud providers, they will have data centers across the world and many will require data for specific workloads is stored in specific national boundaries. Using the multi-cloud system, you will be able to meet these requirements but still, use the global cloud platform.

However, you do need to ensure that your cloud technology is effectively managed and that you are minimizing any risk of widespread data loss. If this were to happen, you would need to implement disaster recovery as a service, which is also commonly known as DRaaS. DRaaS allows you to recover your data with minimum downtime and data loss. It will reproduce and recuperate virtual machines to the cloud and it does this by failing over from your data center to UKCloud’s trusted, value for money and well-connected cloud.

Security

GDPR is now in effect and data security is not more important than ever before unless you want to face a very hefty fine! New technology including machine learning and serverless computers are becoming more and more popular due to the extra security benefits that they bring to the cloud. We predict that there will be a continued big rise in serverless computers as they allow cloud instances to be scaled and patched instantly. This can then massively reduce your cyber risk. Using a multi-cloud system means that it is easier to prevent big scale data loss if you are hacked, as your information will be spread out across multiple clouds and platforms. However, you do need to make sure that these clouds are all being effectively managed.

The multi-cloud sector is making advancements rapidly and so this is something that you should definitely consider for your business as it quickly becomes the new normal. Adopt a multi-cloud strategy today to get all of the amazing benefits for your business that it has to offer.

Insights

Top Tips to Consider When Relocating Your IT Department’s Equipment

on November 29, 2018

When preparing to relocate your office space, to say there is a lot to consider, organize, pack, and be on top of is an understatement. Rather than packing up your clothing, furniture, and personal items as you would when moving houses, in an office move, you are dealing with items that can be expensive, breakable or easily damaged, and contain sensitive customer and company data that can’t get lost, stolen, or ruined.

The IT department can be a very tricky area to just pick up and move and it does require some consideration and a plan. With that in mind, we’ve gone ahead and put together the top tips to consider as you work to relocate your IT department.

Don’t Even Mess with It Yourself

Possibly the best tip to offer is not to mess with relocating the IT department at all. Instead, leave it to an IT relocation specialist, which is a company that does it all for you. They will have the knowledge and skills necessary to move all the equipment in a safe and efficient manner, they can pack it in the right storage containers or vessels, they can provide full documentation of all the items being moved and track information on the assets, they can provide custom flight cases to keep equipment safe, and they may even offer transportation in a GPS tracked moving vehicle.

A professional service is ideal for companies that have a lot of IT equipment that is expensive and contains sensitive data.

Make a List of All Your Equipment

If you plan on tackling it yourself, or even if you are hiring a professional, it’s a good idea to also make a list of all your IT equipment. This should be a comprehensive list that includes all items both big and small. What this list does is help you track items as they arrive at the destination.

Are You Getting Rid of Anything

Now is also the time to look closely at your equipment and decide if it’s time to get rid of and retire anything. There is no point bringing it along with you if you don’t plan on using it in the new place. There’s a good chance you may have some out-of-date pieces that really aren’t necessary any longer.

Create a Plan for the New Space

Before the move actually takes place, you will also want to create a floor plan for the new space as far as the IT equipment goes. This will provide you with a guideline so you can place items in their proper spot. What this means is that you can get organized and set-up a whole lot faster in the new space.

As you draw up the plan, you’ll need to think about things such as where the power ports are, the phone lines, the internet lines, where people will be sitting, where the copy machine and printer will be, and so on. If you are using a professional moving service, you can then share this floorplan with them. While making your floor plan, take the opportunity to direct the flow of traffic within the new space. Dispose of surplus equipment that would otherwise be left lying around the office, or keep them in a storage unit where they can be stored in optimal condition. If you are worried about the cost, you’ll be glad to know that this wouldn’t set the company back by much. There are cheap storage units in Manchester, London, Brighton, or anywhere else you may be.

These tips will help to ensure that moving the IT department goes as smoothly as possible.

Insights

You still have the power to excite customers and claim the profits: try experiential marketing

on November 26, 2018

Customers have always wanted to spend money and buy new things. There have been no exceptions to that. However, the current retail landscape is different from what it was five years ago. Modern customers are not ready to spend their hard-earned money on just about anything. They want to invest in experiences and make memories. They are no longer satisfied with the look-and-shop experience most e-commerce companies are offering. They want something more tangible. That is why the old brands are reinventing themselves in new ways that appeal to the customer groups, old and new. Several new companies are starting out with event-based activations and experiential marketing campaigns

How is the market going through a massive change?

A fresh study from the Harris Group shows that over 72% of the millennials would rather spend money on experiences than on material buys. It has managed to jolt the traditional retailers, who were relying on the conventional show-and-tell marketing format until about now. That trend shows how much the expectations of the potential customer is changing with time. At the same time, top experiential marketing agencies have created new opportunities for the emergence of new market leaders. It is the beginning of a massive shift in the market, and that is precisely what maximum marketers of tomorrow were awaiting.

Retailers are finally ready to take advantage of the changing preferences and trends of the market. In fact, there is a record shift towards experiential marketing and event-based brand activation ideas in the last couple of months. Brands want to make more connections, boost sales and engage their customers in building a loyal consumer base. Research shows that positive emotions are the glue that holds a customer base together.

What is so special about engagement marketing?

Experiential marketing can be a campaign, strategy or event that engages the customers with the promise of a unique experience. Whether you’re top experiential marketing agency suggests a live band performance, an exclusive talk show with a celebrity or a brand activation campaign with the presence of social media influencers, it is the exceptional experience that will help your brand stand out. It can include anything and everything from free classes to free food! One thing is common between old-school marketing and new-age experiential marketing – the customers love free stuff. So, when organizing an experiential marketing event, do not skimp on the goodies for your customers even when you are providing stellar experiences.

Who should be investing in experiential marketing?

Experiential marketing is not just for those businesses that involve customer interactions on a daily basis for generating revenues. Cafes, restaurants, fast food chains, and health food outlets do benefit tremendously from event-based activation and marketing stunts, but product-based retail services including cosmetics, skincare, hair care, clothing, fitness accessories, and travel accessories also enjoy a positive boost from event-based strategizing of marketing and promotions. As a result, almost all brands are making plans to incorporate experiential marketing in their strategy in the oncoming days. In short, all businesses have the potential to benefit from a well-crafted on-ground marketing strategy. 

It gets the customers talking among themselves

Another important aspect of experiential is word-of-mouth marketing. Consumers talk to each other through various web forums, e-commerce discussion forums and they follow the reviews and ratings on e-commerce sites. About 73% of the consumers share pictures of their new products while writing reviews and 49% are likely to share the videos of the events during the activation. It is easy to become the talk of the town when you have celebrities and influencers endorsing your products during the launch. It is imperative to craft a memorable experience, so your target audience has good content to share. Without enough content generation, even the best social media marketing strategies and SEO agencies will not be able to take you far.

It facilitates communication between brands and customers

Real-life, offline events help these companies establish real relationships with their potential buyers. With experiential marketing, it is not always about pushing sales or driving the customers to the POS. It is about providing something tangible to the consumers. Your consumers are right now yearning for something more than product quality and at-home delivery. You need to conduct extensive market research to find out exactly what your customers want. It can be an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience of your kitchen, a free sample of your new coffee drink, a photo shoot with their favorite influencers or an Instagrammable event! The possibilities of experiential or event-based marketing are endless, and it is time you tapped into this infinite potential.

Experiential marketing creates an engagement loop for the customer community, where the online customers interact with the offline ones. There is a thorough blending of the review channels, and the reach of a brand multiplies from breaking the silos of digital, land-based and online marketing down.

DevelopmentInsightsMartech

Update Your Dealership Website For Holiday Sales

on November 21, 2018

The holiday season is upon us once again and that means a huge boost to sales in every industry. Of course, the auto industry is no different. Whether it’s for a gift, due to sales promotions, or because of a big yearly bonus, people seem to welcome any excuse to purchase a new vehicle at the end of the year.

Every dealership manager knows that this is the time of year to ready their location for what could be their busiest selling season – usually that week between Christmas and the New Year. It takes weeks of planning to deliver successful holiday promotions aimed at driving up foot traffic to gain an advantage over the competition, but one massive part of today’s market that’s easily overlooked is a dealership’s website.

Passive Versus Interactive Online Presence

A website can be much more than an advertisement meant to lure customers to the door. If all you’re offering is a selection of photos or digital flyers meant to entice customers to keep on clicking – or leave home and physically travel to your dealership – then your strategy may be holding you back. Why should your website just sit there waiting for clicks when you could employ a technology that allows your sales team to interact with new customers?

24-hour Live Chat Services

The simple addition of new dealer chat software can open up a satisfying range of experiences for anyone browsing your website. Within seconds of finding your site, a small window will appear in the lower corner of the screen, immediately connecting that potential customer with a live operator.

Better Customer Service

In today’s world of automated customer service, it’s nearly impossible to avoid annoying chatbots and connect with an actual person in real conversation. Live operators on dealer chat software can give your customers the rare satisfaction of feeling respected and assisted online. They’ll also have access to your dealership’s local inventory while allowing your sales team to jump into chats to provide enticing incentives and further information about individual vehicles.
The major benefit of this personal interaction is that it allows operators to help customers find exactly what they’re looking for, at a price range that’s tailored to suit their budget. This may not result in instant sales online, but it will allow you to generate excellent leads for your in-house sales team.

Customer Information

With the ability to track analytics on your website, operators can keep a personal profile on any customer that registers. You’ll get well-informed documentation on every potential buyer based on information gathered by live operators and data collected from their browsing habits. This dual strategy allows you to make informed suggestions for your clients and increase the potential of leads.
If you’re holding out on updating your dealership’s website with more interactive technology, you’re giving the competition an enormous advantage on the online market. All it takes are a few clicks for online customers to find a competitor with more attractive online services and you’ve lost them for good. Instead, update your website with the latest features to increase your holiday sales and jump to the top of online automotive sales.

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